Electronic and Electrical Engineering (Study Abroad)

This module considers a range of material in the wider business development area. Students are encouraged to think with creativity, entrepreneurial flair and innovation. Practical sessions allow students to demonstrate their progress on a weekly basis through idea generation, peer presentations, elevator pitches and formal presentations. The module is accompanied by a number of external industrial speakers who have been successful in their own business endeavours and are keen to pass on that knowledge.

Students will become familiar with a rich mixture of experiential learning opportunities, that develop a wide range of transferable skills in the context of engineering entrepreneurship. The module will focus on the development and use of business plans and marketing strategies. Students will prepare a business plan, discuss team dynamics and the requirements for entrepreneurial activity. Additionally, the appropriate terminology to use when developing business projects will be explored. Students will discuss relevant aspects of company finance, uncertainty in business ventures and techniques for analysing markets. They will also examine frameworks for marketing and structuring a business plan and will develop the ability to analyse potential markets and sources of funding.

This module will introduce digital logic design targeting programmable logic devices, in particular FPGAs: Field-Programmable Gate Arrays. Student will look at major steps involved in modern digital logic design development such as simulation, time and hardware resources optimisation, and floorplanning. The preferred programming language will be VHDL while target FPGA devices will belong to the Xilinx family. Students will gain practical experience of a widely employed vendor specific software development environment, such as Xilinx ISE 10.1 or Mentor Graphics ModelSim.

Additionally, the module introduces fundamental skills in digital logic design programming, development implementation and debugging, and students are given the opportunity to understand and use the concept of parallelism, along with developing instincts as to what design approach should be adopted, depending on the targeted application. Students will also acquire experience in using FPGA devices which are fundamental in ASICs development and verification.

On successful completion of the module, students will develop the ability to design digital logic circuits for a range of applications. They will apply state-of-the-art digital logic design development and verification methods, and will learn to use the most prevalent programming language in digital design for Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs), i.e. VHDL. Students will also gain the knowledge necessary to discuss PLDs in general and FPGAs in particular, including the major steps involved in digital circuit design development and implementation. Finally, students will gain the level of understanding required to use practical skills gained from hands-on experience of FPGAs containing development boards.

This module explores a range of topics concerning electrical circuits and power systems. It is separated into two parts, with the first part containing an overview on electrical circuit theory, whilst providing an understanding of the electrical circuit laws, phasor analysis and three-phase circuits. The second part of the module identifies and describes the basic elements of the electric power system such as generation, transmission, distribution, utilisation, stability, protection and electrical safety.

Students will develop the ability to analyse frequency relationships for reactive circuit elements, and will discuss the principles of three-phase circuits. Additionally, students will gain the skillset required to identify different parts of electrical power systems and explain their functions, along with exploring design procedures to locate faults within a power network. Finally, students will learn to discuss the system protection and also electrical safety, and will operate power systems effectively, whilst ensuring system security and quality of supply.

Whilst alternating topic focus, this module explores RF engineering and electromagnetic processes in general. Students will gain knowledge of RF engineering, the decibel scale, and will explore complex number review. Additionally, the module will cover AC circuit analysis, and will provide complex representation of waves and transmission lines, along with seminars in RF transmission of data and basic RF receiver architectures.

The electromagnetic portion of the module will cover Electrostatics, including electric charge, electric field, electric flux density and electrostatic potential. Students will develop knowledge of inverse square law of force, dielectric polarisation and permittivity, as well as capacitance, energy storage, parasitic capacitance and electric screening.

Students will develop the level of understanding necessary to describe the concepts of potential, charge, field and capacitance, and will learn to apply Ampere, Faraday and Coulomb law. Students will also gain an understanding of ferromagnetic materials, and will develop the necessary skillset to calculate the magnitude and direction of the electric field strength, as well as discussing Gauss theorem and the relationship of electric flux to electric charge. Finally, students will be able to carry out noise calculations for RF systems, calculate component values and transmission line dimensions to match impedances, and will gain knowledge in the application of Smith charts to analyse an RF circuit.

This module introduces students to numerate aspects of engineering. It is designed to provide students with a broad and flexible array of mathematical methods for the analysis of data and signals. It also intends to illustrate the essential role of computing in the application of these skills. Students will use calculus for the analysis of trigonometric, non-linear, polynomial and exponential functions, and will sketch multivariable functions with a relation to engineering on three-dimensional Cartesian axes.

