In the near future robotic and other autonomous systems will be present in virtually every industry, with their global impact estimated to reach $6.5 trillion per year by 2025 (McKinsey). As new markets turn to robotics for the next step in their evolution, the need for qualified robotic engineers has never been greater.
Our hands-on master's degree in robotics blends practice with theory to equip students with the skills, knowledge and experience they need for a career as a robotics engineer. The postgraduate degree includes significant time working under the supervision of our expert teaching staff, many of whom have worked in robotics since the early days of the technology.
Over the duration of the course you will gain experience about industry-standard equipment. You will also benefit from our close to links to leading industry organisations, be encouraged to enter national robotics competitions and supported to undertake industry work placements during the masters.
If you do not wish to study the full MSc, you can apply to the PGDip where you study only four modules or a PGCert where you study only two modules.
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You will study the key hardware and software skills demanding by the robotics industry, enabling progression into more specialised areas of robotics, depending on your interests.
You will learn how to use open systems and the appropriate programming environments to work on various types of robots.
The workshops will take place using a variety of industry standard and domestic robots in our specialist labs, providing you with a breadth of experience using technologies such as industrial manipulators, multiple-arm collaborative robots and mobile platforms.
In addition to an in-depth understanding of the subject, you will also gain experience in using industry standard equipment, on current technologies, and the skills needed to progress into careers in robotics as well as a wide range of other disciplines. Depending on the modules selected, you will be able to specialise in different sectors such as mobile solutions or sectors requiring image processing such as medical or space applications. You will also develop key skills such as advanced programming, interfacing and system integration
This module, together with the Robotic Systems and Control module, lays the foundation for the remainder of the course. The part of a robot system that gives the system a degree of intelligence is the software and you will learn to the software designed for controlling robotic systems.
This module is designed to provide the necessary knowledge of the various types of robotic systems and their key features to enable you to design your own systems later on in the course. Controlling robotic systems requires a knowledge of control methods and techniques which can be implemented in software. For this reason this module is run in parallel with the module above.
This module, with the aid of fellow students, will allow you to establish and develop the skills needed to jointly design, build and test a practical robotic system using the knowledge gained in the previous two modules. You will be required to demonstrate team-working skills and to show how you used a formal project management approach to budget, time manage and prioritise effectively.
This module is designed to enable you to bring together various parts and sub-systems to create a coordinated working whole. New designs often depend on sub-systems not designed to work together and interfacing such systems is often a major challenge to be overcome.
This module will enable you to design and implement systems based on robot arms and manipulators such as those in car production lines, CNC machines and medical research. Such machines are generally mounted in fixed positions and can move with speed or with load carrying capability and precision.
This module is designed to provide state of the art knowledge of Artificial Intelligence techniques that are widely used in robotics to enable you to design your own intelligent robotic systems. You will be able to evaluate AI techniques used for robotics, and strategically apply and combine them for a successful robotics project.
Mobile robots are being used widely in defence and in dangerous locations such as nuclear reactors and disaster sites. Machines, such as driverless cars, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs or drones) and submarines, are required to operate in continuously changing, unfamiliar, complex environments. This module will enable you to design such intelligent sensor-guided systems.
This module is designed to give you the opportunity to integrate the knowledge and skills gained in the previous modules. You will be required to demonstrate that you have taken a systematic formal project management approach to designing and building a robotic device. You will also be required to demonstrate your presentation and communication skills at the end of the project.
See the course specification for more information:
Optional modules are usually available at levels 5 and 6, although optional modules are not offered on every course. Where optional modules are available, you will be asked to make your choice during the previous academic year. If we have insufficient numbers of students interested in an optional module, or there are staffing changes which affect the teaching, it may not be offered. If an optional module will not run, we will advise you after the module selection period when numbers are confirmed, or at the earliest time that the programme team make the decision not to run the module, and help you choose an alternative module.
The course is taught through a series of practical workshops as well as self-directed study and project-based learning. There will be no formal lectures as all course content will be embedded within workshop sessions.
You will be taught how to use state of the art robots by a number of experienced staff. In addition, there are technical tutors and Graduate Academic Assistants to support the individual student during and after formal class situations.
The course is entirely assessed through coursework and projects.
If you have travel restrictions to the UK due to coronavirus, this course can be started fully online with support to learn from your home country for the first term.
We are back on campus for the majority of teaching in Autumn 2021, as long as restrictions allow. Your timetable will be built around on campus sessions using our professional facilities, with online sessions for some activities where we know being virtual will add value. We’ll use technology to enhance all of your learning and give you access to online resources to use in your own time.
In case of any changes to government guidance, we‘ll be ready to move to teaching with more restrictions in place and continue to give you an excellent learning experience. In this scenario, on campus teaching should continue although more of your course will take place online.
The table below gives you an idea of what your learning will look like across a typical week. Some weeks might be different due to how we schedule classes and arrange on campus sessions.
This information may change slightly as we receive further guidance from the government. You’ll receive final arrangements for your teaching and a full course timetable before you start.
Scenario A: Without social distancing | ||
Live in-person on campus learning | Contact hours per week, per level: | 6 hours |
Live online learning | Average hours per week, per level: | 6 hours |
Scenario B: With social distancing and/or with restrictions on travel to campus | ||
Live in-person on campus learning | Contact hours per week, per level: | N/A |
Live online learning | Average hours per week, per level: | 12 hours |
Outside of these hours, you’ll be expected to do independent study when you read, listen and reflect on other learning activities. In a year, your course will total up to 1200 hours across all styles of learning. If you are taking a placement, you might have some additional hours.
Read more about our scenarios for returning to campus and what they might mean for your teaching and learning experience, and how you’ll be able to access student support.
Future plans for teaching
We’re developing our plans for in-person on campus teaching following government advice to keep you safe. If more restrictions are put in place in the future, or there is another lockdown, we’ll deliver your learning and support fully online for a temporary period. We’ll make alternative arrangements for any required placements if they can’t go ahead as planned. We’ll always give you notice of any changes that we make.
Definitions of terms
Support
You’ll have a strong support network available to you to make sure you develop all the necessary academic skills you need to do well on your course.
Our support services will be delivered online and on campus and you’ll have access to a range of different resources so you can get the help you need, whether you’re studying at home or have the opportunity to come to campus.
You’ll have access to one to one and group sessions for personal learning and academic support from our library and IT teams, and our network of learning experts. Our teams will also be here to offer financial advice, and personal wellbeing, mental health and disability support.
More on teaching for your subject in 2021/22
Read our guide to what you can look forward to when you study your subject with us including more information about your teaching experience this autumn.
Well-qualified graduates with a Masters in Robotics are in high demand and as a result, the career options available are extensive. Robotics knowledge and skills are central to the design and production of a wide range of products including cash dispensers, cars, televisions and mobile phones.
The development of intelligent systems has become vital to many major UK and international companies and emerging industries. You could be working in a variety of sectors from advanced manufacturing to agriculture, transport healthcare and defence. Space exploration also relies heavily on robots, and there is an increasing number of applications in dirty and dangerous situations which could be possible opportunities for you.
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.
Start: October 2021
Duration: 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time
Code: PGH730
Start: October 2021, EU/INT induction: September 2021
Duration: 1 year full-time
Code: MA: PGW280, MSc: PGW281
Start: October 2021, September 2021 (EU/INT induction), January 2022
Duration: 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time
Code: PGG404
