Design and Systems Engineering MSc

Postgraduate

Equip yourself with the interdisciplinary skills needed to innovate and lead in the design and integration of complex systems.

Year of entry

2025-26

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time
With Professional Placement

Duration

1 year full-time
Up to 2 years full-time with professional placement

Course code

EEST010

Start date

September 2025
November 2025
January 2026
March 2026
May 2026
July 2026

How to apply

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Course overview

This course integrates core principles of design, systems engineering, business, and leadership to equip you with the skills needed to address today's complex engineering challenges.

Learn to propose sustainable solutions to complex industrial challenges using generative design and systems engineering knowledge.
Enhance your skills in design, systems thinking and business leadership.
Upskill or transition into leadership roles in aerospace, automotive, healthcare or energy sectors.
Learn to innovate and problem-solve so you can apply engineering principles to real-world issues.

5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

Ranked 9th Modern University in UK by the Times

The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025

Ranked 8th for Overall Satisfaction in PTES

Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) 2024

Why you should study this course

Combine product design and systems engineering to develop a multidisciplinary approach for increasingly complex and interconnected products.
Blend creative design principles with systems thinking to solve engineering problems.
Use our floor-to-ceiling high-definition screen with 3D immersive technology to interrogate your mechanical designs and advance your collaborative projects.⁴
A focus on practical, industry-relevant content, combined with advanced academic theory, ensures that you are technically proficient and ready to work in diverse engineering sectors.
Be at the forefront of the latest industry trends and innovations with our research-informed teaching. Whether it’s sustainable engineering practices, advanced manufacturing systems or cutting-edge generative design techniques, you will be constantly engaging with new knowledge.

What you'll study

Systems engineering: complex challenges require systems thinking, so we’ll teach you to analyse, design and manage, large-scale engineering systems.

Generative design: delve into the theory and application of generative design, enabling you to reimagine the design process.

Innovation: you’ll be encouraged to think creatively, experiment and take calculated risks.

Sustainability: engineering today must be synonymous with sustainability and this course prepares you to be a champion of sustainability in your career.

Manufacturing systems: expect to develop the skills and knowledge to optimise manufacturing processes and stay at the forefront of industry trends.

Modules

Design for Manufacturing - 30 credits

Explore the design cycle with emphasis on the interplay between materials, design and manufacturing. Further develop your skills in selecting suitable materials and manufacturing methods based on design requirements, including understanding advanced subtractive and additive manufacturing techniques, such as computer numeric control and metal fused filament fabrication. Additionally, you will learn industrial-standard reverse engineering approaches and metrological aspects, from inception to service and retirement. The module also covers the properties and applications of metals, polymers, ceramics and composites, providing the scientific and mathematical tools necessary to predict materials performance and make informed decisions in various industrial contexts. You can expect a comprehensive and advanced education in the design cycle, focusing on the latest advancements in subtractive and additive manufacturing, reverse engineering, and material science.

Compulsory

Systems Engineering - 30 credits

You’ll collaborate in groups on complex projects related to industry or engineering research. Tasks will include creating design specifications, evaluating requirements, staying updated on technologies, presenting business cases, planning project introductions, maintaining logbooks, conducting meetings, and producing detailed designs. The focus is on analysing and selecting the best concepts, emphasising validation and verification. The module applies systems engineering through a project-based approach, helping you understand and manage complex systems and models. It also covers the principles and challenges of model-based systems engineering and systems architecture, preparing you to navigate modern system development effectively.

Compulsory

Design for Sustainability - 30 credits

Investigate sustainable design opportunities across diverse and complex socio-environmental-technical contexts. Apply complex and whole systems perspectives to understand present and future unsustainability issues, developing your competency in reflexively designing viable sustainable solutions across multiple scales and dimensions.

Compulsory

Generative Design - 30 credits

Explore systems engineering methods to break down complex systems into subsystems and components, covering requirements, design, testing, and validation. Learn how to manage engineering projects and collaborate in interdisciplinary teams. Additionally, you will learn CAD software for design optimisation, including generative and parametric design, to create and improve 3D models through simulation, verification and remodelling.

Compulsory

Master’s with professional placement

If you successfully secure a placement in industry within your first semester, this master’s with professional placement option allows you to extend your 12-month master’s course up to an additional year to complete the placement before starting your final 60-credit module.

Gain valuable industry insights and skills as you apply your academic knowledge and skills to a professional placement.
The placement must be sourced and secured by you during your first semester. Our careers and employability team are available to support you with the sourcing process.
Start your professional placement after completing the first 120 credits of your course.
The professional placement will be integrated into your course learning and outcomes. This will take the form of a reflective diary demonstrating your learning and engagement with the placement experience.
The professional placement option is subject to additional fees, living costs, visa requirements, availability, competitive application and university approval of the placement.² For full terms and conditions please visit the extended master’s landing page.

Optional

Individual Project - 60 credits

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.

How you'll learn

Teaching and learning methods may include:

lectures
seminars
tutorials
presentations
group projects
workshops
practical laboratory sessions.

Teaching contact hours

As a full-time postgraduate student, you will study modules totalling 180 credits each academic year. A typical 30-credit module requires a total of 300 hours of study. Study hours are made up of teaching contact hours, and guided and independent study.

Teaching hours

Teaching hours may vary, depending on where you are in your studies, but on average you will have between 8 and 12 teaching and learning hours each week. You will also have the opportunity to attend optional sessions including time with a Success Coach or to meet with staff for advice and feedback.

Guided and independent study

Throughout your studies, you will be expected to spend time in guided and independent study to make up the required study hours per module. You will be digging deeper into topics, reviewing what you’ve learnt and completing assignments. This can be completed around your personal commitments. As you progress to the end of your studies, you’ll spend more time on independent learning.

