Programme Specifications

Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

To meet the all of the aims of the MEng programme in Systems Engineering and to further enhance a student’s learning experience by providing a high quality educational experience, for well motivated high achievers, that:

• A1.   increases the depth and breadth of technical study to the level expected of Masters level graduates;
• A2.   develops knowledge and skills, to a depth and breadth expected of Masters level graduates, as a preparation for a career in industry;
• A3.   takes the student through the first level expected when applying for chartered engineer status
• A4.   develops an enhanced capacity for independent learning, planning, self–reliance and self- evaluation;
• A5.   enhances teamwork and leadership skills, equipping graduates of the programme to play leading roles in industry and potentially take responsibility for future innovation and change;
• A6.   develop an appreciation for complexity and uncertainty in engineering systems;
• A7.   Provides an introduction to and experience of mentoring and evaluation processes and techniques enabling the student to articulate identified issues and suggest alternative approaches within a system design context;
• A8.   Provides an opportunity to work in a multi-disciplinary team and to apply project management and engineering theory and practice in a collaborative and competitive
• A9.   environment to build and demonstrate a complex autonomous system capable of fulfilling a changing set of requirements;
• A10.  Increases the awareness of the complexities in the configuration of Systems of Systems (SoS) particularly at the interfaces of the component systems and hence the need to take a holistic view of SoS development and operation;
• A11.  Develops a deeper understanding of the socio-technical aspects of systems and systems of systems design and operation.

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

• UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence: Engineering Technician, Incorporated Engineer and Chartered Engineer Standard, Engineering Council UK, 3rd edition, 2013.
• UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence: The Accreditation of Higher Education Programmes, Engineering Council UK, 3rd edition, 2014.
• Guidance Note on Academic Accreditation, Engineering Council UK, July 2014.
• The UK Quality Code for Higher Education, The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, April 2012.
• Subject Benchmark Statement: Engineering, The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, November 2010.
• Master's Degree Characteristics, The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, March 2010.

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

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

• K1.   the nature of systems thinking and systems engineering concepts and terminology;
• K2.   the form and value of systems engineering-based techniques, methods and methodologies and their use in the development and evaluation of complex systems and systems of systems in a range of engineering and commercial domains;
• K3.   the provenance and theory behind a range of systems and systems engineering tools, methods and processes;
• K4.   the need for an integrated systems approach using appropriate and timely configurations of systems engineering methods, tools and processes;
• K5.   the importance of integrating Requirements Specification, Systems Design and Validation and Verification approaches along the whole systems life cycle;
• K6.   the role and limitations of systems architecture approaches: the interfaces between technical sub-systems with organisational, human and process sub systems;
• K7.   Engineering and Management of Capability;
• K8.   the theory behind and application of mentoring approaches;
• K9.   the theory behind and application of formal project evaluation methods and practice;
• K10.  mathematical methods appropriate to systems engineering and related disciplines, including their limitations and range of applicability;
• K11.  principles of engineering and/or systems science appropriate to engineering and related disciplines, including their range of applicability;
• K12.  principles of information technology and communications appropriate to engineering of complex systems;
• K13.  knowledge and information management techniques and tools;
• K14.  design principles and techniques appropriate to relevant components, equipment and associated software;
• K15.  characteristics of relevant common engineering materials and components;
• K16.  management and business practices appropriate to engineering industries, their application and limitations;
• K17.  relevant codes of practice and regulatory frameworks relevant to systems engineering and related disciplines;
• K18.  operational practices and requirements for safe operation relevant to electronic and electrical engineering;
• K19.  the professional and ethical responsibilities of engineers;
• K20.  research methodologies and approaches;
• K21.  ability to deal with uncertain, incomplete and changing information in a dynamic systems or systems of systems context.

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

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

• C1.   an ability to apply a systems engineering approach to engineering, problem structuring and problem solving in a variety of engineering contexts;
• C2.   ability to select and apply different systems engineering tools, methods and processes based on both an understanding of the theory behind the tools and an appreciation of their functionality and applicability to the system context;
• C3.   the role and processes involved in mentoring individuals and groups and evaluation of projects against goals set;
• C4.   an understanding of standard mathematical and/or computer based methods for modelling and analysing a range of practical and hypothetical engineering problems, and the essential principles of modelling and analysing routine engineering systems, processes, components and products;
• C5.   an appreciation of the socio-technical aspects of system design and operation and the application of methods and techniques available in this area;
• C6.   a competency in systems architecting approaches;
• C7.   an understanding of a range of areas dependent on modules studied eg control techniques used in industry, aeronautical considerations of aircraft design and performance, different renewable energy generation technologies, human factors in systems design, financial management, system architecting, innovation etc.
• C8.   an ability to develop innovative solutions to practical engineering problems;
• C9.   a competence in defining and solving practical engineering problems;
• C10.  the ability to integrate, evaluate and use information, data and ideas from a range of sources in their project work.

