Programme Specifications

Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

• To enable students to develop their education in particular aspects of process engineering beyond their existing qualifications or update their knowledge, by studying advanced modules that are relevant to the changing priorities and skills requirements of the modern process industries. The multi-disciplinary approach will be the distinctive feature. 

• To develop skills, especially in investigating and drawing rational conclusions; in information technology, this includes the use of design packages, computer graphics and word processing; in communication, both oral and writing skills are extended. 

• To plan, conduct and report research into an aspect of Chemical Engineering. Apply academic theory and knowledge together with work experience to the solution of a real-life research, plant operational or management problem. 

• To apply existing and new knowledge to solving or furthering knowledge of a real-life research, plant operational or management problem and in so doing develop their organisational, critical appraisal, problem-solving, IT, presentational, communication and report-writing skills. 

• To develop the students’ ability to: reason critically, collect, analyse, evaluate and synthesise data, gather and use information, apply concepts and methodologies. 

• To deepen understanding of process principles through problem solving, projects and design exercises. 

• To provide an in-depth understanding of the IT skills required for advanced chemical processes. 

• To make the students aware of key management and/or entrepreneurship concepts. 

• To encourage professional attitudes through the study of human, safety, environmental and economic implications of technology, through team work and through working with established professionals. 

• To share experiences with other module attendees and presenters and/or workshop/case-study leaders and take part in workshops/case studies to give the students an appreciation of the practical work-related aspects of the subjects studied. Students will have integrated the programme with their own personal and professional needs and those of their employer or sponsor. 

• To foster networking and transfer of ideas and experience between students from different backgrounds.

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

QAA Benchmark statements for Engineering

IChemE draft matching section guidelines

Framework for Higher Education Qualifications

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

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

• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of currently topical and newly emerging aspects of process engineering, such as product design and manufacture, batch processing, bio-processing;
• Apply information technology for the design of modern operator interfaces for advanced process plants;
• Derive mathematical models and mathematically analyse systems to enable engineering solutions to practical problems using specialised software tools;
• Understand the practical aspects of operating engineering equipment to improve handling of safety, health and environmental issues such as chemical hazards and risks associated with different unit operations.

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

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

• plan, conduct and report research into an aspect of Chemical Engineering;
• apply academic theory and knowledge together with work experience to the solution of a real-life research, plant operational or management problem;
• reason critically, collect, analyse, evaluate and synthesise data, gather and use information, apply concepts and methodologies.

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

The choice of modules will determine the specific practical skills acquired.

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to discuss advanced process and chemical engineering issues related to the modules chosen. They should be able to demonstrate the ability to qualitatively and quantitatively address specific areas of their discipline, ranging from process systems engineering to management or entrepreneurship. Through their substantive research project, students will have learnt, how to generate meaningful results, analyse and quantify data and present them in a scientific fashion. Through an extensive literature survey, they will be familiar with the latest research in the area of the project.

c. Key transferable skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to discuss process engineering and other matters relating to the modules with colleagues, contractors, operators, regulators and management. Students will have integrated the programme with their own personal and professional needs and those of their employer or sponsor.

The student transferable skills will be enhanced in these areas: capacity to learn, IT, project management, effective presentation, numerical ability, critical appraisal and problem solving and report writing.

4. Programme structure

4.1         The Programme comprises study of a combination of compulsory and optional taught modules.

4.2 Compulsory Modules

4.3 Optional Modules – choice of modules with a total modular weight of 45 credits

Module participation is provided on a first come first served basis. Students must register for the number of credits before the start of the programme.

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

In order to be eligible for the award, candidates must satisfy the requirements of Regulation XXI.

Provision will be made in Accordance with Regulation XXI for candidates who have the right of re-examination to be reassessed in the University’s Special Assessment Period where modules allow

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

Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

• To develop an understanding of particular aspects of process engineering beyond existing knowledge, by studying advanced modules that are relevant to the changing priorities and requirements of the modern process industries. 

• To apply existing and new knowledge to solving or furthering knowledge of a real-life research, plant operational or management problem and in so doing develop their organisational, critical appraisal, problem-solving, IT, presentational and report-writing skills. 

• To emphasise the practical, work-related aspects of the subjects.  

• To foster networking and transfer of ideas and experience between students from different backgrounds.

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

QAA Benchmark statements for Engineering

IChemE draft matching section guidelines

Framework for Higher Education Qualifications

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of currently topical and newly emerging aspects of process engineering, such as product design and manufacture, batch processing, risk and safety, health and environment.

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

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

• plan, conduct and report research into an aspect of Process Engineering;
• apply academic theory and knowledge together with work experience to the solution of a real-life research, plant operational or management problem;
• reason critically, collect, analyse, evaluate and synthesise data, gather and use information, apply concepts and methodologies.

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

The choice of modules will determine the specific practical skills acquired.

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to discuss advanced process and chemical engineering issues related to the modules chosen. They should be able to demonstrate the ability to qualitatively and quantitatively address specific areas of their discipline. Through their substantive research project, students will have learnt, how to conduct meaningful experiments, analyse and quantify data and present them in a scientific fashion. Through an extensive literature survey, they will be familiar with the latest research in the area of the project.

c. Key transferable skills:

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

discuss process engineering and other matters relating to the modules with colleagues, contractors, operators, regulators and management.  Students will have integrated the programme with their own personal and professional needs and those of their employer or sponsor.

The student transferable skills will be enhanced in these areas: capacity to learn, IT, project management, effective presentation, numerical ability, critical appraisal and problem solving and report writing.

4. Programme structure

4.1 The Programme comprises study of a combination of compulsory and optional taught modules.

4.2         Compulsory Modules

4.3         Optional Modules – choice of FOUR modules with a total modular weight of 60 credits

Module participation is provided on a first come first served basis. Students must register for the correct number of credits before the start of the programme.

A Project Completion Form forms part of the MSc project. Marks for the MSc project can only be awarded upon completion of the form.

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

In order to be eligible for the award, candidates must satisfy the requirements of Regulation XXI.

Provision will be made in Accordance with Regulation XXI for candidates who have the right of re-examination to be reassessed in the University’s Special Assessment Period where modules allow

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