Master of Science in Systems Engineering (Mechatronics) and Engineering Management

at University of Bolton United Kingdom

Designed to assist the next generation of managers in developing the necessary knowledge and skills for career development, our Master’s in International Management aims to offer a comprehensive overview of global management theories and practices, with a focus on the different national and cultural contexts in which companies operate.

Stimulating and challenging, this course combines elements of research, innovation and application, with a view to building your academic and professional skillsets and opening up development opportunities in careers and areas of further study. A key course focus is global decision-making and exploring the role of management in a cross-cultural context, including the concepts and issues relating to diversity and human resource management.

You’ll study across a range of relevant subject areas, such as strategy formulation, sustainable business development, innovative marketing, and finance and accounting for a firm foundation in management skills that can be applied in an international setting.

Highlights

• In an increasingly international business world, awareness of global management practices is desirable among employers. You’ll have the opportunity to build cross-cultural management skills that could assist you in the international employment market.
• Teaching is provided by staff with a specialist knowledge in a range of management areas, with close links to business and industry.
• You can access course materials online and prepare for lessons in advance, allowing for more interactive lessons.
• On successful completion of this course you will be awarded an MSc in International Management.

Key Features

• The programme provides a significant grounding in international management theories and practices.
• You’ll have access to excellent facilities, including our 24/7 library and IT resources, WiFi and comfortable learning areas.
• Join our well-established postgraduate community preparing for careers in executive management.
• We’re committed to helping you develop your employability and career network. You’ll be encouraged to attend guest lectures that enhance your learning, help you make contacts in industry and contribute to your professional development.

Professional recognition

• Holders of our MSc International Management can apply for the status of Member (MCMI) or Fellow (FCMI) of the Chartered Management Institute. The point at which you can be accepted will depend on factors other than qualifications, such as your responsibilities at work. Full details are available on the CMI website: http://www.managers.org.uk/

Almost every business or organisation uses some sort of system to keep things working efficiently and productively. This system might keep information moving securely and efficiently, or it might ensure product distribution or service availability. A systems engineer is the all-important link between complex programming and technology, and its users, customers and stakeholders. So, you’ll need a firm knowledge and understanding of both sides, and the ability to take a joined-up approach to ensure systems meet a wide range of needs reliably, efficiently, and in a user-friendly fashion.

That might sound like a tall order, but it’s a hugely rewarding career path, and this course is a great opportunity for you to develop a unique blend of practical engineering and management-orientated learning. We’re here to help you further specialise your systems engineering knowledge and skills, and completing this course successfully should make you highly employable in a range of sectors and settings.

The course meets professional institution standards in the UK and Europe and addresses a range of contemporary issues in engineering and engineering management. If you’re looking to take a systems-based approach to engineering management, this course is could be ideal.

Highlights

• This programme is a collaboration between the University of Bolton and South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences in Germany. It allows you to spend one of your three semesters of study in Germany and receive two awards, one from each University.
• We’ll support you as you develop a systematic knowledge and understanding of how advanced engineering concepts and design methodologies apply in the design of mechatronics-based equipment.
• We’ll encourage you to develop a mastery of digital signal processing for use in control applications.
• You’ll have the chance to explore advanced artificial intelligence techniques used in the design and control of automated machinery.
• We’ll work to help you develop a detailed understanding of how ‘total quality management’ applies to design, manufacture and project management.
• You’ll have the opportunity to learn about the commercial side of project management, including contract negotiation, stakeholder management, quotations, procurement and a range of other financial and legal matters.

Key Features

• The course is designed to meet professional institution standards in the UK and Europe.
• We’ll encourage you to undertake a work placement and/or an industry-based project.
• You can also choose from two alternative pathways: Mechanical or Electronics Systems Engineering.
• You can select common systems modules, whichever pathway you take.
• For this three-semester programme, you’ll normally study semester 1 at the University of Bolton, UK and semester 2 at South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences, Soest, Germany. The third semester, which is largely devoted to project work, is normally undertaken at the University of Bolton.

Television shows, films, music videos, commercials and theatre productions all rely on the magic of special effects to enhance their storytelling. Our BDes (Hons) Special Effects for Film and TV course is ideal if you wish to combine design creativity, physical model-making skills, special prosthetic make-up effects, and cutting-edge 2D and 3D computer modelling and prototyping in the creation of special effects for all these platforms.

