Our Masters in Space Engineering programme is designed to give you the specialist multidisciplinary knowledge and skills required for a career working with space technology and its applications.
Surrey students have access to all aspects of the design and delivery of spacecraft and payloads, and as a result are very attractive to employers in space-related industries.
As we develop and execute complete space missions, from initial concept to hardware design, manufacturing and testing, to in orbit operations (controlled by our ground station at the Surrey Space Centre), you will have the chance to be involved in, and gain experience of, real space missions.
This programme is studied full-time over one academic year and part-time students must study at least two taught technical modules per academic year. It consists of eight taught modules and a project.
Example module listing
The following modules are indicative, reflecting the information available at the time of publication. Please note that not all modules described are compulsory and may be subject to teaching availability and/or student demand.
Our philosophy is to integrate the acquisition of core engineering and scientific knowledge with the development of key practical skills (where relevant). To fulfil these objectives, the programme aims to:
Intended capabilities for MSc graduates:
This programme in Space Engineering aims to provide a high-level postgraduate qualification relating to the design of space missions using satellites. Study is taken to a high level, in both theory and practice, in the specialist areas of space physics, mechanics, orbits, and space-propulsion systems, as well as the system and electronic design of space vehicles.
This is a multi-disciplinary programme, and projects are often closely associated with ongoing space projects carried out by Surrey Satellite Technology, plc.
This is a large local company that builds satellites commercially and carries out industrially-sponsored research. Graduates from this programme are in demand in the UK and European Space Industries.
We often give our students the opportunity to acquire international experience during their degrees by taking advantage of our exchange agreements with overseas universities.
In addition to the hugely enjoyable and satisfying experience, time spent abroad adds a distinctive element to your CV.
The space sector contributes £13.7bn per annum to the UK economy alone, and space activity across Europe and the world continues to thrive. There is a continuing need for talented employees with a good understanding of spacecraft systems engineering, coupled with a broad range of technical skills. Evolving constantly since 1987, this course has prepared graduates for highly successful careers in the space sector.
Suitable for graduates in engineering, physics or mathematics, this course will prepare you for a career in this exciting field, from earth observation to planetary exploration, launch vehicles to spacecraft operations, and much more.
This Masters is highly respected around the world, and many of our students obtain employment/research offers in the space sector before the course finishes. We encourage interaction between our students and potential employers at events such as the Group Design Project industry presentation, dedicated interview days, and Alumni Conferences. In many space companies and agencies within Europe you will find our former graduates, some in very senior positions. Many of them continue to contribute to the course, forming a valuable network of contacts for those entering the industry and this course will equip you with the skills required to join them in a successful career in industry or research.
This course is also available on a part-time basis for individuals who wish to study whilst remaining in full-time employment. Cranfield University is well located for part-time students from all over the world, and offers a range of support services for off-site students. This enables students from around the world to complete this qualification whilst balancing work/life commitments.
The course is directed by an Industrial Advisory Panel comprising senior representatives from leading space and associated sectors. This group makes sure that the course content equips you with the skills and knowledge required by leading employers.
The Industrial Advisory Panel includes:
The MSc in Astronautics & Space Engineering is accredited by the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) on behalf of the Engineering Council as meeting the requirements of Further Learning for registration as a Chartered Engineer. Candidates must hold a CEng accredited BEng/BSc (Hons) undergraduate first degree to comply with full CEng registration requirements.
The taught programme for the Astronautics and Space Engineering masters is generally delivered from October to September. A range of core modules allows you to gain a firm grounding in space engineering before opting for specialist modules to build your knowledge in a certain area.
Group project
This is a space mission design study conducted in teams of 10-15 students. It typically takes place from September to April and is assessed by written reports and presentations. It emphasises space systems engineering methodologies, and is designed to prepare our graduates for the project-based working environment often found in space companies and agencies. The topics chosen for the project are strongly influenced by industry.
Recent Group projects have included:
Our part-time students are encouraged to participate in a group project as it provides a wealth of learning opportunities. However, an option of an individual dissertation is available if agreed with the Course Director.
Watch a past presentation video to give you a taster of our innovative and exciting group projects (YouTube).
Individual project
The individual research project is the largest single component of the course typically taking place between April and August. It allows you to develop specialist skills in an area of your choice by taking the theory from the taught modules and joining it with practical experience. A list of suggested topics is provided, and includes projects proposed by academic staff and industry.
