Computer Systems Engineering MEng/BEng (Hons) with foundation year

Get hands on with the fundamentals of computer programming and develop skills that will boost your success across your engineering studies. Learn how to write and structure code using key programming elements: from variables and data types: numbers, strings, arrays; to control structures like 'if' statements and loops.

Put your coding skills into action to tackle real world engineering challenges, while also gaining an understanding of professional industry practices such as testing, version control, and functional decomposition. Explore essential algorithms such as searching and sorting, learn how to evaluate their efficiency, and sharpen your problem-solving abilities through algorithmic thinking.

Compulsory

Deepen your understanding of key mathematical methods in engineering by learning to translate real world problems into mathematical models. Develop your ability to analyse these problems using appropriate techniques and modern mathematical software. Explore topics including linear algebra, calculus, complex numbers, mathematical software, numerical methods, probability and statistics.

Compulsory

Explore the fundamentals of analogue electronics while building the skills to design practical circuits in this dynamic field. Gain hands-on experience through activities such as circuit simulation and designing real-world analogue systems. Topics covered include semiconductor diodes and their use in power supplies, bipolar junction transistors in single-stage amplifiers, and field-effect transistors. The module focuses on the performance and applications of voltage-mode operational amplifiers. Actively engage in the learning process by designing and simulating your own circuits, fostering creativity and problem-solving skills.

Compulsory

Discover the core concepts and principles that underpin electrical and electronic engineering and begin developing your understanding of this exciting discipline. Your learning will be enhanced through computer circuit simulation, hands-on circuit building and basic programming. Unlock the essentials of how electrical systems work, from analysing DC and AC circuits to exploring energy storage, magnetic circuits, digital logic, and modern power generation techniques. Gain practical insights and build a strong foundation for your development as an engineer.

Compulsory

Master the skills to design and build electronic systems that power today's smart technologies. In this hands-on module, apply your knowledge of electronic circuits and software to design, prototype, and manufacture products that are safe, reliable and effective.

Explore every stage of the embedded system design cycle: from concept and hardware/software design, to prototyping, manufacturing and testing for compliance. Learn how to analyse failures and consider the environmental, regulatory and safety aspects of your designs. With a blend of theory, simulation, and practical prototyping, this module aims to prepare you to create innovative embedded systems ready for industry.

This module covers topics such as:

• project design using an embedded system and its software. This can include working with key features such as internal components, ADCs (analogue-to-digital converters), serial ports like SPI, I2C and RS232, as well as timers, memory and connections to external devices like displays, sensors and keypads
• design using UML activity diagrams and write C programs (with assembler subroutines) to run in real-time on a PIC microcontroller. Test planning, test results and critical evaluation of the completed system
• working out the full cost of designing and building the project, including the cost of parts, tools and the time required to develop and produce the system
• presenting project outcomes to clients and a wider audience, explaining how it was developed
• thinking about safety and environmental risks when designing your system. This includes anything that could be dangerous to users or others, like moving parts or electrical faults in the microprocessor
• understanding why systems fail and how to prevent it, including case studies of real failures and legal testing requirements like RoHS2

Compulsory

Learn how to design and build digital electronic systems, focusing on hands-on, practical learning. Use a hardware description language (HDL) to create, simulate and build digital designs, developing skills that are important for working with modern electronic systems like FPGAs (field-programmable gate arrays). Throughout the module, use industry-standard tools to turn your ideas into working digital systems.

Use combinational logic to help build your knowledge of circuits that make decisions using logic gates. Explore how to design more complex logic systems using different types of electronic components and understand important practical issues like power use, voltage levels, timing and signal interference. Study sequential logic-the basis of memory and state flip-flops (set-reset, data, toggle, JK) and their timing characteristics.

You will be introduced to HDLs-the programming languages used to describe how electronic systems work. Learn the key rules and structure of HDL code, how to write reusable designs and how to create test environments (test benches) to check that your circuits work correctly. Finally, see how your designs can be used in real hardware like programmable logic devices and FPGAs. EMC.

Compulsory

Take your programming skills to the next level by learning a new language that gives you direct control over memory. Master object-oriented programming (OOP) to build and manage classes and objects effectively.

Explore dynamic memory management, data structures and abstract data types (ADTs) using the standard library to write efficient code. Along the way, develop professional skills such as version control, code documentation, formatting, static code analysis and refactoring.

Compulsory

Explore how modern operating systems and networks function and how to keep them secure. Learn about OS structure, processes, memory management, file systems and device drivers.

Understand how operating systems interact with hardware and peripherals, and dive into key security topics such as authentication, authorisation, protection mechanisms and defensive programming.

Work with systems like Linux, Windows, Unix and macOS, and study networks, protocols, interfaces and cyber defences like firewalls, intrusion detection systems and traffic control.

