Loughborough University
Leicestershire, UK
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Loughborough University

Programme Specifications

Programme Specification

Science and Engineering Foundation Studies

Academic Year: 2014/15

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)
Owning school/department Foundation Programmes at Loughborough University
Details of accreditation by a professional/statutory body

Joint Board of Moderators

IMechE

Final award See 'Criteria for Progression'
Programme title Science and Engineering Foundation Studies
Programme code CGUF10 Chemical Engineering with a Foundation Year; CMUF30 General SEFS; CMUF10 Chemistry with a Foundation Year; COUF10 Computer Science with a Foundation Year; CVUF10 Civil and Building Engineering with a Foundation Year; ELUF10 Electronic & Electrical Engineering with a Foundation Year; MAUF10 Mathematics with a Foundation Year; MMUF10 PDE with a Foundation Year; MMUF11 Mech Eng with a Foundation Year; MMUF12 Man Eng with a Foundation Year; MMUF13 Sports Technology with a Foundation Year; MMUF15 Engineering Management with a Foundation Year; MPUF10 Materials with a Foundation Year; PHUF10 Physics with a Foundation Year; TTUF10 Aeronautical Engineering with a Foundation Year; TTUF11 Automotive Engineering with a Foundation Year
Length of programme Two semesters
UCAS code H411 Aeronautical Engineering with a Foundation Year; H33A Automotive Engineering with a Foundation Year; H80A Chemical Engineering with a Foundation Year; F104 Chemistry with a Foundation Year; H20A Civil Engineering with Foundation Year; G404 Computer Science with a Foundation Year; H602 Electronic and Electrical Engineering with a Foundation Year; HN12 Engineering Management with a Foundation Year; H700 Manufacturing Engineering with a Foundation Year; J504 Materials Engineering with a Foundation Year; G102 Mathematics with a Foundation Year; H304 Mechanical Engineering with a Foundation Year; F305 Physics with a Foundation Year; HH17 Product Design Engineering with a Foundation Year;
Admissions criteria

Applicants who cannot apply for direct entry to the first year of a programme because they are missing one or more required A level subjects, their circumstances have not allowed them to achieve at the appropriate level (eg illness or bereavement), those with alternative qualifications, eg international students with good year 12 qualifications and a minimum IELTS of 6.5 (with 6.0 in each element), or mature students with professional qualifications.

Applicants should have good GCSEs and level 3 qualifications or equivalent. Admission requirements vary depending on the destination degree as published in the SEFS Entry Requirements web page.

Applications will be judged on an individual basis and on their merits. An interview may be required. 

Date at which the programme specification was published Mon, 08 Sep 2014 15:00:00 BST

1. Programme Aims

  • To provide a programme of study to allow students from a wide variety of backgrounds to obtain the necessary skill and knowledge to progress to a degree course in science or engineering.
  • To provide an environment for learning which encourages the students to make the best of their abilities and help them gain confidence.
  • To equip students with transferable skills and thus help prepare them for future education and employment.

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

  • Framework for Higher Education Qualifications
  • Loughborough University’s Learning and Teaching Strategy
  • School Assessment Policy and Assessment Strategy
  • Annual and Periodic Programme Review
  • Staff/student committees
  • The research interests and specialisms of the teaching staff and their professional involvement in the disciplines.

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:

K1   the principles of science and engineering, particularly those which will be of direct relevance to their chosen degree course

K2   the relevance of mathematics in a variety of applications in science, engineering and commerce,

K3   the core disciplines of Mathematics and Physics.

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

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

C1       construct logical scientific arguments,

C2       apply the principles of science and engineering to practical situations, and thus obtain quantitative and qualitative information about the real world.

