Programme Specifications

Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

To meet the aims of the BEng programme in Electronic and Computer Systems Engineering and to further enhance a student’s learning experience by providing a high quality educational experience, for well motivated high achievers, that:

• increases the depth and breadth of technical study to the level expected of Masters level graduates;
• develops knowledge and skills, to a depth and breadth expected of Masters level graduates, as a preparation for a career in the electronic and electrical engineering industry;
• develops an enhanced capacity for independent learning, planning and self–reliance;
• enhances teamwork and leadership skills, equipping graduates of the programme to play leading roles in industry and potentially take responsibility for future innovation and change

2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external reference points used to inform programme outcomes:

UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence; Engineering Technician, Incorporated Engineer and Chartered Engineer Standard, Engineering Council UK, 2013.

UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence; The Accreditation of Higher Education Programmes, Engineering Council UK, 2011.

Guidance Note on Academic Accreditation, Engineering Council UK, 2011

IET Handbook of Learning Outcomes for BEng and MEng Degree Programmes, October 2009.

The UK Quality Code for Higher Education. The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, April 2012.

The framework for higher education qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, August 2008.

Subject Benchmark Statement: Engineering, The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, November 2010.

Code of practice for the assurance of academic quality and standards in higher education, Section 7: Programme design, approval, monitoring and review, The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, September 2006.

The Northern Ireland Credit Accumulation and Transfer System (NICATS); Principles and Guidelines 2002.

Beyond the honours degree classification; The Burgess Group final report, October 2007.

Proposals for national arrangements for the use of academic credit in higher education in England; Final report of the Burgess Group, December 2006.

The report of the EAB Accreditation Panel, September 2010 (the panel included representatives of the IET, InstMC, RAeS and EI).

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of:

• mathematical methods appropriate to electronic and electrical engineering and related disciplines, including their limitations and range of applicability
• principles of engineering and/or systems science appropriate to electronic and electrical engineering and related disciplines, including their range of applicability;
• principles of Information Technology and Communications appropriate to electronic and electrical engineering and related disciplines;
• design principles and techniques appropriate to relevant components, equipment and associated software;
• characteristics of relevant engineering materials and components;
• management and business practices appropriate to engineering industries, their application and limitations;
• codes of practice and regulatory frameworks relevant to electronic and electrical engineering and related disciplines;
• operational practices and requirements for safe operation relevant to electronic and electrical engineering and related disciplines;
• the professional and ethical responsibilities of engineers;
• team roles, team-working skills and leadership skills;
• relevant research methods.

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to demonstrate:

• an understanding of standard mathematical and/or computer based methods for modelling and analysing a range of practical and hypothetical engineering problems, and the essential principles of modelling and analysing routine engineering systems, processes, components and products;
• an ability to develop innovative solutions to practical engineering problems;
• a competence in defining and solving practical engineering problems;
• the ability to apply systems processes in a range of different engineering contexts.

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• use appropriate or novel mathematical methods for modelling and analysing pertinent engineering problems;
• select and use relevant test and measurement equipment;
• plan and execute safely novel or unfamiliar experimental laboratory work;
• select and use computational tools and packages (including programming languages where appropriate);
• design, and where appropriate construct, new systems, components or processes;
• undertake testing of design ideas in the laboratory or by simulation, and analyse and critically evaluate the results;
• search for, retrieve and evaluate information, ideas and data from a variety of sources;
• manage a project and produce technical reports, papers, diagrams and drawings at an appropriate level.

c. Key transferable skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• manipulate, sort and present data in a range of forms;
• use evidence based methods in the solution of complex problems;
• work with limited, incomplete and/or contradictory information in the solution of unfamiliar problems;
• use an engineering and/or systems approach to the solution of problems in unfamiliar situations;
• be creative and innovative in problem solving;
• work effectively as part of a team and show potential for leadership;
• use a wide range of information and communications technology;
• manage time and resources;
• use appropriate management tools;
• communicate effectively orally, visually and in writing at an appropriate level;
• learn effectively, continuously and independently in a variety of environments.

4. Programme structure

These Programme Specifications apply to the conduct of the programme in the 2013-14 session and should not be construed as being relevant to any other session.  These Programme Specifications may be subject to change from time to time.  Notice of change will be given by the School responsible for the programme.

In the following tables, ‘c’ indicates a compulsory module and ‘o’ indicates an optional module. The optional modules ‘oA’, ‘oB’ and ‘oC’ should be considered along with the text following the table in which they appear.

Modules indicated as being taught in both Semester 1 and Semester 2 have elements of assessment in each semester however examinations for these modules normally occur during the Semester 2 examination period. Modules indicated as being taught in a single semester are assessed entirely within that semester.

4.1       Part A - Introductory Modules

The 20 credit module ELA001 Circuits is taught over both semesters, 2/3 of the module is taught in Semester 1 and 1/3 in Semester 2. 

4.2       Part B - Degree Modules

 Students should take one of the optional modules indicated oA and one indicated oB.

4.3       Part C - Degree Modules

Options listed as oA will normally continue to be delivered throughout the Semester 1 examination period, while options listed as oB will normally be suspended during the Semester 1 examination period. Modules marked oA modules may only be chosen if they were not taken at Part B.

