2024/25 entry
BEng (Hons) Mechatronics and Autonomous Systems
Why study Mechatronics and Autonomous Systems at Liverpool John Moores University?
- Interdisciplinary course fusing mechanical, electronic and control engineering
- Well-equipped electronics and computing laboratories
- State-of-the-art software and excellent technical support
- To be accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)
- Options for sandwich with year-long industrial placement or study abroad
About your course
Mechatronic and autonomous systems build and run the world we live in. From the robots that built your car to fast food restaurant interactive kiosks, intelligent machines are the future. The BEng in Mechatronics and Autonomous Systems will make sure you take a leading role in that future.
This programme has been developed to answer a need in industry for engineers with the fusion of electronic and mechanical skills required to develop modern automation systems. LJMU has built a good relationship with North West engineering companies and their feedback has been a big factor in the development of this programme. We live in an information age and our graduates leave equipped with the software and hardware skills required to succeed in the exciting times ahead.
Research undertaken by the Department of Electronics and Electrical Engineering is based within the Electrical and Electronic Engineering Research Centre. The Centre has two key research groups the Microelectronics Research Group and the Electric Machines and Drives Research Group. These two research groups have expertise within the following key research areas:
- New materials and devices for future microelectronic industry
- New characterisation techniques for VLSI devices
- Development of advanced techniques for variables-speed electric drives
- Qualification, modelling and aging prediction
- Development of novel control techniques for power electronic converters
- Modelling, simulation and experimental characterisation of power electronic converters and variable speed drives
Research staff are encouraged to make use of their expertise during undergraduate and postgraduate teaching.
Fees and funding
There are many ways to fund study for home and international students
Fees
The fees quoted above cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as:
- library membership with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources
- access to programme-appropriate software
- library and student IT support
- free on-campus wifi via eduroam
Additional costs
Although not all of the following are compulsory/relevant, you should keep in mind the costs of:
- accommodation and living expenditure
- books (should you wish to have your own copies)
- printing, photocopying and stationery
- PC/laptop (should you prefer to purchase your own for independent study and online learning activities)
- mobile phone/tablet (to access online services)
- field trips (travel and activity costs)
- placements (travel expenses and living costs)
- student visas (international students only)
- study abroad opportunities (travel costs, accommodation, visas and immunisations)
- academic conferences (travel costs)
- professional-body membership
- graduation (gown hire etc)
Funding
There are many ways to fund study for home and international students. From loans to International Scholarships and subject-specific funding, you'll find all of the information you need on our specialist funding pages.
Employability
Where will my BEng(Hons) in Mechatronics and Autonomous Systems with Foundation Year take me?
Quite literally anywhere in the world. All of industry now uses industrial automation systems, whether the company is involved in manufacturing or process control. Modern automobile production would be impossible without the robots, CNC machines and automated test equipment that make sure the sub-assemblies the human workers bolt together, fit properly and work as intended.
Robotics and autonomous systems are a red-hot topic now, with the move toward self-driving automobiles, which will almost certainly be upon us in the next few years. This will be the biggest change in transport since the invention of the "horseless carriage".
Student Futures - Careers, Employability and Enterprise Service
A wide range of opportunities and support is available to you, within and beyond your course, to ensure our students experience a transformation in their career trajectory. Every undergraduate curriculum includes Future Focus during Level 4, an e-learning resource and workshop designed to help you to develop your talents, passion and purpose.
Every student has access to Careers Zone 24/7, LJMU's suite of online Apps, resources and jobs board via the LJMU Student Futures website. There are opportunities for flexible, paid and part-time work through Unitemps, LJMU's in-house recruitment service, and we also offer fully funded Discovery Internships.
One-to-one careers and employability advice is available via our campus-based Careers Zones and we offer a year-round programme of events, including themed careers and employability workshops, employer events and recruitment fairs. Our Start-Up Hub can help you to grow your enterprise skills and to research, plan and start your own business or become a freelancer.
A suite of learning experiences, services and opportunities is available to final year students to help ensure you leave with a great onward plan. You can access LJMU's Careers, Employability and Start-up Services after you graduate and return for one-to-one support for life.
Go abroad
LJMU aims to make international opportunities available to every student. You may be able to study abroad as part of your degree at one of our 100+ partner universities across the world. You could also complete a work placement or apply for one of our prestigious worldwide internship programmes. If you wanted to go abroad for a shorter amount of time, you could attend one of our 1-4 week long summer schools.
Our Go Citizen Scheme can help with costs towards volunteering, individual projects or unpaid placements anywhere in the world. With all of these opportunities at your feet, why wouldn’t you take up the chance to go abroad?
Find out more about the opportunities we have available via our Instagram @ljmuglobalopps or email us at: goabroad@ljmu.ac.uk.
A life-changing experience
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What you will study on this degree
Please see guidance below on core and option modules for further information on what you will study.
