Program Overview

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Do you have an inquisitive mind and are constantly questioning how things work? Would you like to work designing the self-driving cars of the future, or the latest industrial robots, or the next revolutionary consumer product? Studying mechatronics will enable you to develop these sophisticated intelligent systems we are so reliant on in the modern world. Mechatronics combines principles from mechanics, electronics, computer engineering, automatic control and robots. Mechatronic engineering is the design, manufacture and testing of devices that utilise a combination of these disciplines in the same device. You will gain knowledge of engineering processes, product design, as well as the use of digital electronics and computer-aided (CAD) software. This will enable you to create your own mechatronic systems, developing them from imagination through to reality. Our BEng Mechatronic Systems will cover electronics, electrical systems and programming. You will cover the following areas:

• 3D Printing Technology
• Drives and Power Electronics
• Computer Programming
• Sensors and Digital Signal Processing
• Motion Control Algorithms
• Computer Vision and Robotics
• Embedded Systems

Our School is a community of scholars leading the way in technological research and development. Today’s mechatronic engineers are creative people who are focused and committed, yet restless and experimental. We are home to many of the world’s top engineers, and our work is driven by creativity and imagination, as well as technical excellence. You graduate as a creative, experimental and focused engineer ready to explore further how electronics can impact the people and world around you. Programming at Essex Teaching someone to programme is about opening a door. In your first year at Essex you will study a module that introduces you to programming using Python. We assess your ability to think in a programmatic way in the very first week of term and if you require additional support, we offer classes which will boost your skills and confidence with programming. Why we're great.

• We are home to many of the world's top scientists and engineers in their field.
• Become part of the next generation of industry professionals and academic researchers to help drive the economy, and push the frontiers of knowledge.
• We are top 30 in the UK for Computer Science in THE World University Rankings by Subject 2023.

Study abroad

Your education extends beyond the university campus. We support you in expanding your education through offering the opportunity to spend a year or a term studying abroad at one of our partner universities. The four-year version of our degree allows you to spend the third year abroad or employed on a placement abroad, while otherwise remaining identical to the three-year course. Studying abroad allows you to experience other cultures and languages, to broaden your degree socially and academically, and to demonstrate to employers that you are mature, adaptable, and organised.

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Placement year

You can also undertake a placement year in which you gain relevant work experience within an external business, giving you a competitive edge in the graduate job market and providing you with key contacts within the industry. You will be responsible for finding your placement, but with support and guidance provided by both your department and our Employability and Careers Centre.

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Our expert staff

We have been one of the leading electronics departments in the country throughout our history, and in recent years, our prolific research staff have contributed to some major breakthroughs. We invented the world’s first telephone based system for deaf people to communicate with each other in 1981, with cameras and display devices that were able to work within the limited telephone bandwidth. Our academics have also invented a streamlined protocol system for worldwide high speed optical communications.

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Specialist facilities

• We have six laboratories that are exclusively for computer science and electronic engineering students. Three are open 24/7, and you have free access to the labs except when there is scheduled practical class in progress.
• All computers are dual boot Windows 10 and Linux. Apple Mac Computers are dual boot MacOS and Windows 10
• Software includes Java, Prolog, C++, Perl, Mysql, Matlab, DB2, Microsoft Office, Visual Studio and Project
• Students have access to CAD tools and simulators for chip design (Xilinx) and computer networks (OMNet++)
• We also have specialist facilities for research into areas including non-invasive brain-computer interfaces, intelligent environments, robots, optoelectronics, video, RF and MW, printed circuit milling, and semiconductors.

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Your future

With growing capabilities in intelligent systems, the boundaries of these disciplines are blurring, meaning the need for multi-disciplinary mechatronic engineers is growing rapidly. It is an emerging growth area of employment, with industries such as aerospace, automotive, banking, manufacturing, mining, energy and power production, applicant design and food process are all heavily reliant on the latest mechatronic developments. Our department has a large pool of external contacts, ranging from companies providing robots for the media industry, through vehicle diagnostics, to electronic systems design and circuit design and manufacture, who work with us and our students to provide advice, placements and eventually graduate opportunities. Read more about computer science and electronic engineering career destinations here. We also work with our University's Student Development Team to help you find out about further work experience, internships, placements, and voluntary opportunities.