Our unique course has been created to allow you to explore and develop both design and problem solving skills and apply them to the art of creating special effects for film and television. It’s designed to offer specialisation while still nurturing an understanding of the entire landscape of special effects.

Large scale film and TV productions use both physical and digital effects, so our intensely practical approach allows you to gain hands-on experience of a broad range of special effects disciplines and techniques.

Several elements of the course are delivered by industry practitioners. Our staff are very hands on, skilled, friendly and enthusiastic, prioritising one-to-one support and industry-focused development.

Highlights

• You don’t have to worry about the cost of the materials needed to complete your studies – we provide these for you. This means you can concentrate on learning how to use expensive industry-standard materials, like silicones and resins, rather than worrying about how you are going to pay for them!
• Neill Gorton, multi-award winning artist/designer and founder of the world-renowned Millennium FX company, is our Visiting Professor of Special Effects. His astonishing range of professional experience, knowledge of cutting-edge techniques and industry contacts brings enormous benefits.
• We’re committed to helping develop your employability and career network. During your time with us you’ll have the opportunity to attend lectures from the likes of award-winning make-up artists Nick Dudman and Neill Gorton, many FX studios like KMFX, and model-makers like Artem.
• We’ll encourage you to research, analyse, design and develop special effects techniques so that you can take an idea from a brief or script scene and find the most time-efficient, cost-effective and visually impressive way to turn that vision into reality.

Key Features

• The course is designed in collaboration with professional special effects artists and studio directors. This ensures that the content is industry-relevant and includes the latest techniques, materials and innovations.
• Course assignments and projects mimic industry pipelines and standards so your experience is a realistic preparation for a career in special effects.
• Alongside your special effects skills and knowledge, we’ll support you to develop a broader understanding of production design, including concepting, cinematography and composition. This will help you appreciate the roles, skills and expectations of other professionals working in the industry.
• Our dedicated staff team have a wide range of professional experience, industry knowledge, technical expertise and academic credentials, offering you a variety of perspectives and broadening your horizons.
• We offer a warm and friendly environment for your studies, with relatively small class sizes, purpose-built teaching facilities, and access to industry-standard materials.

The BA (Hons) degree in Performing Arts offers a combination of teaching expertise, facilities, resources and industry contacts. Throughout your training, you'll explore the core techniques of acting, voice and dance, whilst developing a wide range of knowledge in devising, developing a production, audition and casting techniques. Additionally, you'll have regular performance opportunities throughout the programme to help develop a diverse range of technical performance skills. Staff include a range of industry experts, performers and lecturers, ensuring this course offers a unique and potent blend of teaching expertise, industry knowledge and professional experience.

We offer intensive practical training in dance, singing and acting techniques. Alongside this, you'll benefit from regular performance opportunities that help you develop and hone a diverse range of performance and production skills. We focus on training all-round performers and artists in both the emerging contemporary and traditional musical and theatre practices.

We aim for you to graduate with the confidence, skills and knowledge needed to excel in the performing arts and across the full spectrum of performance arenas offered by this vibrant industry.

Highlights

• You’ll have regular classes with professional artists from the performing arts and dance industries, such as professional actors and dancers, directors, producers and choreographers.
• You can gain additional insights and knowledge of the performing arts industry by attending our ‘master class’ sessions and guest workshops given by renowned industry experts from the performing arts industry, including musical theatre, TV and film.
• We aim to immerse you in the current performing arts, TV, film and live theatre/performance arenas so you can understand and prepare for the constant changes and innovations of the industry.
• You'll be based at the Queen’s Specialist Building in Farnworth studying and training in purpose-built, high-specification performing arts studios.

Key Features

• We’ll focus on helping you gain a wide range of relevant knowledge and skills such as singing techniques, voice and speech, movement, and acting techniques for actors, storytelling, improvisation, as well as jazz, ballet, tap and commercial dance techniques.
• We’ll guide you as you explore theatre so you gain experience of the history, traditions, practitioners and innovators that form the foundations of contemporary and future performing arts.
• You’ll have the chance to learn specialist techniques for performance, rehearsal and audition scenarios.
• To ensure you’re prepared for the practicalities of paperwork and self-promotion that are required of professional performing artists, we’ll support you to learn how to perfect your CV and job applications, deal with agencies, tackle the tax and self-assessment system, create showreels and develop your online/social media presence.
• We’ll encourage you to develop essential transferable skills and attributes such as effective communication, creative problem solving, working collaboratively with other people, resilience, adaptability, self-awareness and confidence.

