Advanced Manufacturing

Program Overview

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Advanced Manufacturing MSc

Overview

Enhance your manufacturing knowledge and skills with this accredited Advanced Manufacturing Master's. You'll develop your understanding of the systems and hardware used in manufacturing, and polish the managerial skills you need to lead teams in the industry.

You'll study the advanced tools used in design and manufacturing processes, the ever-widening range of materials available, and the systems used in business to apply your operational skills efficiently and effectively. You'll take on an advanced project that can solve a technical problem in your field of interest, or answer questions that apply directly to your current or future workplace.

When you graduate from this MSc Advanced Manufacturing, you'll be able to bring demonstrable skills and knowledge to a sector of industry that prizes your expertise. You'll have worked on business case studies, and you'll have built professional networks with your peers and your lecturers' industrial connections, making you ready to meet the needs of a manufacturing career.

You can start this in September (full time or part time) or January (full time only).

Eligibility

This course accepts UK, EU, and International students.

Course Highlights

• Use industry-standard simulation and modelling applications for advanced manufacturing, such as Creo Parametric, MATLAB and Enterprise Dynamics
• Enhance your understanding by investigating real industrial problems, using our strong links with companies
• Fuse the topic of your individual project with one of our research groups, such as the Advanced Polymers and Composites Research Group, and benefit from the expertise of our academics
• Study for a Master's that follows the current needs of the industry, guided by advice from the external businesses and organisations that make up our Industrial Advisory Board

Accreditation

This course is awarded the EUR-ACE (European Accredited Engineer) label and is accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) for meeting the further learning requirement for Chartered Engineer registration.

Study Mode and Duration

• 1 year full-time (September start)
• 16 months full-time (January start)
• 3 years part-time (September start)

Start Date

• September 2025
• January 2026

Entry Requirements

Eligibility

This course accepts UK, EU, and International students.

September 2025 / January 2026 start

UK Qualifications

• A second-class honours degree in a relevant subject, or equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications.

Equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications will also be considered, such as previous study, employment, voluntary work and training courses, including courses and qualifications you didn't complete. Learn more about our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

Non-UK Qualifications

If you're applying as an international student with a non-UK degree, you’ll need to show you meet the UK entry requirements listed above.

To find out if your non-UK degree or other qualification is accepted, please visit our page for your country and view the UK equivalent of your qualification.

English Language Requirements

• English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 (or equivalent) with no component score below 5.5.

You do not need an IELTS or equivalent certification if:

• you have a UK degree
• you have a degree from a majority English speaking country (not taught by Distance Learning)
• you are a national of a majority English speaking country

Degrees taught solely in English from non-majority English speaking countries will be considered on a case by case basis. Find out more about our English language requirements.

If you do not meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

Costs and Funding

Tuition Fees

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September 2025 / January 2026 start

UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man students

• Full time: £10,900 (may be subject to annual increase)
• Part time: £3,630 per year (may be subject to annual increase)

EU students

(including Transition Scholarship)

• Full-time: £10,900 (may be subject to annual increase)
• Part-time: £3,630 per year (may be subject to annual increase)

International students

• Full time: £19,200 (may be subject to annual increase)
• Part time: £6,400 per year (may be subject to annual increase)

University of Portsmouth graduates may receive a 20% alumni tuition fee discount.

Fees are subject to annual increase. Read our tuition fees terms and conditions.

You'll be able to pay your fees in instalments. Find out how to pay your tuition fees.

Funding your studies

Explore how to fund your studies, including available scholarships and bursaries.

If you're a UK student, you may be eligible for a Government Postgraduate Master's Loan, which you can use to help with course fees and living costs.

Loans, Scholarships and Bursaries

Browse funding such as the Government Postgraduate Loan, our scholarships for new and returning students, and subject specific loans.

Explore funding

Funding for international students

Learn more about sponsorships, scholarships and loans for students applying from outside of the UK.

