Smart Manufacturing - MSc
Currently viewing course to start in 2023/24 Entry.
Do you want to develop your digital skills and become an Industry 4.0 specialist? This MSc Smart Manufacturing course will prepare you to apply digital skills into a dynamic and highly in demand sector, putting you ahead in the graduate job market....
- Level Postgraduate Taught
- Study mode Full Time/Part Time
- Location City Centre
- Award MSc
- Start date September 2023
- Fees View course fees
- School School of Computing and Digital Technology
- Faculty Faculty of Computing, Engineering and The Built Environment
Overview
Do you want to develop your digital skills and become an Industry 4.0 specialist? This MSc Smart Manufacturing course will prepare you to apply digital skills into a dynamic and highly in demand sector, putting you ahead in the graduate job market. Smart Manufacturing is the convergence of Operational Technologies and Information Technologies, to support the operations oft he factory of the future.
Also known as Industry 4.0 the convergence of manufacturing’s physical aspects and processes with data, sensors, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and computer networks enables an increase in efficiency across the value chain of the manufacturing sector. On this course, you will focus solely on the computing aspects of Industry 4.0,to enable your professional development by filling the skill gap required to understand how data and digital technology transforms and augments the physical aspects of manufacturing and its related areas.
Introducing STEAMhouse
STEAMhouse is a centre for technology, innovation, creative thinking, prototyping and business development. Our brand new £70 million pound building is the new home for the School of Computing and Digital Technology.
What's covered in this course?
As a conversion course centred on the digital-led aspects of the smart manufacturing sector, we consider that all students are starting with no experience in the computing and mathematical aspects of the technologies involved in the course.
This MSc is designed to train graduates in courses related to Engineering, Computing and Management or with a background in these areas, to allow them to actively progress into the highly demanded market of the digitally enabled transformation of the manufacturing sector.
This course brings together cutting-edge digital technology by starting with a solid foundation of principles of computing, networking, sensing technologies, security and the digitally enabled value chain that support the development and operation of Industry 4.0.
Some of the core concepts of Industry 4.0 that will be taught are:
- Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) - The infrastructure behind the factories of the future, the IIoT enables the development of intelligent systems to automate manufacturing processes with high levels of efficiency, accuracy and visibility. You will learn industry standard sensors and platforms and techniques for their implementation.
- Cybersecurity - As industrial processes move to the digital realm, there is a requirement for the adopting cyber security measures for the adequate protection of valuable information assets to ensure organisations’ operations. You will learn the skills and techniques to identify security gaps, evaluate business risks, and recommend mitigations strategies.
- Artificial intelligence (AI) -
AI is a core component of modern computing systems which involve the development intelligent agents that mimic human’s cognitive capability in learning, reasoning and problem solving. As a student of this MSc, you will develop an in-depth understanding of the potential and scope of applying and evaluating the different forms of ML techniques.
The course is complemented by the study of how digital technologies are impacting the manufacturing value networks and how to best manage these technologies, including: novel visualisation techniques such as Augmented and Virtual Reality; digital ledgers (blockchain); and Digital Twins that link physical systems into the cyber world.
Through a practice-led approach, our course teaches you the underlying digital technologies, tools and techniques supporting the digital evolution of the manufacturing sector into Industry 4.0, by making use of state-of-the-art software and computing hardware tools.
Our research, staff and lab facilities on Smart Systems, High Performance Computing, Future Networks and Machine Learning Cluster will enable your journey to become a highly sought after specialist on Smart Manufacturing at the forefront of the digitally-driven field.
Why Choose Us?
- Become an Industry 4.0 specialist - this course will prepare you to apply these digital enabled skills into a dynamic and highly demanded sector, putting you ahead in the graduate job market.
- Learn how to evaluate and manage Industry 4.0 systems - our course teaches you the underlying technologies, tools and techniques supporting the evolution of the manufacturing sector.