From superheroes to sci-fi, and horror to history, many TV shows and movies need special effects make-up to enhance their on-screen storytelling. Actors can be utterly transformed into aliens, zombies, pirates and vampires, while more subtle make-up effects convince us of injuries, scars, tattoos or wrinkles. All these special effects are created by dedicated and highly-skilled make-up artists and our BDes (Hons) Special Make-up Effects for Film and TV course focuses on preparing you for a career creating these illusions.

We offer an intensely practical education in special effects make-up. We’ll lead you in an exploration of prosthetics and changing physical appearances, including aspects such as life-casting, clay sculpting, creating silicone masks, applying prosthetics, adding hair and colouring techniques. We’ll encourage you to experiment with materials, tools and techniques, and discover how prosthetics and make-up can combine with 3D computer graphics to create even more spectacular on-screen transformations.

This highly creative industry demands transferable skills too – communication, project and time management, team-working and entrepreneurship are all needed for success in this largely freelance profession. We aim to support you to develop these attributes, alongside the imagination, flair and curiosity that will enable you to push the boundaries of special effects make-up.

Highlights

• You don’t have to worry about the cost of the make-up and materials needed to complete your studies – we provide these for you. This means you can concentrate on learning how to use expensive industry-standard materials, like silicones and resins, rather than worrying about how you are going to pay for them!
• Neill Gorton, multi-award winning artist/designer and founder of the world-renowned Millennium FX company, is our Visiting Professor of Special Effects. His astonishing range of professional experience, knowledge of cutting-edge techniques and industry contacts brings enormous benefits.
• You’ll have your own personal bench space and locker in our dedicated special effects studio, providing a secure base for your studies. You’ll also have access to our fantastic range of SFX facilities, including our make-up studio, casting and moulding room, boutique film studio, and 3D workshop.
• We’re committed to helping develop your employability and career network. You’ll be encouraged to attend guest lectures that enhance your learning and help you make contacts in the industry. For instance, the award-winning make-up artists Richard Martin and Nick Dudman have recently shared their expertise with students on our SVFX courses.
• Alongside your special effects make-up skills and knowledge, we’ll support you to develop a broader understanding of production design, including concepting, cinematography and composition. This will help you appreciate the roles, skills and expectations of other professionals working in the industry.
• We’ll encourage you to research, analyse, design and develop make-up techniques so that you can take an idea from a brief or script scene and find the most time-efficient, cost-effective and visually impressive way to turn that vision into reality.

Key Features

• The course is designed in collaboration with professional special effects make-up artists and studio directors. This ensures that the content is industry-relevant and includes the latest techniques, materials and innovations.
• We’ll help and support you to develop a portfolio of work/show reel that demonstrates your skills in readiness to impress potential employers.
• Course assignments and projects mimic industry pipelines and standards so your experience is a realistic preparation for a career in special effects make-up.
• Our dedicated staff team have a wide range of professional experience, industry knowledge, technical expertise and academic credentials, offering you a variety of perspectives and broadening your horizons.
• We offer a warm and friendly environment for your studies, with relatively small class sizes, purpose-built teaching facilities, and excellent student support and library services.
• We prefer to keep lecture and practical classes relatively small, so that you have plenty of opportunities to us ask questions and get individual help, as well as benefit from the ideas and support offered by your classmates.

If you’re looking for a postgraduate course that exactly matches your strengths and ambitions then your search is over. The University of Bolton's MA/MSc Professional Practice (Specialism) allows you to design your own master’s degree. We’ll help you personalise your postgraduate education by combining the disciplines that matter for your future. This bespoke course will support you to gain a combination of academic, analytical, and employment-focused skills that will prepare you for a career in your chosen professional area, as well as provide a sound basis for doctoral-level study.

Supporting your choices
Working with our expert tutors, you can choose two modules from across the whole spectrum of master’s level modules available at the University of Bolton. You’ll also be supported to devise a master’s-level dissertation or major project that develops your research and critical thinking skills and allows you to demonstrate your expertise. We’ll counsel you as you make these choices to ensure you create a coherent programme of study – one that is achievable and that will support you to develop the skills and knowledge you seek. We offer a wide range of subjects and you can choose modules from a single area or from two different disciplines, depending on your interests, prior qualifications and experience.