Recent Individual Research Projects have included:
Part-time students are encouraged to participate in a group project as it provides a wealth of learning opportunities. However, an option of an individual dissertation is available if agreed with the Course Director.
Assessment
Taught modules 25%, Group project 30%, Individual research project 45%
Cranfield University is heavily supported by the space industry in the UK. Many of these companies provide case study lectures, concepts and thesis topics for the individual research projects, and some actively support the group design projects. They also provide a guide to the content of the course, so they are confident that Cranfield are training people with the industry skills employers require.
As a result, our graduates are regularly recruited by organisations including EADS Astrium, SSTL, Vega, ABSL, Tessella, OHB, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory and the European Space Agency in roles including Systems Engineer, Spacecraft Operations Engineer, Thermal Analyst and Space Robotics Engineer. We arrange company visits and interview days with key employers.
If your interests lie in research, many former students have gone on to pursue PhDs at Cranfield and other universities.
This degree provides in-depth training for students interested in a career in industry or in research-oriented institutions focused on image and video analysis, and deep learning.
State-of-the-art computer-vision and machine-learning approaches for image and video analysis are covered in the course, as well as low-level image processing methods.
Students also have the chance to substantially expand their programming skills through projects they undertake.
Read about the experience of a previous student on this course, Gianmarco Addari.
This programme is studied full-time over 12 months and part-time from 24 to 60 months. It consists of eight taught modules and a standard project.
Example module listing
The following modules are indicative, reflecting the information available at the time of publication. Please note that not all modules described are compulsory and may be subject to teaching availability and/or student demand.
This programme in Computer Vision, Robotics and Machine Learning aims to provide a high-quality advanced training in aspects of computer vision for extracting information from image and video content or enhancing its visual quality using machine learning codes.
Computer vision technology uses sophisticated signal processing and data analysis methods to support access to visual information, whether it is for business, security, personal use or entertainment.
The core modules cover the fundamentals of how to represent image and video information digitally, including processing, filtering and feature extraction techniques.
An important aspect of the programme is the software implementation of such processes. Students will be able to tailor their learning experience through selection of elective modules to suit their career aspirations.
Key to the programme is cross-linking between core methods and systems for image and video analysis applications. The programme has strong links to current research in the Department of Electronic Engineering’s Centre for Vision, Speech and Signal Processing.
To support your learning, we hold regular MSc group meetings where any aspect of the programme, technical or non-technical, can be discussed in an informal atmosphere. This allows you to raise any problems that you would like to have addressed and encourages peer-based learning and general group discussion.
We provide computing support with any specialised software required during the programme, for example, Matlab. The Faculty’s student common room is also covered by the University’s open-access wireless network, which makes it a very popular location for individual and group work using laptops and mobile devices.
Specialist experimental and research facilities, for computationally demanding projects or those requiring specialist equipment, are provided by the Centre for Vision, Speech and Signal Processing (CVSSP).
Computer vision specialists are be valuable in all industries that require intelligent processing and interpretation of image and video. This includes industries in directly related fields such as:
Studying for Msc degree in Computer Vision offers variety, challenge and stimulation. It is not just the introduction to a rewarding career, but also offers an intellectually demanding and exciting opportunity to break through boundaries in research.
Many of the most remarkable advancements in the past 60 years have only been possible through the curiosity and ingenuity of engineers. Our graduates have a consistently strong record of gaining employment with leading companies.
Employers value the skills and experience that enable our graduates to make a positive contribution in their jobs from day one.
We draw on our industry experience to inform and enrich our teaching, bringing theoretical subjects to life. Our industrial collaborations include:
This course gives an excellent preparation for continuing onto PhD studies in computer vision related domains.
We often give our students the opportunity to acquire international experience during their degrees by taking advantage of our exchange agreements with overseas universities.
In addition to the hugely enjoyable and satisfying experience, time spent abroad adds a distinctive element to your CV.
Automation for the Food Industry Research
The food industry is very labour intensive and as a result is under threat from low wage economies. To allow companies to remain competitive they need to embrace automation. Led by Dr Steve Davis you will learn how many of the challenges found in the food industry cannot be addressed by conventional automation and how advanced systems and grippers are required.
