Course overview
Whether you’re aiming to become an engineer, project engineer, technologist, or designer, this course enhances your technical abilities and sharpens your analytical thinking, setting you up for success in a fast-evolving field.
The engineering sector is at the forefront of innovation, driving change across industries and shaping the future. From cutting-edge sustainable energy systems to the rise of Industry 4.0, engineers are leading the way in creating smarter, more efficient, and eco-friendly solutions. It’s an exciting time to be part of this dynamic field, whether you're working on renewable energy, smart manufacturing, or the latest automation technologies.
In this degree, you explore topics like sustainable engineering systems and Industry 4.0, gaining an in-depth understanding of eco-friendly technologies, automation, and data exchange. You delve into renewable energy solutions, mastering the principles behind the clean energy innovations that are transforming industries worldwide.
Creativity and technical skills come together in our engineering design modules, where you learn to develop practical, forward-thinking solutions to complex problems. You also explore product quality and reliability, ensuring your designs meet the highest standards and perform reliably in real-world applications. In the engineering project management module, you gain vital skills in planning and overseeing projects, helping you deliver on time and within budget.
Studying entirely online using Teesside University’s online learning platform gives you the flexibility to balance your education with work and life commitments. Upon completion, you emerge with degree-level expertise, ready to take on senior roles such as project engineer, design engineer, or sustainability consultant, prepared to lead in one of the most exciting and fast-moving sectors today.
Course details
Course structure
Core modules
Engineering Project Management
You learn project management principles and practices specific to engineering projects. Topics include project planning, scheduling, budgeting, risk management, and team dynamics.
Product Quality and Reliability
This module equips you with appropriate industrial concepts of quality systems and reliability methods relevant to industrial applications. You consider statistical methods relating to quality control and reliability problems, together with product quality and the use of quality tools.
This module advances the development of your independent learning skills by allowing you to investigate an area of engineering for an extended period. You are given training in writing technical reports for knowledgeable readers and you produce a report or dissertation of the work covered. You also give an oral presentation, a poster presentation or both. The topic can be in the form of a research project or a design project. You develop key skills in research, knowledge application and creation through keynote lectures where appropriate and self-managed independent study. You are supported through regular tutorial sessions and project supervision meetings.
Sustainable Systems and Industry 4.0
The emergence of Industry 4.0, often referred to as the fourth industrial revolution, has been attributed to advancing automation, decentralisation and system integration and cloud computing. In the cyber-physical environment, machines can communicate, collect information, and make informed decisions through artificial intelligence (AI), big data and industrial internet of things (IIoT). The evolution of Industry 4.0 has great potential to improve the energy, equipment, and human behaviour. At the same time, in the era of the so-called circular economy, industry across all sectors is under huge pressure to make their manufacturing operations ethical and sustainable. Therefore, we must learn to adopt or implement the latest Industry 4.0 technologies.
The term sustainability has a multi-disciplinary use and meaning. As future engineers you will learn sustainability is represented as the synergy between environment, economics, and society. In this module students specialising in Sustainable Systems and Industry 4.0 will focus their studies and deepen their knowledge in a range of sustainability themes such as energy management and power systems, sustainable water and wastewater systems, sustainable transportation technologies, transitions to sustainable food systems and mechanical manufacturing systems.
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
and one optional module
Engineering Design and Innovation
You focus on advanced engineering design principles, design thinking, innovation management, methodologies, and tools, as well as design optimisation and creative techniques. You use innovative and engineering design problem solving strategies in the application of design practice.
Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Systems
The demand for energy continues to grow and places strain on the natural environment. The pressures of supporting economic growth, while minimising our environmental impact, has driven the research and development of new sources of energy.
You gain the knowledge and skills to implement alternative energy technologies and understand their economic, social and environmental benefit.
This is a 20-credit module.
Modules offered may vary.
How you learn
You learn through lectures, tutorials, projects and assessments. Self-directed learning time is used to review lecture notes, prepare course work assignments, work on projects and revise for exams.
How you are assessed
Assessment methods include exams, in-course assessments, project-work or verbal and poster presentations.
Our Disability Services team provide an inclusive and empowering learning environment and have specialist staff to support disabled students access any additional tailored resources needed. If you have a specific learning difficulty, mental health condition, autism, sensory impairment, chronic health condition or any other disability please contact a Disability Services as early as possible.
Find out more about our disability services
Find out more about financial support
Find out more about our course related costs
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
Edexcel or BTEC HND or equivalent in any engineering or technology discipline.
International students must also provide evidence of English language skills equivalent to IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in each component.
For general information please see our overview of entry requirements
You can gain considerable knowledge from work, volunteering and life. Under recognition of prior learning (RPL) you may be awarded credit for this which can be credited towards the course you want to study.
Find out more about RPL
Employability
Career opportunities
Graduate engineers can seek employment in almost every sector of industry, including automotive, aerospace, manufacturing, marine, medical, rail, power, processing, chemical, oil and gas, and food production. Teesside has emerged as a significant hub for renewable energy and decarbonisation efforts in offshore wind, hydrogen production, and carbon capture technologies.
Learning platform
Our virtual learning environment (VLE) is the platform you use to access your online course
Teesside University online learning courses are delivered through the Brightspace Learning Environment.
Here are some of the benefits.
- You can use it on your smartphone, tablet and computer.
- And you can use it anytime, so that you can plan your learning to fit your own schedule.
- It's easy to use and navigate.
- Modules are set out by topics and themes. You can use the progress bar to understand where you are in your modules, and appreciate your achievements.
- We support you to become familiar with your VLE, helping you to start learning quickly.
- You get feedback, help and guidance from tutors throughout your course through the VLE, and you can ask questions at any time.
- Our tutors use a live activity feed to keep you updated about your course.
- You can create a student profile, collaborate with other students and take part in online discussion forums.