Programme Specifications

Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

The BEng in Systems Engineering aims to:

• provide a programme of study producing graduate system engineering practitioners that are capable of gaining employment across a range of military and civilian sectors, working in domains as varied as engineering, manufacturing, transport, energy, commerce, financial, health etc where the development and operation of complex systems and systems of systems is a prime requisite;
• ensure a high quality educational experience in which knowledge and skills are developed, to an appropriate level, as a preparation for a career in those sectors;
• provide a broad, well-balanced degree programme in which research, analytical and practical skills are developed over the full range of core subject areas thus equipping graduates of the programme for employment as systems engineering practitioners across all fields appropriate to this area of engineering;
• provide a range of contexts in which the students can, individually and in groups, apply the knowledge, skills, tools and techniques taught to analyse, diagnose and solve system problems and failures across different types of complex systems and system of systems in a range of domains;
• develop transferable skills such as the ability to create concise technical reports, oral and written presentation skills, team-working, IT skills, critical thinking, problem solving and decision making skills etc which will enable graduates of the Programme to gain employment in a wide variety of professions, thus enabling them to make a valuable contribution to society;
• maintain an up-to-date curriculum that is responsive to developments in the delivery of higher education curricula, continues to meet the needs of industry and commerce and which is informed by the School’s on-going research activities;
• Create an external interface between the students and their potential employers by the use of external lecturers where appropriate, involvement of industry and commerce in group and individual projects, School forums to channel advice and input on the curriculum content etc.

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

International Council for Systems Engineering (INCOSE): Systems Engineering Vision 2025, July 2014.

The report of the EAB Accredition Panel, September 2014 (the panel included representatives of the IET, InstMC, RAeS and EI).

UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence; Engineering Technician, Incorporated Engineer and Chartered Engineer Standard, Engineering Council UK, 3rd edition, 2013.

UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence; The Accreditation of Higher Education Programmes, Engineering Council UK, 3rd edition, 2014.

Guidance Note on Academic Accreditation, Engineering Council UK, 2014.

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

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

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

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.

INCOSE, 2012, Systems Engineering Handbook: A Guide for System Life Cycle Processes and Activities, version 3.2.2. San Diego, C.A. USA: International Council on SYStems Engineering (INCOSE), ICOSE-TP-2003-002-03.2.2.

INCOSE multi-level Professional SEP Certification Program (http://www.incose.org/educationcareers/certification/).

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:

• the nature of systems and systems thinking and SE concepts and terminology;
• the form and value of SE-based techniques, methods and methodologies and their use in the development and evaluation of complex systems and systems of systems (SoS) in a range of engineering/commercial domains;
• the provenance and theory behind a range of systems and systems engineering tools, methods and processes;
• the need for an integrated systems approach using appropriate and timely configurations of systems engineering methods, tools and processes;
• the importance of integrating Requirements Specification, Systems Design and Validation and Verification approaches along the whole systems life cycle;
• essential mathematical methods appropriate to the area of engineering;
• essential appropriate principles of engineering and/or systems science;
• the role of Information Technology and Communications;
• knowledge and information management techniques;
• essential design principles appropriate to relevant components, equipment and associated software;
• relevant common engineering materials and components;
• management and business practices appropriate to engineering industries;
• relevant codes of practice and regulatory frameworks;
• basic operational practices and requirements for safe operation relevant to electronic and electrical engineering;
• the professional and ethical responsibilities of engineers.

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

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

• an ability to apply a systems engineering approach to engineering, problem structuring and problem solving;
• a capability to select and apply different systems engineering tools, methods and processes based on both an understanding of the theory behind the tools and an appreciation of their functionality and applicability to the system context;
• 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 understanding of a range of areas dependent on modules studied eg control techniques used in industry, aeronautical considerations of aircraft design and performance, different renewable energy generation technologies, human factors in systems design etc.
• a competence in defining and solving practical engineering problems;
• the ability to integrate, evaluate and use information, data and ideas from a range of sources in their project work;
• the ability to develop and apply system engineering processes in a range of different engineering contexts.