Compulsory

This module² provides you with an opportunity to reflect upon and gain experience for an approved placement undertaken during your programme. A placement should usually be at least 26 weeks or equivalent; however, each placement will be considered on its own merits, having regard to the ability to achieve the learning outcomes.

Optional

This module² provides you with an opportunity to reflect upon and gain experience for an approved international study/work placement undertaken during your programme. A work/study placement should usually be at least 26 weeks or equivalent; however, each placement will be considered on its own merits, having regard to the ability to achieve the learning outcomes.

Optional

Carry out a major project, helping you develop deep technical, problem-solving and creative skills needed in your profession. Choose and plan your project with a supervisor, keeping a regular log of your progress. Research, design, build or simulate a system, object or concept and critically evaluate your work.

Throughout the project, gather and reference information properly, use the right tools and methods and apply relevant testing and evaluation standards like ISO or IEEE. Reflect on your results and write a formal report explaining your work, with at least one section covering testing and standards. Finally, present your project clearly and, if applicable, demonstrate any practical outcomes.

Compulsory

Learn how to design and build FPGA-based System-on-Chip (SoC) systems. Use hardware description languages (HDLs) and configurable IP cores to develop both the hardware and software components of an SoC.

Work with ARM processors, bus protocols such as AXI and peripherals, and deploy your designs onto real FPGA boards. Explore high-level synthesis to speed up development, optimise designs and consider the ethical and legal responsibilities engineers face when creating advanced embedded systems.

Compulsory

Gain an in-depth understanding of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), focusing on how machines represent knowledge, reason and make intelligent decisions.

Critically analyse knowledge representation approaches and assess their role in developing intelligent applications. Explore problem-solving, planning and decision-making under uncertainty, applying AI techniques strategically in complex scenarios.

Study supervised and unsupervised ML methods, including linear regression, support vector machines, logistic regression, k-nearest neighbours, neural networks, k-means clustering and hierarchical clustering. Compare, apply and optimise models for specific problem domains.

Evaluate and select appropriate AI/ML approaches to enhance system performance while critically assessing the ethical, legal and societal implications of AI-driven solutions.

Compulsory

Choose one from the following two modules:

• IoT Systems Design - 30 credits

  Learn how to design, build and test Internet of Things (IoT) hardware systems from start to finish. Gain hands-on experience with the full development cycle, turning ideas into working devices through hardware design, firmware development and testing.

  Explore advanced components and sensors, dive into microcontrollers and develop in both assembly and C. Gain practical experience in schematic design, PCB development, IoT networking and security. This module prepares you to tackle real-world IoT challenges with confidence and creativity.

• Microelectronics Design - 30 credits

  Learn the principles and techniques of integrated circuit (IC) design for electronic systems, utilising the complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology, the current industry standard for fabricating most ICs.

  Develop a strong understanding of Digital VLSI Design by introducing CMOS logic principles and analysing transistor-level digital circuits, focusing on power, delay and noise considerations. Gain practical knowledge of digital layout and simulation techniques using EDA tools for circuit analysis and validation

Availability of optional modules may vary depending on student demand.

Optional

Take on a real-world engineering challenge to develop and showcase the professional skills employers value. Working as part of a team, apply the technical knowledge and problem-solving abilities you have acquired throughout your course to deliver practical solutions to projects drawn from either our industry collaborators or our research groups.²

Develop core employability skills such as leadership, teamwork, project management and effective communication, all vital for a successful engineering career. Gain experience in working to deadlines, managing client expectations, documenting your work and presenting technical outcomes, mirroring the realities of professional engineering practice.

Alongside the project, attend workshops on research methods, data collection, critical thinking, engineering ethics and professional project management. Explore ethical research practice, literature review, developing project proposals and selecting appropriate research or modelling methods.

Throughout the project, conduct experiments or simulations, analyse and validate results and apply project management techniques. The module culminates in a detailed written report and an oral presentation to academic staff and industry professionals, providing you with invaluable experience and opportunity to develop your personal confidence and skills in communicating your work to both technical and non-technical audiences, abilities highly sought by employers.

Compulsory

Gain the skills and knowledge needed to design and develop complex embedded hardware systems. Explore advanced microcontroller and FPGA-based systems, learning how they're used in real-world applications.

Through hands-on lab work², you'll cover the full design cycle, from setting requirements and building hardware to testing, verifying and optimising your designs. Gain experience with hardware description languages (HDLs), coding techniques and essential tools used in embedded system development.

Compulsory

Gain practical experience in programming modern real-time embedded systems, including designing and implementing computer programs that run on a microcontroller.

In addition to programming, learn about real-time operating systems (RTOS) on a microcontroller. Explore alternative embedded operating systems and platforms, such as Embedded Linux running on a single-board computer.

Compulsory