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Loughborough University

Programme Specifications

Programme Specification

MSc Water and Waste Engineering (Blended Learning)

Academic Year: 2017/18

This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if full advantage is taken of the learning opportunities that are provided.

This specification applies to delivery of the programme in the Academic Year indicated above. Prospective students reviewing this information for a later year of study should be aware that these details are subject to change as outlined in our Terms and Conditions of Study.

This specification should be read in conjunction with:

  • Summary
  • Aims
  • Learning outcomes
  • Structure
  • Progression & weighting

Programme summary

Awarding body/institution Loughborough University
Teaching institution (if different) Water, Engineering and Development Centre (WEDC) within the School
Owning school/department School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering
Details of accreditation by a professional/statutory body

The MSc, PG Diploma and PG Certificate are accredited by the Charted Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) for student intakes in academic years up to and including academic year 2020 – 2021.

The MSc is accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM), for student  intakes up to and including academic year 2020 – 2021, as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for a Chartered Engineer (CEng) for candidates who have already acquired an Accredited CEng (Partial) BEng (Hons) undergraduate first degree. See www.jbm.org.uk for further information.

Final award MSc, PGDip, PGCert
Programme title Water and Waste Engineering (Blended Learning)
Programme code CVPT79
Length of programme MSc 2-8 years; Diploma 1-5 years; Certificate 1-3 years
UCAS code
Admissions criteria

http://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/programmes/departments/civil/water-waste/

Additional information about the programme is available from http://wedc.lboro.ac.uk//learn/wwe.html

Date at which the programme specification was published Tue, 17 Oct 2017 19:56:26 BST

1. Programme Aims

This programme is likely to be of particular interest to applicants who wish to develop careers in aspects of design, implementation and management of water supply and waste management for low- and middle-income countries.  It aims to: 

  • Provide Engineers and Scientists with the knowledge and skills to meet the global challenge of basic services for low- and middle-income countries;
  • Develop participants’ understanding of important aspects of sustainable public health infrastructure and services for all levels of consumers;
  • Equip students with appropriate expertise and skills for work in low- and middle-income countries; and
  • Provide an opportunity for specialisation in one topic through in depth study during the Research Dissertation module.

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

This specification has taken into account the descriptors for a qualification at Masters (MSc), Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) and Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) levels that are set out in the “Framework for Higher Education Qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.”

WEDC’s postgraduate programmes are multidisciplinary in content so no single-subject benchmarks are wholly applicable to them. There are currently no benchmark statements for Engineering MSc programmes. Although the Subject Benchmark Statement for Engineering applies to first degrees in engineering, and not to postgraduate degrees, it has been used to inform the drafting of intended learning outcomes for this programme, with the expectation that postgraduate students attain a higher level than undergraduate students in relevant outcomes. The Subject Benchmark Statement for Master’s Awards in Business and Managementhas also been consulted because of the management content of the WEDC programmes; the list of skills for all Master’s programmes listed in Appendix 2 is of particular relevance.  Note has also been taken of the Engineering Council document The Accreditation of Higher Education Programmes (published May 2014) for Master Degrees other than the Integrated Masters (MEng) (Accredited as further learning to masters level, partially meeting the educational requirements for CEng).

Following an accreditation visit by the Charted Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) in June 2016, the panel recommended that this programme at MSc, PG Diploma and PG Certificate levels be accredited for student intakes up to and including academic year 2020 – 2021.  Accreditation recognises that this programme contributes to the academic requirements for CIWEM membership.

Following an accreditation visit in October 2015, the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM) accredited the MSc level of this programme as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for a Chartered Engineer (CEng) for candidates who have already acquired an Accredited CEng (Partial) BEng (Hons) undergraduate first degree.  This applies for intakes up to and including academic year 2020 – 2021.  See www.jbm.org.uk for further information.