- Industry-standard resources - through our School’s partnerships, our course provides the training for industry-standard solutions, enabling the problem-solving skills required for the current graduate job market. The course is supported by the Cyber Physical Systems (CPS) Research Group themes and the vision of ‘Smart systems’ of the Department of CNS at the School of CDT, with Labs specialising in digital technologies for CPS and their applications for Industry 4.0: Machine Learning cluster; Future Networks Lab (LPWAN + 5G); High Performance Computing
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Next Event: Saturday 24 June
Entry Requirements
Essential Requirements
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In order to be considered for a place on this course, you must have passed an Honours degree at minimum of 2:2 or equivalent in an engineering, computing or business discipline. Work experience in the above disciplines on an interview basis. |
Fees & How to Apply
UK students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
Award: MSc
Starting: Sep 2023
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 12 months
- £9,250 in 2023/24
- Full Time
- 18 months with Professional Placement (see below*)
- £10,175 in 2023/24
- Part Time
- 20 months
- Show fees
- £1028 per 20 credits
- Year 1 - 80 credits
- Year 2 - 100 credits
Fees for Part-time students
This course can be studied on a Part-time study basis. The cost per year of study is based on credit requirements for that year.
International students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
Award: MSc
Starting: Sep 2023
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 12 months
- £16,870 in 2023/24
- Full Time
- 18 months with Professional Placement (see below*)
- £18,557 in 2023/24
The University reserves the right to increase fees in line with inflation based on the Retail Prices Index or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament up to a maximum of five per cent.
Professional Placement option*
The Professional Placement option will allow you to complete a credit bearing, 20 week Professional Placement as an integral part of your Master’s Degree. The purpose of the Professional Placement is to improve your employability skills which will, through the placement experience, allow you to evidence your professional skills, attitudes and behaviours at the point of entry to the postgraduate job market. Furthermore, by completing the Professional Placement, you will be able to develop and enhance your understanding of the professional work environment, relevant to your chosen field of study, and reflect critically on your own professional skills development within the workplace.
You will be responsible for finding and securing your own placement. The University, however, will draw on its extensive network of local, regional and national employers to support you in finding a suitable placement to complement your chosen area of study. You will also benefit from support sessions delivered by Careers+ as well as advice and guidance from your School.
Placements will only be confirmed following a competitive, employer-led selection process, therefore the University will not be able to guarantee placements for students who have registered for the ‘with Professional Placement’ course. All students who do not find a suitable placement or do not pass the competitive selection process will be automatically transferred back to the standard, non-placement version of the course.
Personal statement
You’ll need to submit a personal statement as part of your application for this course. This will need to highlight your passion for postgraduate study – and your chosen course – as well as your personal skills and experience, academic success, and any other factors that will support your application for further study.
Not sure what to include? We’re here to help – take a look at our top tips for writing personal statements and download our free postgraduate personal statement guide for further advice and examples from real students.
Course in Depth
Module
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 180 credits):
Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is the underpinning infrastructure of factories of the future; aimed at developing intelligent systems that accelerate and automate manufacturing processes with a high level of efficiency and accuracy and noticeably lowcost. IIoT is a key enabler for generating industrial big data on a machine’s operation. Data science professionals can use these data to process, analyse, and make decisions to help manufacturers in managing their businesses more efficiently and more effectively. IIoT platforms on the other hand, are essential development tools used to develop innovative industrial applications to automate manufacturing processes to provide smarter and more effective manufacturing processes across various industries.
Many companies are now investing in IIoT platforms to increase their visibility, productivity levels and empowering staff to work smarter. The module provides you with an opportunity to gain experience and to critically reflect on the skills of IIoT within a global context. This module builds on the knowledge and underpinning theory from the networking modules and reviews the requirements for good industrial networks management.
OverviewThe digital enablement of industrial processes has been rapidly accelerating in the past few years. Technologies such as sensors, automation, data collection and data analysis have enabled novel ways of approaching the processes occurring in the modern factories, but equally important those related to their value chain. With systems that aim to automate the production space by learning and adapting, they can enable new productivity paradigms that enhance and optimise the value proposition of the organisations. Leveraging digital tools, digital processes and data, the Digital Supply Network (DSN) is an evolution from the more linear and traditional supply chain into a dynamic and interconnected system that allows full control and visualisation of the end-to-end supply network, involving all its stakeholders and activities.
