Overview
The significance of automation in the chemical and process industries has grown and continues to increase inexorably. That growth has been partly driven by developments in control and information technology with the control systems themselves having evolved in both flexibility and functionality. However, the primary driver has been economic, recognising that the technology can deliver substantive benefits in terms of operability, productivity, quality, reliability, safety, sustainability and viability.
Modern automation systems are complex and designing them, putting them together, getting them to work, operating and maintaining them is challenging. It requires a breadth and depth of knowledge across a range of disciplines involving a variety of theory and techniques, technology and practice, skills and knowhow.
This programme will develop your expertise in the design and development, application, operation and management of control and related systems. It is an exciting area to work in with no shortage of opportunities.
It can be taken as a Postgraduate Diploma or an MSc. We also offer an MSc degree apprenticeship where funding may be accessible through your employer’s Apprenticeship Levy.
Applicants should be employed in the chemicals/process sector of industry which will normally be either by an end-user (operating company), contractor (or systems integrator), or system supplier (vendor), with a job function in the area of instrumentation, control, and automation.
Modules
We offer a rolling programme of modules with various start dates throughout the year, which means you can enrol and start at any time.
For both the MSc and PGDip, you will select eight modules from the wide range offered. This flexibility allows you to tailor your studies to suit your interests, needs and background. Each module takes approximately three months to complete, consisting of a 1-week block of teaching followed by an assignment and an exam. Students will typically study two or three modules per year. There is a five-year time limit for completion of the MSc which includes the industrial project, and a four year limit for the PGDip.
Students enrolled on the Postgraduate Diploma may transfer to the MSc upon successful completion of four modules.
We place great emphasis on interactive learning, and you will learn from our academic experts and leading industrialists. We provide a balance of theory and practice, technology and techniques, information and understanding. Modules will typically include group discussions, demonstrations, presentations, problem-solving, case studies, practical work and simulation exercises.
The programme has previously been accredited by three professional bodies: IChemE, IET and InstMC. They have been approached about re-accreditation of the programme for further learning to Masters level at Lancaster.
Subject to the requirements of relevant experience and a position of responsibility, for those admitted with an accredited BEng degree, the award of the MSc degree should lead to Chartered Engineer (CEng) status.
Your department
Entry Requirements
Academic Requirements
2:2 Hons degree (UK or equivalent) in chemical or electrical engineering or in instrumentation and control.Otherwise, applicants with degrees in disciples such as mechanical engineering, physics or computing may be admitted, depending upon the emphasis of their degree course.
If you have studied outside of the UK, we would advise you to check our list of international qualifications before submitting your application.
Additional Requirements
Applicant should be employed in the chemicals/process sector of industry. which will normally be either by an end-user (operating company), contractor (or systems integrator) ) or system supplier (vendor), with a job function in the area of instrumentation, control and automation.
English Language Requirements
We may ask you to provide a recognised English language qualification, dependent upon your nationality and where you have studied previously.
We normally require an IELTS (Academic) Test with an overall score of at least 6.5, and a minimum of 6.0 in each element of the test. We also consider other English language qualifications.
If your score is below our requirements, you may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language programmes.
Contact: Admissions Team +44 (0) 1524 592032 or email pgadmissions@lancaster.ac.uk
Course Structure
You will study a range of modules as part of your course, some examples of which are listed below.
Core
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Dissertation (60 credits)
The technical projects tackled during this module are varied and in most cases obtained from local companies who have a genuine engineering problem, design or development requirement. They can vary from research-orientated investigations of new methods or techniques to solution of shop-floor problems to improve productivity.
Projects are approximately eighteen-weeks in length and may be either selected from a ‘pool’ or self-proposed. Part-time students may undertake a project linked to their company subject to approval. Students are assigned an academic supervisor from the university and primary contact from the company.
During the project, students should assess the needs of an organisation and consider the required approach to delivering change; define a technical problem and critically appraise the nature of this problem; and finally identify various methodologies that could be appropriate for this problem situation and a sound project plan to implement them. From the initial ‘scoping’ to the final ‘closeout’ meeting the emphasis is on applying the skills learnt during the course to self-manage the project, identify and meet the requirements of all stakeholder and deliver a technically sound solution.
By the end of the module, postgraduates will have demonstrated the skills of independent learning and the ability for constructive critical reflection that is essential for continuing professional development.
Optional
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Advanced Process Automation
This module provides an understanding of some of the higher level techniques and technologies used for process and system management, and decision support purposes. They require information, so a principal focus is upon the extraction of information from the platform of real-time data available within an integrated control and safety system (ICSS). It also provides an introduction to the technologies of fuzzy, neural and expert systems.
This module develops students’ appreciation of the interface between process automation and the wider interests of the business. In essence, real-time information abstracted from data within the ICSS by statistical means can be used in other applications for improving operations of the immediate process and beyond.
It also provides opportunity to develop the skills of independent working and effective communication.
