Mechatronic Engineering with Foundation Year BEng(Hons)

Program Overview

With a focus on sustainability, this program prepares students for high-earning careers in diverse industries. The integrated foundation year helps students without necessary qualifications meet degree requirements, enabling them to develop comprehensive mechatronic engineering knowledge and skills for practical engineering solutions.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This program combines mechanical skills, smart electronics, robotics, and control systems to address complex engineering projects with a focus on sustainability. It aims to enhance career prospects and lead to high-earning careers. The integrated foundation year is designed for students who lack the necessary qualifications for direct entry into the degree program.

• To develop skills in creative thinking and practical design solutions.
• To prepare students for a variety of engineering career pathways.
• To enhance employability through practical experience and development of transferable skills.

Outline:

Foundation Year:

• Communication and Research: Explores the importance of communication in computing and engineering, with practice in written and verbal forms, and presentation skills.
Develops research skills for sourcing relevant information.
• Engineering Investigative Studies: Introduces basic engineering skills, including electronics, measurement, and practical application through guided investigation and discovery learning.
Covers aspects of CAD, civil, mechanical, electrical, and electronic engineering.
• Foundation Mathematics: Covers essential mathematical tools and principles for first-year studies, including arithmetic, algebra, trigonometry, sets, matrices, vectors, and calculus.
Develops experimental and analytical skills.

Year 2:

• Core Modules:
• Mathematics: Covers fundamental knowledge and techniques in Engineering Mathematics, including functions, linear mathematics, calculus, and numerical techniques for solving real-world engineering problems.
• Manufacturing, Measurement and Diagnostics: Explores manufacturing and construction processes for engineered products and structures.
Develops practical skills using hand tools, workshop tools, metal joining equipment, measuring and diagnostic equipment, basic circuit design, and PCB building. Covers fundamental electrical engineering concepts and their application in measurement and sensing systems.
• Engineering Science: Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of basic engineering principles through theoretical and practical application.
Covers fluid behavior, forces, energy, power, and stress analysis. Develops critical, creative, and innovative thinking through practical experimentation.
• Mechatronics: Introduces the combination of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and computer science in mechatronic systems.
Covers selection of electrical and electronic devices, electric systems, electronic measurement methods, and data acquisition techniques.
• Professional Development and Transferrable Skills: Provides an appreciation of the engineer's role in society, including responsibilities, ethical behavior, and contribution to business teams.
Develops personal skills for success as students and professional engineers. Introduces basic programming skills, study techniques, communication skills, problem-solving, research, and working to objectives. Covers Individual Learning Plans (ILP) and Continuous Professional Development (CPD), CV preparation, and career planning.

Year 3:

• Core Modules:
• Signal Analysis and Control: Equips students with skills to analyze continuous and discrete-time signals and systems in the time and frequency domain.
Introduces control theories and simulation packages for relating theoretical approaches with simulated results. Covers control strategies for system output.
• Engineering Design: Focuses on integrating mechanical and electrical elements of the design process into functional products.
Develops creativity, analytical abilities, and knowledge in engineering and science.
• Thermofluids: Introduces the principles of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer, and their applications in thermo-fluids engineering systems.
Covers laws of thermodynamics, heat engines, combustion processes, refrigerators, turbomachines, heat exchangers, fluid conveyance, and flow control systems.
• Manufacturing and Production Systems: Introduces major classes of manufacturing systems, from jobbing to mass production.

Year 4 – Optional Placement Year:

• Students can choose to undertake a one-year work placement after Year 3.

Final Year:

• Core Modules:
• Dynamic Analysis and Control:
Develops knowledge and understanding of dynamic systems related to vibration analysis and control in machine systems. Covers analytical tools for vibration in mechanical systems, mathematical models of physical systems, and control systems design and analysis.
• Project Quality and Production Management: Introduces concepts, standards, techniques, software, and systems for project management, quality management, and production management, referencing relevant ISO standards.
Covers case material relevant to manufacturing and service industries.
• Electrical Power and Drive Systems: Covers advanced techniques for analysis, design, operation, and control of electrical power networks and power electronic drive systems.
Explores system and drive concepts in conventional and renewable energy conversion systems. Addresses regulatory, economic, and environmental issues.
• Digital Signal Processing Applications: Combines signal processing theory and analysis of discrete-time systems with practical aspects of digital signal processing (DSP) applied to digital filter design.
Covers signal processing operations and analysis, digital filter design and simulation, and implementation using DSP software and hardware development systems.
• Final Year Project: Provides an opportunity for in-depth study and investigation of a specific engineering topic.
Develops project planning, research, and technical execution skills. Students can choose a project defined by a tutor or propose their own idea.

Assessment:

• A variety of assessment strategies are used, including reports on laboratory experiments, laboratory-based assignments, and projects.
• Feedback is normally provided within three term time weeks for coursework submissions.
• Feedback on exam performance and final coursework is available on request after the publication of results.

Teaching:

• The program utilizes EnABLE (Engineering in an Activity Based Learning Environment) in Years 2 and 3.
• EnABLE involves working in professional teams to solve real engineering problems, linking theory with practice and developing transferable skills.
• Teaching methods include lectures, seminars, laboratory work, and project-based learning.
• The program benefits from the expertise of staff who rank in the top three in England for holding doctorates, higher degrees, and teaching qualifications.

Careers:

• Graduates can pursue careers in a wide range of sectors, including automotive, construction, manufacturing, design, medical, and electronics industries.
• Potential roles include software engineer, design and test engineer, and lead engineer.
• Graduates may also gain transferable skills for other industries and pursue careers requiring a good honors degree.
• The University of Huddersfield has been rated Gold in all three aspects of the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023.
• The University offers the Global Professional Award (GPA) alongside the degree, providing valuable qualities and experiences for career development.
• Research plays an important role in informing teaching and learning activities, keeping staff up-to-date with the latest developments in their field.
• The University offers a range of taught Master's courses in Mechanical Engineering.
• The University will inform Student Finance England about an extra year of study for Home status students who transfer to the MEng route.

The full-time undergraduate tuition fee for 2024/25 entry will be £9250.