Capture essential employability, transferable and business skills
Alongside your subject-specific studies, you’ll have the opportunity to build the essential employability, transferable and business skills you need to compete with confidence for your dream job or build your own successful business from the ground up. You’ll focus on developing the skills that are most valuable to you as an individual, as shaped by your prior learning and future plans. We’ll guide you to explore areas such as influence and impact, self-management, creativity and innovation, and professional identity, bringing in business and psychological concepts to enhance your development as a professional.

Focusing on your future
We want to help you gain the skills and self-belief to showcase your worth in your chosen field. We’ll guide you to explore and understand the postgraduate labour market in the sector you wish to join, preparing you to apply your new knowledge, attributes and experiences so that you can satisfy and impress your stakeholders (such as employers, clients, commissioners and funding bodies). We’ll help you learn about the recruitment methods used by different types of organisations in your field, explore your personal brand and self-positioning, and prepare for recruitment and selection or self-employment. In addition, we’ll support you to develop skills in commercial ability and acumen, networking and professional relationship management, as well as strategies for career maintenance and growth.

Tried and tested research-informed coaching
Throughout the programme, we’ll use tried and tested, research-informed coaching and training methods to support your development. These will range from postgraduate-level skills in research, critique, problem-solving, professional presentation and synthesis to interpersonal and business-relevant skills such as innovative thinking, team working and project management, the effective use of technology, public speaking and professionalism. All this knowledge will be tailored to your chosen employment context to help you achieve your vision for your future.

An ideal course for graduates and professionals in a wide range of areas
This course should appeal to (but isn’t limited to) graduates and professionals in areas such as art and design, accountancy, science, engineering, business management, film FX, performing arts, community development and youth, computing, games, construction, law, crime and criminal justice, early years, education, English and creative writing, mathematics, nursing and the caring professions, media, psychology, the humanities and sport.

Would you prefer to complete your course over a longer time? We also offer this course with a duration of 18 months full-time or 24 months part-time. For full-time study, please visit our MA/MSc Professional Practice (Specialism): Extended course search web page for details and to apply. Alternatively, for part-time study, please visit our MA/MSc Professional Practice (Specialism) course search web page.

Highlights

• Dr Selva Pankaj, the author of ‘Thinking into Character – A Proven Methodology for the Creation of Success & Self-Fulfilment’, is a valued partner of the University whose work will support you in the development of business and career planning, confidence and knowledge.
• This course allows you to focus on one subject or to combine two areas of interest to follow an interdisciplinary route. When you successfully complete the master's, your degree title will be chosen to reflect the focus of your studies.
• Our highly qualified and professionally experienced staff have strong links with many economic sectors, offering opportunities for industry masterclasses and lectures, joint projects, and networking.
• The University of Bolton offers a host of world-class facilities across our campus and faculties. Depending on your choice of modules, you'll be able to make use of our specialist facilities to support your studies.
• This MA/MSc is part of the University of Bolton’s ‘Career Development Masters’ suite, which offers shared modules designed to give you a wider business perspective, including tax self-assessment, invoicing, intellectual property and risk assessments, as well as knowing how to start a business and to take advantage of opportunities for enterprise development.

Key Features

• Teaching and supervision are delivered by dedicated staff chosen for their expertise and experience in fields relevant to your areas of study and professional development needs.
• We offer an engaging programme of visiting speakers and practitioners that gives you opportunities to network with and learn from industry professionals.
• We'll offer you opportunities for interdisciplinary work and collaboration.
• Your studies will culminate in your Professional Dissertation, an independent and substantial piece of research that will further your knowledge and practice. This will demonstrate your mastery of an aspect of your field, showcasing your expert knowledge to employers as well as forming an ideal preparation for doctoral-level studies should you to wish to pursue a PhD.
• Your final master’s degree title will reflect your specialist areas of study (please note that the final award title will be selected in agreement with the University within the parameters specified in programme documentation). If you have chosen two specialist subject areas with equal weighting, the title will reflect both specialist subject areas; for instance, MA Professional Practice Creative Writing and Computing. If one of your specialist subject areas has a greater weighting than the other, the word ‘with’ will be used instead of ‘and’ between the two subject areas; for example, MA Professional Practice Creative Writing with Computing.

