COURSE IN DEPTH
Year One
In order to complete this programme a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):
Engineering Principles 1
20 credits
The module aims to provide the underpinning knowledge and problem solving skills in engineering science to enable you to progress to the next module in the theme, Engineering Principles II, and then on to the second year of a range of engineering degrees.
As the practical aspects of engineering science are delivered in another theme of the common first year, the Engineering Principles modules concentrate on the theoretical aspects. The subject material will be delivered in two coherent streams one of which contains predominantly mechanical science and the other contains predominantly electrical science.
Mathematical Modelling 1
20 credits
Mathematics plays a key role in establishing and grounding the skills of an engineer, and the ability to communicate the ideas of engineering that are expected of an engineering graduates.
The primary aim of this module is to provide the fundamental mathematical knowledge and techniques needed in order to enable you to use and apply such mathematical techniques for the evaluation, analysis, modelling and solution of realistic engineering problems. Application of these data sets has to include their interpretation both to and from the mathematical language. In addition, this module will introduce students to mathematical modelling software package. This will be used to plot, annotate basic signals and write simple programs to compute mathematical problems.
This module will develop your ability to both work on and communicate engineering realities to a wider audience, at a professional standard.
Engineering Practice
20 credits
The module aims to provide the practical and professional skills to enable you to progress to the next module in the practical theme, Practical Skills II, and then on to the second year of an engineering degree. As the theoretical aspects of physical science and maths are delivered in other themes of the first year, the Practical Skills modules concentrate on the practical aspects.
The subject material will be delivered in three coherent streams one of which contains predominantly mechanical and electrical laboratory exercises, a second PC-based stream will include use of software to support project planning, communication and analysis and the third, a project space where you have the opportunity to integrate learning from across all elements of the semester.
Engineering Principles 2
20 credits
The module aims to provide the underpinning knowledge and problem solving skills in engineering science to enable you to progress to the second year of a wide range of engineering degrees. As the practical aspects of engineering science are delivered in another theme of the common first year, the Engineering Principles modules concentrate on the theoretical aspects. The subject material will be delivered in two coherent streams one of which contains predominantly mechanical science and the other contains predominantly electrical science.
Mathematical Modelling 2
20 credits
This module will focus on introducing and building on well-established techniques for mathematically modelling dynamic systems (systems of interest for engineering) for contextualised engineering applications. The module will include an introduction to sophisticated signal analysis technique, Fourier series which is used to transform time-domain signals into their frequency spectra. The module is structured to include a mixture of lectures, tutorials and PC-based laboratories. The lectures will formally introduce material, in tutorials students will work through questions with tutor. The PC laboratories will involve using mathematical modelling software packages to implement mathematical operations.
Integrated Engineering Project
20 credits
The module aims to provide the practical and professional skills to enable you to progress on to the second year of an engineering degree. As the theoretical aspects of physical science and maths are delivered in other themes of the first year, the Practical Skills modules concentrate on the practical aspects.
Year Two
Mathematics for Signals and Systems
20 credits
Information is the basic thread of life and signals are the medium by which information is passed. This module will focus on classifying and mathematical modelling of signals and systems in the context of Electrical and Biomedical engineering.
During the module analytical techniques will be introduced used to transform signals from one domain to another and vice versa. While mathematical techniques will be used and contextualised for actual system hardware.
At the end of this module you will be able to determine a systems response and their applications in electronics and Biomedical engineering.
Analogue and Digital Electronics
20 credits
This module introduces you to the fundamentals of analogue and digital electronics using a circuit approach. It has been designed to give you a usable level of electronics theory to demonstrate key concepts.
Engineering Electronic Systems
20 credits
The MEng Electronic Engineering programme is designed to produce graduates with highly developed skills both in theory and practice. This module will focus on contextualising the theory gained in Analogue and Digital electronics as well introducing embedded systems for both electronic engineering and biomedical applications.
Leading Engineering Endeavour
20 credits
An interdisciplinary module, you will work with students from all fields of engineering to develop skills in engineering leadership and experience creating a purposeful vision and delivering on that vision. This will set the professional skills for business in context by combining your technical course-specific knowledge with professional skills
Microcontroller System Design and Programming
20 credits
The development of knowledge in analogue and digital electronics, real-time embedded systems and programming, and robotics and control is specified in the aims of the programme. Microcontroller System Design and Programming is an introduction to programming in the C language, and to hardware and software tools and techniques for embedded systems design with microcontrollers.
Electronics Project
20 credits
The MEng Electronic Engineering programme is designed to produce graduates with highly developed skills in electronic systems design, who will have the technical and management capability required by employers in a rapidly changing technological landscape.
The aim of this module is to integrate skills and knowledge gained from your course into one practical project. The endpoint of this project will be wheeled robot capable of competing in a robotic competition, with the intention of entering a national or international competition.
