Your dissertation is the culmination of your Master’s degree - an opportunity to demonstrate your ability to research, design and deliver a substantial piece of independent engineering work. Working under the guidance of an academic supervisor, you will contribute to defining your own project, conduct a detailed review of the relevant literature, and apply advanced analytical and technical skills to solve a complex engineering problem.

Projects may focus on experimental investigation, computational analysis, or systems design, and can draw on Lancaster’s research expertise or, where appropriate, industry collaboration. You will develop valuable skills in project management, technical communication and critical evaluation, culminating in a professional dissertation that showcases your ability to plan, execute and present advanced engineering research.

By completing this module, you will gain the confidence and experience to contribute original thinking to your chosen field and demonstrate the professional and academic qualities expected of a Master’s-level engineer.

Apply your knowledge and skills in a real-world context to an exciting industry-linked team project. You will explore the role of engineering consultancy in various industries, focusing on the skills, methodologies and practices involved in providing consultancy services to solve engineering-related problems. This will develop your understanding of industry needs, business requirements, stakeholder management and effective communication with clients.

The module introduces the use of generative AI and prompt engineering as tools to support project management, problem-solving, and communication. You will consider the ethical implications of using AI in professional contexts, including issues related to data use, biases, transparency, accountability and the role of human oversight.

Explore the advanced materials that drive innovation across industries such as automotive, aerospace, healthcare, construction and energy. Uncover how material properties, processing techniques and microstructure influence the performance of critical components. Through hands-on learning and materials selection tools, you will analyse historic developments in materials and apply this knowledge to design next-generation alloys that enhance performance, reduce costs and promote sustainability. By the end of the module, you will have the skills to make informed design choices for materials that could help shape the future of engineering and technology.

Explore key concepts in machine learning, intelligent control and modern control theory, with applications in robotics, industrial automation, smart manufacturing, predictive maintenance and digital twin. You will study control theory’s role in ensuring stability and robustness in safety-critical systems, beginning with classical proportional-integral control and progressing to digital control, state-space models and linear quadratic optimal control.

Machine learning (ML) techniques, such supervised and unsupervised learning, reinforcement learning and deep neural networks, will be introduced to address complex, high-dimensional systems where traditional models fall short. The module also examines practical and ethical constraints, while equipping you with computational tools such as MATLAB and Python for real-world implementation.

Throughout, you will gain hands-on experience in designing and applying these methods to engineering challenges, preparing you for the growing role of statistical modelling, intelligent control and ML in diverse fields like healthcare, economics and the natural sciences.

Explore the future of clean energy with this module on hydrogen and fuel cell technologies. You will gain a strong understanding of how hydrogen is produced, stored and used as a sustainable energy source. The module covers the fundamentals of fuel cell operation, types of fuel cells and their applications. Through case studies and practical examples, you will learn about the challenges and advancements in hydrogen technology, infrastructure, and environmental impact.

You will develop critical problem-solving skills and a forward-thinking approach to energy solutions. Youwill also gain the knowledge to assess the role of hydrogen in a low-carbon future and understand its potential in global energy markets. Assessment may include reports, presentations and technical analysis. This module is ideal if you are interested in renewable energy, engineering or sustainability.

Explore the core principles of mechatronics and control engineering, where you’ll learn dynamic modelling, actuator design and sensor technologies to tackle real-world challenges in automation, robotics and smart manufacturing. You’ll analyse and optimise systems using time and frequency domain methods, design robust actuators like electric, pneumatic and hydraulic systems, and integrate advanced sensors that measure pressure, temperature and electromagnetic fields.

Gain hands-on experience with signal conditioning, combining hardware and software components, and developing closed-loop control systems for precision in industrial settings. Using tools like MATLAB/Simulink, you’ll simulate projects from robotic assembly lines to IoT-driven automation.

Dive into emerging trends such as AI-enhanced control and master electromagnetic compatibility and noise mitigation - key skills for Industry 4.0 careers. Ideal for aspiring automation specialists and robotics developers, this module focuses on scalable, intelligent system design through industry-aligned labs and hybrid solutions. Shape the future of engineering - one system at a time.

This module aims to develop your understanding of the key aspects underlying engineering science, relating to the production of nuclear fuels and the conversion of nuclear energy. The unique hazards associated with handling the materials in the manufacturing train, such as criticality, radioactive exposure, chemical toxicity and flammability, will be highlighted together with methods for their safe management.You will be able to study advanced material balancing methods suited to the special requirements of nuclear materials including methods of reconciliation and active material accountancy.

Additionally, you will extend your knowledge of heat transfer with particular reference to the design of nuclear reactors and the complex boiling processes occurring in theory geometries. Ultimately, this module will provide understanding of a range of nuclear fuels, their associated manufacturing processes, and their relationship with the civil/military controversy.

This module will introduce the fundamental concepts underpinning fusion energy and its associated engineering challenges. You will learn the candidate fusion reactions and discuss the different engineering approaches to extracting useful energy from them, with a focus on magnetic confinement fusion (MCF) and inertial confinement fusion (ICF). You will gain a basic grounding in electromagnetism and superconductivity to enable discussion of these confinement concepts and associated technologies, including lasers, magnets and diagnostics. Further, you will learn about the tritium fuel cycle and materials issues unique to fusion, i.e. radiation damage, and how these are being developed with consideration to public acceptability.

The module will employ a systems approach showing the interdependence between different components in a fusion reactor. This will demonstrate how to treat a complex system in a holistic way. You will also examine how non-technological factors, such as economics, politics and public perception impact technological development.

The module discusses engineering aspects of wind, tidal and hydraulic energy, from the analysis of the resource (e.g. wind frequency distribution and tide cycles) to the analysis, design and control of the turbines required to convert renewable energy into electricity. Analysis and design of solar farms is also addressed.

Methods and examples of cost and environmental impact analysis of renewable energy are introduced. Latest approaches to integrate renewable energy in large electricity grids and energy storage technologies are presented. The hydrogen economy is analysed, with approaches to green hydrogen generation, transport, storage and cost analysis.

You will learn specialised and general skills including a) initial aero-/hydromechanical analysis and design of wind, hydraulic and hydrokinetic turbines, b) cost and environmental impact analysis, c) analysis of green hydrogen generation, storage and usage as energy vector, d) analysis of energy transmission chain and techno-economic aspects of integrating new energy production systems into macrogrids.