Programme Specifications

Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

The MEng in Electronic and Electrical Engineering aims to:

A1. Produce high quality graduates capable of shaping the future of Electronic and Electrical Engineering by becoming leaders in their chosen career, whether in industry or academia

A2.  Provide high-quality teaching and practical experience across a complete range of core subjects in order  to give students the skills to investigate new and emerging electronic and electrical engineering problems

A3. Develop engineers capable of designing innovative systems and managing the development process in order to deliver solutions that meet the requirements of customers

A4. Produce engineers with extensive knowledge and understanding of engineering management and business practices and of relevant ethical, business, sustainability and legal constraints.

A5. Develop graduates capable of integrating their knowledge of mathematics, science and the broader engineering context to solve complex problems.

A6. Promote innovation in engineering by applying appropriate knowledge, skills, tools and techniques in in delivering successful solutions to both familiar and unfamiliar technical problems

A7. Support personal and professional development, including, problem solving, leadership, team work and both oral and written presentation skills, as well as the ability to take the initiative in improving personal performance

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, 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.

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

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

• K1. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of scientific, mathematical and engineering principles appropriate to electronic and electrical engineering

• K2. Demonstrate an understanding of general engineering and broader principles relevant to engineering

• K3. Understand the commercial, economic and sustainable aspects in the application of engineering processes

• K4. Demonstrate awareness of the relevant codes of practice and regulatory frameworks and the operational practices for safe operation of engineering processes

• K5.  Demonstrate extensive knowledge of the application of management and business practices appropriate  to engineering industries, including their limitations

• K6. Recognise the professional and ethical responsibilities of engineers

• K7. Demonstrate awareness of developing technologies in electronic and electrical engineering

• K8. Draw on a deep understanding of electronic and electrical engineering to form original solutions to engineering problems, some of which may have incomplete specifications

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

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

C1. Apply engineering principles to the analysis of electronic and electrical engineering problems;

C2. Apply mathematical and computer-based methods for modelling and analysing a range of practical and hypothetical engineering processes, components and products;

C3. Generate innovative designs for engineering problems within the framework of economic, social, ethical and environmental issues;

C4. Evaluate and respond to customer needs, including fitness for purpose and cost;

C5. Follow essential design principles appropriate to relevant components, equipment and associated software.

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

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

• P1. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of design, modelling, simulation and analytical methods and tools appropriate to electronic and electrical engineering

• P2. Demonstrate a thorough understanding of current practice in defining and solving practical engineering problems, including its limitations and likely future direction

• P3. Demonstrate an ability to manage the design process

• P4. Use conventional laboratory equipment and relevant test and measurement equipment in an appropriate and safe manner

• P5. Apply engineering techniques taking into account relevant codes of practice, commercial constraints and industry standards

• P6. Demonstrate awareness of contractual issues and intellectual property rights

• P7. Work with technical uncertainty

• P8. Use appropriate management tools for project work.

c. Key transferable skills:

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

• T1. Search and retrieve information, ideas and data from a variety of sources

• T2. Select and analyse appropriate evidence and data to solve problems;

• T3. Apply skills in problem solving, communication, team working and in the use of general software tools;

• T4.  Develop a personal work plan and take responsibility for its execution, independently, as team member  or as a team leader;

• T5. Produce appropriate technical reports, papers, diagrams and drawings;

• T6. Plan self-learning and be able to take the initiative in improving personal performance, as the foundation  for lifelong learning

4. Programme structure

4.1       Part A - Introductory Modules

Semester 1 and 2

Compulosry Modules (20 credits)

Semester 1

Compulsory Modules (50 credits)

Semester 2

Compulsory modules (50 credits)

4.2       Part B - Degree Modules

Semester 1 and 2

Compulsory Modules (20 credits)

Semester 1

Compulsory modules (50 credits)

Compulsory Modules (50 credits)

4.3       Part I

For candidates who are registered for the Diploma in Industrial Studies (DIS), Diploma in Professional Studies (DPS) or the 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.

4.3       Part C - Degree Modules

Semester 1 and 2

Compulsory Modules (30 credits)

Semester 1 

Compulsory modules (10 credits)

Optional Modules (40 credits)

Semester 2

Optional modules (40 credits)

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

4.4       Part D - Degree Modules

 Semester 1 and 2

Compulsory modules (60 credits)

Semester 1

Optional modules (20)

Semester 2

Optional modules

The options from the university catalogue 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. This free choice includes language modules from the University-wide Language Programme.  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.

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

5.1 Criteria for Programme Progression

In order to progress from Part A to Part B, from Part B to C, from C to D and to be eligible for the award of an Honours degree, candidates must not only satisfy the minimum credit requirements set out in Regulation XX and in addition candidates must accumulate 120 credits and achieve an overall average of 55% in each part.

To qualify for the Degree of Masters of Engineering, candidates must accumulate 120 credits from Part D, and achieve an overall average of 55%.

5.2    Criteria for Candidates who do not receive Permission to Progress or gain the Award of a Degree

Any candidate who fails to achieve the criteria for progression from Part A to Part B, Part B to Part C or Part C to Part D shall have the opportunity to repeat module assessments in accordance with the provisions of Regulation XX.  Alternatively, the candidate may elect to enter the BEng Honours Degree programme in Electronic and Electrical Engineeringl, provided that the candidate has satisfied the criteria for progression on the BEng programme at the appropriate point.

In addition, candidates should normally obtain a mark of at least 50% in all modules with the prefix WSD5xx in order to accumulate credit.

Any candidate who, having successfully completed Part C, is unable to commence or complete Part D or who fails to achieve the criteria necessary for the award of MEng may, at the discretion of the Programme Board, be awarded the degree of BEng in Electronic and Electrical Engineering with a classification corresponding to the candidate’s achievements in the Part B and Part C assessments and determined on the basis of the weightings given for the BEng programme.

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 20: Part C 40: Part D 40, to determine the final Programme Mark.