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

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

P1        observe, record accurately and give an account of laboratory experiments,

P2        collect and organise quantitative data.

c. Key transferable skills:

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

T1       Information technology: use instructional material and search for relevant material on the internet

T2       Numeracy: collect data in numerical form, present it in tables and graphs, and analyse it with a range of statistical tools

T3       Teamwork: share responsibility for a task with others; agree common goals and methods to achieve them; co-ordinate the use of common resources

T4       Communication skills: write or speak clearly to topic; to draft, edit and polish presentations; to contribute actively to group discussion

T5       Managing self-learning: seek out sources of information, plan time to make the best use of resources and review priorities in the light of deadlines.

4. Programme structure

Administrative responsibility for the programme rests with the School of Science.

4.1       Content

Students select modules appropriate to their destination department, as shown in the matrix at 4.2 below.

4.2       Department module specifications

Modules shown (C) are compulsory.  Other modules are specified as Preferred (P), Optional (O) or Disallowed (X) as set by individual destination departments (see matrix below)

Option choices are subject to availability and timetable restrictions.

 

Semester 1 – 60 credits from:

 

Department

Aero/Auto Engineering

Chemical Engineering

Civil Engineering

Chemistry

Computer Science

Electronic & Electrical Engineering

Code

Module Name

Modular Weight

 

 

 

 

 

 

MAF001

Applicable Mathematics 1

15

C

C

C

C

C

C

PHF110

Basic Physics & Materials

15

C

C

C

C

C

C

CMF006

Learning & Communication Skills

10

C

C

C

C

C

C

CMF001

Foundations of Physical Chemistry

10

C

C

C

C

X

o

CMF002

Foundations of Inorganic Chemistry

10

o

C

X

C

X

X

COF180

Introduction to Programming 1

10

P

X

X

X

C

o

CMF010

The Business of Science and Engineering

10

o

X

X

X

C

o

MMF110

Introduction to Engineering Science: Applied Mechanics

10

o

X

C

X

X

o

(table continued below)

 

Semester 1 – 60 credits from:

 

Department

Materials Engineering

Mathematics

Physics

Wolfson BEng degrees

(see note 1)

Wolfson BSc degrees

(see note 2)

Code

Module Name

Modular Weight

 

 

 

 

 

MAF001

Applicable Mathematics 1

15

C

C

C

C

C

PHF110

Basic Physics & Materials

15

C

C

C

C

C

CMF006

Learning & Communication Skills

10

C

C

C

C

C

CMF001

Foundations of Physical Chemistry

10

C

o

C

o

o

CMF002

Foundations of Inorganic Chemistry

10

o

X

o

X

X

COF180

Introduction to Programming 1

10

o

P

o

o

o

CMF010

The Business of Science and Engineering

10

o

o

o

o

o

MMF110

Introduction to Engineering Science: Applied Mechanics

10

o

o

o

C

C

 Selection of options in semester 2 must take into account pre-requisite modules from semester 1 as stated in the module specifications.

 

Semester 2 – 60 credits from:

 

Department

Aero/Auto Engineering

Chemical Engineering

Civil Engineering

Chemistry

Computer Science

Electronic & Electrical Engineering

Code

Module Name

Modular Weight

 

 

 

 

 

 

MAF002

Applicable Mathematics 2

15

C

C

C

o

C

C

PHF210

Physics 2

15

C

C

C

o

o

C

CMF003

Foundations of Organic Chemistry

10

o

C

o

C

X

X

COF181

Introduction to Programming 2

10

P

X

X

X

C

o

MMF501

Design & Manufacture of Consumer Products

10

o

X

o

o

o

o

MPF001

Materials & Materials Processing

10

P

C

o

o

o

o

CMF004

Project B (5000 words)

10

X

X

o

o

o

X

CMF005

Project C (7,500 words)

15

X

X

X

o

o

X

CMF009

Chemical Methods

10

o

C

o

C

X

X

MMF111

Introduction to Engineering Science: Energy and Power

10

o

X

o

o

X

C

 (table continued below)

 

Semester 2 – 60 credits from:

 

Department

Materials Engineering

Mathematics

Physics

Wolfson BEng degrees

(see note 1)

