Programme Title

MEng Software and Electronic Systems Engineering

Final Award
(exit route if applicable for Postgraduate Taught Programmes)

Master of Engineering

Programme Code

SEE-MENG

UCAS Code

GH6Q

HECoS Code

100165

ATAS Clearance Required

No

Mode of Study

Full Time

Type of Programme

Undergraduate Master

Length of Programme

4 Academic Year(s)

Total Credits for Programme

480

Exit Awards available

Teaching Institution

Queen's University Belfast

School/Department

Electronics, Electrical Engineering & Computer Sci

Framework for Higher Education Qualification Level 
www.qaa.ac.uk

Level 7

QAA Benchmark Group
www.qaa.ac.uk/quality-code/subject-benchmark-statements

Engineering (2015)

Accreditations (PSRB)

Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)

Date of most recent Accreditation Visit 17-12-15

Does the Programme have any approved exemptions from the University General Regulations
(Please see General Regulations)

None

Programme Specific Regulations

Progression

Stage 2
In order to proceed to Stage 2, students must normally have passed a minimum of 5 Stage 1 modules (100 CATS, taking account of any prerequisites).

Stage 3
In order to proceed to Stage 3, students must normally have 6 Stage 2 modules (120 CATS with an average of at least 55% on their first module enrolments and have passed 6 modules (120 CATS) at Stage 1.

Students unable to progress to Stage 3 may be required to transfer to the BEng in Software and Electronic Systems Engineering programme.

Stage 4
In order to proceed to Stage 4, students must normally have 6 Stage 3 module credits (120 CATS) with an average of at least 55% on their first module enrolments.

Students unable to progress to Stage 4 may be required to transfer to the BEng in Software and Electronic Systems Engineering programme.

Those students who have successfully progressed to Stage 4, but have not attained sufficient module passes at Stage 4 to graduate from the MEng Degree will normally be required to transfer to Stage 3 of the equivalent BEng degree.

Award of Degrees
For the award of a MEng degree students must normally have passed at least 24 modules (480 CATS) to include ELE4001 (Project 4) and have achieved a weighted average mark of at least 50%.

Students with protected characteristics

N/A

Are students subject to Fitness to Practise Regulations

(Please see General Regulations)

No

Learning Outcomes: Cognitive Skills

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

Analyse, interpret, synthesise and evaluate information across a variety of sources including the effective and efficient organisation and management of that information.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Problem solving and design pervade the degree with each module emphasising some aspect of problem solving and/or good design practice. All modules has a coursework component (practical work, homeworks or assignments) which supports, illustrates and reinforces the theoretical material presented in lectures. The coursework develops from guided work leading to understanding in first year to open learning, open ended designs with development of specifications, customer input and validation in final year.

Methods of Assessment

Assessed through homework, assignments and end-of-module written examinations.

Critically apply knowledge and understanding of facts, concepts, principles or theories to reason about problems and unfamiliar situations.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Problem solving and design pervade the degree with each module emphasising some aspect of problem solving and/or good design practice. All modules has a coursework component (practical work, homeworks or assignments) which supports, illustrates and reinforces the theoretical material presented in lectures. The coursework develops from guided work leading to understanding in first year to open learning, open ended designs with development of specifications, customer input and validation in final year.

Methods of Assessment

Assessed through assignments, reports on practical work and project reports, presentations and demonstrations.

Develop strategies to solve problems that require the synthesis of facts, concepts, principles or theories.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Problem solving and design pervade the degree with each module emphasising some aspect of problem solving and/or good design practice. All modules has a coursework component (practical work, homeworks or assignments) which supports, illustrates and reinforces the theoretical material presented in lectures. The coursework develops from guided work leading to understanding in first year to open learning, open ended designs with development of specifications, customer input and validation in final year.

Methods of Assessment

Assessed through homework, assignments and end-of-module written examinations.

Critically evaluate designs, components, products and artefacts and develop improvements where appropriate.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Problem solving and design pervade the degree with each module emphasising some aspect of problem solving and/or good design practice. All modules has a coursework component (practical work, homeworks or assignments) which supports, illustrates and reinforces the theoretical material presented in lectures. The coursework develops from guided work leading to understanding in first year to open learning, open ended designs with development of specifications, customer input and validation in final year.

Methods of Assessment

Assessed through assignments, reports on practical work and project reports, presentations and demonstrations.