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

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

• P1.   develop a viable systems engineering approach to the development of complex systems and systems of systems in a range of engineering and commercial environments;
• P2.   analyse and identify a problem space, extract and formalize a requirements specification   for a system of interest and select and apply appropriate systems design and validation and verification methods within a defined systems engineering process along the whole system lifecycle;
• P3.   select and use conventional laboratory equipment and relevant test and measurement equipment in a safe manner;
• P4.   research, select and use computational tools and packages (including programming and modelling languages where appropriate) in familiar situations for modeling and analysing pertinent engineering problems;
• P5.   design, and where appropriate construct, systems, components or processes in a muli- disciplinary team within given time and resource constraints;
• P6.   search for, locate, retrieve and reference correctly information, ideas and data from a variety of sources;
• P7.   manage a project and the inherent technical and project management risks, and produce technical reports, papers, diagrams and drawings.
• P8.   plan and execute safely novel or unfamiliar experimental laboratory work;
• P9.   undertake testing of design ideas in the laboratory or by simulation, and analyse and critically evaluate the results.

c. Key transferable skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should have the following skills and abilities:

• T1.   Self-management : readiness to accept responsibility, flexibility, resilience, self-starting, appropriate assertiveness, time management, readiness to improve own performance based on feedback/reflective learning
• T2.   Team-working: respecting others, co-operating, negotiating/persuading, contributing to discussions, interpersonal skills and awareness of interdependence with others
• T3.   Leadership: project and group management, delegation v control, verbal and written communication, creativity, problem solving and financial/time/risk management
• T4.   Analysis and investigation: use of systems engineering approaches, tools and techniques to gather and analyse information systematically to aid decision-making and critical thinking skills
• T5.   Business and customer awareness: Basic understanding of the key drivers for business success – including the importance of innovation and taking calculated risks – and the need to provide customer satisfaction and build customer loyalty
• T6.   Problem solving: analysing facts and situations and applying creative thinking to develop appropriate solutions
• T7.   Communication and literacy: application of literacy, ability to produce clear, structured written work and oral literacy – including listening and questioning
• T8.   Positive attitude: a ‘can-do’ approach, self- motivation, a readiness to take part and contribute, openness to new ideas and a drive to make these happen
• T9.   Entrepreneurship and enterprise: broadly, an ability to demonstrate an innovative approach, creativity, collaboration and risk taking. An individual with these attributes can make a huge difference to any business
• T10.  IT and networks: programming and application development, databases, modeling software, spreadsheets, word processing, graphics and multi-media
• T11.  Risk Management and mitigation
• T12.  Generation and selection of alternative solutions to different classes of engineering/system design problems using a range of methods
• T13.  manipulate, sort and present data in a range of forms
• T14.  use evidence based methods and investigative techniques in the solution of complex problems
• T15.  work with limited, incomplete and/or contradictory information in the solution of unfamiliar problems
• T16.  Mentoring and evaluation skills including self reflection on performance
• T17.  Production and deliver of professional and effective presentations using a range of media
• T18.  Ability to learn effectively, continuously and independently in a variety of environments

4. Programme structure

4.1 Part A 

Semester 1 and 2

Compulsory Modules (110 Credits)

 Semester 2

Compulsory Modules

4.2 Part B 

Semester 1 and 2

Compulsory Modules (90 credits)

 Optional Modules (30 credits)

4.3 Part I

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 between Parts B and C or between Parts C and D and will be in accordance with the provisions of Regulation XI and Regulation XX.

4.4 Part C 

Candidates must choose one option ‘o’ from each semester 

Semester 1 and 2

Compulsory modules

Optional Modules

The option OB allows a free choice of modules worth 30 credits from the University Catalogue. This choice should be restricted to modules from Part C or D level, subject to the overall requirement for the Part that at least 90 credits should be from Part D level or above. The total of 120 credits should be arranged as near to 60 credits per semester as possible.

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

4.5 Part D 

Semester 1 and 2

Compulsory Modules (60 Credits)

Semester 1

Optional modules

Students must select 45 credits of option modules (THREE modules) from across the year, you MUST select at least ONE module from Group A, this can be in either Semester One or Two. The total of 120 credits should be arranged as near to 60 credits per semester as possible

Group A

Group B

Semester 2

Compulsory modules (15 credits)

Optional modules

Group A

Group B

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

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

5.1 Criteria for programme progression 

Progression from Part A to Part B, Part B to Part C and from Part C to Part D will be subject to provisions set out in Regulation XX and in addition candidates must accumulate 120 credits and achieve an overall average of 55% in that part.

For candidates who commence study on the programme before October, 2016:

To progress from Part A to Part B, candidates must accumulate 100 credits from Part A, with no module mark less than 30% and obtain an average mark in Part A of at least 55%.

To progress from Part B to either Part C or Part I, (a period of professional training and/or study at an approved institution abroad, DIS or DIntS), candidates must accumulate 100 credits from Part B, with no module mark less than 30% and obtain an average mark in Part B of at least 55%.

To progress from Part C to either Part D or Part I, (a period of professional training and/or study at an approved institution abroad, DIS or DIntS), candidates must accumulate 100 credits from Part C, with no module mark less than 30% and obtain an average mark in Part C of at least 55%.

5.2 Degree Award 

To qualify for the award of the degree of Master of Engineering, candidates must accumulate 100 credits from Part D, with no module marks less than 30%. In addition, candidates should normally obtain a mark of at least 50% in all modules with codes of the form WSD5xx taken in Part D.

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

A candidate's final degree classification will be determined on the basis of their performance in degree level Module Assessments at Parts B, C and D in accordance with the scheme set out in Regulation XX. The average percentage marks for each Part will be combined in the ratio Part B 15: Part C 42.5: Part D 42.5, to determine the final Programme Mark.