Manufacturing Engineering MEng/BEng (Hons) with foundation year

Build a strong foundation in the mechanical science and mathematical methods that drive modern engineering. Explore key topics in solid mechanics, thermal analysis, alongside mathematical concepts relevant to electrical engineering. Develop the ability to analyse real world problems using mathematical formulations, and apply a range of tools and techniques to solve them with confidence.

Compulsory

Discover how the right materials and manufacturing processes turn great ideas into products. Explore the four main classes of engineering materials: polymers, metals, ceramics, and composites and learn how they are used across industries like aerospace, automotive, and electronics.

Get to grips with common manufacturing techniques, including innovative processes like additive manufacturing (3D Printing), and understand how material behaviour influences production. Develop skills in material and process selection using tools such as Ashby charts and Granta EduPack, while exploring key principles of electrical and mechanical science that link to materials and manufacturing.

Compulsory

Sustainable Engineering design is where creativity and design meet responsibility, turning great ideas into products and processes that meet real needs while protecting the environment and being socially responsible. Learn how to solve complex problems through a structured design approach, blending technical knowledge with practical skills.

Explore how to create sustainable, real world solutions using industry standard tools, software and modelling techniques. Key themes include sustainability, ethics, legal considerations, health and safety, and professional communication. Through individual and team projects, you will build your collaborative skills and bring your ideas to life with CAD software. Gain confidence in presenting your ideas in a professional engineering context.

Compulsory

Learn how engineers check and improve the quality of products by using measurement, statistics and lean manufacturing techniques. Explore why accuracy and process control are so important in modern manufacturing.

Look at how errors can affect performance and discover ways to manage uncertainty in design and production. To put this into practice, work with a small group on a hands-on assembly project where you’ll redesign processes to reduce waste and improve quality.

Along the way, build skills in project management, risk assessment and teamwork, while learning how engineering science and materials choices affect cost, reliability and performance. By the end of the module, you should have experience applying lean principles and quality management methods used across today’s manufacturing industries.

Compulsory

Build on your earlier studies to explore how engineering materials are designed, behave and perform in real products. See how materials are chosen and used in manufacturing and how these decisions affect how components work in service.

Learn to analyse products, processes and systems using industry tools, identifying ways to make improvements. Along the way, explore the balance between performance, reliability, cost and environmental impact when selecting materials and technologies.

Discuss industry standards, professional responsibilities and the importance of ethics and sustainability in engineering today.

Compulsory

Get hands-on with automation and robotics in modern manufacturing. Learn the mathematical foundations and control principles that underpin these systems, giving you a strong understanding of how automation works in real industrial settings.

Explore technology and electrical science, including key components such as sensors, actuators, instrumentation and transfer mechanisms. Cover essential electrical concepts, like circuit analysis and electromagnetic machines, to see how they support automated systems.

Develop practical skills in programming, control and instrumentation, learning how to program robots and integrate them into production lines. Evaluate why automation is used in manufacturing and business, helping you understand its role in modern industry.

Compulsory

Learn the tools and techniques used to support innovation in product design for manufacturing. Explore how these tools can be used sustainably within a manufacturing environment. This includes working on a project that takes you through the key stages of the design process, from an initial brief to delivering a viable solution, and presenting your findings according to industry standards.

Evaluate product portfolios at different stages of the product life cycle. Examine how the concept of a product’s life cycle connects with the wider portfolio and how this affects various internal teams and external partners in a manufacturing organisation.

Consider the complex socio-technical systems that products exist within, as well as the product-service paradigm and its impact on sustainable operations and development worldwide.

Compulsory

Learn the fundamentals of digital twins and discover how they can improve manufacturing processes through real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance and asset optimisation. Explore how digital twins are created and securely implemented.

Additionally, gain a broader understanding of how digital twins, Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0 contribute to more effective and efficient manufacturing.

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

Work in a team to create an innovative solution for a new or existing product. Develop an operational system that connects the internal and external organisational environment and aligns with strategic goals.