Apply professional judgement to balance quality and safety indicators in the design, development and deployment of electronic and software systems.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Problem solving and design pervade the degree with each module emphasising some aspect of problem solving and/or good design practice. All modules has a coursework component (practical work, homeworks or assignments) which supports, illustrates and reinforces the theoretical material presented in lectures. The coursework develops from guided work leading to understanding in first year to open learning, open ended designs with development of specifications, customer input and validation in final year.

Methods of Assessment

Professional judgement and balance are largely assessed through the individual and industrial (group) project assessments, dissertations and reports at Stage 3 and 4

Learning Outcomes: Transferable Skills

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

Work effectively within a team recognising the different roles within a team and the different ways of organising teams.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Introduced during the University induction course and developed through assignments and project work involving library resources (catalogues), web-based resources (browsers and search engines) and personal contacts.

Methods of Assessment

Indirectly assessed through assignments, practical work and projects.

Retrieve information effectively and efficiently from a variety of sources and by a variety of techniques.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Introduced during the University induction course and developed through assignments and project work involving library resources (catalogues), web-based resources (browsers and search engines) and personal contacts.

Methods of Assessment

Indirectly assessed through assignments, practical work and projects.

Use information technology effectively, efficiently and appropriately.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Skill T3 is an integral part of all modules, reflecting the pervasive nature of information technology in terms of current educational delivery and assessment. Developed and practised within assignments, practicals and projects.

Methods of Assessment

Explicitly assessed within some technical assignments, practicals and projects, including the preparation of the dissertation and final report for the individual and industrial projects, respectively. Positive assessment of this skill is implicit to successful completion of any form of assessment involving electronic information manipulation.

Communicate succinctly and effectively within groups and to a range of audiences (orally, electronically or in writing).

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Skill T4 is an integral component of all modules and strongly integrated into those involving sizeable individual or group based projects.

Methods of Assessment

Explicitly taught in the Professional Engineering Practice modules; practised, assessed and developed through feedback within assignments and projects through presentations, demonstrations, reports, dissertations, etc.

Understand, use, evaluate and present information involving a quantitative dimension

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Skills T5 and T6 are an integral component of all technical modules and most other modules. Developed within lectures and practised through assignments and practicals

Methods of Assessment

Assessed within assignments, practicals and through unseen written examinations.

Propose, use and assess appropriate methods to solve problems in an effective and efficient manner.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Skills T5 and T6 are an integral component of all technical modules and most other modules. Developed within lectures and practised through assignments and practicals

Methods of Assessment

Assessed within assignments, practicals and through unseen written examinations.

Manage one’s own learning and development including time management and organisational skills

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Skills T7 and T8 are fundamental aspects of student engagement within modules, reflecting their essential role within higher education. Practised and developed as an integral component of students’ learning experience as delivered within independent study, lectures, assignments, practicals and projects.

Methods of Assessment

Positive assessment of this skill is implicit to successful completion of any form of assessment of previously unfamiliar material.

Learn independently in familiar and unfamiliar situations with open-mindedness and a spirit of critical enquiry acting positively upon feedback.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Skills T7 and T8 are fundamental aspects of student engagement within modules, reflecting their essential role within higher education. Practised and developed as an integral component of students’ learning experience as delivered within independent study, lectures, assignments, practicals and projects.

Methods of Assessment

Positive assessment of this skill is implicit to successful completion of any form of assessment of previously unfamiliar material.

Plan and manage their career, appreciating the need for continuing professional development in the wider context of lifelong learning.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Learners are given the opportunity to develop Skill T9 through regular interaction with the Student Guidance Centre and Careers Service and other University-wide initiatives such as Degree Plus.

Methods of Assessment

The monitoring of the progress students are making in their employability and related skills development will be through Personal Development Planning (PDP) and a structured personal tutorial system. Additional positive assessment of Skill T9 is implicit to successful completion of any form of assessment that requires the student to engage in a period of profession development, eg as found within Stage 3 and Stage 4 project modules.

