Heriot-Watt University

Course available:

The course

UCAS code
HP71
Duration
4 years
Location
Edinburgh
Delivery type
Full-time
Find out how to apply More about this subject area

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Overview

Robotic and autonomous systems are now used in areas such as autonomous vehicle guidance, healthcare, remote surgery, industrial manufacturing and domestic assistance. This multi-disciplined BEng Robotics degree brings together electronics, computer software, and mechanics. In the first three years, you’ll be given a background in all three disciplines, along with the opportunity to build integrated systems. In the final two years, you can either continue with a broad-based curriculum, or specialise in particular aspects of contemporary robotics.

The MEng Robotics degree includes a six-month industry placement, during years 4 and 5. Advanced courses can also be chosen from the three departments: Electronic Engineering, Computer Science, and Mechanical Engineering.

Our teaching philosophy

The philosophy behind all of our programmes is 'learning by doing'. Our programmes are designed to be practical and allow students to develop skills beyond traditional academic content. 

Students work on both individual and group projects from the third year onwards, providing them with valuable hands-on experience. The projects challenge you to solve a 'real life' problem – such as the project in which our students helped design an electronic egg to monitor penguin incubation.

Facilities

Heriot-Watt's new GRID will be the hub for all of our undergraduate project and laboratory work. This specially designed centre has innovative labs that exemplify our learning-by-doing approach, offering facilities for electronics, electrical power, computing, embedded systems, communications, robotics and mechanical prototyping. This will enable you to undertake a wide range of learning activities and to progressively develop your skills and knowledge throughout the degree programme.

GRID will also foster multi-disciplinary working and will provide you with experience of working in project teams, similar to being in the actual workplace. In addition, the facilities are available for students who want to work on their own projects either individually or as part of student societies. 

Heriot-Watt IEEE student chapter

The Heriot-Watt IEEE student branch is very active and organises events and activities for all EECE students, whilst encouraging students to join the IEEE.  A variety of academic and social events are held throughout the semester including industrial seminars and soft skills workshops to improve career opportunities. Find out more on the IEEE student chaper Facebook page.

Graduate destinations

Our robotics graduates are highly employable and have progressed to careers in a wide range of industries, working for organisations such as Bosch, Rolls Royce, Leonardo, Mott MacDonald, BP and Texas Instruments. Explore our alumni profiles to find out more about electronic, electrical & computer engineering graduate destinations.

Accreditation

Accreditation for this bachelors in robotics, by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)*, is currently underway and is expected in Spring 2020.

*on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer.

Detailed course information

Course content

Detailed course guide

Year 1

Provides the basic mathematics, electronics, programming, and mechanical engineering skills that form the core knowledge for later work.

Year 2

Builds on the core skills with more advanced electronic engineering, software and mechanical engineering topics. Concepts of robotics and autonomy are introduced through courses on robot kinematics and autonomous vehicle control. This work is supported by practical activities.

Year 3

Includes more advanced specialisms, including signal processing, artificial intelligence, graphics and system design. There is a large team design project that builds on and integrates the taught material.

Year 4

Options allow the student to focus on particular areas of interest. Topics include: robotics and automation, embedded systems, signal and image processing, virtual worlds and interaction, and biologically inspired computing. A project covering the full year allows the student to investigate and solve a significant science or engineering problem.

Employability

Managerial/professional position

  • 90% of those working are in a professional/managerial position six months after graduating.

Salary

  • The average salary of students six months after graduating: £26000
  • The average UK salary of students six months after graduating from a similar course: £26000

Jobs

These are the most common jobs students go into six months after graduating:

  • Engineering professionals
  • Information technology and telecommunications professionals

Entry requirements

Year 1

Standard entry requirements
  • Highers AABB (MEng) or BBBBC (BEng) (to include Mathematics plus Physics, Technological Studies or Engineering Science)
  • A-Levels BBC (including Mathematics and Physics BB)
  • IB 29 (with Mathematics and Physics at Higher Level 5)
  • BTEC DDM in relevant subject
  • HNC A in graded unit in relevant HNC with additional Mathematics

Minimum entry requirements*

  • Highers BBBC (to include Mathematics plus Physics, Technological Studies or Engineering Science)
  • A-Levels BCC (to include Mathematics and Physics)

* Minimum: under our Fair Access Policy, we will relax our standard entry requirements for some Scottish students depending on their circumstances. Our minimum requirements will apply if you:

  • live in an area within the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation lowest 20% (SIMD20), or
  • are care experienced.

We can also make exceptions for some Scottish students with grades above minimum but below standard. Read more about our Minimum and standard entry requirements

Year 2

Advanced Highers BB (Mathematics and Physics plus AABB Highers)
A-Levels ABB (including Mathematics and Physics)
HND AA in graded units in relevant HND with additional Mathematics
BTEC DDD in relevant subject

Additional information

English language requirements

  • If English is not your first language, you have to show that your English is good enough to succeed on your course. Please see our English language requirements.

Fees

Tuition fees for 2020 entry (by residency status)
Status* Scotland / EU** England / Northern Ireland / Wales*** International
Fee Paid by SAAS £9,250 £19,400

* Your residency 'status' is usually defined as the country where you have been ordinarily resident for the three years before the start of your course. Find out more about tuition fees.

** European Union countries (not including England, Northern Ireland or Wales).

*** 'Rest of the UK' (RUK) students entering at Level 1 receive a fee waiver of one year's tuition fee. Normally this will be the final year, or a year during which students study abroad (either at a partnership institution, or at one of Heriot-Watt's overseas campuses).

Additional costs

You may incur additional costs in the course of your studies at Heriot-Watt over and above tuition fees in an academic year. Depending on your programme of study, these may include: protective equipment, field trips, professional memberships, studio fees, required course texts or other study resources.

Scholarships and bursaries

Featured scholarships

Bursaries for students from England, Northern Ireland or Wales starting undergraduate degree courses in 2020

In addition to government loans and grants towards the costs of fees and living costs, we are offering generous financial support to attract and support eligible students from England, Northern Ireland or Wales:

View our full range of undergraduate scholarships.