Further guidance on modules
Modules are designated core or optional in accordance with professional body requirements, as applicable, and LJMU’s Academic Framework Regulations. Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules provide you with an element of choice. Their availability may vary and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.
Where changes to modules are necessary these will be communicated as appropriate.
Level 4
Core modules
Engineering Mathematics 1a
10 credits
This module provides a foundation in engineering mathematics for its application to the solution of engineering problems.
Engineering Mathematics 1b
10 credits
This module provides a foundation in engineering mathematics for its application to the solution of engineering problems. It is a continuation of Engineering Mathematics 1a.
Applied Mechanics 1
20 credits
This module aims to introduce you to the essential principles of applied mechanics.
Software Development for Embedded Systems
20 credits
The module provides an overview of the operation of modern microprocessors/microcontrollers and the mechanisms used to represent and process information. It will also help you design and implement applications written in both low level and high level languages.
Engineering Circuit Analysis
20 credits
This module aims to enhance your knowledge and understanding of the essential mathematics underpinning electrical and electronic engineering. It also aims to develop your intellectual abilities in selecting and applying appropriate circuit analysis techniques for analysing various electrical and electronic circuits. It introduces passive electronic components and helps to understand their operating characteristics. It also gives an introduction to the operating principles of single-phase transformers and electronic filters.
Analogue Electronics
20 credits
This module will provide an introduction to diodes, transistors, small-signal equivalent circuits and the use of operational amplifiers.
Professional Practice and the Environment
20 credits
The module aims to enhance your knowledge and understanding of electrical and electronic circuits by completing a set of practical experiments. It will help you gain experience in practical design of electronic circuits including prototyping, PCB design and manufacture. It will help you develop professional practical skills, undertake experimental laboratory work, analyse and critically evaluate technical issues, present and document ideas and results and develop your ability in data manipulation and sorting. It will also help you to develop a personal development plan and understand the impact that engineering has on the environment.
Level 5
Core modules
Local Communications Systems and Applications
20 credits
Upon completion of this module, you will be able to review the communications options available to interconnect hardware elements and justify a selection to resolve a problem.
Applied Mechanics 2
20 credits
This module provides the means for solving many mechanical engineering problems by learning the principles of mechanics for rigid and deformable solid bodies.
Mechatronics 2
20 credits
This module helps to develop a practical understanding of how sensors and actuators may be used along with embedded systems to control and monitor mechanical engineering systems.
Linear Electronics Design and the Environment
10 credits
The module aims to broaden your knowledge and understanding of linear electronic circuit design, and also provides you with practical skills necessary to design, analyse and simulate circuits regarding processing environmental signals.
Instrumentation and Control Engineering
20 credits
This module develops your understanding of components and the principles of control systems, basic design and analysis techniques, and practice some control applications.
Professional Practice Integrative Project
20 credits
This module enables you to develop the skills required to practice as a professional engineer. This module provides a broad range of experiences with an emphasis upon the systematic thinking, planning and execution required of engineers in a modern professional environment. You will be required to design build and test an electronic product to a given specification. The product will incorporate elements covered elsewhere on the course, including analogue electronics and a programmable device such as a microcontroller, a motor and sensors.
Advanced Mathematics
10 credits
This module provides a foundation in engineering mathematics for application to the solution of engineering problems.
Optional Modules
Sandwich Year - Electrical and Electronic Engineering
120 credits
The aim is to provide students with an extended period of work experience at an approved partner that will complement their programme of study at LJMU. This will give students the opportunity to develop professional skills relevant to their programme of study as well as the attitude and behaviours necessary for employment in a diverse and changing environment. This extended placement forms a key part of a sandwich degree. All placements need to be assessed and approved prior to commencement in line with the LJMU Placement Learning Code of Practice. The Code of Practice requires students to conduct themselves in a professional and responsible manner during the placement - failure to do so may lead to the placement being terminated prematurely. Placements are normally for one calendar year on a full-time basis. Split placements of a shorter duration may be permissible. There is an expectation that a minimum of 1200 hours will be spent in the workplace.
Study Year Abroad - Electrical and Electronic Engineering
120 credits
The aim is to provide students with an additional year of study at an approved overseas partner that will complement their programme at LJMU. This is an additional year of full-time study at an approved higher education institution. The modules to be studied must be agreed in advance, and must be appropriate for the student's programme of study. Assuming successful completion of this year, mark-bearing credit will be awarded by the Faculty Recognition Group. The grade conversion scale to be used will be made available in advance of the year abroad.
Level 6
Core modules
Dynamics and Control
10 credits
The module aims to develop your knowledge and experience of analytic and simulative methods applied to modelling and control design of open loop and closed loop engineering systems.
Automation and IoT
20 credits
The module aims to develop your knowledge and practical understanding of automation and IoT for industrial processes and applications.
Process Control and Applications
20 credits
This module helps to appreciate the problems associated with the design of closed-loop control of process systems. It also helps to understand the principles of cascade, feedforward and ratio control. It further helps to analyse non-linear process systems, systems containing large dead-time and coupled multi-loop systems.