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

On successful completion of this programme participants should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of, or explain:

  • the importance of a multi-disciplinary approach to public health engineering and ways to integrate various perspectives in project planning
  • the links between water, sanitation and health
  • ways of integrating technical and non-technical considerations into project planning, design, execution and evaluation
  • key issues in relation to effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability and replicability in planning public health infrastructure and services
  • key issues in relation to social and institutional aspects particularly for sustainability of water supply and environmental sanitation services
  • major international developments and initiatives, relating to some of the above-mentioned aspects

 

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

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

  • integrate and evaluate multi-disciplinary information
  • describe basic water supply and environmental sanitation options suitable for low- and middle-income countries, and be able to select appropriate options subject to specific constraints
  • describe key water and sanitation sector reform issues such as new public management, decentralisation and public private partnerships
  • use an interdisciplinary approach to plan appropriate solutions to meet users’ needs and demands for water supply and environmental sanitation.  This will include use of appropriate techniques for technical, financial and institutional analysis
  • plan, conduct and report a programme of original research

 

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

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

  • demonstrate practical skills implied in the above statements
  • demonstrate some practical skills relevant to laboratory practical work.

Note: gaining these practical skills is not applicable to Distance Learning modules.

c. Key transferable skills:

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

  • Use literature critically, assessing it against other evidence, including  personal experience
  • Learn from, and contribute to, discussion with other professionals
  • Demonstrate originality in tackling and solving problems
  • Analyse data, check their validity and make appropriate use of data when writing reports
  • Communicate effectively in writing essays and reports.  This will include presentation and justification of conclusions from quantitative and qualitative analyses.
  • Show basic keyboard skills for word-processing on a computer
  • Work as a member of a small team
  • Manage time and work to deadlines
  • Continue to advance personal knowledge and understanding of relevant current issues, and develop new skills to a high level.

Note: experience of working in a group is not gained if the Case Study module by Distance Learning is chosen instead of the Group Project.

4. Programme structure

As a blended learning programme, students can choose to either undertake a module by distance learning or to be taught at Loughborough.  Students must however have a selection of both taught and distance learning modules throughout their studies.

Please note:

  • if students wish to undertake their studies by distance learning only, they should register onto programme CVPT77 Water and Waste Engineering (Distance Learning),
  • if students wish to undertake their studies taught at Loughborough only, they should register onto programme CVPT70 Water and Waste Engineering.

 

4.1  MSc

4.1.1  COMPULSORY MODULES

Choose either taught at Loughborough or by distance learning:

Module Code and Title

taught at Loughborough

 

 

Module Code and Title

by Distance Learning

Module Weight

CVP201

Management of Water and Sanitation

 

OR

CVP251

Management of Water and Sanitation

15

CVP223

Water Utilities Management

 

OR

CVP273

Water Utilities Management *

15

CVP235

Water and Waste Engineering Principles

 

OR

CVP252

Water and Environmental Sanitation

15

CVP227

Data Collection, Analysis and Research

 

OR

CVP253

Data Collection, Analysis and Research

15

CVP228

Group Project

OR

CVP278

Case Study

 

15

CVP292

Research Dissertation – 20 weeks

or

CVP293

Research Dissertation – 72 weeks

OR

 

 

OR

CVP298

Research Dissertation – one year

or

CVP296

Research Dissertation – two years

 

60

 

 

60

 * Water Utilities Management has an equivalent module which is taught overseas – module code CVPT224.  This module can be selected in place of distance learning module CVP273 only and with prior agreement from the WEDC Programme Director.

 

4.1.2  OPTIONAL MODULES

Choose three modules, either taught at Loughborough or by distance learning, from: 

Module Code and Title

taught at Loughborough

 

 

Module Code and Title

by Distance Learning

Module Weight

CVP204

Water Source Development

 

 

No distance learning equivalent

 

15

CVP207

Waste Water Treatment

 

OR

CVP257

Waste Water Treatment

15

CVP215 **

Small-scale Water Supply and Sanitation

 

OR

CVP272

Low Cost Sanitation

 

15

CVP230

Water Distribution and Drainage Systems

 

OR

CVP265 **

Water for Low-Income Communities

15

CVP218

Integrated Water Resources Management

 

OR

CVP268

Integrated Water Resources Management

 