Wolfson BSc degrees

(see note 2)

Code

Module Name

Modular Weight

 

 

 

 

 

MAF002

Applicable Mathematics 2

15

C

C

C

C

C

PHF210

Physics 2

15

P

o

C

C

C

CMF003

Foundations of Organic Chemistry

10

o

X

o

X

X

COF181

Introduction to Programming 2

10

o

o

o

o

o

MMF501

Design & Manufacture of Consumer Products

10

o

o

o

o

o

MPF001

Materials & Materials Processing

10

C

o

o

o

o

CMF004

Project B (5000 words)

10

o

o

o

X

X

CMF005

Project C (7,500 words)

15

o

o

X

X

X

CMF009

Chemical Methods

10

o

X

o

X

X

MMF111

Introduction to Engineering Science: Energy and Power

10

o

o

o

C

C

Key:        C=Compulsory                    o=Optional            P=Preferred          X=Disallowed

Notes on degrees in Wolfson School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering:

1. BEng degrees are:

  • BEng Manufacturing Engineering
  • BEng Mechanical Engineering
  • BEng Product Design Engineering

2. BSc degrees are:

  • BSc Engineering Management
  • BSc Sports Technology

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

Students who leave the SEFS programme at the end of the foundation year without progressing to Part A of degree programme at the University will be entitled to receive a Certificate in Foundation Studies for Science and Engineering, provided that they have achieved a minimum of 100 credits, and achieved a module mark of at least 30% in all modules.

To gain credit in any module, the overall module mark must be equal to, or in excess of, 40% and a minimum performance of 30% is required in all modules. In addition, different progression criteria exist for each intended degree level programme as indicated below.

  1. In order to progress to Part A of the BEng degree programmes in the Department of Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering candidates must accumulate 120 credits and achieve 80% or better in modules MAF001, MAF002, 70% or better in modules PHF110 and PHF210, and achieve an overall average of 60%.
  2. In order to progress to Part A of the BEng degree programmes in the Department of Chemical Engineering candidates must accumulate 120 credits, achieve at least 60% in modules MAF001, MAF002, PHF110, PHF210, CMF001, CMF002, CMF003, MPF001 and CMF009.
  3. In order to progress to Part A of the degree programmes in the Department of Chemistry, candidates must accumulate at least 100 credits, must achieve an average of 50% overall, and achieve 60% or better in modules CMF001, CMF002, CMF003 and CMF009.
  4. In order to progress to Part A of the BEng Civil Engineering programme candidates must accumulate 120 credits, achieve an overall average of 65%, and achieve a mark of at least 65% in MAF001, MAF002, PHF110 and PHF210.
  5. 1.   In order to progress to Part A of the degree programme of Computer Science and Mathematics in the Department of Computer Science candidates must accumulate at least 100 credits and achieve at least 75% in the modules MAF001 and MAF002, and 50% in the modules COF180 and COF181
    2.   In order to progress to Part A of all other degree programmes in the Department of Computer Science, candidates must accumulate at least 100 credits and achieve at least 50% in COF180 and COF181, and at least 60% in MAF001 and MAF002.
  6. In order to progress to Part A of a BEng programme in the School of Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering candidates must accumulate at least 100 credits, an overall average of at least 50% and module marks of at least 60% in MAF001, MAF002 and MMF111.
  7. In order to progress to Part A of degree programmes in the School of Mathematics candidates must accumulate at least 100 credits including a mark of 80% or better in modules MAF001 and MAF002 and achieve an overall average of at least 65%.
  8. 1.   In order to progress to Part A of the BEng programmes in Mechanical Engineering candidates must accumulate at least 100 credits and achieve an overall average of 60%. In addition they must achieve a mark of at least 70% in modules MAF001, MAF002, PHF110 and PHF210, and 60% in modules MMF110 and MMF111.
    2.   In order to progress to Part A of the BEng programmes in Manufacturing Engineering and Product Design Engineering candidates must accumulate at least 100 credits and achieve an overall average of 60%. In addition they must achieve a mark of at least 60% in modules MAF001, MAF002, PHF110 and PHF210, and 50% in modules MMF110 and MMF111.
    3.   In order to progress to Part A of the BSc Sports Technology programme in the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering candidates must accumulate at least 100 credits and achieve an overall average mark of 60%.
    4.   In order to progress to Part A of the BSc Engineering Management programme in the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering candidates must accumulate at least 100 credits and achieve an overall average mark of 55%.
  9. In order to progress to Part A of the Physics degree programme candidates must accumulate at least 100 credits and achieve a mark of at least 70% in modules MAF001, MAF002, at least  60% in modules PHF110 and PHF210, and an overall average 60%.
  10. In order to progress to Part A of the degree programmes in the Department of Materials candidates must accumulate at least 100 credits, must achieve an overall average of at least 50% and achieve at least 60% in MAF001, MAF002 and MPF001.

