BEng (Hons) Engineering Design

Program Overview

The BEng (Hons) Engineering Design program at Robert Gordon University equips students with the knowledge and skills to transform ideas into real-world products. Through a combination of lectures, tutorials, and project work, students develop expertise in design methods, manufacturing processes, and sustainability. The program prepares graduates for careers in engineering design, manufacturing, and project management, with a focus on addressing industry challenges and enhancing business performance.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The BEng (Hons) Engineering Design course at Robert Gordon University has been developed due to industry demand for design engineers who can think creatively about challenges faced by industry and develop innovative solutions. The course will equip students with the knowledge and skills to transform ideas into real, fully-functioning products. Students will learn how to think creatively, while combining their technical engineering expertise, to enhance and improve how a business performs and operates. They will solve real-world problems, analysing and evaluating the design, specification, manufacturing technologies, maintenance and commissioning of mechanical equipment and associated systems.

Outline:

The course is delivered over four years, with a focus on developing knowledge and principles of engineering design and manufacturing in the first two years and independent study and project supervision in the final two years.

Year 1:

• Fundamental principles of engineering design methods and manufacturing processes.
• Properties of engineering materials, metal alloys, and heat treatment.
• Role of an engineer in product development.
• Primary physics related to statics and dynamics science.
• Fundamentals of hydrostatic and thermodynamic systems.
• Basic concepts and principles of electrical and electronic engineering.

Year 2:

• Solving problems including thermal-fluid and vibration systems.
• Formal design process for components and machine elements.
• Main manufacturing processes for metals, ceramics, polymer, and composite materials.
• Selecting appropriate materials and manufacturing processes for a given product.
• Introduction to CAD and CAM software.

Year 3:

• Analysing and interpreting the dynamic structural behaviour of engineering system components.
• Stress analysis of components subject to combined loading, fatigue and failure analysis, and fracture mechanics.
• National and international codes of practice design approaches (BS and Eurocodes).
• Joining processes and equipment, surface technology, and engineering metallurgy.
• Understanding of manufacturing support systems, process planning and production control, quality control, inspection, and sustainable manufacturing.
• Design methodology including design for manufacturing and design optimisation.
• Project management.
• Group project.

Year 4:

• Finite element methods to analyse a range of engineering systems (static stress, dynamic modal analysis, and heat transfer analysis).
• Design for vibration and manufacturing.
• Quality control and assurance.
• Risk and reliability.
• Cost evaluation and supply change management.
• Commercial software for design and manufacture of products.
• Rapid prototyping techniques (NC programming, mould modelling, rapid prototyping, and sensitivity analysis).
• Substantial professional design project (planning, decision making, data collection, and critical analysis).

Assessment:

Year 1:

• 3 Written exams (average time: 3 hours)
• 8 Written reports
• 2 Portfolios
• 2 Oral assessments
• 1 Practical assessment

Year 2:

• 2 Written exams (average time: 3 hours)
• 4 Written reports
• 1 Portfolio
• 4 Practical assessments

Year 3:

• 2 Written exams (average time: 3 hours)
• 3 Written reports
• 2 Oral assessments
• 2 Practical assessments
• 1 Group critique

Year 4:

• 3 Written exams (average time: 3 hours)
• 3 Written reports
• 1 Portfolio
• 2 Practical assessments
• 1 Dissertation

Teaching:

• A mixture of teaching and learning activities will be used, with a focus on lectures, tutorials, and workshop activities in the first two years.
• The last two years focus on independent study and project supervision.
• Course resources are available on CampusMoodle, the virtual learning environment.
• Many of the academics teaching the course have a wealth of design and manufacturing experience gained through industry projects, research, and previous working in the industry.
• Opportunities for industry experts to deliver guest lectures.

Careers:

• The course prepares students for careers in engineering design, manufacturing engineering, engineering operations management, and engineering project management.
• Previous BEng Engineering graduates of Robert Gordon University have gone on to pursue careers as:
• Mechanical Engineer
• Electrical Engineer
• Design Engineer
• Project Engineer
• Risk and Safety Engineer

Other:

• The Engineering Design course aims to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to address sustainability challenges.
• Students will learn about sustainability by design, materials manufacturing processes, and product solutions.
• The course is committed to the United Nation's Sustainability Goals 4, 7, 9, and 12.
• The course includes a total of 150 hours per 15-credit module and 300 hours per 30-credit module recommended for independent study.
• The course is offered on campus full-time, starting in September.
• The course length is four years.
• Students will benefit from using CampusMoodle, the collaborative virtual learning environment, for 24/7 online access to learning materials and resources.
• The Study Support Team provides training and support to all students in academic writing, study skills, maths and statistics, English language, and information technology support.
• The University Library offers support for the course, including books, eBooks, and journals.
• While placements form part of the MEng programmes, they are not yet currently embedded in the BEng (Hons) courses.
• RGU has a wave tank, engineering applications labs, and an ROV pool for practical work and research.
• The course uses a UCAS code of H150.
• Students can apply through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).

Tuition Fees and Payment Information:

Scottish Students

Full Time On Campus Over 4 years Year 1 £1820 Year 2 £1820 Year 3 £1820 Year 4 £1820

Rest of UK Students

Full Time On Campus Over 4 years Year 1 £6930 Year 2 £6930 Year 3 £6930 Year 4 £6930

EU Students

Full Time On Campus Over 4 years Year 1 £6930 Year 2 £6930 Year 3 £6930 Year 4 £6930

International Students

Full Time On Campus Over 4 years Year 1 £17840 Year 2 £17840 Year 3 £17840 Year 4 £17840