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Advanced Process Control
This module provides an in-depth understanding of real-time model predictive control (MPC). It covers the techniques of identification and estimation used for developing the underlying models. Aspects of self-tuning are covered by way of introduction to MPC. The approach to MPC is introduced in the context of a single-input, single-output system and then extrapolated to multivariable systems. The key interface between MPC and real-time optimisation (RTO) is explained, and insight is provided on the limitations of the technology and implementation issues.
Students will develop awareness of the potential of MPC and its limitations. It is used for ‘difficult to control’ systems: those including non-linear, non-stationary, subject to delay, and multivariable. MPC is both complex and expensive. Fortunately, feedback control of a PID nature and related strategies can cope with some 95% of all applications. That leaves only 5% or less candidates for MPC.
The module also provides opportunity to develop the skills of independent working and effective communication.
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Chemical Engineering Principles
A variety of unit operations are used as a vehicle for introducing various aspects of the design and operation of related plant and equipment items. The module also covers those aspects of chemical engineering, principally mass and energy balances, fluid flow and heat transfer, which are of particular relevance for understanding the nature of process operations and for building quantitative models of such
This module will enable students to better appreciate the wider societal impact of industrial, processes and plant and to make judgements about technical issues in an industrial context.
It also provides opportunity to develop the skills of independent working and effective communication.
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Classical Control Systems Design
This module provides a thorough grounding in the classical analysis and design of control systems using Laplace transform-based linear methods. In particular, for so-called single-input single-output (SISO) systems, it covers the use of transfer functions, block diagram algebra, interpretation of characteristic equation, frequency response and root locus.
Students will appreciate and understand the limitations of classical linear methods for the design of control systems for real processes and plant.
The module also provides opportunity to develop the skills of independent working and effective communication.
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Control Schemes and Strategies
This module provides students with a sound understanding of all aspects of conventional 3-term control, covering the use of PID in both simple feedback and the related strategies of ratio, cascade and feedforward control. It also covers the classical approaches to and schemes for the control of a variety of items of process plant, as well as the basics of sequence control.
This module will enable students to better appreciate and understand the potential impact of process automation on company performance, and indeed its wider societal impact, and to make judgements about technical issues in an industrial context.
It also provides opportunity to develop the skills of independent working and effective communication.
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Control Systems Technology
This module provides students with an understanding of the functionality of the hardware, system software and application software (both configurable and procedural) of integrated control and safety systems (ICSS), whether they be of a distributed control system (DCS), supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) or programmable logic controller (PLC) nature. There is a particular focus on application software, its organisation, constructs, tools for development, and good practice.
The module will develop students’ ability, tempered by a healthy scepticism, to distinguish between aspects of control technology, including that are necessary/desirable, robust/not proven, feasible/impracticable, viable/unsustainable, real/virtual, and trusted/fashionable. It also provides opportunity to develop the skills of independent working and effective communication.
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Functional Safety and Security
This module provides students with an in-depth understanding of the ‘layers of safety’ approach to plant and process safety and the distinction between layers, identification and analysis of requirements for independent protection systems, quantitative design and deployment of SIL rated protection systems, and the nature of cyber risk to both control and protection systems, and the means of mitigating against breaches of security.
The module will enable students to better understand the contribution of automation to process safety, related societal issues, and to appreciate its limitations in terms of reliability and security. It also provides opportunity to develop the skills of independent working and effective communication.
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Instrumentation and Measurement
The module provides students with a thorough grounding in the principles, technology, infrastructure and practices of instrumentation used for the measurement of common variables such as flow, level, pressure and temperature. There is an emphasis on the specification, installation and operation of instrumentation as well as on final elements such as control valves.
This module will enable students to better appreciate the safety and sustainability implications of the use of instrumentation on process plant and to make related judgements about technical issues in an industrial context. It also provides opportunity to develop the skills of independent working and effective communication.
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Management of Automation Projects
The module provides students with an understanding of the issues involved in the management of control and automation projects. It is based upon the life cycle of an automation project, from costs and benefits analysis, specification right through to operation, maintenance and support. Aspects of management are considered from both an end user’s (operating company) and supplier’s (system vendor) perspective. The emphasis throughout is upon good project management practice.
This module enables students to understand the scope for influencing through project management, and the impact of process automation upon company performance and beyond. It also provides opportunity to develop the skills of independent working and effective communication.
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Modelling and Simulation
This module concerns the development of first principles dynamic models of items of processes, and items of plant and equipment, and the simulation of those models for analysis and control system design purposes. The emphasis is on input-output relationships. There is a focus on making assumptions and approximations such that, rather than seeking perfection, the models developed are ‘good enough’.
The module will enable students to better appreciate and understand the constraints on effective operation of process plant and equipment, and to make judgements about technical issues in an industrial context. It also provides opportunity to develop the skills of independent working and effective communication.