Additionally, students will evaluate the significance of differential equations in the description of an engineering system and will apply methods such as Laplace, integration and substitution to find the solution of these equations. They will also develop the ability to analyse systems in both the time and frequency domain using Fourier and Laplace transformations. Students will learn to apply the spectrum of approximate methods that exist for finding the roots of equations, definite integrals and linear approximations.

The matrix representation of coefficients and their correspondence will be applied to arrays in software, including the use of manipulations such as the inverse matrix. Students will use the concept of least squares analysis in order to assess the consistency of data. Finally, they will develop the ability to use a software package such as Excel for multivariable analysis of a given function and to produce appropriate graphical outcomes.

Students will be introduced to a range of key concepts in engineering project management and will put some of these into practice by means of an interdisciplinary group project. This module aims to motivate students to produce and test a functional electro mechanical machine to meet a given specification for example, the development of a mobile robot which follows a line. Students will develop a range of skills including, the ability to describe a mechanical/electrical system at the block diagram level, identifying its power and signal flows and writing an overall performance or functional specification. They will also acquire the knowledge necessary to integrate the functional requirements with other needs such as maintainability, safety, manufacturability, environmental impact and regulatory compliance. The requirements for interface management including spatial, mass, environment, control, failure modes, and energy, will also be discussed.

Additionally, students will develop the skill set required to prepare an interface management plan for a complete project and interface specifications for the subsystems/components. They will discuss the project lifecycle including specification, design, manufacture, commissioning, maintenance, modification and disposal. Finally, students will apply the principles of validating the design of a complex system using analysis, sample testing, type testing, commissioning, system tests and acceptance.

This module is designed to enhance students’ understanding of system dynamics and feedback at the block diagram level, by providing tools for the analysis of linear single degree freedom systems. Students will gain the ability to use appropriate instrumentation for feedback and data-logging purposes. The module will enable students to interface devices such as memory, digital IO and analogue IO to a microprocessor or microcontroller. They will also discover how to access such devices from within a program using C and/or Assembler.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to develop single degree freedom models for simple mechanical, electric and electromechanical systems. They will also be able to discuss the assumptions necessary to develop such linear models and have an awareness of nonlinear and chaotic systems. Additionally, students will develop the ability to analyse 1st and 2nd order models in both the time and frequency domain, including vibrations and asymptotic stability. They will write down the transfer function of a system from its differential equation and understand the significance of the poles/zeros.

Further skills available on the module include the ability to manipulate block diagrams of open and closed-loop systems and the design of proportional, integral, derivative, velocity and multi-term controllers. Finally, students will construct and use Bode diagrams, and will develop the knowledge required to analyse the function and physical operation of a range of common types of transducer, e.g. for the measurement of strain, force, temperature and acceleration.

This module will enhance students’ knowledge of heat transfer calculations and aims to outline where these are essential to engineering design. Students will develop an understanding of electric power systems, including the characteristics of the main types of electric machine. In addition, they will gain the ability to estimate steady-state heat transfer rates and will be able to size simple parallel and contra flow heat exchangers. They will also develop the level of understanding required to estimate temperature distributions within 1-D or rotationally symmetric systems in which there is steady heat flow, as well as correctly sizing cooling fins.

Students will set up appropriate boundary conditions for 3-D heat conduction problems that are to be solved numerically using a software package and will estimate the time it takes for a thermal system to reach a steady state. Finally, they will be able to perform calculations to predict the performance of a single-phase induction motor and will be able to analyse the starting, speed and torque control methods used on induction motors.

In this year, you will study at one of our international partner universities. This will help you to develop your global outlook, expand your professional network, and gain cultural and personal skills. You will choose specialist modules relating to your degree as well as other modules from across the host university.

This module introduces time and frequency domain representations of analogue circuits. It examines the principles of analogue integrated circuit and filter design, including linear network transfer functions.

The module will cover a wide range of topics, and will include a look at transistors and transistor circuits for integrated circuits, along with the fundamentals of linear continuous time filters. Additionally, students will gain an understanding of the design of passive and active circuits for synthesis of transfer functions, parasitics and filter precision.

Students will develop the ability to analyse circuits in the time and frequency domains, along with the ability to evaluate fundamental analogue circuit building blocks. They will also gain the knowledge required to describe the composition of active and passive filters.