Cognition Robotics and Autonomous Systems
We use the term "cognitive robotics" to refer to robots with higher level cognitive functions that involve knowledge representation and reasoning.
You will work on robots with cognitive capabilities, which are key elements to autonomous systems, such as perception processing, attention allocation, anticipation, planning, reasoning about other agents, and perhaps reasoning about their own mental states. Several projects are currently undertaken in this area in collaboration with psychologists and neuroscientist from European institutions. This course is led by Prof. S. Nefti-Meziani and Dr T. Theodoridis.
Biologically Inspired Robotics Research
Dr Steve Davis leads this research which covers all areas of biologically inspired robotics. Future robots will move away from operating solely in factories and will interact more closely with humans. This will require a more natural/biological-like human-machine interaction. You will work with new design approaches and learn how they will shape future robotic systems. You will learn how traditional actuators have many shortcomings and how compliance can greatly improve the safety of human robot interaction, and also how these technologies have application in healthcare and rehabilitation applications.
End-effectors and robot hands
Also led by Dr Steve Davis, this research area is concerned with the development of advanced end effectors. You will learn how innovative approaches can be used to grasp difficult to handle products. This course will also teach you how multi-fingered dexterous end-effectors, similar to the human hand, can handle a broad range of products, and how these technologies can be used in tele-presence tasks.
Swarm Intelligence and Multi-Agent Systems
This research theme, as led by Prof. S. Nefti Meziani and Dr T. Theodoridis, concerns the development of an Intelligent Collaborative Behaviour using Multi-Agent Systems/robots using novel swarm intelligent techniques. We have introduced the irrationality theory applied in path planning, obstacle avoidance and emergent behaviours, using the Khepera robots (K-Team) and the Webots simulator.
You will study and implement intelligent algorithms, which can be used for simulating viscoelastic behaviours for particle systems. Other relevant areas you can be involved in are crowd behaviour modelling, space and security robotics, and swarm and cognitive agents.
Uninhabited Autonomous Systems/Air Vehicles (UAS/UAV)
Prof. S. Nefti Meziani, Dr A. Jones, and Dr E. Chadwick lead the research into how uninhabited autonomous systems (UAS) cope with unscripted procedures when conducting a mission where commands are issued at high levels of abstraction. It is designed around human-centric needs with the ability to perform tasks in accordance with instructions which lack adequate 'terms of reference'. You will work in autonomous systems that involve humans-in-the-loop.
The centre's activities originated in 1987 when The University of Salford was chosen as the site of the United Kingdom's National Advanced Robotics Research Centre. Since then Robotics has formed a major strategic direction within Engineering in the University and Salford, where Researchers have been at the forefront of strategic national developments initiated by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), and international developments within the E.U.
The centre houses a multidisciplinary group lead by Prof Samia Nefti-Meziani with interests in autonomous systems and robotics and their constituent technologies. The group has strong national and international links with both industry and other research institutes. The core group of researchers in the laboratory includes over a dozen graduate students and three senior academic research members.
The group has a long history of attracting research funding including the EU FP7 projects Novel Q and RobotCub. It has also received funding in both the food and aerospace sectors and has recently been awarded the national GAMMA project targeted at autonomous systems for the aerospace sector. Due to its international reputation for robotics research the group has been awarded €4M by the EU ITN Marie Curie Project to form an Initial Training Network which will train the future leaders in the field of robotics
Graduates are expected to find employment in a range of industries. Robotics and Embedded Systems are continuously developing topics that present many career opportunities in areas such as embedded systems design, robotic design, control systems design and integration, engineering management and research.
Students leaving the School with a postgraduate research degree are well placed to lead and manage research and development activities in a number of areas. Globally, a postgraduate research qualification is usually a prerequisite for an academic career and several of our alumni are now senior academics.
The research groups have strong links with industry in all areas of robotics and systems engineering. These include large multinationals such as Airbus, BAE, Festo and ABB, to name just a few, through to small SMEs working in related fields. The group also has links with public sector organisations such as the NHS, fire and police service. The main benefit of these links for students is the ability to work on real world problems potentially leading to their research being adopted in by industry. The links also provide students with the opportunity to gain experience of working with industry and meeting its needs.
Robots have the potential to revolutionise society and the economy, working for us, beside us, and interacting with us. This EPSRC-sponsored programme will produce graduates with the technical skills and industry awareness to create an innovation pipeline from academic research to global markets.
