Programme Specifications

Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

This programme seeks to provide a fully accredited engineering degree course that bridges the disciplines of mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering and product design.

The design content is interdisciplinary and applicable to products, processes and systems. It aims to support the acquisition of design engineering skills and provide an integrating theme to develop goal-directed thinking and problem-solving strategies applicable to a wide range of problems.

•    To deliver systematic knowledge and understanding of key aspects of engineering science, manufacturing engineering, innovation and appropriate management techniques.

•    To provide opportunities for students to develop appropriate design and project engineering skills.

•    To develop the ability to solve engineering problems, some complex, using contemporary ideas and techniques.

•    To enable students to manage their own learning, communicate effectively and make use of primary source materials.

•    To gain knowledge of human and project management theory.

•    To provide insight into engineering practice and commercial aspects of engineering.

2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external reference points used to inform programme outcomes:

• UK Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) – ‘Subject Benchmark Statement for Engineering’, (Feb.2015). 

• Engineering Council (UK). ‘UK-SPEC, UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence’, 3^rd Edition, Jan.2014. 

• Engineering Council (UK). ‘The Accreditation of Higher Education Programmes’, 3^rd Edition, May 2014. 

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• the underpinning science, mathematics and other disciplines associated with careers related to product design and manufacturing engineering;
• engineering principles, quantitative methods, mathematical and computer models;
• the design process and design methodologies;
• codes of practice, industry standards and quality issues as applicable to a career in product design engineering;
• management techniques and business practices and of the commercial and economic context of an engineering business;
• intellectual property issues and of environmental, legal and ethical issues within the modern industrial world;
• the characteristics of engineering materials, equipment and processes and an awareness of basic mechanical workshop practices.

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• define a design engineering problem and generate innovative solutions;
• interpret numerical data and apply mathematical methods to the analysis of engineering design problems;
• analyse, objectively evaluate and apply the principles of industrial design, engineering design and manufacturing design to product design and development;
• demonstrate an awareness of form, function, fit, environment and safety as applied to design and manufacture;
• show initiative, innovation and intellect in problem solving.

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• manage the design process taking account of customer constraints such as cost, health and safety, risk and environmental issues;
• use appropriate computer software and laboratory equipment;
• research information, generate and evaluate product design ideas;
• communicate product design ideas through the presentation of concept drawings, computer visualisations and conventional sketching;
• prepare engineering drawings, computer visualisations and technical reports and give technically competent oral presentations;
• demonstrate an understanding of manufacturing technology in relation to design and production;
• demonstrate basic organisational and management skills.

c. Key transferable skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• demonstrate a high level of numeracy;
• apply creative and structured approaches to problem solving;
• communicate effectively through written, graphical, interpersonal and presentation skills;
• design and implement basic computer-based information systems;
• work independently;
• work in a team;
• organise and manage time and resources effectively.

4. Programme structure

4.1    Part A - Introductory Modules

4.2    Part B - Degree Modules 

4.3    Part I – Optional Placement Year 

For candidates who are registered for the Diploma in Industrial Studies (DIS), Diploma in Professional Studies (DPS) or Diploma in International Studies (DintS), Part I will be followed between Parts B and C and will be in accordance with the provisions of Regulation XI and Regulation XX.

4.4    Part C - Degree Modules

Students MUST choose 10 credits of optional modules (O) in Semester One.

Students MUST choose 30 credits of optional modules (O) in Semester Two, with no more than 10 credits from each group. 

All optional module choice is subject to availability, timetabling, student number restrictions and students having taken appropriate pre-requisite modules.

4.5    Study Overseas 

Students may choose to study Part C – Semester 1 at an approved Overseas Higher Education Institution.  The mix of subjects of the learning programme must be approved in advance by the Programme Director.  The proposed programme of learning will normally include work on an Individual Project with a modular weight of 10.

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

In order to progress from Part A to Part B, and from Part B to Part C and to be eligible for the award of an Honours degree, candidates must satisfy the minimum credit requirements set out in Regulation XX.

6. Relative Weighting of Parts of the Programme for the Purposes of Final Degree Classification

Candidates’ final degree classification will be determined on the basis of their performance in degree level Module Assessments in Part B and Part C, in accordance with the scheme set out in Regulation XX.  The overall average percentage marks for each Part will be combined in the ratio Part B 40: Part C 60, to determine the degree classification.