Gain experience working with diverse teams, learning the contributions needed for effective project delivery. Throughout the module, explore topics such as analysing global business strategy, evaluating the impact of innovation and new product or service strategies, and demonstrating proficiency in project identification.

Finally, develop and defend your operational system, while learning to synthesise and reflect on your activities to understand the full scope of your project’s impact.

Compulsory

Learn how to plan and control a competitive manufacturing system and optimise production. Develop the skills and techniques needed to design improved manufacturing systems that balance efficiency and flexibility for different contexts.

Explore production planning and control methods that help coordinate inputs from sales, marketing, supply chains and manufacturing to create effective schedules and meet customer needs. Use simulation modelling to test and demonstrate how well your proposed system designs perform.

Compulsory

Work alongside researchers at the Institute for Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering (AME) on cutting-edge topics, selected each year using the Gartner Hype Cycle. These may include: metrology, digital manufacturing, structural integrity, functional materials, laser processing and joining, sustainable manufacturing, and technology and innovation management.

Through lectures, seminars, hands-on work with researchers and self-guided study, gain a comprehensive understanding of the impact these technologies could have on the future of manufacturing.

Focus on critical analysis, helping you assess the feasibility, challenges and ethical considerations of implementing new technologies. By bridging the gap between research and practical application, develop the knowledge and skills to navigate the evolving manufacturing landscape and become a leader in shaping its future.

Compulsory

Learn how to plan and carry out a research project, usually within an industrial context. Define a clear research question or aim, gather and evaluate results and consider any limitations, as well as make recommendations for future work.

You’ll be guided through defining the problem, reviewing relevant literature and designing your research approach. This includes choosing suitable data collection methods and using project management tools to plan and organise your work effectively.

Work closely with an allocated supervisor for academic guidance and participate in seminars led by the module leader. These sessions will help you develop skills in report writing, presentations and understanding the university ethics process.

Compulsory

Explore computer-based manufacturing simulation, using software to model and analyse the behaviour of manufacturing systems. Learn to identify system components and characteristics, develop computer-based models and use the resulting data to support decision-making.

Discover the principles of mathematical optimisation and how to apply them to production and manufacturing problems. By working with specialist software, gain skills that can be transferred to other software, models, and real-world contexts.

Compulsory

Develop an advanced understanding of vision smart systems and sensors used in manufacturing quality control. Learn to critically analyse and evaluate automated inspection techniques and enhance your ability to design, implement and optimise quality control systems using modern vision and sensing technologies.

Cover key topics including fundamentals of vision systems, object recognition, pose estimation, inspection and measurement, 2D and 3D machine vision, sensor technologies, machine learning and AI in quality control. Explore industrial applications, integration and automation, standards and compliance and emerging trends for the future.

By completing this module, you should be prepared for professional roles in industry or for further academic research in intelligent quality assurance systems.

Compulsory

Develop an applied or research-based project proposal to create an innovative solution for a new or existing product or process. Your proposal will include an analysis of the external environment and consider the sustainability impacts of your ideas.

Explore topics such as the social, environmental and economic impacts of engineering and business practices, critically appraise concepts and theories, and understand the importance of innovation in a business context. Learn about life cycle assessment (LCA) and alternative methods to assess sustainability for systems, processes, products, or organisations, and develop a strategy for innovation management.

On the applied research side, learn to use information sources like libraries and specialised search engines, improve your writing and presentation skills and understand referencing, plagiarism, and copyright. Develop research questions and project objectives, design your research, address ethical considerations and use methods such as surveys, case studies, interviews, and questionnaires to collect data.

Compulsory

Solve real-world manufacturing and engineering problems, applying a variety of tools and skills with a focus on innovation and sustainability. This could include developing software applications, system processes, components, or product designs.

Draw on advanced technical concepts from the knowledge you have acquired on your learning journey with us Along the way, develop professional working relationships with clients and stakeholders to deliver solutions that meet industry standards.

Compulsory