Learning Outcomes: Knowledge & Understanding

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

Understanding of the underpinning mathematics, physics and theoretical framework relevant to software and electronic systems.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Principally through lecture and directed individual study across all stages. Practised through the application of understanding within assignments, practicals and projects

Methods of Assessment

Primarily assessed within unseen written examination and, to a lesser extent, assignments or class tests

Understanding of the essential facts, concepts, principles and theories common to all Electronic Engineering and Computing disciplines and specific to software and electronic systems.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Principally through lecture and directed individual study across all stages. Practised through the application of understanding within assignments, practicals and projects

Methods of Assessment

Primarily assessed within unseen written examination and, to a lesser extent, assignments or class tests

Understanding of scientific and engineering practice, standards and associated problems, in the specification, design, development, implementation, testing, delivery and maintenance of electronic and software based solutions

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Knowledge and understanding of KU3 forms an integral part of all technical strands of the programme assuming increasing importance as students progress through the stages and is a major feature of the individual project, module embedded design projects and Stage 1 and the Stage 2 Professional Engineering Practice which includes design projects (ECS2001).

Methods of Assessment

primarily assessed within unseen written examination and, to a lesser extent, assignments or class tests

Understanding of professional aspects of the engineering discipline, including legal and ethical issues, principles of business and management and entrepreneurship.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Acquisition of KU4 is mainly at Stage 2 and Stage 3 Professional Engineering Practice) modules and (optionally) the year in industry. Almost all of the Stage 3 and Stage 4 modules are delivered within an implicit recognition of professional engineering practice that includes these outcomes.

Methods of Assessment

Primarily assessed within projects, practicals and assignments and to a lesser extent through unseen written examinations.

Understanding of the principles of entrepreneurship, business and management.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Acquisition of KU4 is mainly at Stage 2 and Stage 3 Professional Engineering Practice) modules and (optionally) the year in industry. Almost all of the Stage 3 and Stage 4 modules are delivered within an implicit recognition of professional engineering practice that includes these outcomes.

Methods of Assessment

Primarily assessed within projects, practicals and assignments and to a lesser extent through unseen written examinations.

Understanding of the technological developments related to emerging applications of software and electronic systems such as connected health, pervasive systems and electronic security.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Through specialist lectures and group and the individual project work in Stages 3 and 4, depending on the specific options selected by the learner.

Methods of Assessment

Primarily assessed within projects, practicals and assignments and to a lesser extent through unseen written examinations.

Learning Outcomes: Subject Specific

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

Apply scientific principles and mathematical methods to the modelling and analysis of devices, modules, libraries, circuits, networks and other component factors of electronic and software systems

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Related theory is taught and demonstrated within lectures, practicals and assignments and practised within assignments, practicals and projects.

Methods of Assessment

.Assignments, practicals and projects

Write efficient and reliable computer programmes, applying the basic principles of software engineering

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Skill P2 is introduced at Stage 1, emphasising both high (ELE1053) and low level (ECS1001) approaches. At Stage 2 programming skills are further developed through the Software Development (CSC2044)

Methods of Assessment

Assessed within unseen written examinations, assignments, practicals and projects. Subject to the options selected P2 can continue to be assessed through modules at Stage 3 and Stage 4 and within Stage 3 individual project.

Apply computer based tools to the analysis and synthesis of algorithms, devices, circuits, networks and systems that combine or otherwise integrate electronics and software.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Skill P3 is specifically introduced at Stage 1 within Electronics (ELE1052) and Embedded Systems (ECS1001) and developed at Stage 3 Individual Project. However, many of the technical modules at Stage 1 and Stage 2 contain practicals and assignments which require skill P3 and it is expected that the individual project at Stage 4 will provide further opportunity.

Methods of Assessment

Primarily achieved through those practicals, assignments, design reports and project reports

Plan, carry out, report and critically evaluate an engineering design project.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Skill P4 is largely introduced within the Stage 4 Individual Project and the Professional Engineering Practice modules at Stages 2 and 3.

Methods of Assessment

Assessed through project reports and dissertations, assignments interviews and, to a lesser extent, unseen written examinations

Identify and evaluate the wider commercial or social implications of current developments in electronic and software systems.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Skill P4 is largely introduced within the Stage 4 Individual Project and the Professional Engineering Practice modules at Stages 2 and 3.

Methods of Assessment

Assessed primarily through practicals, project work and assignments.

Recognise risks and safety aspects involved in the practical embodiment, test and measurement of electronic and software systems.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Skill P5 is a component of some technical modules. Risks and safety aspects related to business and enterprise are primarily taught within lectures and practised within practicals and assignments and in the Stage 4 individual project module.

Methods of Assessment

Assessed primarily through practicals, project work and assignments.