Security measures for adequate protection of valuable information assets are essential not only to guard business success and reputation but also because it is an obligation to comply with legal requirements, appropriate standards and relevant domain regulations. This module provides students with in-depth knowledge and understanding of the concepts, methods, processes, tools and practices underlying good information security management.
This module covers the concepts and techniques of applied artificial intelligence (AI), focusing on the machine learning applications in practice. It provides the underpinning principles on the design and development of AI to address emerging challenges in the cyber world. A range of machine-learning schemes are examined, including identification of anomalous situations that alter data reliability and integrity. In addition, the students will develop related analytical and practical skills that can be applied in designing AI for data processing applications.
Advanced and immersive interface systems, for example Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), Brain Computer Interfaces (BCIs), Eye Trackers, and depth sensors are becoming commonplace within the field of human computer interaction. These systems present innovative and exciting design paradigms, but also introduce many challenges to their successful adoption. Having a mastery in the design and development of experiences using these novel systems and understanding the potential they hold for future user experience design is paramount.
This module gives you the necessary research and project management background which will enable you to better understand scientific research, the demands of academic writing, and project management. These skills are useful across the different modules of the school of computing’s masters programmes, crucial for the very important masters project module, and relevant to your future professional life as scientific research and project management are commonplace and rigorous writing is an important professional skill.
The purpose of the module is to enable you to undertake a sustained, in-depth and research-informed Level 7 project exploring an area that is of personal interest to you. In agreement with your supervisor, you will decide upon your topic which will take the form of a practical outcome (artefact) with accompanying contextual material. The main consideration when choosing your topic is that it must be aligned to the programme you are studying and informed by the research strategy of your school, and you should consider the relevance of this topic to your future academic or professional development.
Professional Placement Year (optional)
In order to qualify for the award of MSc Smart Manufacturing with Professional Placement, a student must successfully complete all of the Level 7 modules listed above as well as the following Level 6 module.
This module is designed to provide you with the opportunity to undertake a credit bearing, 20-week Professional Placement as an integral part of your Master’s Degree.
The purpose of the Professional Placement is to improve your employability skills which will, through the placement experience, allow you to evidence your professional skills, attitudes and behaviours at the point of entry to the postgraduate job market. Furthermore, by completing the Professional Placement, you will be able to develop and enhance your understanding of the professional work environment, relevant to your chosen field of study, and reflect critically on your own professional skills development within the workplace.
Download course specification
Download nowKnowledge and understanding are acquired though a mixture of formal lectures, tutor-led seminars and practical activities, with other independent learning activities at all stages.
Emphasis is placed on guided, self-directed and student-centred learning with increasing independence of approach, thought and process.
The course provides access to effective commercial development environments and ensures students have practical awareness of computer systems requirements. You are required to meet strict deadlines, and to manage and plan overall workload.
Knowledge is assessed formatively and summatively, by a number of methods, including seminars, course-work, viva, presentation, and project work.
Assessment criteria are published both at a generic course level and to provide guidance for individual items of assessment.
You will undertake a major project involving research and application of that research in the solution of appropriate systems problems.
Professional Placement option*
The Professional Placement option will allow you to complete a credit bearing, 20 week Professional Placement as an integral part of your Master’s Degree. The purpose of the Professional Placement is to improve your employability skills which will, through the placement experience, allow you to evidence your professional skills, attitudes and behaviours at the point of entry to the postgraduate job market. Furthermore, by completing the Professional Placement, you will be able to develop and enhance your understanding of the professional work environment, relevant to your chosen field of study, and reflect critically on your own professional skills development within the workplace.
You will be responsible for finding and securing your own placement. The University, however, will draw on its extensive network of local, regional and national employers to support you in finding a suitable placement to complement your chosen area of study. You will also benefit from support sessions delivered by Careers+ as well as advice and guidance from your School.
