MSc in Mechatronic Systems
London, United Kingdom
MSc
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
GBP 17,600 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* there is no application deadline for postgraduate courses
** International full-time study |£11,400: home full-time study. Additional fees may apply
Key Summary
Join the exciting and fast-growing field of mechatronics, and combine mechanical, electronic and control systems to create a complete device.
Our Mechatronic Systems MSc course provides a unique opportunity to delve into the integration of mechanical, electronic and software systems in modern engineering. On this course, you'll be equipped with the expertise to design and manage advanced intelligent systems.
You’ll focus on mechanical systems that perform relatively fast and precise motions, as well as balance sophisticated electronic devices and control algorithms.
Through a blend of theory and hands-on learning, this course enables you to develop skills in robotics, artificial intelligence and control systems. You'll also get to tackle practical projects which address real-world challenges and work within our industry-standard labs.
Whether you’re aiming for innovation in industrial automation or autonomous technologies, this programme prepares you for a cutting-edge career in engineering. You'll graduate with the knowledge needed to excel in the industry.
Why choose this course?
On our Mechatronic Systems MSc course, you'll use equipment from National Instruments, Quanser, Agilent Technology, Rethink Robotics and different microcontrollers. Based on our Roehampton Vale campus, you’ll benefit from access to industry-standard facilities including: rolling roads, automotive testing facilities, a Lotus Exige; and cars and motorcycles built by engineering students.
In our Robotics modules we use industry-leading software to provide a realistic, hands-on experience. We employ RoboDK for intuitive robot simulation and offline programming, with its extensive robot library and robust post-processing, students can visualise and refine robot paths. CoppeliaSim offers a flexible 3D simulation platform that supports multiple physics engines and a powerful API for modeling complex robotic scenarios. Furthermore, students will be resorting to Matlab/Simulink for robotics, control, and machine learning—supporting detailed system modeling, real-time simulation, algorithm development, and automatic code generation. Together, these tools ensure our students gain the practical skills needed to excel in robotic control and advanced automation.
Our applied approach to teaching is supported by dedicated laboratories for mechanical, automotive and motorsport engineering, including wind tunnels, state-of-the-art rapid prototyping and manufacturing machinery, and a fully-equipped materials lab. Experiment with engine test cells, an automotive diagnostics lab, and a modern electronics/robotics lab.
Expert academic support from faculty members with strong industry links ensures a comprehensive learning experience. Academic staff within the Department of Mechanical Engineering continue to practise and research at the cutting-edge of their discipline. While our London location places you at the heart of one of the world’s leading engineering and technology hubs. This course is designed to keep you at the forefront of technological innovation, equipping you with the skills and knowledge to take on leadership roles in advanced engineering sectors.
You can also achieve an MSc accredited by the Engineering Council and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. In doing so, you’ll also meet, in part, the requirements for registration as a Chartered Engineer.
Accreditations
The MSc will meet, in part, the academic benchmark requirements for registration as a Chartered Engineer. Accredited MSc graduates who also have a BEng(Hons) accredited for CEng, will be able to show that they have satisfied the educational base for CEng registration.
It should be noted that graduates from an accredited MSc programme, who do not also have an appropriately-accredited honours degree, will not be regarded as having the exemplifying qualifications for professional registration as a chartered engineer with the Engineering Council; and will need to have their first qualification individually assessed through the individual case procedure if they wish to progress to CEng.
Find out more about Further Learning and discover all accredited degrees by visiting the Institution of Mechanical Engineers website.
Accreditation is a mark of assurance that the degree meets the standards set by the Engineering Council in the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC). Some employers recruit preferentially from accredited degrees, and an accredited degree is likely to be recognised by other countries that are signatories to international accords.
Check the Engineering Council website for more information.
Funding support for postgraduate students
If you are a UK student living in England and under 60, you can apply for a loan to study for a postgraduate degree on the government's website.
Scholarships and bursaries
For students interested in studying Mechatronic Systems MSc at Kingston, there are several opportunities to seek funding support:
- Inspire the Future scholarship
- Postgraduate scholarships for international students
- Alumni Discounts for postgraduate study
Although mechatronics may be perceived in combination with robotics, as robots are indeed fast and precise mechanical systems, it also has wider applications. These include hard-disk drives for computers, tracking cameras for surveillance applications, intelligent actuators in automotive systems and many other areas, including devices used in the field of healthcare and rehabilitation, such as intelligent prosthetic devices.
The hands-on approach on the course, using our state-of-the art multidisciplinary laboratories with equipment from National Instruments, Freescale, Agilent Technology, Rethink Robotics and many more, adds value to this postgraduate degree. The course dovetails with research activities of the teaching staff, implementing the latest advances in our research. Using applied research, you will have the opportunity to do your own research within an individual industry-relevant 'capstone' project. This includes preparation of a scientific paper, giving an opportunity for that first breakthrough into publishing your work.
For a student to go on placement they are required to pass every module first time with no reassessments. It is the responsibility of individual students to find a suitable paid placement. Students will be supported by our dedicated placement team in securing this opportunity.
Please note: Optional modules only run if there is enough demand. If we have an insufficient number of students interested in an optional module, that module will not be offered for this course.
Modules
Core modules
- Machine Learning
- Industrial Robotics
- Design of Autonomous Systems
- Advanced Control Systems
- Research Techniques, Innovation and Sustainability
- Dissertation
Optional modules
- Human Robot Interaction
- Biologically Inspired Robotics
Professional placement
- Professional Placement
Teaching and assessment
Guided independent study (self-managed time)
When not attending timetabled sessions, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically this will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for exams. Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities including online resources, the library and CANVAS, the online virtual learning platform.
Support for postgraduate students
As a student at Kingston University, we will make sure you have access to appropriate advice regarding your academic development. You will also be able to use the University's support services.
Your workload
A course is made up of modules, and each module is worth a number of credits. You must pass a given number of credits in order to achieve the award you registered on, for example 360 credits for a typical undergraduate course or 180 credits for a typical postgraduate course. The number of credits you need for your award is detailed in the programme specification which you can access from the link at the bottom of this page.
One credit equates to 10 hours of study. Therefore 180 credits across a year (typical for a postgraduate course) would equate to 1,800 notional hours. These hours are split into scheduled and guided. On this course, the percentage of that time that will be scheduled learning and teaching activities is shown below. The remainder is made up of guided independent study.
- 17% scheduled learning and teaching
The exact balance between scheduled learning and teaching and guided independent study will be informed by the modules you take.
Your course will primarily be delivered in person. It may include delivery of some activities online, either in real time or recorded.
How you will be assessed
Type of assessment
- Year 1: Coursework 88%, Exams 12%
Please note: the above breakdowns are a guide calculated on core modules only. If your course includes optional modules, this breakdown may change to reflect the modules chosen.
Feedback summary
We aim to provide feedback on assessments within 20 working days.
Class sizes
You will be part of an intimate cohort of 20-40 students which provides dedicated academic guidance and advice as well as the opportunity to build a life-long network of colleagues. Some modules are common across other postgraduate programmes; you may therefore be taught alongside postgraduates from other courses.
Graduates of the Mechatronic Systems MSc are highly sought after in industries such as robotics, automotive engineering, aerospace, and industrial automation. Typical roles include Robotics Engineer, Systems Designer, and Automation Specialist.
The Department has strong links with industry leaders, including Delphi, Lotus Engineering, MAN and Thales. Many of our innovative, hands-on projects involve students as well as academics and receive national and global coverage.
You will take part in trips to the National Instruments' NIDays conference in London. With an individual project, you may research a subject of interest with the opportunity to publish your work.