Students will learn how to process signals using techniques such as Fourier transforms, sampling, discrete time and space domains, and digital filtering, putting their knowledge into practice in MATLAB software which equips students with comprehensive knowledge of digital code used in engineering environments.

This module develops students’ ability to analyse engineering problems by creating and designing solutions to meet real-world industry needs through a combination of critical thinking and hands-on practical skills.

Students will be equipped with a wide range of skills to determine the most appropriate sampling and filtering methods for processing signals whilst also developing their ability to write computer programmes for data analysis, creating recommendations and designing solutions.

This module examines the role of management and its relevance to engineering today. In this context, specific knowledge about manufacturing systems and project financial appraisal will be introduced, together with relevant aspects of law and human resource management, industrial organisation and project costing. Students will receive an outline of company finance and reporting, along with an overview of environmental reporting, quality and safety management.

The module will reinforce students’ understanding of the role of management in industry, as well as how modern manufacturing operations are organised financially. Students will financially evaluate both large and small projects as the basis for major decisions, and will develop knowledge of what quality is and its importance to all organisations. Additionally, students will apply suitable tools for the improvement of quality, and will come to understand the importance of environmental reporting. The module will also enable students to carry out a basic level of safety management.

The aim of this module is to give students experience in managing a research project and help them develop an in depth knowledge of a specific, specialist area of their subject. Students will have the opportunity to learn professional software, research, design or experimental skills consistent with their subject. They will be assigned a project title and a project supervisor who will guide and advise them throughout the project. The project involves the production of a literature review, project plan, an oral presentation, a final report and a poster.

The module will offer different outcomes depending on which topic students choose to work on. For example, they can gain knowledge of the scientific principles and methodology necessary to underpin their education in the engineering discipline.

Students can also acquire the ability to apply and integrate their understanding of other engineering disciplines, to support the study of their own engineering discipline. Alternatively, students are offered the opportunity to gain an understanding of engineering principles and the ability to apply them to analyse key engineering processes.

There will be an opportunity for students to apply quantitative methods and computer software, relevant to their engineering discipline, to solve engineering problems. On the other hand, students may decide to strengthen their understanding of customer and user needs and the importance of considerations such as aesthetics. They could also take the opportunity to reinforce their workshop and laboratory skills.

This module provides an introduction to integrated circuit engineering and integrated circuits, including key methods for their design, fabrication and testing. In this regard, the module will examine the principles of very large scale integrated circuit engineering and the digital design process. Among a vast range of topics, this module will address CMOS circuit engineering, and will focus on MOSFET short channel effects, switch model, digital design metrics and the design of logic elements.

Additionally, students will become familiar with arithmetic building blocks, memory elements classification, array structure and timing issues.

Students will develop the ability to analyse simple performance metrics and will derive circuits to implement simple functions, and will learn how to use an industrial tool to model, analyse and construct digital circuits.

This module introduces the fundamental components of optical communication and wireless systems and information theory, including the physical propagation of signals, electromagnetism and signal analysis. Students will learn the theory of using optoelectronics and radio waves for telecommunications, and will examine the main types of antenna and their properties. The module offers a rounded overview of optoelectronics, including optical communication systems, optical components and optical sources. A portion on wireless communications will introduce electromagnetic spectrum, elements of radio waves propagation, transmitter and receiver.

Students will also gain knowledge of link budget, types of wireless networks, and antennas, in addition to revisions of information theory and modulation. Additionally, students will discover access, and system case studies, which will discuss internet fibre cables backbone, radio and TV broadcasting.

In addition to this, students will gain the level of knowledge required to define the main optical components in a communication system. They will be able to explain the fundamentals of wireless systems, transmitters and receivers, and will carry out calculations on radio transmission antennas and coding. Ultimately, students will be able to explain the reasons for the design choices made in a variety of communications systems.

This module aims to equip students with comprehensive knowledge and understanding of power electronics and applications by learning methods of converting and inverting voltage signals and how to use them to drive electric motors. As electric vehicles and renewable sources of power are becoming increasingly important, the module will also cover applications in electric power utilities and renewable power, including wind and solar.

Students will develop an understanding of scientific principles and methodology of power semiconductor devices, power electronic converters, dc/ac motor drives and the applications and needs for high power electronic switches/converters in the electric power utility industry.

On completion of this module, students will be equipped with industry knowledge to apply their skills to meet real world engineering needs with confidence and professional and ethical responsibility.