Master of Engineering (MEng)

MEng Mechatronic Engineering

*This course is now closed for applications for 2025 entry.

  • Duration: 4 years
  • Year of entry: 2025
  • UCAS course code: HHH6 / Institution code: M20
  • Key features:
  • Scholarships available
  • Accredited course

Full entry requirementsHow to apply

Fees and funding

Fees

Tuition fees for home students commencing their studies in September 2025 will be £9,535 per annum (subject to Parliamentary approval). Tuition fees for international students will be £34,000 per annum. For general information please see the undergraduate finance pages.

Policy on additional costs

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

Scholarships/sponsorships

The University of Manchester is committed to attracting and supporting the very best students. We have a focus on nurturing talent and ability and we want to make sure that you have the opportunity to study here, regardless of your financial circumstances.

For information about scholarships and bursaries please visit our undergraduate student finance pages and our Department funding pages .

Course unit details:
Machine Learning & Optimisation Techniques

Course unit fact file
Unit code EEEN40151
Credit rating 15
Unit level Level 4
Teaching period(s) Semester 1
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

(1) Introduction of convex sets and convex functions

(2) Illustrate convex optimization problems, including linear programming, quadratic programming, geometric programming, semi-definite programming

(3) Introduce duality theory, including Lagrangian dual function, Lagrange dual problem, weak and strong duality, Interpretation of dual variables, KKT optimality conditions.

(4) Illustrate various convex optimization methods and algorithms, such as descent methods, Newton methods, sub-gradient method, interior point method,  

(5) Provide some applications of convex optimization to signal processing and communications

(6)  Introduction to machine learning and optimisation.

(7) High-dimensional data representation. Basic multivariate statistical and regression models. Decision tree algorithms and Bayesian learning.

(8) Clustering and classification algorithms including SVMs.

(9) Introduction to neurons, human visual system and neural networks. Artificial neural networks (feedforward, recurrent) and their learning mechanisms: supervised and unsupervised.

(10) Introduction to deep learning neural networks and their implementations.

Pre/co-requisites

Unit title Unit code Requirement type Description
Numerical Analysis EEEN30101 Pre-Requisite Recommended

Aims

The unit aims to:

(1) To provide a general overview of convex optimization theory and its applications.

(2) To introduce various classical convex optimization problems and illustrate how to solve these numerically and analytically.  

(3) To introduce and practise basic machine learning techniques for multivariate data analysis and engineering applications.

(4)  To introduce and practise fundamental neural networks and their recent advances, esp. deep learning neural networks and implementations in practical applications.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the course, a student will be able to:

ILO 1: Understand the motivation and benefit of using convex optimization and machine learning

ILO 2: Establish a good understanding about convex sets and convex functions

ILO 3: Recognise typical forms of convex optimizations and their associated optimal solutions

ILO 4: Understand fundamental machine learning approaches in problem solving

ILO 5: Able to apply machine learning methods in practical data-oriented problems

ILO 6: Understand neural networks and basic deep learning networks and their applications

Knowledge and understanding

 

 

Intellectual skills

  • To be able to reason about situations arising in the use of optimization and machine learning
  • To be able to design algorithms for obtaining optimal solutions for convex optimization problems
  • To be able to apply problem solving approaches used in machine learning and neural networks in wider engineering tasks
  • To be able to design a machine learning or neural network algorithm or system for a given learning problem

Practical skills

  • To be able to apply convex optimization to practical communication systems
  • To be able to use machine learning tools or libraries in practical applications

Transferable skills and personal qualities

  • Develop the capability for mathematical and algorithmic formulation
  • Develop wider problem-solving and data analytical skills in engineering
  • Scientific report writing and presentation

Assessment methods

Method Weight
Other 30%
Written exam 70%

Examination
Duration: 3 hours. (70%)

Coursework
Machine Learning Coursework (15%)
Optimisation Techniques (15%)

Feedback methods

.

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Lectures 27
Practical classes & workshops 18
Tutorials 6
Independent study hours
Independent study 99

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Hujun Yin Unit coordinator
Khairi Hamdi Unit coordinator

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