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

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

• develop a viable systems engineering approach to the development of complex systems and systems of systems in a range of engineering and commercial environments;
• analyse and identify a problem space, extract and formalize a requirements specification for a system of interest and select and apply appropriate systems design and validation and verification methods within a defined systems engineering process along the whole system lifecycle;
• use conventional laboratory equipment and relevant test and measurement equipment in a safe manner;
• use computational tools and packages (including programming and modelling languages where appropriate) in familiar situations;
• design, and where appropriate construct, systems, components or processes;
• search for, locate, retrieve and reference correctly information, ideas and data from a variety of sources;
• manage a project and the inherent technical and project management risks, and produce technical reports, papers, diagrams and drawings.

c. Key transferable skills:

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

• Self-management : Readiness to accept responsibility, flexibility, resilience, self-starting, appropriate assertiveness, time management, readiness to improve own performance based on feedback/reflective learning;
• Team-working: Respecting others, co-operating, negotiating/persuading, contributing to discussions, interpersonal skills and awareness of interdependence with others;
• Leadership: project and group management, delegation v control, verbal and written communication, creativity, problem solving and financial/time/risk management;
• Analysis and investigation: use of tools and techniques to gather and analyse information systematically to aid decision-making and critical thinking skills;
• Business and customer awareness: Basic understanding of the key drivers for business success – including the importance of innovation and taking calculated risks – and the need to provide customer satisfaction and build customer loyalty;
• Problem solving: Analysing facts and situations and applying creative thinking to develop appropriate solutions;
• Communication and literacy: Application of literacy, ability to produce clear, structured written work and oral literacy – including listening and questioning;
• Positive attitude: A ‘can-do’ approach, self- motivation, a readiness to take part and contribute, openness to new ideas and a drive to make these happen;
• Entrepreneurship and enterprise: Broadly, an ability to demonstrate an innovative approach, creativity, collaboration and risk taking. An individual with these attributes can make a huge difference to any business;
• IT and networks: programming and application development, databases, modeling software, spreadsheets, word processing, graphics and multi-media;
• Risk Management and mitigation.

4. Programme structure

These Programme Specifications apply to the conduct of the programme in the 2015-16 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 which are 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 two of the optional (o) modules indicated.

4.3       Part C - Degree Modules

Options listed as oA will normally be delivered throughout the Semester 1 examination period. The options listed as oB will normally be suspended during the Semester 1 examination period. No more than two oA modules should be chosen and only where they were not taken at Part B.

Optional modules to a total modular weight of 30 may be chosen from those offered by Schools comprising Engineering, Design or Science Departments. All module choice is subject to the approval of the Programme Director and the delivering School(s). Students choosing optional modules from the University Catalogue should also choose at least one option from those listed oA and oB. Choice should normally be restricted to modules at Part B or Part C level, with no more than 30 credits being chosen from Part B modules.

Total modular weight for the year is 120, which should be arranged as near to 60 per semester as possible. Different semester weightings are allowed subject to the approval of the Programme Director.

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

4.4       Part I - Industrial training

Following successful completion of Part B, 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.

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

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

5.1 In order to progress from Part A to Part B and from Part B to Part I or Part C 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: 

5.1.1 In order to progress from Part A to Part B, candidates must obtain at least 100 credits from Part A together with at least 30% in all remaining modules.

5.1.2 In order to progress from Part B to either Part C or Part I (a period of professional training leading to a DIS award), candidates must obtain at least 100 credits from Part B with at least 30% in all remaining modules.

5.1.3 To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Engineering candidates must achieve at least 40% in the project module  ELC025.  Where applicable, the Advanced Project ELD030 is an acceptable alternative to ELC025.

5.2 Re-assessment

Provision will be made in accordance with Regulation XX for candidates who have the right of re-assessment 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 ELC025 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.

5.3 Criteria for progression onto an MEng programme

5.3.1 Any candidate who has achieved, at the first attempt, 100 credits, no module marks less than 30% and an overall average mark of at least 55% from modules taken in Part A would normally be allowed to transfer to Part B of any MEng programme in the School of Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering should they so wish.

5.3.2 Any candidate who has achieved, at the first attempt, 100 credits, no module marks less than 30% and an overall average mark of at least 55% from modules taken in Part B would normally be allowed to transfer to Part C or Part I of any MEng programme in the School of Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering should they so wish.

Such transfers are subject to the prerequisite requirements of the MEng programme.

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 and C 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 20: Part C 80 to determine the final Programme Mark.