MSc Robotics / Course details

Year of entry: 2024

Course description

Students graduating from the MSc Robotics will have a comprehensive education in robotic systems engineering with a unique emphasis on blending the fundamental theory with practical implementation.

Through the Robotic System Design Project, students will learn how to work as part of an effective robotics team delivering practical solutions to real-world problems.

Dr. Simon Watson / Senior Lecturer

Robotics is a multi-disciplinary subject which will have a profound impact on society over the next 50 years. It has already revolutionised the manufacturing industry and it has the potential to have similar impacts in areas such as green energy, social care, transport and logistics and the exploration of hostile environments both terrestrial and extra-terrestrial.

This course will provide students with an encompassing education in robotics and autonomous systems by incorporating the mechatronic aspects (mechanical and electronic) with computer science. The course is underpinned by world-leading facilities and researchers and emphasises students gaining practical robotic experience using state-of-the-art cyber-physical systems to help address real-world challenges.

The field of robotics is currently one of the most rapidly developing technologies that offers exciting and ample career paths for suitably qualified engineers and scientists. In recent years The University of Manchester has established itself as one of the leading UK and international institutions in the field of robotics, both in terms of fundamental research (such as cognitive robotics, AI, sensors) and also applications (such as nuclear, offshore wind, health and social care), including a significant and wide-ranging portfolio of industrial collaborations. 

The MSc Robotics course will offer a truly interdisciplinary course at The University of Manchester. There are four strategic themes that will be followed in this course including:

  • a) mechatronics and control; verification, security and trust in autonomous systems;
  • b) human-robot interaction and cognitive robotics;
  • c) artificial intelligence, machine learning and data science;
  • d) ethics and human-centred robotics issues.

This course offers a unique opportunity to blend fundamental aspects with robot system design and integration. The course will be a practically-oriented course with an emphasis on real-world applications of robotics in various real-life scenarios.

Aims

  • Provide an advanced education in robotic systems engineering.
  • Give students the education, knowledge, and theoretical as well as practical skills they need to make sound decisions in the rapidly changing robotics industry.
  • Provide a sound understanding of the principles, design techniques, and applications of robotic systems.
  • Enable students to appreciate the broad knowledge of the issues and problems faced by robotic systems engineers.
  • Enhance students' ability to engage in independent project work both in software and hardware.

Special features

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Where Ideas Come to Life

All students will be given a laptop when they start the degree. This laptop will be used extensively in all of the units for the duration of the studies and will enable students to immerse themselves in robotics software and simulation environments as well as allow innovative teaching methodologies to be adopted.

In our new Home of Engineering and Materials, we’re ripping up the rule book to offer a truly innovative teaching and learning experience. You’ll have access to world-leading sustainable research facilities and some of the most unique, industry-leading equipment and instrumentation in the sector to meet today’s requirements and those of the future. Explore  Our Home for Engineering and Materials .

With access to an  extensive range of leading facilities , you will get hands-on with industry-standard equipment - improving your knowledge and skills, and preparing you for work post-graduation. Our flagship facilities include the  High Voltage Lab  and  Photon Science Institute

Course unit details

Semester 1:

1- Robotic Systems (15 credits)

2- Foundations of Machine Learning (15 credits)

3- Software for Robotics (15 credits)

4- Robotic Systems Design Project (30 credit unit – 15 credits per semester)

Semester 2:

5- Autonomous Mobile Robots (15 credits)

6- Robotic Manipulators (15 credits)

7- Cognitive Robotics and Computer Vision (15 credits)

8- Robotic System Design Project (30 credit unit – 15 credits per semester)

Summer:

9- Dissertation (60 credits)

Course unit list

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
Autonomous Mobile Robots AERO60492 15 Mandatory
Robotic Systems Design Project AERO62520 30 Mandatory
Foundations of Machine Learning COMP61011 15 Mandatory
Cognitive Robotics and Computer Vision COMP61342 15 Mandatory
Dissertation EEEN60070 60 Mandatory
Robotic Systems EEEN62011 15 Mandatory
Robotic Manipulators EEEN62012 15 Mandatory
Software for Robotics EEEN62021 15 Mandatory

Scholarships and bursaries

We offer a number of postgraduate-taught scholarships and awards to outstanding UK and international students each year.

The University of Manchester is committed to widening participation in master's study and allocates £300,000 in funding each year. Our Manchester Master's Bursaries  are aimed at widening access to master's courses by removing barriers to postgraduate education for students from underrepresented groups.

For more information, see the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering  Fees and Funding page  or visit the University of Manchester  funding for master's courses  website for more information.

Facilities

Come to our Home of Engineering and Materials - a place like no other. This is where engineers, material scientists, and fashion students collaborate, innovate and make their mark on the world. Unleash your potential in our creative, academic playground that signals the evolution of a proud history of innovation spanning almost 200 years.

In this very special place, we’re ripping up the rule book, offering you a truly innovative teaching and learning experience. As well as our creative classrooms, you’ll also have access to world-leading sustainable research facilities in our new buildings.

Our variety of spaces allows for greater collaboration for all our students, and it is the place to connect and tackle real-life challenges together. So, a chemical engineer could be sat alongside a materials scientist working on clean water or bump into a fashion student developing their own sustainable brand, or an aerospace engineer sending a rocket into space. It is a place like no other for interactions and one of the biggest communities of engineers and materials scientists in any University in the world.

Dive into a world of possibilities, whether you are interested in aerospace, robotics, or sustainable fashion, there’s a home for you here. 

Explore   Our Home for Engineering and Material Science

What's more, our strong, ever-growing links with industry not only help to inform our courses, but also boost our excellent teaching and research facilities. These include: 

The University of Manchester also offers an extensive   library and online services , helping you get the most out of your studies. 

Disability support

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service. Email: dass@manchester.ac.uk