Discover your options

Fees and funding for Master's courses

Explore Master's funding options, including loans, scholarships, bursaries and more.

Explore funding

Additional costs

These course-related costs aren't included in the tuition fees, so you'll need to budget for them when you plan your spending. Additional costs could include:

• Accommodation: Accommodation options and costs can be found on our accommodation pages.
• Recommended reading: You can borrow key texts from the library and if you choose to purchase these texts they may cost up to £60 each.
• General costs: Such as photocopying, memory sticks, printing charges, binding and specialist printing. We suggest budgeting £75 per year.
• Final project transport or accommodation: where necessary, which related to your research activities. The amount will depend on the project you choose.

Read more about tuition fees and living costs, including what your tuition fees cover.

Modules

Full-time

Modules studied

All modules on this MSc Advanced Manufacturing are core.

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Individual Project (MSc) - 60 credits

You'll select and manage a project where you'll solve an engineering problem by researching your subject, investigating existing solutions, devising and implementing a suggested solution, and then testing and evaluating your proposal.

You'll apply your technical skills to identify problems and create engineering solutions, and be assessed orally and in writing.

Advanced Manufacturing Processes - 20 credits

Address the challenges you'll face in a modern manufacturing career in this module.

You'll explore current manufacturing techniques, and the latest developments in the industry. Through systematic study of modern materials and processing techniques, you'll learn to overcome limitations and constraints using emerging methods and technology.

CADCAM Systems - 20 credits

Builds hands-on skills in applying CAD, CAM and CAE technologies for enhanced engineering design and manufacturing.

Using professional software, you’ll gain experience in 3D modelling software, and apply your skills to the analysis of material performance; manufacturing efficiency, and data capture throughout the manufacturing process.

Manufacturing System Design - 20 credits

Shape the factories and supply chains of the future.

In this module, you'll assess and optimise complex manufacturing systems, using mathematical modelling techniques and lean management thinking. Through case studies, presentations and group discussions, you'll look at bottlenecks and Industry 4.0 solutions - then learn to reconfigure a production process with efficient, cost-effective and sustainable systems.

Advanced Materials - 20 credits

Investigate high performance materials for engineering applications.

You'll use numerical and analytical methods to evaluate advanced alloys, ceramics and composites, and to assess their suitability for design purposes. As you learn to apply scientific and mathematical principles to your understanding of these materials, you'll be building expertise underpinning materials science for roles across quality, design and R&D.

Operations and Quality Management - 20 credits

Bring data-driven decision making to modern production environments.

In this module, you'll study strategic approaches to operations and quality management, using statistics and commercial analysis techniques to improve systems. You'll grasp commercial constraints and learn to contribute effectively to the planning, optimisation and control of manufacturing engineering environments.

Supply Chain Management - 20 credits

Learn strategies and philosophies to optimise supply chains in a rapidly evolving market.

You'll analyse supply chains for efficiency, resilience and responsiveness in this module, then create and optimise model supply chains using modern tools and techniques. You'll explore emerging technology, ethics and environmental concerns, and specialised supply chain methodologies from agile to fully-integrated.

Part-time

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3

All modules on this MSc Advanced Manufacturing are core.

Close all

Advanced Manufacturing Processes - 20 credits

Address the challenges you'll face in a modern manufacturing career in this module.

You'll explore current manufacturing techniques, and the latest developments in the industry. Through systematic study of modern materials and processing techniques, you'll learn to overcome limitations and constraints using emerging methods and technology.

Advanced Materials - 20 credits

Investigate high performance materials for engineering applications.

You'll use numerical and analytical methods to evaluate advanced alloys, ceramics and composites, and to assess their suitability for design purposes. As you learn to apply scientific and mathematical principles to your understanding of these materials, you'll be building expertise underpinning materials science for roles across quality, design and R&D.

Manufacturing System Design - 20 credits

Shape the factories and supply chains of the future.

