Professional Engineering MSc

Through this course we aim to create a cadre of world-class engineers with the skills and knowledge they need to become the leaders of the future. We'll work with you to design the course to meet your needs and those of your business, applying the learning criteria to relevant tasks and projects.

What you'll learn

The first activity of the course is a Professional Development Audit, where we support you to evaluate your learning to date and identify what you need to add to gain the MSc and qualify for CEng

You’ll study five compulsory modules with the remaining optional modules designed to match your particular interests and objectives. You’ll receive intensive mentoring and supervision throughout the course, both from the university and your company, ensuring you are well supported on your learning journey.

Each module contains formal learning, delivered through distance learning and practical application through workplace projects. This is flexible and can be tailored to meet your individual needs.

Accreditation

Our Professional Engineering masters course was developed with the Engineering Council. Although the tailored nature of the programme means it is not accredited, your learning will be designed with input from a professional engineering institution to support professional registration.

Students spend most of their time doing a full-time job as well as studying for their degree part-time. Everything is structured to fit around the job and is designed in partnership with employers

If you wish to apply for this programme you must be employed in the engineering field in which you hope to advance. Your employer will need to be supportive of you, and willing to ensure you can undertake a good range of workplace projects to build the learning needed for the MSc and additionally the competences to qualify for CEng.

MSc Professional Engineering is suitable for people who aspire to fully qualified professional engineer status (CEng) and are already part way there, normally through a first or good second class UK accredited honours degree at Bachelor’s level (BEng or BSc) supported by several years of employment experience gaining practical competence and responsibility. We can also accept people without an honours degree (eg qualified to HND level) but with greater relevant experience.

Qualifications from outside the UK will also be considered: the Admissions Officer will advise as to whether these qualifications are the equivalent of the level of Honours degree required. Applicants whose first language is not English will be required to provide evidence of an English language qualification. Find out more about our English language requirements. For more information about qualifications view our Aston in your future webpage.

We have four entry points per year for this course:

October 2021: Applications closed 
January 2022: Applications closed
April 2022: Awaiting application to open 
July 2022: Awaiting application to open 

If you are interested in applying for the course and would like further information, you can contact us on the details below.

Aston Professional Education Centre
School of Engineering & Applied Science

Aston University
Aston Triangle
Birmingham, B4 7ET

Room: MB133
Tel: +44 (0)121 204 3409
Email: eps_apec@aston.ac.uk

Through the Professional Development Audit, we’ll produce an individual Learning Agreement for you.

This agreement, which includes the full range of personal development expected of a Chartered Engineer, specifies the areas of study to be undertaken and how that study will be carried out. This covers not only the technical aspects but also management skills including the development of technical and commercial leadership, interpersonal and communication skills, and a personal commitment to professional standards.

Core modules

• Professional Development Audit (15 credits)
• Current Technologies and Applications (15 credits)
• Emerging Technologies (15 credits)
• Sustainability (15 credits)
• Major Project (60 credits)

Optional modules (choice of 4)

• Design Methodologies (15)
• Scientific Foundations (15 credits)
• Engineering Analysis (15 credits)
• Project Management (15 credits)
• Further Topics in Engineering Management (15 credits)
• Product Delivery (15 credits)
• Professional Literature Study (15 credits)
• Extended Integrative Option (30 credits)
• Strategic Financial Management (15)
• Business Landscape (15)
• Product Introduction Processes (15)
• Supply Chain Management (15)
• Operational Effectiveness (15)
• Human Resources Management (15)
• Systems Engineering (15)
• Engineering Materials and Manufacturing (15)

Assessment

The Learning Agreement also defines how you will be assessed, and this is usually through written reports on workplace projects. You’ll work through the agreed study and assessment, with support from our team and a workplace mentor, gradually building over an agreed period to completion and award of the MSc.

Home for 2021/2 Academic Year: £6,100 plus operational cost/year

EU/International for 2021/2 Academic Year: £6,900 plus operational cost/year

Tuition fees are reviewed annually and may increase in subsequent years in line with inflation linked to the Retail Price Index (RPI) to take account of the University’s increased costs of delivering the Programme. When undertaking a placement year a placement year fee applies.

More information on fees

Successful completion of our Professional Engineering masters means you’ll meet the educational requirements to become a Chartered Engineer. To become chartered, you’ll also need to satisfy your professional institute that you have the appropriate practical competencies.

Our recent graduates come from a wide range of industries and sectors, and the skills and experiences they learned have proven invaluable to their personal and professional development. Take a look at some of their stories here:

• Howard Jones, Mining Engineer
• Jason Leinster, Film and Special Effects Engineer
• Joaquim Hossi, SUBC Systems Engineer
• John Merriman, Head of Engineering
• Kirsty Bonner, Process Engineer
• Neil Perry, Senior Engineering Consultant
• Simon Meredith, Engineering Team Leader 
• Vian Davys, Sustainable Energy
• Matthew Foyle, Wessex Water

Why study Professional Engineering at Aston?

You’ll gain the knowledge you need to become a Chartered Engineer and further develop your career.

What will I be doing on the Professional Engineering course at Aston?

You’ll undertake formal, distance-based learning alongside a series of workplace projects which are assessed through written reports.

What else will I need to do to get chartered?

Successful completion of our Professional Engineering masters course will ensure you meet the educational requirements to become chartered. You’ll also need to satisfy your institute’s requirements surrounding practical competencies.