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Modern Control Systems Design
This module provides students with a grounding in the techniques used for handling sampled data signals. The state-space approach to modelling is developed for systems involving either continuous and/or sampled data signals. Based upon state-space, the techniques of state feedback and observer design are introduced. These various techniques provide the basis for analysis and design of so-called multi-input multi-output (MIMO) control systems, and consideration of approaches to the implementation of multivariable control strategies.
The module will enable students to appreciate and understand the complexity and limitations of the various theoretical techniques available for the design of multivariable systems. Students will able to make judgements about relevant technical issues in an industrial context and also develop independent working skills, and effective communication.
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Optimisation and Scheduling
The module provides students with an in-depth understanding of the principles underlying various techniques of optimisation and scheduling, especially optimisation of a constrained nature with multiple decision variables in a real-time context. It also introduces students to the technology and practices in the use of real-time optimisers (RTO) in the process industry. The two principal categories of RTO are covered, steady-state and dynamic, with a particular emphasis on the dynamic type.
This module will enable students to look at a process or plant from the perspective of optimising its performance. It is possible to optimise performance with respect to several independent variables simultaneously and subject to constraints: that is a very powerful capability. The control objectives become self-evident and translate into targets for the control system.
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Process Analytical Technology
The module provides students with a thorough grounding in the principles, technology and practices of analytical measurement, with an emphasis on the specification, installation and operation of the types of analyser, analytical measurement, and sampling systems commonly used for the real-time monitoring and control of industrial plant and processes.
This module enables students to appreciate and understand the role of process automation in the monitoring of emissions, their potential for reduction and environmental impact. It also provides opportunity to develop the skills of independent working and effective communication.
Information contained on the website with respect to modules is correct at the time of publication, but changes may be necessary, for example as a result of student feedback, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes, and new research. Not all optional modules are available every year.
Fees and Funding
For fees information, please visit the departmental page: Entry Requirements and Fees | Lancaster University
Scholarships and bursaries
At Lancaster, we believe that funding concerns should not stop any student with the talent to thrive.
We offer a range of scholarships and bursaries to help cover the cost of tuition fees and/or living expenses.
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Additional costs
There may be extra costs related to your course for items such as books, stationery, printing, photocopying, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits. Following graduation, you may need to pay a subscription to a professional body for some chosen careers.
Specific additional costs for studying at Lancaster are listed below.
College fees
Lancaster is proud to be one of only a handful of UK universities to have a collegiate system. Every student belongs to a college, and all students pay a small which supports the running of college events and activities.
For students starting in 2022, the fee is £40 for undergraduates and research students and £15 for students on one-year courses. Fees for students starting in 2023 have not yet been set.
Computer equipment and internet access
To support your studies, you will also require access to a computer, along with reliable internet access. You will be able to access a range of software and services from a Windows, Mac, Chromebook or Linux device. For certain degree programmes, you may need a specific device, or we may provide you with a laptop and appropriate software - details of which will be available on relevant programme pages. A dedicated IT support helpdesk is available in the event of any problems.
The University provides limited financial support to assist students who do not have the required IT equipment or broadband support in place.
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Fees in subsequent years
The University will not increase the Tuition Fee you are charged during the course of an academic year.
If you are studying on a programme of more than one year's duration, the tuition fees for subsequent years of your programme are likely to increase each year. The way in which continuing students' fee rates are determined varies according to an individual's 'fee status' as set out on our fees webpages.
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Engineering
- Electronic Engineering MSc
- Engineering MPhil/PhD
- Engineering MSc by Research
- Engineering Project Management MSc
- Materials Science MSc by Research
- Materials Science PhD
- Mechanical Engineering (Advanced) MSc
- Mechanical Engineering with Project Management MSc
- Natural Sciences MSc by Research
- Natural Sciences PhD
- Process Automation PgDip
How you will learn
We place great emphasis on interactive learning, and you will learn from our academic experts and leading industrialists. We provide a balance of theory and practice, technology and techniques, information and understanding.
The programme has been designed closely with industry, through the Process Automation and Control Training members which currently include: ABB, AstraZeneca, AVEVA, BP, EEMUA, Emerson, GAMBICA, GSK, Honeywell, SABIC, Sellafield Ltd, and Worley.
Accreditation
The programme has previously been accredited by three professional bodies: IChemE, IET and InstMC. They have been approached about re-accreditation of the programme for further learning to Masters level at Lancaster, and we are confident of the outcome. Subject to the requirements of relevant experience and a position of responsibility, for those admitted with an accredited BEng degree, the award of the MSc degree should lead to Chartered Engineer (CEng) status.
PACT Award
The PACT Student Award is awarded annually to recognise achievement and to promote the industry. The Award is sponsored by GAMBICA, the trade association for instrumentation, control, automation and laboratory technology in the UK.
Short courses for CPD
Each of the modules can be taken as a standalone continuing professional development (CPD) course with assessment optional.
Important Information
The information on this site relates primarily to 2022/2023 entry to the University and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.
The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.
More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.
Our Students’ Charter
We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. View our Charter and other policies.