BEng Mechatronic Systems

Overview

Do you have an inquisitive mind and are constantly questioning how things work? Would you like to work designing the self-driving cars of the future, or the latest industrial robots, or the next revolutionary consumer product? Studying mechatronics will enable you to develop these sophisticated intelligent systems we are so reliant on in the modern world.

Mechatronics combines principles from mechanics, electronics, computer engineering, automatic control and robots. Mechatronic engineering is the design, manufacture and testing of devices that utilise a combination of these disciplines in the same device. You will gain knowledge of engineering processes, product design, as well as the use of digital electronics and computer-aided (CAD) software. This will enable you to create your own mechatronic systems, developing them from imagination through to reality.

Our BEng Mechatronic Systems will cover electronics, electrical systems and programming. You will cover the following areas:

3D Printing Technology
Drives and Power Electronics
Computer Programming
Sensors and Digital Signal Processing
Motion Control Algorithms
Computer Vision and Robotics
Embedded Systems

Our School is a community of scholars leading the way in technological research and development. Today’s mechatronic engineers are creative people who are focused and committed, yet restless and experimental. We are home to many of the world’s top engineers, and our work is driven by creativity and imagination, as well as technical excellence. You graduate as a creative, experimental and focused engineer ready to explore further how electronics can impact the people and world around you.

Programming at Essex

Teaching someone to programme is about opening a door. In your first year at Essex you will study a module that introduces you to programming using Python. We assess your ability to think in a programmatic way in the very first week of term and if you require additional support, we offer classes which will boost your skills and confidence with programming.

Study abroad

Your education extends beyond the university campus. We support you in expanding your education through offering the opportunity to spend a year or a term studying abroad at one of our partner universities. The four-year version of our degree allows you to spend the third year abroad or employed on a placement abroad, while otherwise remaining identical to the three-year course.

Studying abroad allows you to experience other cultures and languages, to broaden your degree socially and academically, and to demonstrate to employers that you are mature, adaptable, and organised.

If you spend a full year abroad you’ll only pay 15% of your usual tuition fee to Essex for that year. You won’t pay any tuition fees to your host university.

Placement year

You can also undertake a placement year in which you gain relevant work experience within an external business, giving you a competitive edge in the graduate job market and providing you with key contacts within the industry. You will be responsible for finding your placement, but with support and guidance provided by both your department and our Employability and Careers Centre.

If you complete a placement year you’ll only pay 20% of your usual tuition fee to Essex for that year.

Our expert staff

We have been one of the leading electronics departments in the country throughout our history, and in recent years, our prolific research staff have contributed to some major breakthroughs.

We invented the world’s first telephone based system for deaf people to communicate with each other in 1981, with cameras and display devices that were able to work within the limited telephone bandwidth. Our academics have also invented a streamlined protocol system for worldwide high speed optical communications.

Specialist facilities

We have six laboratories that are exclusively for computer science and electronic engineering students. Three are open 24/7, and you have free access to the labs except when there is scheduled practical class in progress.
All computers are dual boot Windows 10 and Linux. Apple Mac Computers are dual boot MacOS and Windows 10
Software includes Java, Prolog, C++, Perl, Mysql, Matlab, DB2, Microsoft Office, Visual Studio and Project
Students have access to CAD tools and simulators for chip design (Xilinx) and computer networks (OMNet++)
We also have specialist facilities for research into areas including non-invasive brain-computer interfaces, intelligent environments, robots, optoelectronics, video, RF and MW, printed circuit milling, and semiconductors.

Your future

With growing capabilities in intelligent systems, the boundaries of these disciplines are blurring, meaning the need for multi-disciplinary mechatronic engineers is growing rapidly.

It is an emerging growth area of employment, with industries such as aerospace, automotive, banking, manufacturing, mining, energy and power production, applicant design and food process are all heavily reliant on the latest mechatronic developments.

Our department has a large pool of external contacts, ranging from companies providing robots for the media industry, through vehicle diagnostics, to electronic systems design and circuit design and manufacture, who work with us and our students to provide advice, placements and eventually graduate opportunities. Read more about computer science and electronic engineering career destinations here.

We also work with our University’s Student Development Team to help you find out about further work experience, internships, placements, and voluntary opportunities.

Why we’re great

We are ranked 27th in the UK for Computer Science and Information Systems in the QS World University Rankings by Subject (2021).
Become part of the next generation of industry professionals and academic researchers to help drive the economy, and push the frontiers of knowledge.
92% of our School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering students are in employment or further study (Graduate Outcomes 2020).

Structure

Course structure

We offer a flexible course structure with a mixture of core/compulsory modules, and optional modules chosen from lists.

Our research-led teaching is continually evolving to address the latest challenges and breakthroughs in the field, therefore all modules listed as subject to change. To view the compulsory modules and full list of optional modules currently on offer, please view the programme specification via the link below.

Teaching and learning disclaimer

Following the impact of the pandemic, we made changes to our teaching and assessment to ensure our current students could continue with their studies uninterrupted and safely. These changes included courses being taught through blended delivery, normally including some face-to-face teaching, online provision, or a combination of both across the year.

The teaching and assessment methods listed show what is currently approved for 2022 entry; changes may be necessary if, by the beginning of this course, we need to adapt the way we’re delivering them due to the external environment, and to allow you to continue to receive the best education possible safely and seamlessly.

Placement

On a placement year you gain relevant work experience within an external business or organisation, giving you a competitive edge in the graduate job market and providing you with key contacts within the industry. The rest of your course remains identical to the three-year degree.

Year abroad

On your year abroad, you have the opportunity to experience other cultures and languages, to broaden your degree socially and academically, and to demonstrate to employers that you are mature, adaptable, and organised. The rest of your course remains identical to the three-year degree.

Teaching

Courses are taught by a combination of lectures, laboratory work, assignments, and individual and group project activities
Group work
A significant amount of practical lab work will need to be undertaken for written assignments and as part of your learning