Program Overview

MSc Mechatronics

Overview

The MSc Mechatronics programme is designed to provide students with a range of industrial problem-solving skills based on Mechatronics, allowing them to explore industrial problems using the latest Mechatronics tools available in their current field or field of interest. The programme is closely aligned to industry needs through sustainable development and current revolution in Mechatronics platform solutions in engineering and technology.

Why Study Mechatronics at Derby?

• Choose a multidisciplinary course covering a range of subjects including mechanics, electronics, mathematics, and software engineering.
• Develop skills to deal with complex technical issues systemically and creatively.
• Study a course closely aligned to industry needs through sustainable development and current revolution in Mechatronics platform solutions in engineering and technology.
• Gain access to state-of-the-art laboratories and equipment.
• Be taught by experts in their field in a range of areas including mechanical, electrical, electronics, control systems, instrumentation, powertrain, automation, robotics, and software engineering.

Course Structure

The course is made up of three stages: Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, and MSc.

• To achieve a Postgraduate Certificate, you need to study two core modules with one option module to obtain 60 credits.
• To achieve a Postgraduate Diploma, you need to study two core modules with one option module to obtain further 60 credits.
• To complete the MSc, you need to study the Independent Engineering Scholarship to obtain a total of 180 credits.
• Full-time students normally study 60 credits per semester, part-time students 20 or 40 credits per semester.

Course Modules

MSc Mechatronics: Powertrain

• Independent Engineering Scholarship: This module will provide you with an opportunity to apply and enhance the knowledge and intellectual skills gained during your programme and allow you to develop your specialist skills in an area of your choice.
• Research Methods, Application and Evaluation: This module will enable you to develop your practice in undertaking research by identifying and applying advanced research methodologies, both within your taught modules and for your postgraduate research project.
• Environmental Risk & Responsibility: The module enables designers, technologists, and engineers to critically evaluate how their individual professional actions, decisions, and leadership of others interact with the society in which they are working and affect environmental risk and the sustainable future of the planet.
• CPD & Strategic Management: This module is designed to develop your managerial skills in preparation for work in a global industry environment. You will study strategic concepts and be able to transfer them into your own industry/specialism through a structured approach.
• Industrial Electronics and Automation: This module addresses the scientific, engineering, and technical aspects of the application of electronics, for the enhancement of industrial products and manufacturing processes.
• Advanced Mechatronics Systems: This module is looking at mechatronics major elements, practice, and revolution, real industrial case studies, and its industrial impact.
• Power Electronics and Drives: This module provides the current development in power electronics and drives techniques covering key fundamental principles along with modern mechatronics applications and current practices.
• Hybrid Powertrain: This module is designed to provide an in-depth technical information concerning the design, operating principles of the modern high-performance power unit and its associated systems and to the modern types of transmission system used in Mechatronics Systems, Automotive Engineering, and Motorsport.

MSc Mechatronics: Automation

• Independent Engineering Scholarship: This module will provide you with an opportunity to apply and enhance the knowledge and intellectual skills gained during your programme and allow you to develop your specialist skills in an area of your choice.
• Research Methods, Application and Evaluation: This module will enable you to develop your practice in undertaking research by identifying and applying advanced research methodologies, both within your taught modules and for your postgraduate research project.
• Environmental Risk & Responsibility: The module enables designers, technologists, and engineers to critically evaluate how their individual professional actions, decisions, and leadership of others interact with the society in which they are working and affect environmental risk and the sustainable future of the planet.
• CPD & Strategic Management: This module is designed to develop your managerial skills in preparation for work in a global industry environment. You will study strategic concepts and be able to transfer them into your own industry/specialism through a structured approach.
• Industrial Electronics and Automation: This module addresses the scientific, engineering, and technical aspects of the application of electronics, for the enhancement of industrial products and manufacturing processes.
• Advanced Mechatronics Systems: This module is looking at mechatronics major elements, practice, and revolution, real industrial case studies, and its industrial impact.
• Modern Control Systems Design: This module covers the analysis and design of advanced control systems. Your knowledge and understanding of state space systems are developed to enable you to analyze control systems using analytical techniques and computer tools.
• Embedded Systems Design and AI: In this module industrially relevant hardware and software design skills are developed, including embedded C programming, and working with a real-time operating system.

