Programme Specifications

Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

After completion of these programmes, students should:

• Be able to analyse the overall economic context of cleaner fossil energy research and be aware of the social, economic and ethical implications;
• Understand the key engineering topics relevant to fossil energy technologies and carbon capture and storage;
• Understand the global context of research within the topic of cleaner fossil energy.

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

• Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ);
• Engineering subject benchmark statement;
• EC (UK) Specification for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC);
• Industrial Advisory Committee for the Engineering Doctorate Centre.

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

# applies to EngD only

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

• Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the scientific principles of carbon capture and storage and cleaner fossil energy technologies;
• Understand concepts from a range of areas including some outside engineering, and have the ability to apply them effectively in engineering projects;
• Be aware of developing technologies related to carbon capture and storage and cleaner fossil energy technologies;
• # Understand management and business practices, and their limitations, and how these may be applied appropriately;
• Understand of a wide range of carbon capture and fossil energy processes and equipment;
• Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of design processes and methodologies and the ability to apply and adapt them in unfamiliar situations.

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

On successful completion of these programmes, candidates should be able to:

• Use fundamental knowledge to investigate new and emerging technologies;
• Extract data pertinent to an unfamiliar problem, and apply its solution using computer based engineering tools when appropriate;
• Generate an innovative design for products, systems, components or processes to fulfill new needs;
• Create and interpret new knowledge, through research or other advanced scholarship.

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

On successful completion of these programmes, candidates should be able to: 

# applies to EngD only

• # Make general evaluations of commercial risks through some understanding of the basis of such risks;
• Demonstrate a thorough understanding of current practice and its limitations, and some appreciation of likely new developments;
• Apply engineering techniques taking account of a range of commercial and industrial constraints.

c. Key transferable skills:

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

# applies to EngD only

• Develop, monitor and update a plan, to reflect a changing operating environment;
• # Demonstrate an understanding of different roles within a team, and the ability to exercise leadership;
• Learn new theories, concepts, methods, etc. in unfamiliar situations;
• Develop a scientific approach to solving problems and adopt a critical approach to investigation;
• Conceptualise, design and implement a project for the generation of new knowledge, applications or understanding at the forefront of the discipline, and to adjust the project design in the light of unforeseen problems.

4. Programme structure

EngD:

All candidates who are registered on the Engineering Doctorate (EngD) programme are required to register for and satisfy the regulations for the curriculum-based component of the programme. The purpose of the taught modules is to develop knowledge and understanding of a number of contextual, technical and management subjects which are complementary to the research element of the EngD award.

The curriculum-based component of the programme will normally require a total modular weight of 180 credits of core modules and optional modules taken from a range of postgraduate modules at any of the partner institutions.

Modules are offered by the EPSRC CDT in Carbon Capture and Storage and Cleaner Fossil Energy university partners (Nottingham (UoN), Loughborough (LU), Birmingham (UoB), The University of Sheffield (UoS) and British Geological Survey (BGS)).

Candidates who have previously studied appropriate Level 7 (MSc) material, already possess an appropriate MSc or have appropriate industrial experience may be allowed, in exceptional circumstances, to reduce the curriculum-based component of the programme. Eligibility for a reduced curriculum-based component will be decided on an individual basis by the EPSRC CDT in Carbon Capture and Storage and Cleaner Fossil Energy Management Group.

All candidates shall register at the beginning of their programme and subsequently at the beginning of each academic year for the modules which they are taking in that year, subject to their satisfactory progression in research and the extension of their registration for the Degree of EngD in accordance with the Regulations for Higher Degrees by Research. Candidates are not eligible to register for modules whilst they remain in debt to the University.

Content

The programme has a number of special features as a consequence of the multi-university nature of the EPSRC CDT in CCSCFE. The candidates will register in full at one of the Universities, and will be registered as Visiting Students at the other Universities, but in order to maintain the integrity of the Centre and the student cohort, all students will attend a full-time core training period distributed over years 1 and 2 of their studies. 

The modular credits taken in the core training period will comprise 80 credits of compulsory taught modules offered by the university partners, 70 credits of project and research training modules and a further 30 credits of optional taught modules which can be taken at any of the partner universities as described below. The total credits obtained through the first 2 years of study will therefore be 180 credits. 

Specialist optional modules can be undertaken in any semester within the second year of the programme subject to local prerequisite requirements.