In this module, you'll assess and optimise complex manufacturing systems, using mathematical modelling techniques and lean management thinking. Through case studies, presentations and group discussions, you'll look at bottlenecks and Industry 4.0 solutions - then learn to reconfigure a production process with efficient, cost-effective and sustainable systems.

All modules on this MSc Advanced Manufacturing are core.

Close all

CADCAM Systems - 20 credits

Builds hands-on skills in applying CAD, CAM and CAE technologies for enhanced engineering design and manufacturing.

Using professional software, you’ll gain experience in 3D modelling software, and apply your skills to the analysis of material performance; manufacturing efficiency, and data capture throughout the manufacturing process.

Operations and Quality Management - 20 credits

Bring data-driven decision making to modern production environments.

In this module, you'll study strategic approaches to operations and quality management, using statistics and commercial analysis techniques to improve systems. You'll grasp commercial constraints and learn to contribute effectively to the planning, optimisation and control of manufacturing engineering environments.

Supply Chain Management - 20 credits

Learn strategies and philosophies to optimise supply chains in a rapidly evolving market.

You'll analyse supply chains for efficiency, resilience and responsiveness in this module, then create and optimise model supply chains using modern tools and techniques. You'll explore emerging technology, ethics and environmental concerns, and specialised supply chain methodologies from agile to fully-integrated.

All modules on this MSc Advanced Manufacturing are core.

Close all

Individual Project (MSc) - 60 credits

You'll select and manage a project where you'll solve an engineering problem by researching your subject, investigating existing solutions, devising and implementing a suggested solution, and then testing and evaluating your proposal.

You'll apply your technical skills to identify problems and create engineering solutions, and be assessed orally and in writing.

Changes to course content

We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.

Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry. If a module doesn't run, we'll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.

Programme specification

Facilities

Manufacturing equipment

Use our computer aided design (CAD) and rapid prototyping suite, including various 3D printing systems for the creation of models for aesthetic, ergonomic and functional testing, including the assembly and integration of working prototypes.

Energy Systems Laboratory

Our energy systems lab includes heat pumps, two wind tunnels, solar thermal collector and several engines, student project test rigs and our Formula Student design and development area.

Stress Analysis Laboratory

An area to learn about the mechanical behaviour of materials, including the ability to perform tensile and impact tests, measure hardness and use microscopes.

Metrology Laboratory

Put the science of measurement into practice with manual metrology equipment and a suite of Mitutoyo measuring machines including coordinate measuring machines, a contour and surface roughness measuring machine and 3D laser scanners.

Learn more

Future Technology Centre

Room to model and build prototypes using additive manufacturing machines, and test them out in our advanced testing and imaging facility. Equipment includes a laser sintering machine, 3D printers, 3D scanning microscopy and a Micro CT scanner.

Learn more

Take a tour of our engineering labs

Take a virtual 360 tour around our engineering facilities below.

We are aware that this H5P component is not fully accessible. If you would like a copy of this item, please email . Please also refer to our Accessibility Statement

Teaching

Teaching

Teaching methods on this course include:

• lectures
• seminars
• tutorials
• laboratory sessions
• project work

Assessment

You'll be assessed through:

• written examinations
• coursework
• laboratory-based project work
• a major individual project or dissertation

Teaching staff

These are some of the expert staff who'll teach you on this course:

Soran Birosca

I'm Professor of Advanced Manufacturing at Portsmouth, and leader of the Materials Design & Characterisation (MD&C) Research Group within the School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering.

My research portfolio over recent years has included work on advanced manufacturing, materials characterisation and physical metallurgy. Currently I focus on understanding and predicting microstructure and texture evolution during material processing, deformation and heat treatment as a foundation of materials property optimisation, designing new alloys as well as the development of the processing and joining techniques.

