Instrumentation and Control Engineering (with Advanced Practice)
MSc
Course overview
Instrumentation and control engineers are highly sought after in a range of industries including oil and gas, petrochemicals, chemical engineering, manufacturing, research, transport and infrastructure. This course adds an advanced practice module to our one-year master’s and is an opportunity to enhance your qualification by an internship, research or study abroad experience.
This programme will help you develop your knowledge and skills in instrumentation, electronics and control engineering, and it will help you develop the ability to synthesise information from a variety of sources and make effective decisions on complex instrumentation and control engineering problems.There are three routes you can select from to gain a postgraduate Master’s award:
- MSc Instrumentation and Control Engineering - one-year full time
- MSc Instrumentation and Control Engineering - two-years part time
- MSc Instrumentation and Control Engineering (with Advanced Practice) – two years full time
There are three routes you can select from to gain a postgraduate master’s award.The one-year programme is a great option if you want to gain a traditional MSc qualification. The two-year master’s degree with advanced practice enhances your qualification by adding a vocational or research based internship to the one-year master’s programme.A vocational internship is a great way to gain work experience and give your CV a competitive edge. A research internship provides you with the opportunity to develop your analytical, team-working, research and academic skills by working alongside a research team in an academic setting. We guarantee a research internship, but cannot guarantee a vocational internship. We will, however, provide you with practical support and advice on how to find and secure your own vocational internship position should you prefer this type of internship..
Professional accreditation
Accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) on behalf of the Engineering Council as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for registration as a Chartered Engineer. Candidates must hold a CEng accredited BEng/BSc (Hons) undergraduate first degree to comply with full CEng registration requirements
Course details
For the MSc with advanced practice, you complete 120 credits of taught modules, a 60-credit master’s research project and 60 credits of advanced practice.
Examples of past MSc research projects:
- effects of particle size on gas-solid flow measurement using dynamic electrostatic meters
- an investigation of self-turning and predictive control with MATLAB
- modelling and control of hot air blow rig PT326
- wireless controlled car with data acquisition
- BCD to 6-3-1-1 code converter design using VHDL
- comparative evaluation of turning techniques for MPC
- digital traffic signal controller design
- proteus control board test site
- design of temperature measurement system
- control system design for stepping motor.
Course structure
Core modules
Advanced Practice in Science, Engineering and Design
Advanced Practice options
Research Internship: Develop your research and academic skills by undertaking a research internship within the University. Experience working as part of a research team in an academic setting – ideal if you are interested in a career in research or academia.
Vocational Internship: Spend one semester working full-time in industry. We have close links with a variety of local companies who can offer you the chance to develop your knowledge and professional skills in the workplace through an internship. Although we can’t guarantee you an internship, we will provide you with practical support and advice on how to find and secure your own internship position. A vocational internship is a great way to gain work experience and give your CV a competitive edge.
Data Acquisition and Signal Processing
You are introduced to the theorem, principles and techniques of data acquisition and digital processing including sampling, digital signal analysis in time and frequency domains. You also focus on the impact of digital technologies on the design of modern industrial measurement systems. The industrial software for measurement systems will also be introduced with a series of real measurement applications.
Digital Control Design and Implementation
You develop your knowledge of digital circuit analysis and design as well as an understanding of digital control circuits/systems design methodology and implementation technology. You study a range of methods such as top-down design method, design automation framework and tools, VHDL modelling and rapid prototyping. You gain a technical competence and an appreciation of the capabilities and limitations of modern digital control circuits/systems design and implementation. You study through a series of lectures and labs, that are used to explain theory and discuss applications. Practical sessions involve the use of design tools, modelling of digital components and systems, circuit simulation and implementation.
Electronic Signal Conditioning
This module explores the circuit technologies required to make sensitive and precise measurements. Such systems form the signal-conditioning stages of most industrial, commercial and scientific equipment and have to present the raw signal from the sensor in a suitable format for digital signal processing.
