MSc in Applied Instrumentation and Control
Glasgow, United Kingdom
DURATION
1 up to 5 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
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EARLIEST START DATE
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TUITION FEES
GBP 5,500 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning, On-Campus
* Home, RUK and EU students; £12600 International students
Scholarships
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Introduction
Accredited by: InstMC
We worked with industry professionals to develop an MSc Applied Instrument and Control programme that is accredited by the Institute of Measurement and Control (InstMC). It covers both the latest developments in the field and the industry knowledge we've gained through years of experience.
The programme draws on relevant case studies with real-world implications, so you'll gain practical knowledge that you can apply on the job from day one.
The programme also fulfils the Engineering Council's further learning requirements for registration as a Chartered Engineer.
- Gain a solid foundation in measurement science and control theory
- Practise data acquisition and instrument networking
- Study analysis of systems for condition monitoring
- Investigate fault detection and control system design
At GCU, you'll find a welcoming community of people like yourself - hardworking, career-focused individuals with the vision and discipline to pursue meaningful work. We'll help you develop the tools to be successful, in your career and in your life.
We hope you'll use those tools to make a positive impact on your community and contribute to the common good through everything you do.
Study options
International student start dates
For new international students, particular care is taken around our induction events which begin on 11 September 2020 to welcome you to the UK and GCU prior to the start of teaching. There will be a whole host of fun and informative activities taking place during this period, including campus tours, city tours and social events where you can meet other international students. Where possible, we encourage you to arrange travel to allow you to arrive in time to enjoy these.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Institute of Measurement and Control (InstMC) on behalf of the Engineering Council as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for registration as a Chartered Engineer. Candidates must hold a CEng accredited BEng/BSc (Hons) undergraduate first degree to comply with full CEng registration requirements.
Admissions
Curriculum
What you will study
The curriculum has been developed in consultation with industry and can be broadly grouped in three areas: the introduction of new facts and concepts in measurement and control; the application of facts and concepts to real measurement problems and systems; and subjects which are of general importance to the professional engineer, for example safety and safety management and management ethics and project planning.
Students complete eight taught modules - four in trimester A and four in trimester B; and a Masters project in trimester C.The MSc project will be carried out at the student's workplace; this can be in an area relevant to the company's production/maintenance function, thus providing maximum benefit to both the company and the individual.
Control Systems
Consolidates advanced classical and modern control design techniques emphasising the practical considerations in applying control design in an industrial environment. The appropriateness and difficulties encountered in applying various design techniques in practice will be explored. In particular system sensitivity, robustness and nonlinearity will be studied.
Data Acquisition and Analysis
Develops the ability to evaluate, in a given situation, the most appropriate strategy for acquiring data and understand the merits of this strategy with respect to other approaches. A range of modern time and frequency domain analysis techniques will also be discussed.
Industrial Case Studies
Following on from the foundation in measurement and instrumentation provided by the Measurement Theory and Devices module, students will now be equipped to study in depth instrumentation in industrial processes. This module will cover aspects of designing sensor systems for industrial measurements, instrument control, system troubleshooting and optimisation in industrial applications.
Distributed Instrumentation
Develops the ability to evaluate, in a given situation, the most appropriate strategy for acquiring and transmitting data and understand the merits of this strategy with respect to other approaches. A wide range of different instrument communication and networking techniques will be studied. In addition the module provides practical experience of hardware setup and software development, relating to these techniques.
Industrial Process Systems
Identification and system modelling from real data play an important role in this module. This approach thus leads to more complex and realistic models that can be used to design more robust and reliable controllers that take into account problematic physical effects such as time-delays and sensor noise. The module will cover more advanced aspects of control design such as feed forward and multivariable control.
Measurement Systems
A range of advanced measurement systems will be studied in depth. Sensors, signal processing, low-level signal measurements, noise-reduction methods and appropriate measurement strategies will be applied to industrial and environmental applications. The influence of environmental factors and operation conditions will be considered in relation to the optimisation of the measurement system.
Measurement Theory and Devices
Adopts a generalised approach to measurement theory and devices, allowing students to become familiar with the characteristics of measurement systems in terms of the underlying principles. In this way, the students will be able to develop a systems approach to problem solving. They should find this methodology to be a considerable benefit to them when they have to apply their expertise to solving more complex industrial measurement problems.
Professional Practice
Develops the students' ability to select, develop and plan an MSc research project, to research and critically analyse the literature associated with the project and to present research findings effectively, it will also provide students with the ability to apply a competent process of thinking to project planning and give them a critical understanding of safe and ethical working.
Program Outcome
Graduate prospects
The MSc Applied Instrumentation and Control offers graduates a highly focused skillset that's valuable to an extremely wide range of industries - any business that benefits from the measurement of process variables and environmental factors. For instance, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, optics and optoelectronics, medical instrumentation and more.
Across these industries, you might focus on computer-controlled instrumentation systems, process instrumentation, technical management and sales, process control and automation, sensor development and manufacturing, instrument networking, industrial development or test and measurement systems.
You might also pursue a career with a company that designs and manufactures measurement systems.