Open University

Master of Engineering

As a graduate of the MEng, you will have demonstrated that you have satisfied these learning outcomes with your assessed work. Your enhanced engineering ability will have been acquired through involvement in individual and group design projects as well as continuous personal study and tuition.

Knowledge and understanding

On completion of this qualification, you will be able to:

• Use your knowledge and understanding, acquired and developed through study and through personal investigations as an individual and as part of a team, of relevant engineering principles, analytical methods, modelling techniques, quantitative methods, and appropriate computer software to respond systematically to complex engineering challenges
• Review or report on appropriate social, commercial, ethical/legal, and management practices in contemporary engineering in your present or future professional work.

Cognitive skills

On completion of this qualification, you will be able to:

• Integrate your comprehensive knowledge and understanding of underpinning scientific principles, mathematical methods, and engineering practice to analyse complex engineering problems and formulate solutions to them
• Create designs where a user’s needs and preferences are transformed into cost-effective, innovative engineered solutions that are demonstrably fit for purpose in terms of production, operation, maintenance, and de-commissioning.

Practical and/or professional skills

On completion of this qualification, you will be able to:

• Propose reasoned solutions to engineering challenges (even where uncertain conditions exist) using a range of engineering analysis and evaluation skills applied to 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
• Undertake and manage 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.)
• Evaluate the significance of findings through investigation of your chosen specialism using a comprehensive understanding of the engineering principles, new and emerging technologies, and current professional practice, when applied to an unfamiliar situation.

Key skills

On completion of this qualification, you will be able to:

• Practice 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), at a level appropriate to a senior professional engineer.

This integrated master has four stages, each comprising 120 credits.

• In Stage 1, you will study four 30-credit modules.
• In Stage 2, you will study three 30-credit core engineering modules and one 30-credit module from your chosen route.
• In Stage 3, you will study 90 undergraduate credits from your chosen route and one 30-credit postgraduate module.
• In Stage 4, you will complete a 30-credit individual-project module, study two 30-credit modules from your chosen route, and complete a 30-credit team-project module.

Stage 1 (120 Credits)

• Engineering: Origins, Methods, Context (T192)
• Engineering: Frameworks, Analysis, Production (T193)
• Engineering: Mathematics, Modelling, Applications (T194)
• Engineering: Professions, Practice and Skills 1 (T176)

Stage 2 (120 Credits)

you will study three 30-credit core engineering modules and one 30-credit module from your chosen route.

You will study all three of the following:

• Core engineering A (T271)
• Core engineering B (T272)
• Engineering: professions, practice and skills 2 (T276)

Routes

You will choose one of seven routes:

Energy and sustainability

• Energy and sustainability (T213)

Environmental Technologies

• Environmental management: systems and sustainability (T220)

Engineering management

You will choose one from:

• Design for engineers (T218)
• Energy and sustainability (T213)
• Environmental management: systems and sustainability (T220)

Materials and design

• Design for engineers (T218)

You will study the following:

• Mechanical engineering

Modelling and applications

You will study the following:

• Mathematical methods (MST224)

Broad route

You will choose one from:

• Design for Engineers (T218)
• Electronics: Sensing, Logic and Actuation (T212)
• Energy and Sustainability (T213)
• Environmental Management: Systems and Sustainability (T220)
• Mathematical Methods (MST224)
• Mechanical Engineering: Heat and Flow (T229)

Stage 3 (120 Credits)

you will study 90 credits from your chosen route and one 30-credit postgraduate module.

Routes

Energy and sustainability

You will study all three of the following:

• Nanoscale engineering (T366)
• Renewable energy (T313)

Environmental technologies

You will study both of the following:

• Innovation: designing for change (T317)
• Environmental Management 2 (T319)

Engineering management

You will study the following:

• Creating futures: sustainable enterprise and innovation (B327)

You will choose 60 credits from:

• Communications technology (TM355)
• Nanoscale engineering (T366)
• Structural integrity: predicting and assessing performance (T367)
• Innovation: designing for change (T317)

Materials and design

You will study both of the following:

• Innovation: designing for change (T317)
• Structural integrity: predicting and assessing performance (T367)

Mechanical engineering

You will study all three of the following:

• Mechanical engineering: computer-aided engineering (T329)
• Nanoscale engineering (T366)

Modelling and applications

You will choose two from:

• Computational Applied Mathematics (MST374)
• Mathematical methods and fluid mechanics (MST326)
• Deterministic and stochastic dynamics (MS327)

You will study the following:

Broad route

You will choose 90 credits from:

