Program Overview

Program Details

The Master of Science in Systems Engineering Specialising in Defence is a postgraduate program offered by Rabdan Academy in collaboration with Cranfield University.

Mission

The program prepares graduates for positions of senior responsibility as innovative, capable, and resilient systems engineers and analysts who are able to lead interdisciplinary teams working with large-scale complex systems, especially within the defence sector, and contribute to the process of discovery and knowledge creation through the conduct of original research.

Description

The program focuses on preparing students for professional practice in systems engineering roles in multi-disciplinary teams across a range of industries, with an emphasis on professional skills such as leadership, team working, communication, data management, ethics, and more. The UAE pathway aims to provide these aims in the context of UAE defence applications and will place particular emphasis on relevant military case studies.

Educational Objectives

• Have relevant technological skills, knowledge, and abilities for employment as a manager in the SSDEC sector.
• Work, lead, and communicate effectively in a team to achieve common goals.
• Apply standard, ethical practices, procedures, and technologies to collect information, identify threats, assess risk, and develop effective programs.
• Implement organizational, interagency solutions to strengthen the SSDEC community and build national resilience capacities.
• Expand knowledge and capabilities through continuing education, certification, or other lifelong learning opportunities.
• Fulfil civic duties and responsibilities through local, national, or global service.

Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate knowledge associated with evaluating complex systems engineering applications.
• Critically assess the application of systems engineering processes and methods to the design of effective systems across application domains.
• Analyse complex systems properties for development of successful application of modern technologies and processes.
• Compare and contrast application of model-based system engineering approaches to life cycle process in complex systems and effectively communicate findings reflecting appropriate academic research practices.
• Initiate, manage, independently self-evaluate, activities that may include strategic performance and development of professional teams and contributing to professional knowledge and practice including in unfamiliar learning contexts.

Program Structure

The program consists of:

• Core courses: 10 courses, 22 credits, 85% of total credits.
• Research courses: 2 courses, 11 credits, 15% of total credits.

Core Courses

• MSE500: Introduction to Systems and Systems Engineering, 2 credits.
• MSE505: Enterprise Management, 2 credits.
• MSE510: Problem Analysis and System Definition, 2 credits.
• MSE515: System Design and Realisation, 2 credits.
• MSE520: Problem Analysis and System Definition Workshop, 2 credits.
• MSE525: Simulation in the Systems Engineering Lifecycle, 2 credits.
• MSE530: Dynamic Modelling of Systems, 2 credits.
• MSE535: Software and Cyber Systems Engineering, 2 credits.
• MSE540: Dependability and Resilience, 2 credits.
• MSE545: Human Systems Engineering, 2 credits.
• MSE555: System Design and Realisation Workshop, 2 credits.

Research Courses

• MSE550: Research Methods, 2 credits.
• MSE560: Thesis, 9 credits.

Study Plan

The ideal full-time study plan is as follows:

• Semester 1: 6 courses, 12 credits.
  • MSE500: Introduction to Systems and Systems Engineering.
  • MSE505: Enterprise Management.
  • MSE510: Problem Analysis and System Definition.
  • MSE515: System Design and Realisation.
  • MSE520: Problem Analysis and System Definition Workshop.
  • MSE550: Research Methods.
• Semester 2: 5 courses, 10 credits.
  • MSE525: Simulation in the Systems Engineering Lifecycle.
  • MSE530: Dynamic Modelling of Systems.
  • MSE535: Software and Cyber Systems Engineering.
  • MSE540: Dependability and Resilience.
  • MSE555: System Design and Realisation Workshop.
• Semester 3: 2 courses, 11 credits.
  • MSE545: Human Systems Engineering.
  • MSE560: Thesis.

Entry Requirements

• A bachelor's degree in the field of science and/or engineering.
• A minimum CGPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or its established equivalent.
• A minimum of 6.5 IELTS score or equivalent as per the MoD contract.