Read more about Soran

Ivan Popov

I'm a Principal Lecturer at the University of Portsmouth, with research interests in engineering design, reverse engineering, engineering metrology, quality control, CACAM, and advanced manufacturing processes. My background is in mechanical and manufacturing engineering, with experience of both university teaching and commercial projects.

Read more about Ivan

How you'll spend your time

We recognise that you'll probably be juggling more demands when you do your Master's degree, as you may be working or you may have family responsibilities.

We'll give you as much indication here as we can of how much time you'll need to be on campus and how many hours you can expect to spend in self-directed study, but please note that these indications are always subject to change. You should receive your full timetable several weeks before you start with us.

Course structure

This Master's degree will take:

• 12 months (full-time study, September start)
• 16 months (full time study, January start)
• 3 years (part-time study)

In the last 3 months of the course you'll be focusing on your research project.

Full-time study

You can expect:

• 10 hours of teaching time every week, made up of lectures and tutorials .
• 20–30 hours of independent study each week, depending on the modules being studied.

We do our best to keep all full-time teaching within 3 days, leaving you the rest of the week for work experience or self-guided study.

Part-time study

You can expect:

• 3–4 hours of teaching time every week, made up of lectures and tutorials.
• 6–12 hours of independent study each week, depending on the modules being studied.

We do our best to keep all part-time teaching within 2 days, leaving you the rest of the week for work experience or self-guided study.

Term dates

September start

The Master's academic year runs from September to the following September. There are breaks at Christmas and Easter. Over the summer you'll be writing your project / dissertation.

January start

Courses that start in January have the same amount of teaching as September-start courses, but they normally run over a longer time period.

January-start courses normally run between 14–18 months, beginning in January and ending in the spring / summer of the following year. There are breaks at Christmas, Easter and in the summer. In the last few months you’ll be writing your project / dissertation.

See key dates

Career development

Careers this Master’s prepares you for

Manufacturing, and engineering in general, is experiencing a skills shortage, with the Institution of Engineering and Technology calling for businesses to address future problems by ensuring they have highly skilled workers in its December 2021 survey. When you graduate from this Master's in Advanced Manufacturing, you'll have demonstrable skills in understanding the issues and using the tools of the industry, ready to take on a role that helps the sector face its upcoming challenges.

Graduates of this course have gone onto areas such as:

• design
• research and development
• product manufacture
• project management

Graduates of this course have gone onto roles such as:

• Design Engineer
• Internal Sales Engineer
• Knowledge Transfer Partnership Associate
• Planning Engineer
• Systems and Application Engineer

9 reasons to do a Master's

Career outcomes shown are sourced from the latest available graduate outcome surveys. The data shows career outcomes at 15 months after graduation.

Career planning

During your course you'll have expert careers advice from our Careers and Employability Centre, your tutors and our Student Placements and Employability Centre. You can access support from our Careers and Employability Centre for up to 5 years after you graduate.

You'll benefit from:

• Networking events
• Applied projects with companies such as IBM, Boeing and Hampshire County Council
• 1-to-1 appointments
• CV and cover letter advice
• Interview preparation and practice
• Workshops to enhance your employability skills
• Recruitment events including the Student and Graduate Opportunities Fair
• Support starting your own business

Learn more about your career support

Supporting you

Master's study is more focused on independent learning than undergraduate study, but you'll get lots of support via video, phone and face-to-face from teaching and support staff to enhance your learning experience and help you succeed. You can build your personalised network of support from the following people and services:

Types of support

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Personal tutor

Your personal tutor helps you make the transition to postgraduate study and gives you academic and personal support throughout your course.

As well as regular scheduled meetings with your personal tutor, they're also available at set times during the week if you want to chat with them about anything that can't wait until your next meeting.

Learning support tutors

You'll have help from a team of faculty learning support tutors. They can help you improve and develop your academic skills and support you in any area of your study.