Online learning

As an innovative university, we use different teaching methods, including online tools and emerging technologies. So, some of your teaching hours and assessments may be delivered online.

Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which could vary depending on the module. Assessment methods may include:

reports
tests
essays
exams
practical coursework
assignments
viva
presentations.

The Coventry University assessment strategy aims to ensure that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.

Entry requirements

Typical entry requirements:

An honours degree 2:2 or above in mechanical, automotive, design or related engineering discipline, or international equivalent.

We recognise a breadth of qualifications; speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:

You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

Typical entry requirements

An honours degree 2:2 or above in mechanical, automotive, design or related engineering discipline, or international equivalent.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.5 overall, with no component lower than 5.5.

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

Fees and funding

Student	Full-time	Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man	£11,200 per year £1,500 professional placement fee (if placement secured) per year	Not available
EU	£11,200 per year with EU Support Bursary £1,500 professional placement fee (if placement secured) per year with EU Support Bursary £18,600 per year without EU Support Bursary £1,800 professional placement fee (if placement secured) per year without EU Support Bursary	Not available
International	£18,600 per year £1,800 professional placement fee (if placement secured) per year	Not available

For advice and guidance on tuition fees³and student loans visit our Postgraduate Finance page and see the university's Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

Any optional overseas ﬁeld trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

**EU Support Bursary

Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.

How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.

If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.

Facilities

Powerwall: a high-resolution visualisation tool that offers an immersive experience. With the ability to display complex 3D models and simulations on a large scale, the Powerwall enhances the analysis of systems and design interactions, making it easier to spot potential design flaws, assess ergonomics or study intricate systems in full detail.

3D printing of metal and polymers: access 3D printing facilities capable of producing both metal and polymer components. This technology allows for the rapid prototyping of high-quality, complex parts, enabling a hands-on approach to testing and refining designs.

Faro Arm 3D scanning: precision is key in modern engineering, and with the Faro Arm 3D scanning system, you can digitise real-world objects with high accuracy. This portable coordinate measuring machine enables detailed reverse engineering and quality inspection of physical parts.

Foam CNC machining: for projects requiring lightweight prototypes, the Foam CNC machine is ideal for creating large-scale models with exceptional precision. This equipment gives you the capability to quickly prototype designs.

Multipliers forming: allows you to explore high-precision component shaping, particularly in the context of manufacturing complex geometries that are difficult to achieve through traditional methods.

Laser measurement systems: these systems allow for incredibly precise distance and dimensional measurements, essential for projects that demand high accuracy and rigorous quality control. Whether applied to structural design or precision manufacturing, laser measurements ensure that you’ll be working with data of the highest fidelity.

Material testing lab: this lab is equipped with advanced testing equipment such as tensile testers, hardness testers and fatigue analysis systems.

People walking in front of a building which has a big library sign

Lanchester Library

The library is usually open 24/7, in term-time. It’s where you can access your course’s specialist Academic Liaison Librarian. It’s also home to specialist teams which can support you with your academic writing and maths and statistics questions.

Glass modern building with a spire in the background

The Hub

The Hub is the centre of student life on campus. Facilities include a food court, convenience store, multi-faith centre, medical centre, hairdresser, coffee shops and the Your SU offices. It has fully licensed function spaces and a bar.

Two people working together with a laptop in front of them

Careers and employability

Get one-on-one career and employability guidance lasting up to 36 months from the end of your course. We’ll help you find placements and graduate roles, offer CV and application checks, mentoring, skills workshops, employer events and more.

Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.

Careers and opportunities

On successful completion of this course, you should be well-equipped to pursue career opportunities in varied engineering industries from blue chip companies to SMEs. Industries such as aerospace, automotive, energy, healthcare and electronics are known to seek out graduates with advanced technical knowledge in design and systems engineering.

Successful graduates could seek positions as:

Design Engineer
System Engineer
Quality Systems Engineer
R&D Engineer
Product Design Engineer
Integration Engineer
Safety System Engineer
Product Design Engineer.

How to apply

UK students

To apply to study for a postgraduate course at Coventry University, you can apply online. Please read the entry criteria page before applying.

Start your application

For further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.

+44 (0)24 7765 2222

ukadmissions@coventry.ac.uk

Complete our contact form.

International students

Full-time international students should apply directly to the university. Please read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.

How to apply

For further support for international applicants applying for postgraduate degrees view our International hub.

You can also download our international mini guide for an overview of study options and why you should study with us.

Get in touch with us today for further advice and guidance.

+44 (0)24 7765 2152

applications.io@coventry.ac.uk

Complete our contact form.

Disclaimers

Coventry University together with Coventry University London, Coventry University Wrocław, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough, and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the University) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University.

¹Accreditations, partnerships and memberships

The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply. See the relevant body website for more details). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships are subject to successful renewal in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery. If the accreditation, recognition or membership of this course changes, we will seek to notify applicants and students as soon as possible.

Where relevant, the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) module content is undergoing assessment by the CMI to confirm that all criteria are met to the required standard. Whilst it is expected that students who successfully pass the module will be eligible to be considered by CMI for the CMI Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice as an additional qualification, we cannot confirm this until the accreditation is approved. This is a normal part of the continuous improvement process for our courses to ensure they remain up-to-date and reflect best practice.

²UK and international opportunities

Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or international opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be unpaid and/or subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel, public authority guidance, decisions or orders and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand any visa requirements, please contact the International Office.

³Tuition fees

The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

⁴Facilities

Student Contract

By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the current 2024/2025 contract is available on the website for information purposes however the 2025/2026 contract will apply for the 2025/2026 intake. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.

Your next steps

Student life

Accommodation

Fees and funding