The option oC allows a free choice of modules worth 30 credits from the University Catalogue. This choice should be restricted to modules from Part B, C or D level, subject to the overall requirement for the Part that at least 90 credits should be from Part C level or above. Choosing modules from Part D may result in examinations at the end of Semester 1. This free choice includes language modules from the University Wide Language Programme.  The total 120 credits should be arranged as near to 60 credits per semester as possible.  When making such free choices, students are responsible for ensuring that all module choices can be incorporated into their individual timetables.

All optional module arrangements are subject to Programme Director’s approval.

Module choice is subject to availability, timetabling, prerequisite, preclusive and student number restrictions. Any difficulties arising from optional module choice, including timetabling, will not normally be considered as the basis of a claim for impaired performance.

4.4       Part D - Degree Modules

The modules listed oA are block taught in one week or two week long blocks, while those listed oB run over both semesters

The option oC allows a free choice of modules worth 30 credits from the University Catalogue. This choice should be restricted to modules from Part C or D level, subject to the overall requirement for the Part that at least 90 credits should be from Part D level or above. This free choice includes language modules from the University Wide Language Programme.  The total 120 credits should be arranged as near to 60 credits per semester as possible.  When making such free choices, students are responsible for ensuring that all module choices can be incorporated into their individual timetables.

All optional module arrangements are subject to Programme Director’s approval.

Module choice is subject to availability, timetabling, prerequisite, preclusive and student number restrictions. Note that ELD modules are generally taught in one/two week blocks while ELC and modules from other Departments may be taught over one or both semesters and this may lead to timetable clashes. Any difficulties arising from optional module choice, including such timetabling issues, will not normally be considered as the basis of a claim for impaired performance.

4.5  Part I - Industrial or International training

Candidates registered for the Diploma in Industrial Studies (DIS) shall undertake a period of at least 45 weeks at a placement organized through or with the consent of the School of Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering. The assessment for the award of the Diploma in Industrial Studies (DIS) is by a dissertation and a poster.

Candidates registered for the Diploma in International Studies (DIntS) shall undertake an international placement at a host university under the UNITECH Scheme and is subject to a selection process. The award involves both an internship at a UNITECH Corporate partner and a programme of approved learning at a partner university.

Both the DIS and the DIntS may be taken after successful completion of Part B and before Part C, or after successful completion of Part C and before Part D. University Regulations do not allow for the award of both DIS and DIntS.

Participation in industrial and international training is subject to School approval, and all arrangements must be in accordance with University’s Regulation XI. 

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

5.1 Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

In order to progress from Part A to Part B, from Part B to C or I, from C to D or I and to be eligible for the award of an Honours degree, candidates must not only satisfy the minimum credit requirements set out in Regulation XX but also:

5.1.1To progress from Part A to Part B, candidates must achieve 100 credits from Part A, with no module marks less than 30%, and an average mark in Part A of at least 55%.

5.1.2 To progress from Part B to either Part C or Part I (a period of professional training and/or study at an approved institution abroad, DIS or DIntS), candidates must achieve 100 credits from Part B, with no module marks less than 30%, and an average mark in Part B of at least 55%.

5.1.3 To progress from Part C to Part D or Part I (a period of professional training and/or study at an approved institution abroad, DIS or DIntS), candidates must achieve 100 credits from Part C, with no module marks less than 30%, and an average mark in Part C of at least 55%.

5.1.4 To qualify for the award of the degree of Master of Engineering, candidates must achieve 100 credits from Part D, with no module marks less than 30%. In addition, candidates should normally obtain a module mark of at least 50% in all modules with codes of the form ELD5xx taken in Part D. 

5.2  Re-assessment

Provision will be made in accordance with Regulation XX for candidates who have the right of re-assessment in Parts A, Part B or Part C of the programme to undergo re-assessment in the University’s Special Assessment Period (unless modules unavailable for re-assessment in the Special Assessment period are involved).

It should be noted however that:

(i) Where a candidate has achieved fewer than 60 credits in any Part of the programme, re-assessment in that Part is not permitted within the Special Assessment Period.

(ii) In accordance with Regulation XX, paragraph 40, individual project work for ELD030 obtaining a module mark between 30% and 39% inclusive may be revised and resubmitted for re-assessment. At the discretion of the Programme Board such re-assessment may be allowed in the Special Assessment Period.

(iii) Coursework re-assessment for exercises undertaken in groups and/or involving constructional, experimental or laboratory work may not be available during the Special Assessment Period.

(iv) Most postgraduate modules (including ELD5xx numbers) are unavailable in the Special Assessment Period.

(v) Candidates may elect to enter any BEng degree programme administered by the School of Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering if the requirements for progression for that programme have been achieved. Failure at MEng re-assessment will not affect subsequent entry to the BEng programme.

(vi) Any candidate who, after re-assessment, fails to satisfy the requirements for the award of Master of Engineering may elect to enter Part C of the BEng degree programme in Electronic and Computer Systems Engineering and on successful completion of the requirements of that programme qualify for the award of Bachelor of Engineering. Such a BEng award would be based on the candidate’s previous performance in Parts B and C of the MEng programme. The award will be calculated by combining average marks for those Parts in the ratio Part B:20 and Part C:80. Credit in the Advanced Project module ELD030 will be transferred where applicable.      

6. Relative Weighting of Parts of the Programme for the Purposes of Final Degree Classification

Candidates’ final degree classification will be determined on the basis of their performance in degree level Module Assessments at Parts B, C and D in accordance with the scheme set out in Regulation XX.  The average percentage marks for each Part will be combined in the ratio Part B 15: Part C 42.5: Part D 42.5, to determine the final Programme Mark.