On successful completion of the taught modules, you proceed to this 60-credit research project. It allows you to bring together everything you have learnt on the course to address a relevant problem.
Identification and Model Predictive Control
This module develops, from first principles, the methods and techniques associated with system identification. The module shows how these techniques can be used in the formulation of adaptive and model based Control schemes. Finally, the practical implementation of these control schemes is considered.
The module is delivered through a series of weekly lectures. These are used to explain theory and to discuss applications. Practical sessions supported by MatLab and SimuLink are used to reinforce the lecture material and provide an opportunity to develop the required practical skills.
The module is assessed through a combination of in-course assignment and a computer based end examination using MatLab and SimuLink.
This module explores issues such as information skills, qualitative and quantitative research, and ethical research, creating appropriate research material, referencing and avoiding academic misconduct. In addition, you will be given the opportunity to further tour career skills.
You will develop specific skills that can assist in the encouragement of an enterprising, entrepreneurial mind-set that is better equipped to perceive opportunities to develop viable, practical projects from research emanating from conceptual thinking.
In this module the robust control problem is discussed. The module describes the QFT approach to robust control and how to apply this to typical engineering problems. You then discuss the use of expert systems/fuzzy logic solutions as an alternative. The module is delivered through a series of weekly lectures. These are used to explain theory and to discuss applications. Practical sessions supported by MatLab and SimuLink are used to reinforce the lecture material and provide an opportunity to develop the required practical skills. The module is assessed through a combination of in-course assignment and a computer based end examination using MatLab and SimuLink.
Modules offered may vary.
How you learn
You learn through lectures, tutorials and practical sessions. Lectures provide the theoretical underpinning while practical sessions give you the opportunity to put theory into practice, applying your knowledge to specific problems.
Tutorials and seminars provide a context for interactive learning and allow you to explore relevant topics in depth. In addition to the taught sessions, you undertake a substantive MSc research project.
In addition to the taught sessions, you undertake a substantive MSc research project and the Advanced Practice module. This module enables you to experience and develop employability or research attributes and experiential learning opportunities in either an external workplace, internal research environment or by studying abroad. You also critically engage with either external stakeholders or internal academic staff, and reflect on your own personal development through your Advanced Practice experience.
How you are assessed
Assessment varies from module to module. It may include in-course assignments, design exercises, technical reports, presentations or formal examinations. For your MSc project you prepare a dissertation.
Your Advanced Practice module is assessed by an individual written reflective report (3,000 words) together with a study or workplace log, where appropriate, and through a poster presentation.
Entry requirements
You must have a second class (2.2) honours degree (or higher). We consider a wide range of first degree subjects including automation and control engineering, electrical and electronic engineering, electrical engineering, electrical systems, electronic engineering, electronic systems, instrumentation/control engineering, mechatronics, and robotics.
Students with a degree awarded outside the UK must also meet the University's minimum English language requirements.
Non-EU international students who need a student visa to study in the UK should check our web pages on UKVI-compliant English language requirements. The University also provides pre-sessional English language courses if you do not meet the minimum English language requirement.
For general information please see our overview of entry requirements
International applicants can find out what qualifications they need by visiting Your Country
Employability
Career opportunities
An instrumentation and control engineer may be involved in designing, developing, installing, managing and maintaining equipment which is used to monitor and control engineering systems, machinery and processes. As a graduate you can expect to be employed in a range of sectors including industries involved with oil and gas, petrochemicals, chemical engineering, manufacturing, research, transport and infrastructure.
Information for international applicants
Qualifications
International applicants - find out what qualifications you need by selecting your country below.
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Useful information
Visit our international pages for useful information for non-UK students and applicants.
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Full-time
2021/22 entry
Fee for UK applicants
£4,335 a year
Fee for international applicants
£7,500 a year
More details about our fees for international applicants
- Length: September enrolment: 20 months, including a summer break; January enrolment: 2 years, including two summer breaks
- Start date: September or January
- Semester dates
Part-time
- Not available part-time
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