Placements will only be confirmed following a competitive, employer-led selection process, therefore the University will not be able to guarantee placements for students who have registered for the ‘with Professional Placement’ course. All students who do not find a suitable placement or do not pass the competitive selection process will be automatically transferred back to the standard, non-placement version of the course.
This course is accredited by the following organisations:
Our accreditations from these bodies show employers that you have the level of knowledge and skills they need when you graduate.
Employability
Enhancing your employability skills
We know that employers are looking for graduates who have a good balance between in-depth academic knowledge and technical and practical expertise, which is why our course is geared towards employability.
What you learn on our course will help you to stand out when you look for your first professional role. Because you will know how to use sophisticated, industry-standard software, you will be able to demonstrate that you can put into practice your deep theoretical knowledge.
We will also prepare you for a career by equipping you with a range of transferable skills, such as complex problem-solving expertise, the ability to analyse in a careful and considered manner, and working as a team member. We aim to have you employer-ready by the time you graduate and, as part of your Advanced Computer Science course, we will invite guest speakers to underpin the subjects taught.
Thanks to our excellent partnerships and working relationships with some of the UK’s leading companies, you have the chance to network with leading organisations such as IBM, Dignity plc, Mortgage Brain and Griffiths Waite. In addition, our specialist industry links with the Linux Professional Institute, the Oracle Academy, Cisco, and Microsoft, plus our world-class facilities, will mark you out as a highly employable graduate.
This is why our graduates have gone on to pursue computing and software development and designer careers in a wide range of industries, from SME software companies, to industry, government, banking and healthcare. Furthermore, many graduates continue their studies to Doctorate level.
International
Birmingham City University is a vibrant and multicultural university in the heart of a modern and diverse city. We welcome many international students every year – there are currently students from more than 80 countries among our student community.
The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.
Our international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:
- Explore some of the good reasons why you should study here.
- Find out how to improve your language skills before starting your studies.
- Find all the information relevant to applicants from your country.
- Learn where to find financial support for your studies.
Facilities & Staff
Our Facilities
We are constantly investing in our estate and are currently in the process of spending £260 million on new learning facilities. This course will be taught at Millennium Point at the City Centre Campus.
The course is supported with a wide range of cutting-edge facilities in the City Centre Campus. We have a state-of-the-art computer games technology lab which contains high-performance PCs, Sony PlayStation development kits and a range of industry standard software including Unity, Unreal and a suite of professional Microsoft development tools.
We also have many open access areas where students can study together and even hire out laptops for use in these spaces and others within the university.
Within the University there are many internationally recognised research teams giving you the opportunity to collaborate with them on exciting interdisciplinary projects.
Computer networking
The laboratories are well-equipped for all our computer networking courses, as well as specialist areas for practical work such as voice-over internet protocol (VoIP), forensic and ethical hacking technologies, wireless and mobile technologies and radio frequency identification technologies to name but a few.
Software development and computer programming
There are a number of open access, software development and computer programming laboratories that can be used to develop systems and programmes, including database management systems such as MySQL, to name but a few.
Systems laboratories
Our embedded systems laboratories are used to develop real-time systems, such as specialist hardware training and development resources, and industrial-standard software development and simulation tools. These include microcontroller software and robotics design and development, to name but a few.
Electronic systems
To underpin the basic principles of electronic systems, we have a well-equipped laboratory of general and specialist test and measurement kits, including powered prototyping development boards, dual power supplies, frequency generators and counters and digital multi-meters to name but a few.
Forensic computing
Our successful development of forensic computing has led to a specialist forensics laboratory that is fully equipped with essential hardware and software for this sensitive area of study. The laboratory includes high-spec PCs with built-in multi interface Tableau write blockers, EnCase and FTK computer forensic software and steganography detection and analysis software, to name but a few.
More on our facilities
Our staff
Dr Waldo Cervantes-Solis
Senior Lecturer
Dr Waldo Cervantes has over 20 years of experience in tech, industry, and academia. He has led and collaborated in a variety of projects ranging from start-up development, Internet of Things, Energy, Transport and Enterprise. He holds a PhD in Engineering from the University of Birmingham and is currently a Lecturer in Distributed at...
More about Waldo