15

CVP219

Solid Waste Management

 

OR

CVP269

Solid Waste Management

15

CVP240

Short Project – Topical Review

 

 

No distance learning equivalent

 

15

 ** Students will not be permitted to study both CVP215 and CVP265 as they cover similar material.

 

4.2  Postgraduate Diploma

4.2.1  COMPULSORY MODULES

Choose either taught at Loughborough or by distance learning:

Module Code and Title

taught at Loughborough

 

 

Module Code and Title

by Distance Learning

Module Weight

CVP201

Management of Water and Sanitation

 

OR

CVP251

Management of Water and Sanitation

15

CVP223

Water Utilities Management

 

OR

CVP273

Water Utilities Management *

15

CVP235

Water and Waste Engineering Principles

 

OR

CVP252

Water and Environmental Sanitation

15

CVP227

Data Collection, Analysis and Research

 

OR

CVP253

Data Collection, Analysis and Research

15

CVP228

Group Project

OR

CVP278

Case Study

 

15

 * Water Utilities Management has an equivalent module which is taught overseas – module code CVPT224.  This module can be selected in place of distance learning module CVP273 only and with prior agreement from the WEDC Programme Director.

 

4.2.2  OPTIONAL MODULES

Choose three modules, either taught at Loughborough or by distance learning, from:

Module Code and Title

taught at Loughborough

 

 

Module Code and Title

by Distance Learning

Module Weight

CVP204

Water Source Development

 

 

No distance learning equivalent

 

15

CVP207

Waste Water Treatment

 

OR

CVP257

Waste Water Treatment

15

CVP215 **

Small-scale Water Supply and Sanitation

 

OR

CVP272

Low Cost Sanitation

 

15

CVP230

Water Distribution and Drainage Systems

 

OR

CVP265 **

Water for Low-Income Communities

15

CVP218

Integrated Water Resources Management

 

OR

CVP268

Integrated Water Resources Management

 

15

CVP219

Solid Waste Management

 

OR

CVP269

Solid Waste Management

15

CVP240

Short Project – Topical Review

 

 

No distance learning equivalent

 

15

** Students will not be permitted to study both CVP215 and CVP265 as they cover similar material.

 

4.3  Post Graduate Certificate

4.3.1  COMPULSORY MODULES

Choose either taught at Loughborough or by distance learning:

Module Code and Title

taught at Loughborough

 

 

Module Code and Title

by Distance Learning

Module Weight

CVP201

Management of Water and Sanitation

 

OR

CVP251

Management of Water and Sanitation

15

CVP235

Water and Waste Engineering Principles

 

OR

CVP252

Water and Environmental Sanitation

15

  

4.3.2 OPTIONAL MODULES

 Choose two modules, either taught at Loughborough or by distance learning, from:

Module Code and Title

taught at Loughborough

 

 

Module Code and Title

by Distance Learning

Module Weight

CVP204

Water Source Development

 

 

No distance learning equivalent

 

15

CVP207

Waste Water Treatment

 

OR

CVP257

Waste Water Treatment

15

CVP215 **

Small-scale Water Supply and Sanitation

 

OR

CVP272

Low Cost Sanitation

 

15

CVP223

Water Utilities Management

 

OR

CVP273

Water Utilities Management *

15

CVP227

Data Collection, Analysis and Research

 

OR

CVP253

Data Collection, Analysis and Research

15

CVP230

Water Distribution and Drainage Systems

 

OR

CVP265 **

Water for Low-Income Communities

15

CVP218

Integrated Water Resources Management

 

OR

CVP268

Integrated Water Resources Management

 

15

CVP219

Solid Waste Management

 

OR

CVP269

Solid Waste Management

15

CVP240

Short Project – Topical Review

 

 

No distance learning equivalent

 

15

 * Water Utilities Management has an equivalent module which is taught overseas – module code CVPT224.  This module can be selected in place of distance learning module CVP273 only and with prior agreement from the WEDC Programme Director.

 ** Students will not be permitted to study both CVP215 and CVP265 as they cover similar material.

 

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

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

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

Not applicable.

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