5.2       Transfer between programmes

The provisions of Regulation IX apply to students registered on this programme and take precedence over the stipulations made in the previous section.

5.3     Scholarships

A number of departments award scholarships to students who meet specified thresholds. Applicable scholarships for UK/EU and for International students are set out ibelow.

Achievement Scholarships for students progressing from SEFS to Loughborough University Programmes

For UK and EU Students

A personal scholarship of £1000* will be awarded for one year to students who exceed the following criteria at first attempt and progress to those departments/programmes listed below:

Department/School

Criteria for Award

Applicable Programmes

Chemical Engineering

75% overall on the programme and 70% in CMF001, CMF002, CMF003, MAF001, MAF002, PHF110 and PHF210.

All programmes

Chemistry

75% overall on the programme and 70% in CMF001, CMF002 and CMF003

MChem programmes only.

Computer Science

75% overall on the programme and 80% in COF180 and COF181.

All programmes

School of Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering

75% overall on the programme and 80% in MAF001 and MAF002.

All programmes

Materials Engineering

70% overall on the programme and 75% in PHF110, MAF001, MAF002 and MPF001

All programmes

Mathematics

70% overall and 90% average in MAF001 and MAF002.

All programmes

Physics

70% overall and 75% in MAF001, MAF002, PHF110 and PHF210

All programmes

Wolfson School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering

75% overall on the programme with 80% in MAF001, MAF002, PHF110 and PHF210.

All programmes

*These merit scholarships are a personal award to the student, to be paid in the normal way (ie by a P1 form) by the awarding department.

For International (non EU) Students

A scholarship of 25% of the tuition fees (unless otherwise stated, renewable annually subject to maintaining in each year the overall average given below) will be awarded to students who exceed the following criteria at first attempt and progress to those departments/programmes listed below:

(Note: scholarships do not apply to sponsored international students)

Department/School

Criteria for Award

Chemical Engineering

75% overall on the programme and 70% in CMF001, CMF002, CMF003, MAF001, MAF002, PHF110 and PHF210

Chemistry

75% overall on the programme and 70% in CMF001, CMF002 and CMF003

Computer Science

75% overall on the programme and 80% in COF180 and COF181..

School of Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering

75% overall on the programme and 80% in MAF001 and MAF002

Note: the international scholarship in the School of Electronic, Electrical  & Systems Engineering is awarded for the first year of study only.

Materials Engineering

70% overall on the programme and 75% in PHF110, MAF001 and MAF002, MPF001

Mathematics

70% overall and 90% average on MAF001 and MAF002.

Physics

70% overall and 75% in MAF001, MAF002, PHF110 and PHF210

Wolfson School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering

75% overall on the programme with 80% in MAF001, MAF002, PHF110 and PHF210.)

5.4 Leslie Mustoe Prize

A prize of £100 will be awarded to the student on the Science and Engineering Foundation Studies (SEFS) programme with the highest overall part mark. 

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

n/a

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