Course overview
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.
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 is normally undertaken over a one semester period and has been developed to enable a student to gain real-world practical experience to enhance their employability and academic learning. Students will receive preparatory sessions to enable them to apply to internship opportunities, which normally include:
Vocational internships with external organisations based offsite
Research or development internships based on campus
Employer-led internships based on campus
Students will undertake an appropriate advanced practice opportunity to meet their skill set and aspirations, related to their course.
All students will be assigned an academic supervisor to provide academic and pastoral support throughout their internship. Students will be assessed through a reflective report on a pass/fail basis. This module does not count towards the overall classification of the degree.
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.
You investigate an area of engineering and work independently to a level recognised to be at the forefront of the discipline. The topic can be in the form of a research project or a design project. Key skills in research and in knowledge application and creation will be developed through keynote lectures and self-managed independent study. You are required to demonstrate the capacity for a comprehensive and objective analysis, and for developing innovative and constructive proposals for the solution to the project topic.
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.
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.
You will investigate how the role of the engineer is becoming more focused on serving society as well as industry and to recognise the impact of engineers’ decisions on society and the environment.
As engineers of the future, you will need to have a sustainable worldview, acknowledging international, cultural, and diversity issues in society. In addition, you will also be expected to solve complex problems with consideration for multi-perspective views, long-term effects, risk, and the impacts of decisions on society.
This module will examine the key topics surrounding sustainability in the context of engineering applications across a range of disciplines and key future challenges such as energy, transport, and construction.
The subjects will be taught through a combination of lectures and seminars. Lectures will develop key concepts and knowledge. Seminars will allow more focused examinations of important issues and approaches.
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.
International applicants 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.
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