This course is for you if you want to practice in high-tech industries such as automotive, robotics, advanced manufacturing and renewable energy.
The course is supported by long-term industry partners such as Siemens, Festo, National Instruments and Altium.
The department also benefits from membership of the following organisations:
We are one of the first in the UK to setup a Smart Factory using Cyber Physical technologies, and our key partners for the course include Siemens and Festo, both who are leading the revolution around digitalisation and Smart Factories.
You'll graduate with valuable practical skills and advanced knowledge of mechatronic system design including advanced robotics, system integration and optimisation. Plus, you'll have the opportunity to work with the latest technologies currently used by the industry.
Other benefits of the course include:
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The course is made up of three academic terms, each lasting 12 weeks. Term one will be devoted to drives, sensors and controllers, robotic applications and their programming techniques, software modelling of mechatronic systems and additive manufacturing technologies along with AR and VR applications.
Term two will feature a group project where the knowledge and skills developed in term one will be applied to a systems integration project. You'll also study machine learning and AI applications in robotics. There will also be further input into PLM solutions and how organisations can use these to manage their products and services. We'll also introduce you to the technologies that make up Industry 4.0 and their applications.
Term three will be an individual project which you can propose yourself or select from a choice of projects offered by our research centres or industry partners.
This module will cover latest techniques in digital product modelling applied to manufacturing systems. The module also will also cover modelling of components, assemblies and systems including their physical behaviour in virtual space. There will also be visualisation techniques (VR, AR etc.) of such systems as well as design strategies for digital manufacture, including additive manufacturing.
This module equips students with knowledge of fundamental concepts of robot manipulators, such as coordinate systems, transformations, kinematics, motion planning. Students will put the knowledge of these principles into practice by modelling, simulating, programming and operating robot arms. They will gain experience of specialised software frameworks for robotic manipulation.
This module focuses on methods for controlling sensors and actuators in robotic and related systems, exploring different control techniques and their relevance to the development of robotic/mechatronic devices and their integration with their environment. The module also introduces the student to tasks and skills related to academic research techniques and writing at graduate level.
This module introduces a systems approach to designing and integrating mechatronic systems. The module will explore mechatronic applications in various contexts and look at approaches to designing and implementing such integrated solutions, which will include various sub-systems. In doing so, the module will expose the student to a number of different technologies making up complex mechatronic systems.
This module is designed to familiarise students with Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning techniques that are widely used in robotics and similar systems. The module will cover different types of autonomous robots and devices. Students will learn about machine learning methods and algorithms, and how these are applied to real-life robotic applications and autonomous systems. The students will make use of their own development of AI/ML systems in robots and will explore theoretical issues in AI and robotics.
The module will introduce Product Lifecycle Management and how this can be implemented in a product based organisation to add value to the business. The module will also cover Industry 4.0 technologies and how these relate to an organisation’s PLM environment.
This module consolidates the knowledge and advanced skills gained in the preceding part of the programme, and provides students with the opportunity to develop and demonstrate mastery in undertaking projects on their own. Students will be required to use a systematic, effective and efficient research and development processes employing formal project management techniques in executing a practical project to prepare them for their future employment. The module aims to develop advanced skills and practical experience in research methods, project planning, problem solving, written and oral communication on projects within the scope of the programme.
To find out more about this course, please download the Mechatronic Systems Engineering MSc specification (PDF).
The course is designed to be taught using practice-led teaching and learning approaches and is intended to replicate the current practice in the industry.
The sessions are delivered in labs and workshops supplemented by weekly guest lectures led by industry speakers. The labs and workshops are in blocks of three-hour sessions, providing plenty of opportunities to gain practical skills in the subject’s natural environment.
You'll be taught by an experienced teaching team with a wide range of expertise and professional experience.
You will be based at our north London campus, using dedicated facilities in Ritterman and Hatchroft Buildings.
In a typical year, you’ll spend about 1800 hours on your course.
Outside of teaching hours, you’ll learn independently through reading articles and books, working on projects, undertaking research, and preparing for assessments including coursework and presentations.
Whether you are studying full or part-time – your course timetable will balance your study commitments on campus with time for work, life commitments and independent study.
We aim to make timetables available to students at least 2 weeks before the start of term. Some weeks are different due to how we schedule classes and arrange on-campus sessions.
A typical week looks like this:
Learning | Hours per week |
On-campus | 12 |
Online | 1 |
Independent study | 28 |
On-campus: This includes tutor-led sessions such as seminars, lab sessions and demonstrations as well as student-led sessions for work in small groups.
Online learning: This is teaching that is delivered online using tools like MS Teams or Zoom, as well as work that you do yourself using online teaching resources.
