Applied Mechatronic Engineering

Entry requirements

Candidates should possess one of the following:

• An honours degree in a relevant engineering discipline, with either a first or an upper-second class honours classification or an equivalent award
• A postgraduate diploma in a relevant engineering discipline or an equivalent award

Months of entry

September

Course content

This course builds on the Engineering Department’s long history of working closely with industry teaching students how to apply engineering science to industrial product design. Mechatronics is a multi-disciplinary field of engineering that combines with mechanical, electronic, computer, software, control and systems design engineering in the design and manufacture of useful products. It is an increasingly important discipline as most modern vehicles and machinery incorporate multiple mechatronic systems.

Some of the technologies that mechatronics encompasses include: robotics, vision systems, satellite navigation systems, communications technology, and biometric and other new advanced sensors. Introduction of these new technologies means that engineers cannot rely upon prior knowledge when designing machinery. As a consequence it has become normal practice for new highly technical equipment to be developed by specialist manufacturers, either through subcontract subsystem devolution or commercial partnership.

When developing new products, much of the work of the engineer involves the recombination or reapplication of previously un-combined technologies to solve new problems or enable new functionalities. Engineers therefore need to develop the greatest possible body of knowledge as a resource to call upon during the resolution of novel challenges in new or different environments.

This postgraduate programme builds upon students’ existing engineering skills and knowledge developed through prior education and focuses them into a more specific and applied area of study. This approach is designed to allow students to expand their applied knowledge and develop the necessary powers of analysis required to solve complex design problems. Learning largely takes place through a series of individual and group engineering projects intended to enable students to apply their existing academic skills and knowledge to the design, fabrication and testing of new products or systems. Where applicable, projects will be sponsored and supported by engineering companies and will focus on the development of mechatronic systems, machinery and equipment.

How will it benefit me?

This programme is designed for students with a strong academic background but limited industrial experience. It is intended to expedite the experiential development of these engineers through a series of industrially linked projects. Students will complete the course with a view to taking leading positions in manufacturing companies designing innovative machinery and equipment by employing new and emerging technologies to develop mechatronic systems, machinery and solutions.