Robotic and Mechatronic Engineering (with an industrial placement year) MEng

Modules

• Year 1 at Sussex

  Your modules

  Core modules

  Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.

  Autumn teaching

  • Electrical Circuits & Devices
  • Engineering Maths 1A
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Programming for Engineers

  Spring teaching

  • Electronic Devices and Circuit Prototyping
  • Engineering Maths 1B
  • Engineering Mechanics
  • Technical Drawing and Computer Aided Design

  Intersemester Week

  • Global Design Challenge

  Your degree

  Year 1 is shared across our Engineering degrees and gives you a strong foundation in the core principles underpinning modern engineering. The common first year helps you make an informed decision about your future specialism matching your interests, strengths and career aspirations.

  You’ll develop practical engineering and design skills, and fundamental knowledge in:

  • mathematics
  • programming
  • mechanics
  • electrical systems
  • materials
  • thermofluids.

  A highlight of the year is the strong emphasis on hands-on and cross-subject learning through laboratory activities, design challenges and project work. You’ll gain experience with industry-standard software and equipment, and also begin to develop professional engineering skills. These include teamwork, communication, problem-solving and digital literacy, while gaining experience with industry-standard software and equipment.

  Teaching

  Teaching methods typically include lectures as well as practical and laboratory sessions.

  

  55%: Lecture
  45%: Practical

  Assessment

  Assessment methods typically include unseen and computer-based examinations; laboratory, project and group reports; video submissions and practical coursework activities.

  Contact hours and workload

  This year of study includes approximately 1,200 hours of work. This breaks down into about 410 hours of contact time and about 790 hours of independent study.

  Engage and actively participate throughout your studies to get the most out of your course.

• Year 2 at Sussex

  Your modules

  Core modules

  Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.

  Autumn and spring teaching

  • Industry Ready: Mastering the Placement Application Process

  Autumn teaching

  • Design for Manufacture
  • Digital Systems and Microprocessor Design
  • Electronic Circuit & Systems Design
  • Engineering Mathematics 2

  Spring teaching

  • Embedded Systems
  • Industrial Automation and Mechatronics
  • Professional and Managerial Skills
  • Systems Analysis and Control

  Your degree

  Year 2 focuses on the technologies that underpin modern robotics, automation and intelligent systems. You’ll:

  • deepen your understanding of electronics, embedded computing, control systems and electromechanical engineering
  • develop the practical skills needed to design, programme and integrate complex engineering systems
  • gain experience of the hardware and software technologies that drive contemporary robotic applications
  • enhance your digital and AI capabilities
  • tailor your studies towards the areas of engineering you're most interested in.

  This year also places increasing emphasis on professional engineering practice. Through project management and placement preparation activities, you’ll develop the communication, teamwork and leadership skills needed to work effectively in multidisciplinary engineering environments. By the end of Year 2, you’ll have built a strong foundation in robotics and mechatronics. 

  Teaching

  Teaching methods typically include lectures as well as practical and laboratory sessions.

  

  60%: Lecture
  40%: Practical

  Assessment

  Assessment methods typically include unseen and computer-based examinations, test, multiple-choice question, practical assessment, laboratory and project reports, portfolios, presentations and project work.

  Contact hours and workload

  This year of study includes approximately 1,200 hours of work. This breaks down into about 395 hours of contact time and about 805 hours of independent study.

  Engage and actively participate throughout your studies to get the most out of your course.

• Placement

  To help you gain experience and increase your employability, you can apply for an optional placement as part of your course. You’ll be responsible for applying for and securing your placement. Our dedicated careers team can provide you with information and advice. If you’re successful in obtaining a placement, this will form part of your course.

  On placement in an engineering or technology-related organisation, you’ll have the opportunity to apply your technical knowledge and practical skills to real engineering projects. This will help you develop your confidence, professional communication and understanding of engineering practice in industry.

  During your placement, you’ll be supported by an academic mentor who will provide guidance and feedback as you reflect on your professional and technical development.

  Teaching methods typically include workplace learning, professional practice and independent reflective activities supported by your employer and academic mentor.

  Assessment methods typically include reflective reports and professional development activities based on your placement experience.

  Find out more about placements and internships

  Our careers team offers dedicated support to help you obtain a placement, including:

  • finding an employer
  • drafting an application
  • preparing for interviews
  • ongoing help throughout a placement.

  Don’t worry if you’re not successful in securing a placement, you’ll simply transfer to a non-placement version of your course.

  Please note that if you’re receiving – or applying for – USA federal Direct Loan funds, you can’t undertake your placement in the USA if the number of credits for the placement/internship exceeds 25% of the total credits for your course. Find out more about American Student Loans and Federal Student Aid

• Year 3 at Sussex

  Your modules

  Core modules

  Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.