The selection of optional modules should be discussed and agreed with the candidate’s research project academic supervisor(s) and the appropriate Programme Director.

Core Taught Modules – (total modular weight of 80 credits)

Core Project and Research Modules – (total modular weight of 70 credits)

Taught Module Options – (total modular weight of 30 credits)

Optional modules may be chosen from the module catalogues of the UoN, LU, UoB, UoS and BGS. All module choices are subject to the approval of the Programme Director and the delivering institution(s) and/or department(s). Choice should normally be restricted to postgraduate modules (level 7) and should normally be chosen to enhance the student's understanding of the technical content or context of their EngD research project.

The candidate is responsible for ensuring that all aspects of optional module choice can be incorporated into their individual timetable. The choice of optional modules is significantly affected by timetabling constraints and is also subject to availability, prerequisite, preclusive and student number restrictions. Any difficulties arising from optional module choice will not normally be considered as the basis of a claim for impaired performance.

MSc:

The programme will normally require a total modular weight of 180 (including the final research project weighted at 60 credits) taken from the range of postgraduate taught  modules offered by the three Midlands Energy Consortium Universities UoN, LU and UoB. 

All candidates shall register at the beginning of their programme for the modules which they are taking in that year.

Content

The programme has a number of special features as a consequence of the multi-university nature of the Programme.

The core modular credits will comprise 60 credits of compulsory taught modules offered by the three universities and 60 credits from a research project at Loughborough. The total credits will be made up to 180 by specialist training modules which can be taken from the partner universities. At least 30 credits of specialist optional taught modules and the final research project (MPP010) must be completed at Loughborough to complete the MSc.

The selection of optional modules should be discussed and agreed with the candidate’s research project academic supervisor(s) and the appropriate Programme Director.

 Core Modules – (total modular weight of 60 credits)

Core Project Module – (total modular weight of 60 credits)

Taught Module Options – (total modular weight of 60 credits)

Optional modules may be chosen from the module catalogues of Midlands Energy Consortium Universities of UoN, LU and UoB. All module choice is subject to the approval of the Programme Director and the delivering institution(s) and/or department(s). Choice should normally be restricted to postgraduate modules (level 7) and should normally be chosen from the selection listed below.

The candidate is responsible for ensuring that all aspects of optional module choice can be incorporated into their individual timetable. The choice of optional modules is significantly affected by timetabling constraints and is also subject to availability, prerequisite, preclusive and student number restrictions. Any difficulties arising from optional module choice will not normally be considered as the basis of a claim for impaired performance.

At least 30 credits of options must be taken at Loughborough University. Suggested modules for a Materials specialism are indicated by the #.

MSc candidates cannot normally study the distance learning (DL) version of a Loughborough module when a taught version is available.

Some pre-requisite learning may apply or there may be a limited number of module participants allowable; students must check with module leader.

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

Only Loughborough University module marks will be used in determining the Programme Mark. 

5.1. EngD Research Programme

1. The Loughborough-based curriculum-based component of the EngD programme, including the Project and Research Training components, shall be assessed in accordance with the procedures set out in Regulation XXI.
2. In order to be eligible for an award, candidates must satisfy the requirements of Regulation XXI.
3. Reassessment of modules eligible under Regulation XXI may take place in the Universities Special Assessment Period where suitable modules are available.
4. Candidates will be eligible to progress on the EngD programme when they have accumulated 180 credits from the curriculum-based component within the period of time specified below *, except where exemption has been granted in accordance with below paragraph ** of these Regulations. 

*The curriculum-based component of the EngD programme should normally be completed within the first 2 years of registration. 

**Candidates who have previously studied appropriate Level 7 (MSc) material, already possess an appropriate MSc or have appropriate industrial experience may be allowed in exceptional circumstances to reduce the curriculum-based component of the programme. Eligibility for a reduced curriculum-based component will be decided on an individual basis by the Efficient Fossil Energy Technologies DTC Management Group. 

5.2. MSc Programme

1. In order to be eligible for an award, candidates must satisfy the requirements of Regulation XXI.
2. Students will be permitted to transfer up to 80 credits of the 180 credits required for the award from the Partner institutions.
3. Reassessment of modules eligible under Regulation XXI may take place in the Universities Special Assessment Period where suitable modules are available.

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

n/a