MSc
Advanced Manufacturing Technology
Skills to succeed in a manufacturing environment
Course Overview
Why take this course?
Gain a broad appreciation of materials, processes and techniques used in advanced manufacture, alongside an overview of the ways that IT and software can be applied within manufacturing systems.
You will learn to exploit new technologies and manufacturing processes in conjunction with developing efficient operation and effective management skills. Integrating these will ensure you have the ability to meet manufacturing demand for product, company and market needs.
What will I experience?
On this course you can:
- Use simulation and modelling application software for virtual design and manufacturing
- Utilise our strong links with companies and investigate real industrial problems to enhance your understanding of the profession
- Tie in the topic of your individual project with one of our research groups and benefit from the expertise of our actively researching academics
What opportunities might it lead to?
This course has been accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) and Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), meeting the standards set by the Engineering Council in the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC). It will provide you with some of the underpinning knowledge, understanding and skills for eventual registration as an Incorporated (IEng) or Chartered Engineer (CEng).
Here are some routes our graduates have pursued:
- design
- research and development
- product manufacture
- project management
The lecturers here are world class engineers – leaders in their field – so deciding to stay on and do my MSc here was the best decision I ever made.
David Hume, engineering student
Key Facts
- Duration
- 1 year full time or 3 years part time (September intake), 16 months full time (January intake)
- Entry
A second-class honours degree, or equivalent, in relevant subject. Applicants who do not meet the minimum entry requirements but have extensive relative work experience may also be considered.
English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5- Fees
UK/EU/Channel Islands and Isle of Man full-time students: £6,000, part-time students: £2,000 p/a* (3 years)
International full-time students: £11,900, part-time students: £3,970 p/a* (3 years)
*Please note that all fees are subject to annual increase.- Contact
- technology.admissions@port.ac.uk
+44 (0)23 9284 2555 - Department
- School of Engineering
Structure & Teaching
This course aims to provide you with the inter-disciplinary knowledge, attributes and skills necessary to apply the principles of advanced manufacturing systems within the manufacturing industry. You will study several key topics and also complete a four-month individual project tailored to your individual interests that can take place in our own laboratories or, by agreement, in industry.
- Integrated Manufacturing Systems: Systems concepts and techniques are developed in logistics and manufacturing areas with a strong emphasis on simulation techniques and practical case study analysis.
- Operations and Quality Management: A strategic approach is used with modern inventory and supply chain management and logistics tools and techniques. Management strategies are developed for quality, including quality systems and quality control.
- Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Processes: A unit where modern processes and techniques are evaluated, including rapid prototyping/manufacture. Material selection is incorporated with particular emphasis on modern composite materials including eco-friendly options using natural fibres.
- Supply Chain Management: Supply chain management involves the coordination of production, inventory, location and transportation, among participants in a supply chain. This unit considers the principles and tools of supply chain management, with an emphasis on lean six sigma methods.
- Virtual Prototyping for Production: For this unit a systematic approach is developed for the planning and specification of automated systems with consideration of virtual prototyping tools and techniques. Human factor requirements are critically analysed from ergonomic principles applied to workplace design.
- CAD/CAM Systems: An integrated approach is used towards CAD and CAM. Significant practical hands-on experience is given with commercial level software. Emphasis is placed on case study analysis and system selection and evaluation.
- Individual Project: A strong feature that comprises a third of the course. You will be encouraged to undertake projects where possible in industrial companies. However, we also use our extensive resources and staff skills to undertake them within the University.
Teaching and Assessment
You will be taught through a mixture of lectures, seminars, tutorials (personal and academic), laboratory sessions and project work. The course has a strong practical emphasis with a significant amount of your time spent our laboratories. We pride ourselves on working at the leading-edge of technology and learning practices.
How are you assessed?
A range of assessment methods encourages a deeper understanding of engineering and allows you to develop your skills. Here’s how we assess your work:
- written examinations
- coursework
- laboratory-based project work
- a major individual project/dissertation
Facilities & Features
Laboratories
We offer you a range of well-equipped labs
Research Groups
You will thrive in our exciting research environment
University Library
Our library offers a wealth of information
Laboratories
We offer you a range of labs such as the Analogue Electronics and Control Engineering Laboratory and the Telecommunications and Signal Processing Laboratory. From Digital Signal Processing (DSP) kits to walking robots, all are well-equipped with industry-standard experimental and computational facilities.
Research Groups
You will thrive in our exciting research environment, conducting research in close collaborations with academic and industrial partners, both in the UK and abroad. Perhaps you would like to base the topic of your individual project on one of the interest areas of our research groups. Current research groups cover:
- aerospace materials
- biomechanical engineering
- design engineering
- manufacturing engineering
- polymers and composites
- thermo-fluid, petroleum and energy engineering
University Library
Modern, comfortable and a great learning environment, our library offers a wealth of information including 400,000 books, DVDs, maps and thousands of online ejournals and newspapers. Many electronic resources are available anywhere, 24/7 and our friendly staff are always on hand to help.
Careers & Opportunities
Career prospects
The demand for more highly skilled manufacturing engineers is always present and it is generally accepted that there is a current shortage of engineers.
This course has a record of almost 100 per cent of our graduates gaining employment in relevant areas such as manufacturing and logistics management, systems engineering, production engineering, design engineering and project management. You could work for a large company, in the Armed Forces or in one of the many small companies within this sector. You could even start your own specialist company.
Roles our graduates have taken on include:
- manufacturing engineer
- product design engineer
- aerospace engineer
- application engineer
Career planning
One of the benefits of studying at Portsmouth is the support that we provide to our Master's and Research Degrees students in career planning. Our careers and recruitment service – Purple Door – can assist you in career research and finding employment opportunities. Help is also available if you wish to find a part-time job while studying your degree. We offer our postgraduate students and alumni one-to-one appointments with a careers adviser, or an online service for those not able to travel back to the University. Our alumni can call on our career services for five years after graduation.
In addition, regular employability events offer you the chance to meet employers, find out about different career sectors and improve your applications or CV. The Graduate Summer Programme provides a range of guidance and employability seminars and workshops.