Autonomous Systems and Machine Learning
20 credits
The aim of this module is to study the fundamentals of computational intelligence (CI) and their potential applications in robotics, and practise some CI-based techniques in the planning and control problems.
Mechatronics Engineering Project
40 credits
The project aims to provide you with a supervised but student led learning activity in a relevant area of engineering or technology. It aims to develop your academic, technical and organisational skills required to undertake a substantial individual engineering project from specification to conclusion. The project activity should reflect Mechatronic Systems development.
Engineering Management
10 credits
This module is designed to develop the core management techniques required in modern industry.
Teaching and work-related learning
Excellent facilities and learning resources
We adopt an active blended learning approach, meaning you will experience a combination of face-to-face and online learning during your time at LJMU. This enables you to experience a rich and diverse learning experience and engage fully with your studies. Our approach ensures that you can easily access support from your personal tutor, either by meeting them on-campus or via a video call to suit your needs.
We have three modern electronics laboratories containing sixty-five workstations equipped with state of the art equipment, including computers with industry standard software such as Proteus, Matlab and LabVIEW. The department has two computer suites of its own, one is a sixty-seater with air conditioning, as well as access to further large computer suites in other parts of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology. Specialist facilities include a Mechatronics lab equipped with Festo automation rigs and Siemens PLCs, an Electrical Machines lab and TV and audio recording studios.
Work-related Learning
The Department of Electronics and Electrical Engineering has a very high success rate in terms of its graduates finding employment within their chosen field of study. Employers recognise that, because of the department's strong focus on practical work, our graduates are able to make a useful contribution within a very short time-frame.
Support and guidance
Dedicated personal tutor, plus study skills support
The Department of Electronics and Electrical Engineering is an enterprising community of 300 students and 30 staff who are dedicated to the study of electronics and electrical engineering. The department is situated in the City Campus at Byrom Street, a short walk from the city centre shops, amenities and transport links.
Assessment
Assessment varies depending on the modules you choose, but will usually include a combination of exams and coursework.
Assessment is usually via a combination of exams and coursework, and sometimes by a portfolio of work, depending on the subject. A final year project gives you the chance to work independently and contributes considerably to your final mark. Your tutors will give prompt and constructive feedback via Canvas (our virtual learning environment), face-to-face or in writing.
This will help you to identify your strengths as well as the areas where you may need to put in more work.
Course tutors
Our staff are committed to the highest standards of teaching and learning
Facilities
What you can expect from your School
This programme is delivered in the Byrom Street complex of LJMUs City Campus. Here you'll find high quality lecture theatres, meeting and seminar rooms plus social spaces and a large café. The Avril Robarts Library is just minutes away on Tithebarn Street.
Entry requirements
Please choose your qualifications below to view requirements
Grades/points required from qualifications: BBC-BBB (112-120)
Qualification requirements
GCSEs and equivalents
Grade 4 or grade C or above in English Language and Mathematics/ Numeracy.
GCSE Equivalences accepted:
• Key Skills Level 2 in English/Maths
• NVQ Level 2 Functional skills in Maths and English Writing and or Reading
• Skills for Life Level 2 in Numeracy/English
• Higher Diploma in Maths/English
• Northern Ireland Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number
• Wales Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number
A levels
BBC-BBB Minimum Number of A Levels: 2
Maximum AS UCAS Points: 20
Subject requirements: Grade C from Maths and a Grade C from one of the following: Physics, Chemistry, Computing, Further Maths, Electronics or Engineering.
BTECs
Extended Diploma: DMM in Engineering discipline + Distinction in Further Engineering Maths
Access awards
Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
Pass overall with a minimum of 112 points including relevant maths subjects
International Baccalaureate
Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications including a minimum score of 5 in both Maths and Physics at higher Level
OCR Cambridge Technical
Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications From a relevant subject.
Must include appropriate mathematical content.
Irish awards
Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications from a minimum of 5 subjects.
Must include appropriate mathematical and physics content.
T levels
Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications.
You need to obtain the required UCAS points from a related subject area.
Must include appropriate mathematical content.
International requirements
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IELTS
6.0 overall with no component below 5.5, taken within two years of the course start date.
https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/study/courses/international-entry-requirements
Please Note: All international qualifications are subject to a qualification equivalency check.
Application and selection
Securing your place at LJMU
UCAS is the official application route for our full-time undergraduate courses. Further information on the UCAS application process can be found here https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/study/undergraduate-students/how-to-apply.
The university reserves the right to withdraw or make alterations to a course and facilities if necessary; this may be because such changes are deemed to be beneficial to students, are minor in nature and unlikely to impact negatively upon students or become necessary due to circumstances beyond the control of the university. Where this does happen, the university operates a policy of consultation, advice and support to all enrolled students affected by the proposed change to their course or module.
Further information on the terms and conditions of any offer made, our admissions policy and the complaints and appeals process.