  Autumn and spring teaching

  • Individual Project

  Autumn teaching

  • Business and Project Management
  • Control Engineering

  Spring teaching

  • Autonomous Vehicles
  • Robot Design and Implementation

  Options

  Alongside your core modules, you can choose options to broaden your horizons and tailor your course to your interests. This list gives you a flavour of our options, which are kept under review and may change, for example in response to student feedback or the latest research.

  While it’s our aim for students to take their preferred combinations of options, this can’t be guaranteed and will be subject to timetabling. Options may be grouped and if so, students will be able to choose a set number of options from the selection available in any particular group.

  Spring teaching

  • Programming in C++
  • Smart Interactive Sensing Systems and Applications

  Your degree

  Year 3 brings together the knowledge and skills you’ve developed throughout the degree, with a strong focus on advanced robotics, autonomous systems and professional engineering practice. You’ll:

  • deepen your understanding of robot design, control engineering, autonomous vehicles and intelligent sensing technologies
  • find out how software, electronics and mechanical systems are integrated to create capable and adaptive robotic systems
  • explore areas such as neural networks, advanced sensing systems and robot design and implementation – helping you develop the skills needed to work with the next generation of intelligent systems.

  A highlight of the year is the Individual Project. This is an opportunity for you to undertake substantial design, research, simulation or experimental work on a robotics or mechatronics topic of your choice. Supported by academic experts, you’ll apply knowledge from across the degree to address a complex engineering challenge. You’ll develop independence, creativity and professional engineering judgement. Alongside this, modules in business, project management and sustainability will help you understand the wider commercial, environmental and societal context of engineering practice, preparing you for graduate employment or further study. .

  Teaching

  Teaching methods typically include lectures as well as practical and laboratory sessions.

  

  35%: Lecture
  65%: Practical

  Assessment

  Assessment methods typically include unseen and computer-based examinations; software exercise; laboratory, project and group reports; presentations, problem set oral assessments and project work. 

  Contact hours and workload

  This year of study includes approximately 1,200 hours of work. This breaks down into about 320 hours of contact time and about 880 hours of independent study.

  Engage and actively participate throughout your studies to get the most out of your course.

• Year 4 at Sussex

  Your modules

  Core modules

  Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.

  Autumn and spring teaching

  • MEng Group Project

  Autumn teaching

  • Advanced Electronics, Sensors and Instrumentation

  Spring teaching

  • Financial and Strategic Management

  Options

  Alongside your core modules, you can choose options to broaden your horizons and tailor your course to your interests. This list gives you a flavour of our options, which are kept under review and may change, for example in response to student feedback or the latest research.

  While it’s our aim for students to take their preferred combinations of options, this can’t be guaranteed and will be subject to timetabling. Options may be grouped and if so, students will be able to choose a set number of options from the selection available in any particular group.

  Autumn teaching

  • Advanced Digital Signal Processing
  • Advanced Manufacturing Technologies
  • Future Networks and Internet of Things
  • Mobile Communications

  Spring teaching

  • Advanced Topics in Control of Electromechanical Systems
  • Image Processing

  Your degree

  The integrated Masters year helps you develop the advanced technical expertise, research awareness and professional confidence needed to contribute to the next generation of robotics, autonomous systems and intelligent technologies. There’s an emphasis on innovation, systems thinking and the integration of knowledge from multiple disciplines. You’ll engage with:

  • complex engineering challenges and real-world problems
  • explore emerging technologies that are shaping the future of engineering
  • develop a deeper understanding of how modern robotic systems perceive, analyse and respond to the world around them.

  A highlight of the year is the year-long MEng Group Project. You’ll have the opportunity to work as part of a multidisciplinary team to solve open-ended engineering problems. This experience mirrors professional engineering practice.

  Teaching

  Teaching methods typically include lectures, seminars as well as practical, laboratory and project-based activities.

  

  25%: Lecture
  5%: Seminar
  70%: Practical

  Assessment

  Assessment methods typically include unseen and computer-based examinations, project and group reports, presentations, oral assessments, and project work associated with advanced engineering topics and the MEng Group Project.  

  Contact hours and workload

  This year of study includes approximately 1,200 hours of work. This breaks down into about 360 hours of contact time and about 840 hours of independent study.

  Engage and actively participate throughout your studies to get the most out of your course.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2026/27. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.

We’ll do our best to provide as much optional choice as we can, but timetabling constraints mean it may not be possible to take some module combinations. The structure of a small number of courses means that the order of modules or the streams you choose may determine whether modules are core or optional. This means that your core modules or options may differ from what’s shown here.