MSc Mechatronics: Robotics

• Independent Engineering Scholarship: This module will provide you with an opportunity to apply and enhance the knowledge and intellectual skills gained during your programme and allow you to develop your specialist skills in an area of your choice.
• Research Methods, Application and Evaluation: This module will enable you to develop your practice in undertaking research by identifying and applying advanced research methodologies, both within your taught modules and for your postgraduate research project.
• Environmental Risk & Responsibility: The module enables designers, technologists, and engineers to critically evaluate how their individual professional actions, decisions, and leadership of others interact with the society in which they are working and affect environmental risk and the sustainable future of the planet.
• CPD & Strategic Management: This module is designed to develop your managerial skills in preparation for work in a global industry environment. You will study strategic concepts and be able to transfer them into your own industry/specialism through a structured approach.
• Industrial Electronics and Automation: This module addresses the scientific, engineering, and technical aspects of the application of electronics, for the enhancement of industrial products and manufacturing processes.
• Advanced Mechatronics Systems: This module is looking at mechatronics major elements, practice, and revolution, real industrial case studies, and its industrial impact.
• Advanced Robotics and AI: This module will develop a full understanding of all the major robotics systems mechanical and electrical components and provide a clear understanding of computational intelligence with focus on Robotics and Artificial Intelligence.
• Embedded Systems Design and AI: In this module industrially relevant hardware and software design skills are developed, including embedded C programming, use of AI (i.e., Machine and Deep Learning based on both supervised and unsupervised learning) and working with a real-time operating system.

MSc Mechatronics: Instrumentation

• Independent Engineering Scholarship: This module will provide you with an opportunity to apply and enhance the knowledge and intellectual skills gained during your programme and allow you to develop your specialist skills in an area of your choice.
• Research Methods, Application and Evaluation: This module will enable you to develop your practice in undertaking research by identifying and applying advanced research methodologies, both within your taught modules and for your postgraduate research project.
• Environmental Risk & Responsibility: The module enables designers, technologists, and engineers to critically evaluate how their individual professional actions, decisions, and leadership of others interact with the society in which they are working and affect environmental risk and the sustainable future of the planet.
• CPD & Strategic Management: This module is designed to develop your managerial skills in preparation for work in a global industry environment. You will study strategic concepts and be able to transfer them into your own industry/specialism through a structured approach.
• Industrial Electronics and Automation: This module addresses the scientific, engineering, and technical aspects of the application of electronics, for the enhancement of industrial products and manufacturing processes.
• Advanced Mechatronics Systems: This module is looking at mechatronics major elements, practice, and revolution, real industrial case studies, and its industrial impact.
• Intelligent Instrumentation Systems: This module aims to give you an in-depth understanding of instrumentation principles and currently used sensors, novel sensors, advanced signal processing, and modern instrumentation techniques and applications.
• Embedded Systems Design and AI: In this module industrially relevant hardware and software design skills are developed, including embedded C programming, use of AI (i.e., Machine and Deep Learning based on both supervised and unsupervised learning) and working with a real-time operating system.

Assessment

Assessment may take many forms of written work, presentations, contributions to online discussions, computer-aided designs, laboratory assessments, and viva voce. Many assessments, including the MSc project, require a written report.

Careers

The ultimate aim of the MSc Mechatronics programme is to prepare you to work on cutting-edge emerging industrial applications and projects where Mechatronics play a significant role.

You could progress into, or if already employed progress within, many fields of professional activity. The predominant one recently has been the smart and digital manufacturing industry, modern control systems, instrumentation, product design, and research and development. Opportunities exist within any industry where powertrain, automation, robotics, and instrumentation are made, and Mechatronics platform solution approach is exercised. There are also many non-engineering possibilities, where employers appreciate the intelligence, reasoning, and mathematical ability skills of Mechatronics graduate; these include banking, insurance, administration, and retail.

You may also want to consider further studies like a MPhil or PhD.

Entry Requirements

You will normally be expected to have an appropriate first degree in Mechatronics, mechanical, electrical, electronics, robotics, automation, instrumentation, or a closely related discipline, with a minimum classification of 2:2 or above. Consideration will also be given to equivalent qualifications, e.g., a professional qualification of equal standing, or significant industrial or professional experience gained following your initial qualification.

If you have studied a first degree which is not accredited by the Engineering Council as part of the initial learning to CEng, you may be required to undertake some preparatory study, drawn for example from final year material already on offer at the University.

If you are an international student, you can combine this with an appropriate English programme to meet the international entry requirements. If English is not your first language, you will need to hold IELTS 6.5 (with 6.0 in each skills area) or above.

Fees and Funding

2025/26 (August 2025 - July 2026)

Type| Full-time| Part-time
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UK| Full-time£9,270 for the full course*| Part-time£1,030 per 20 creditsInternational| Full-time£16,900 for the full course| Part-timeN/A

How to Apply

Please look at our application deadlines before you apply.

UK students: Apply directly to the University.

International students: Apply directly to the University.

If you'd like support with your application, you can contact one of our trusted local representatives.