Educational aims
This MSc study offers you the opportunity to progress towards fulfilling the educational requirements for Chartered Engineer (CEng) status and will help you meet professional development needs as specified by the UK Engineering Council and relevant engineering institutions. In particular it will provide evidence of initial and continuing professional development.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
On completion of this masters degree, you will be able to:
- contribute new knowledge to existing bodies of knowledge in relevant engineering disciplines and demonstrate comprehensive understanding of those disciplines through systematic responses to engineering challenges
- act authoritatively and responsibly in your professional work with regard to appropriate social, commercial, ethical/legal and management practices in contemporary engineering.
Cognitive skills
On completion of this masters degree, you will be able to:
- solve engineering problems that require a thorough and comprehensive knowledge and understanding of underpinning scientific principles, mathematical methods and engineering practice
- develop innovative engineered solutions to a user’s needs and preferences that are cost-effective and demonstrably fit for purpose in terms of production, operation, maintenance and de-commissioning.
Practical and/or professional skills
On completion of this masters degree, you will be able to:
- develop and implement solutions to a set of end-user requirements using a range of engineering skills, including a working knowledge of particular materials, equipment, processes and products, workshop and laboratory methods, technical literature and other information, taking into account appropriate quality standards, codes of practice, industry standards, and intellectual property and contractual issues
- initiate and lead engineering projects responsibly, professionally and ethically, with regard to environmental risk and sustainability, and the framework of relevant legal requirements (covering issues such as personnel, health, safety, etc.)
- contribute to your chosen specialism individually and collaboratively using an extended understanding of engineering principles, new and emerging technologies, and current professional practice as applied to engineering problems, whether novel, unfamiliar or complex in nature.
Key skills
On completion of this masters degree, you will be able to:
- practise a range of transferable skills (including problem solving, communication, working with others – especially team-working – IT skills, information retrieval, planning self-learning and career development, and reflection), in the context of managing a significant project at a level appropriate to a senior professional engineer.
Teaching, learning and assessment methods
Knowledge and understanding are acquired through studying distance-learning materials, including specially written study materials, study guides, assignments and project guides; through a range of computer-based activities; through web- and text-based resource materials; through personal research; and through tutor feedback on assignments. Online forums provide an environment where you can deepen your understanding through discussion with other students and tutors.
Cognitive skills are developed through a range of activities including self-assessment exercises and computer-based investigations. They are supported by tutor-led discussions and activities online and by tutor feedback on assignments.
Practical and/or professional skills and attributes relate to the vocational relevance of the diploma. All teaching and assessment strategies will help you to develop knowledge and skills that are transferable to the workplace, whatever combination of modules you take.
Key skills are taught and developed within the learning materials. They are explicitly assessed throughout the diploma and are supported by tutor feedback on assignments. Key skills also have strong vocational relevance and can transfer directly to the workplace.
Assessment strategy
All modules comprise tutor-marked assignments (TMAs), set at intervals through the module and submitted electronically, which may be summative or formative. Some modules may also include computer marked assignments (iCMAs). Modules also have either an end-of-course examination or an end-of-module project.
The final stage 1 module is a team project involving assessment of your individual work and of the work of your project team collectively. You will also be required to attend two residential school weekends as part of the compulsory project module.
The capstone project module in Stage 2 assesses specific skills, knowledge and understanding relevant to the topic being researched by the student under the guidance of a tutor/supervisor. These modules are assessed through a series of progress reports and a final dissertation.