The robotics and autonomous systems area has been highlighted by the UK Government in 2013 as one of the eight Great Technologies that underpin the UK's Industrial Strategy for jobs and growth. Key application areas include manufacturing, assistive and medical robots, offshore energy, environmental monitoring, search and rescue, defence, and support for the ageing population.
The University of Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt University are jointly offering this innovative four-year PhD training programme, which combines a strong general grounding in current theory, methods and applications with flexibility for individualised study and a specialised PhD project.
Robotics and autonomous systems are increasingly studied beyond the range of classical engineering. Today robots represent one of the main areas of application of computer science and provide challenges for mathematics and natural science.
It is impossible to imagine transportation, warehousing, safety systems, space and marine exploration, prosthetics, and many other areas of industry, technology and science without robots. Robots are used in theoretical biology and the neurosciences as a model of behaviour.
Areas of interest specific to the center include: movement control, planning, decision making, bio- and neurorobotics, human-robot interaction, healthcare applications, robot soccer, neuroprosthetics, underwater robotics, bipedal walking, service robots, robotic co-workers, computer vision, speech processing, computer animation realistic simulations, and machine learning.
Many more topics can be found be exploring the Centre’s web pages, particularly the personal web pages of the Centre supervisors:
Our four-year PhD programme combines Masters level coursework and project work with independent PhD-level research.
In the first year, you will undertake four or five masters level courses, spread throughout robotics, machine learning, computational neuroscience, computer architectures, statistics, optimization, sensorics, dynamics, mechanics, image processing, signal processing, modelling, animation, artificial intelligence, and related areas. You will also undertake a significant introductory research project. (Students with previous masters-level work in these areas may request to take less courses and a larger project.)
At the end of the first year, successful students will be awarded an MSc by Research by the University of Edinburgh. From this basis, the subsequent three years will be spent developing and pursuing a PhD research project, under the close supervision of your primary and secondary supervisors. The PhD will be awarded jointly by the University of Edinburgh and the Heriot-Watt University.
You will have opportunities for three to six month internships with leading companies in your area, and to participate in our industrial engagement programme, exchanging ideas and challenges with our sponsor companies.
Throughout your studies, you will participate in our regular programmes of seminars, short talks and brainstorming sessions, and benefit from our pastoral mentoring schemes.
Our user partners in industry include companies working in offshore energy, environmental monitoring, defence, assisted living, transport, advanced manufacturing and education. They will provide the real world context for research, as well as opportunities for reciprocal secondments, internships and involvement in our industrial engagement programme.
The School of Informatics holds a Silver Athena SWAN award, in recognition of our commitment to advance the representation of women in science, mathematics, engineering and technology. The School is deploying a range of strategies to help female staff and students of all stages in their careers and we seek regular feedback from our research community on our performance.
You will have access to the outstanding facilities in the Edinburgh Robotarium, a national facility for research into robot interaction, supporting the research of more than 50 world-leading investigators from 17 cross-disciplinary research groups.
Research groups at the Edinburgh Robotarium include humanoid movement control, underwater, land and airborne autonomous vehicles, human robot interaction, bio- and neuro-robotics, and planning and decision making in multirobot scenarios.
In addition, our research groups contain a diverse range of compute clusters for compute and data-intensive work, including a large cluster hosted by the Edinburgh Compute and Data Facility.
Our aim is to produce innovation-ready graduates who are skilled in the principles of technical and commercial disruption and who understand how finance and organisation realise new products in start-up, SME and corporate situations.
We intend for our graduates to become leaders in the globally emerging market for autonomous and robotic systems that reduce risk, reduce cost, increase profit and protect the environment. This vision is shared by our industrial supporters, whose support for our internship programme indicates their strong desire to find highly qualified new employees.
Our component research groups already have excellent track-records in post-graduation destinations, including the research labs of industry-leading companies, and post-doctoral research positions in top tier universities.
Robotics and Computer Engineering is a 2-year Master’s programme that trains highly qualified roboticists, computer and space engineers. The programme provides broad knowledge in the field of robotics, computer engineering or space technology. Graduates can work in enterprises or research and development centres connected to their field of study.
The University of Tartu researchers have developed a variety of innovative devices: robotics mannequin which allows people to choose clothes online that fit them; artificial muscle which is used in manufacturing articifical ilmbs and robots; underwater robot. These are just a few examples of intelligent materials and systems laboratory.