• Communications technology (TM355)
• Computational Applied Mathematics (MST374)
• Creating futures: sustainable enterprise and innovation (B327)
• Deterministic and stochastic dynamics (MS327)
• Electronics: signal processing, control, and communications (T312)
• Environmental Management 2 (T319)
• Graphs, games, and designs (MST368)
• Innovation: designing for change (T317)
• Mathematical methods and fluid mechanics (MST326)
• Nanoscale engineering (T366)
• Renewable energy (T313)
• Structural integrity: predicting and assessing performance (T367)

Postgraduate modules

You will choose one from:

• Strategic capabilities for technological innovation (T849)
• Technology and innovation management (TB801)

Stage 4 (120 Credits)

you will complete a 30-credit individual-project module, study two 30-credit modules from your chosen route and complete a 30-credit team-project module.

Individual project

You will study the following:

The MEng individual project (T460)

Routes

Energy and sustainability

You will study the following:

• Sustainable organizations: theory and practice

You will choose one from:

• Environmental monitoring and protection (T868)
• Making environmental decisions (T891)

Environmental Technologies

You will study both of the following:

• Sustainable organizations: theory and practice (T892)
• Making environmental decisions (T891)

Engineering management

You will study the following:

• Project management (M815)

You will choose one from:

• Manufacture materials design (T805)
• Sustainable organizations: theory and practice (T892)
• Strategic capabilities for technological innovation (T849)
• Making environmental decisions (T891)
• Making strategy with systems thinking in practice (TB871)
• Managing change with systems thinking in practice (TB872)
• Technology and innovation management (TB801)

Materials and design

You will study both of the following:

• Manufacture materials design (T805)
• Mechanical engineering

You will study both of the following:

• Manufacture materials design (T805)
• Modelling and applications

You will study both of the following:

• Calculus of variations and advanced calculus (M820)
• Broad route

You will choose two from:

• Calculus of variations and advanced calculus (M820)
• Environmental monitoring and protection (T868)
• Making environmental decisions (T891)
• Making strategy with systems thinking in practice (TB871)
• Managing change with systems thinking in practice (TB872)
• Sustainable organizations: theory and practice (T892)
• Manufacture materials design (T805)
• Project management (M815)
• Strategic capabilities for technological innovation (T849)
• Technology and innovation management (TB801)

Team project

You will study the following:

• Team engineering (T885)

Assessment

Our assessments are all designed to reinforce your learning and help you show your understanding of the topics. The mix of assessment methods will vary between modules.

Computer-Marked Assignments

• Usually, a series of online, multiple-choice questions.

Tutor-Marked Assignments

• you will have a number of these throughout each module, each with a submission deadline.
• They can be made up of essays, questions, experiments or something else to test your understanding of what you have learned.
• Your tutor will mark and return them to you with detailed feedback.

End-of-Module Assessments

• The final, marked piece of work on most modules.
• Modules with an end-of-module assessment won’t usually have an exam.

Exams

• Some modules end with an exam. you will be given time to revise and prepare.
• you will be given your exam date at least 5 months in advance.
• Most exams take place remotely, and you will complete them at home or at an alternative location.
• If a module requires you to take a face-to-face exam, this will be made clear in the module description, and you will be required to take your exam in person at one of our exam centres.

Skills for Career Development

The areas of knowledge, competence, and skills that this degree develops include the ability to use specialist knowledge to solve problems creatively; collaborative working and communication skills; project management skills; and the ability to turn concepts into reality.

Your study will give you the skills to provide solutions to Engineering problems. These could involve using existing or developing new technologies and designs; refining production systems, or developing new services. It will give you the confidence to be accountable for complex systems with significant levels of risk.

Career Relevance

Our MEng is a general Engineering qualification that provides entry into a wide range of specialist Engineering roles. Examples include:

• Mechanical Engineer
• Electronic Engineer
• Structural Engineer
• Production Engineer
• Biomedical Engineer
• Environmental Engineer
• Materials Engineer
• Other roles within Engineering management
• Manufacturing Engineer.

With our unique approach to distance learning, you can study from home, work, or on the move.

You’ll have some assessment deadlines to meet, but otherwise, you’ll be free to study at the times that suit you, fitting your learning around work, family, and social life.

For each of your modules, you’ll use either just online resources or a mix of online and printed materials.

Each module you study will have a module website with

• A week-by-week study planner, giving you a step-by-step guide through your studies
• Course materials such as reading, videos, recordings, and self-assessed activities
• Module forums for discussions and collaborative activities with other students
• Details of each assignment and their due dates
• A tutorial booking system, online tutorial rooms, and your tutor’s contact details
• Online versions of some printed module materials and resources.