Independent study: This is the work you do in your own time including reading and research.
You can also study this course part-time.
We have a strong support network online and on campus to help you develop your academic skills. We offer one-to-one and group sessions to develop your learning skills together with academic support from our library, IT teams and learning experts.
This course is based on a practice-led approach, which means that there are no exams, but your project work, demonstrations and presentations will be assessed.
Some coursework elements will include technical report writing as well as multimedia content such as blogs and video recordings. We'll encourage you to develop a repository of online content, as this will also help with employment opportunities.
You'll evaluate your work, skills and knowledge and identify areas for improvement. Sometimes you'll work in groups and assess each other's progress.
Each term, you'll get regular feedback on your learning.
The course benefits from having specialist facilities to support its educational aims. These are provided by our industry partners which are identical to their facilities offered to their own customers.
These include a dedicated suite of automation equipment comprising 18 stations of electro-pneumatic workstations with HMIs and PLCs, approximately 15 modular production systems, several bespoke IoT workstations and a 6-station Cyber Security Lab with a dedicated logistics devise. The automation equipment is supported by a suite of high end computers allowing full product simulation and commissioning as well as optimisation for designing Digital Twin technologies.
In addition, there is an extensive range of robotics equipment in the recently refurbished and enlarged robotics lab.
It is also worth noting that the department is the sole organiser for WorldSkills UK National Competitions in Automation and Mechatronics, which ensures that right expertise and equipment are readily available and are at world standards.
Our library is open 24 hours a day during the term and includes:
We offer lots of support to help you while you're studying including financial advice, wellbeing, mental health and disability support.
We'll support you if you have additional needs such as sensory impairment or dyslexia. And if you want to find out whether Middlesex is the right place for you before you apply, get in touch with our Disability and Dyslexia team.
Our specialist teams will support your mental health. We have free individual counselling sessions, workshops, support groups and useful guides.
Our Middlesex Unitemps branch will help you find work that fits around uni and your other commitments. We have hundreds of student jobs on campus that pay the London Living Wage and above. Visit the Middlesex Unitemps page.
You can apply for scholarships and bursaries. We have also reduced the costs of studying with free laptop loans, free learning resources and discounts to save money on everyday things. Check out our guide to student life on a budget.
The global manufacturing industry is being transformed by the recent advances in technology and their integration driven by the fourth Industrial Revolution. This has led to the need to develop new types of engineers who are able to integrate such technologies. Much of this relies on a high level of skills in discrete technologies, but what makes them more useful is their integration.
Mechatronics is one of these disciplines where several core engineering disciplines are blended together using a systems engineering approach. This approach defines the MSc Mechatronic Systems Engineering course and prepares graduates for the wealth of opportunities available in industries that rely on smart technologies on a global stage.
The interdisciplinary nature of mechatronics leads to a variety of career options in areas such as automotive, advanced manufacturing, robotics and automation, systems integration, aerospace, bio-engineering and healthcare, pharmaceuticals and renewable energy.
Our postgraduate courses have been recognised for their ability to support your career. 95% of our postgraduate students go on to work or further study (Graduate Outcomes 2022).
After graduating from the course, you'll be able to progress into a career in a wide range of automation industries in roles such as:
You'll also be equipped to work in the emerging areas of smart factories and smart cities, utilising Industry 4.0 technologies.
Some of the roles our graduates have gone on to work in include Jaguar Land Rover, Festo, Ford Motor Company, while others are working with new startup companies such as OW Smell Made Digital and Domino Printing Sciences, exploring new technologies.
MDXworks, our employability service, will help you make the most of your experience and connections to achieve your career goals. You'll have unlimited access to one-to-one advice and support from specialists in your sector plus 24/7 online support. You can also make the most of events and networking opportunities, on and off campus.
Our dedicated lifetime career support, like our business start-up support programme and funding for entrepreneurs, has been recognized with the following awards:
We can help you bring your business idea to life with our MDXcelerator programme which includes masterclasses with high-profile entrepreneurs, workshops, mentoring opportunities and competitions to secure seed funding.
You’ll be studying with students from 184 countries who’ll become part of your personal global network. You'll learn how to work with a global mindset and make invaluable connections on your course for your chosen industry.
We’ll carefully manage any future changes to courses, or the support and other services available to you, if these are necessary because of things like changes to government health and safety advice, or any changes to the law.
Any decisions will be taken in line with both external advice and the University’s Regulations which include information on this.
Our priority will always be to maintain academic standards and quality so that your learning outcomes are not affected by any adjustments that we may have to make.
At all times we’ll aim to keep you well informed of how we may need to respond to changing circumstances, and about support that we’ll provide to you.
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Code: PGH64A