ESTCube-1 was the first Estonian satellite which was built by the students from the University of Tartu, Estonian Aviation Academy, Tallinn University of Technology and the University of Life Sciences.
This option will not only teach you about the fundamental and advanced concepts of modelling, simulation, control, optimisation and systems engineering, but also provides you with a range of management techniques, including: project management, risk management, professional skills and effective management of innovative development.
Our world-leading research and our partnerships with industry give you an advantage in a competitive careers market. You’ll learn about the very latest developments in systems, control, computational intelligence and robotics – effectively preparing you for a future in engineering.
[Push yourself further]]
We have cutting edge facilities and technology, including: advanced control and systems software, modelling, simulation and controller design tools, robotics and a flexible manufacturing systems laboratory, evolutionary computing laboratory and clean facilities for the assembly of satellite instrumentation.
You could pursue a career with a large international organisation or government department. Our graduates work in sectors such as manufacturing, power generation and sustainable energy, with companies including British Airways, Jaguar Land Rover, NASA, IBM, Rolls-Royce and Unilever.
A masters from Sheffield is the mark of someone with the skills to apply their knowledge in industry, anywhere in the world. Our MSc in Advanced Control and Systems Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Council UK, IET and InstMC. These marks of assurance mean our degrees meet the high standards set by the engineering profession.
A Sheffield masters is a strong foundation for a career in industry or research.
We have strong links with industrial partners such as Rolls-Royce and BAE Systems. Our industrial partners help us to design our courses, making sure you learn the right skills.
Rolls-Royce has a research and development centre here, using our expertise to explore today’s challenges. Our masters students often work side by side with researchers at these facilities.
The 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF) rates us No 1 in the UK for research output, ahead of Oxford and Cambridge, and No 3 for overall research excellence. Our world-class reputation attracts highly motivated staff and students.
You’ll be taught by staff who work on real-world projects, developing new ideas – for submarines, robots, Formula One and even space exploration. Their approach to teaching is just as innovative: ideas like the award-winning take-home lab kit and e-puck mobile robotics activities help you develop the problem-solving skills you need for a trailblazing career.
Foundations of Control Systems; State-Space, Optimal Control and Nonlinear Systems; Signal Processing and Estimation; Embedded Systems and Rapid Control Prototyping; Managing Engineering Projects and Risk; Design Innovation Toolbox; Professional Responsibilities of the Engineer; Control Systems Project and Dissertation.
Advanced Industrial Control; Robotic and Autonomous Systems; Intelligent and Vision Systems; Multisensor and Decision Systems; Nonlinear and Hybrid Systems.
There are lectures, tutorials, laboratory work and individual assignments. You will be assessed on examinations, coursework assignments and a project dissertation.
This programme aims to give students professional knowledge and skills for a successful career in the future that are orientated to engineering technologies, such as mechatronics, robotics and automation, which presume professional abilities to integrate, conduct and lead complex engineering projects integrating ICT and hardware technologies for solving practical problems and starting a new business. This programme is strongly orientated towards practical, hands-on projects and developing practical skills supported by laboratories of mechatronics, robotics, machine vision, metrology and measurement technology and computer classes.
Most of the courses are project based supported by theoretical materals. There is a project course on the first year containing the topics of machine vision and mechatronics systems aimed to support development of a real automation or robotic systems by student groups ending with presenting a conference paper as a rule. Examples of this kind projects are „Quadrocopter gesture control sytem“, „Automated inspection system of electric motor staator and rootor sheets“ and „Development of the camera system for the nanosatellite“, etc.
Future belongs to the specialities which provide flexible and integrated deep technical knowledge as it is the case in Mechatronics curricula. A good proof of this is the fact that Forbes nominates two MSc Mechatronics graduates among the EU most successful young leaders and entrepreneurs in Industry and Science in 2015.
The graduates of the programme possess skills applicable in a broad sphere, such as automation and robotics engineers in industry; project managers and entrepreneurs and managers of innovative SMEs orientated towards developing cutting edge technology or medicinal devices; health and space industry; security; products combining hardware and ICT, etc. Active and bright mechatronics engineers are urgently needed in the fields of automatic production lines and robotics such as ABB or SIEMENS. Students can also continue their studies at PhD level in mechatronics or in a related field.