Year Three
Digital Filters and Spectral Analysis
20 credits
Digital filters have numerous advantages compared to analogue filters. These filters are implemented using hardware and firmware compared to analogue filters which are implemented solely on hardware.
Successful completion of this module will allow you to be able to analyse the magnitude and phase responses of filters. Whilst this module is rich in analytical techniques and concepts, it will be contextualised at all times for practical hardware examples.
Embedded Systems and Control
20 credits
The MEng Electronic Engineering Programme aims to develop an understanding of the broad nature of electronic engineering through a themed approach encompassing analogue electronics, digital electronics, communications, embedded systems and business.
The aim of this module is to develop an appropriate knowledge of embedded systems such that on completion of the module you are able to specify, design, implement and test microprocessor-based hardware and software for real-time applications.
Embedded Systems and Control gives in-depth practical experience of designing and building realtime embedded systems, from both hardware and software perspectives. It has been designed to provide a high level of practical embedded systems knowledge which, when combined with the digital and analogue electronics knowledge gained from underpinning and parallel modules, will produce graduate electronic engineers capable of having an immediate impact in the industry.
Communications System and Networks
20 credits
The module provides you with an understanding and knowledge in the principles and applications of telecommunications and information networks. The module will focus on case studies of particular applications in wired and wireless communications systems and in high speed networking. Telecommunication and networking technologies are key components of modern revolutionary technologies. This module provides you with the knowledge to understand modern communication systems and the functions of the Internet. In addition, you will gain related analytical skills that can be applied in designing modern communication systems and information networks.
Analogue Electronic Circuits
20 credits
This module provides an introduction to the principles of high frequency electronics and to familiarise you with the theory and application of analogue building blocks for high-frequency applications.
It will enable you to gain an in-depth understanding of power electronic devices and analysing power electronic circuits.
Individual Honours Project (BEng only)
40 credits
The purpose of the module is to enable you to undertake a sustained, in-depth and research-informed project exploring an area that is of personal interest to you. In agreement with your supervisor, you will decide upon your topic which will take the form of a practical outcome (artefact) with accompanying contextual material. The main consideration when choosing your topic is that it must be aligned to the programme you are studying, and you should consider the relevance of this topic to your future academic or professional development.
At this level, you will be expected to work independently but you will receive additional one-to-one support from your supervisor, who will be familiar with your chosen topic area. As you progress on the module, extra support will be available and this may take the form of group seminars, workshops and online materials that will help to develop your project.
Year Four
In order to complete this programme a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):
Digital Microelectronics and Hardware Description Languages
20 credits
The aim of this module is to allow you to develop an appropriate knowledge of the use of hardware description languages for digital design such that on completion of the module you will able to specify, design, implement and test digital circuitry implemented in FPGA, CPLD and other programmable digital devices. The module has been designed to provide you with a high level of practical work to consolidate the theoretical aspects and improve employment options.
Control Engineering
20 credits
The module utilises the mathematical concepts such as transform calculus and matrix theory used to model systems using both the transfer function and state-space paradigms. You will then be able to design controllers for linear systems using time and frequency response methods, in particular, pole placement techniques will be applied using both input-output and state-feedback approaches. These will then be extended to observer design and LQR optimization.
Analogue Microelectronics and Integrated Circuit Architecture
20 credits
This module introduces the key integrated circuit techniques for BJT and MOS design, starting with transistor circuits (current mirrors, long tail pairs, amplifier stages, buffers) and extend your knowledge and expertise into analyse and design basic analogue microelectronic building blocks at the circuit level, with an emphasis towards integrated circuit architecture with applications in communications circuits. The circuits will be developed using schematic and simulation design techniques to enable analogue circuits and systems to be implemented. The circuit elements will then be extended to cover current sources, CMOS and BiCMOS circuits and current mode circuits. These building blocks will then be expanded into useful system level blocks such as phase locked loops, integrated circuit architecture and communications IC architecture. Fundamentally important issues such as noise, IC architecture and power consumption will also be covered in this module.
Applied Digital Signal Processing
20 credits
Digital Signal Processing is an emerging field in electronic engineering which has been rapidly growing over the last few decades. In DSP data is converted from the continuous domain into the discrete domain and processed as scalar dimensionless values. This when compared to Analogue (continuous time) processing Digital (discrete time) processing has a number of tangible benefits including but not limited to, repeatability, cost, response which is a closer approximation to ideal characteristics. DSP has applications in wide range of disciplines ranging from biomedical electronics and media.
Group Integrated Master’s Project
40 credits
The purpose of the module is to enable you to undertake a sustained, in-depth and research-informed group project exploring an area that is of personal interest to you. In agreement with your supervisor, your group will decide upon your topic which will take the form of a practical outcome (artefact) with accompanying contextual material. The main consideration when choosing your group’s topic is that it must be aligned to the programme you are studying, and you should consider the relevance of this topic to your future academic or professional development.