They can help with:

• improving your academic writing (for example, essays, reports, dissertations)
• understanding and using assignment feedback
• managing your time and workload
• revision and exam techniques

Laboratory support

All our labs and practical spaces are staffed by qualified laboratory support staff. They’ll support you in scheduled lab sessions and can give you one-to-one help when you do practical research projects.

Academic Skills Tutors (AST)

During term time, Faculty Academic Skills Tutors (AST) are available for bookable 1-to-1 sessions, small group sessions and online sessions. These sessions are tailored to your needs.

Support is available for skills including:

• University study
• Getting into the right study mindset
• Note-taking and note-making skills
• Referencing
• Presentation skills
• Time management, planning, and goal setting
• Critical thinking
• Avoiding plagiarism

If you have a disability or need extra support, the Additional Support and Disability Centre (ASDAC) will give you help, support and advice.

Wellbeing and mental health support

Our online Learning Well mini-course will help you plan for managing the challenges of learning and student life, so you can fulfil your potential and have a great student experience.

You can get personal, emotional and mental health support from our Student Wellbeing Service, in person and online. This includes 1–2–1 support as well as courses and workshops that help you better manage stress, anxiety or depression.

Disability advice and additional support

If you require extra support because of a disability or additional learning need our specialist team can help you.

They'll help you to

• discuss and agree on reasonable adjustments
• liaise with other University services and facilities, such as the library
• access specialist study skills and strategies tutors, and assistive technology tutors, on a 1-to-1 basis or in groups
• liaise with external services

Library support

Library staff are available in person or by email, phone, or online chat to help you make the most of the University’s library resources. You can also request one-to-one appointments and get support from a librarian who specialises in your subject area.

The library is open 24 hours a day, every day, in term time.

Mathematics and stats support

The Maths Cafe offers advice and assistance with mathematical skills in a friendly, informal environment. You can come to our daily drop-in sessions, develop your mathematics skills at a workshop or use our online resources.

Support with English

If English isn't your first language, you can do one of our English language courses to improve your written and spoken English language skills before starting your degree. Once you're here, you can take part in our free In-Sessional English (ISE) programme to improve your English further.

How to apply

Unlike undergraduate applications, which go through UCAS, applications for this Master's course are made directly to us.

There's no deadline for applications to this course. We accept applications right up until the start dates in September and January, as long as there are places available. If you wait until your start month to apply, you may find that the course is full.

If you're applying as an international student, remember that you'll need to leave plenty of time to get your visa organised.

You can find more advice about applying in our Master's application checklist. International students and current students and recent graduates of the University of Portsmouth also have some different application options, which are detailed below.

Extra information for international students

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I'm an international student

If you're an international student, you can apply directly to us using the same application form as UK students.

You could also get an agent to help with your application. Check your country page for details of agents in your region. To find out what to include in your application, head to the how to apply page of our international students section.

If you don’t meet the English language requirements for this course yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

Ready to apply?

When you're ready to begin your application, choose your start date.

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September 2025 / January 2026 start

Start this course in September 2025

Apply now (Full-time) – 1 year Apply now (Part-time) – 3 years

Start this course in January 2026

Apply now (Full-time) – 16 months

I'm a current Portsmouth student, or a recent Portsmouth graduate

If you're currently in your final year of study at Portsmouth, or you graduated since July 2024, you're eligible to make a fast track application. You'll have:

• a shorter application form to complete
• access to the 20% Alumni fee discount
• a guaranteed conditional offer, for most Master's courses

Learn more about fast track

After you apply

Once we receive your application, we may ask you for further information. We will then either make you an offer or suggest alternatives if your application is unsuccessful.

You'll usually get a decision within 10 working days, so you shouldn't have to wait too long. Some courses have an interview stage – we'll let you know if you need to prepare for one.

Learn more about how we assess your application.

Admissions terms and conditions

When you accept an offer to study at the University of Portsmouth, you also agree to abide by our Student Contract (which includes the University's relevant policies, rules and regulations). You should read and consider these before you apply.

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