Our Masters in Civil Engineering is aimed at engineers who want to broaden and deepen their technical knowledge of specialised civil engineering areas and develop a wider perspective on the issues facing the civil engineering industry. The part-time programme is designed to build on the knowledge and skills already developed, introducing advanced concepts and theories to challenge your problem solving and critical evaluation capabilities.

This course explores the complex roles and responsibilities of civil engineers in relation to social, natural and built environments, assessing how economic constraints can influence project management and decision making.

Research and design also play key parts in this comprehensive course, which will challenge you to design creatively and apply engineering modelling and analysis methods to projects. You’ll have the opportunity to grow your skillset by linking theory with practice in a variety of assignments, reports and design processes, enhancing your literacy and risk management abilities along the way.

Highlights

• Build on your existing engineering knowledge with a series of modules designed to challenge and stimulate your abilities with rich and varied content.
• Benefit from the University’s longstanding and excellent reputation for civil engineering postgraduate and professional development courses.
• On successful completion of this course you will receive an MSc in Civil Engineering.

Key Features

• Our programme has been expertly developed to give a broad overview of the advanced civil engineering discipline, including influencing issues and challenges, such as economic constraints and professional and ethical responsibilities.
• Lessons are taught in small groups, maximising opportunities for personal tuition and contact with staff.
• As well as small group learning and support, the University has excellent libraries, 24/7 IT facilities and campus-wide WiFi for all students.
• English language support will be provided via a dedicated module that focuses on improving students’ English language skills, especially in relation to engineering.

Our Master’s in Positive Psychology takes you on an immersive journey into this relatively new subject area within psychology. The programme’s modular nature allows you to take a flexible and fairly autonomous approach to learning, theorising, reflecting and researching.

You’ll get the chance to learn, debate and critically evaluate Positive Psychology’s new techniques and research. You’ll also have the opportunity to evaluate developing theories and applications in Positive Psychology, supported all the way by experienced and enthusiastic teaching staff with an excellent knowledge base. We offer expert training in research techniques, helping you to conceptualise, design and implement an independent research project that explores new ideas and approaches at the forefront of this increasingly popular subject.

Successfully completing a Master’s in Positive Psychology should put you in a highly favourable position for seeking employment in relevant care professions, educational institutions, and for securing a place on a specialist psychology-related higher degree or doctorate programme.

Highlights

• We’ll support you as you develop an in-depth and advanced knowledge of this emerging field of psychology, and develop your own research projects.
• Many of our teaching staff for this programme are involved in significant and ongoing research in this subject.
• You’ll have plenty of opportunities to develop highly sought-after skills in critical evaluation and reflection relating to theories and research techniques in Positive Psychology.
• Focused research training is designed to support and guide you in conceptualising, designing and implementing your own independent research in Positive Psychology.
• The programme is designed to enhance your employability, particularly in the care professions – or to help you progress to further studies in psychology.

Key Features

• An enthusiastic, dedicated and supportive teaching team delivers this pioneering programme.
• The course curriculum gives you the opportunity to explore issues from a diverse range of perspectives – all underpinned by a research-informed knowledge base.
• Learning and teaching is student-centred, with small group sessions and one-to-one tutorials. This is supported by the University’s virtual learning environment.
• We’ve designed the programme to encourage and support your unique approach to research and critical enquiry.
• You can enjoy contributions from expert guest speakers on a range of subjects covered in this exciting postgraduate programme.

The MSc in Software Engineering offers graduates with a background in computing and programming the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of advanced software methodologies. This intensely practical course supports and encourages you to hone your creative thinking, problem-solving and decision-making skills through the use of realistic scenarios inspired by the industry experience of our tutors and professional software engineering contacts.

You’ll have the opportunity to study the latest methodologies and development techniques and deepen your understanding of approaches such as design patterns and contemporary software engineering practices. We’ll support you as you acquire the capacity to adapt and learn new skills ready to respond as the software engineering industry evolves throughout your career. Since software engineering is an international business unconstrained by geographical area, you’ll also explore issues such as localisation within application development.

The programme has been designed collaboratively with industrial partners, giving you the chance to equip yourself with professional skills, and understand the ethical and environmental issues you’ll encounter in your professional life.

You’ll also be encouraged to prepare for your postgraduate career with coursework designed to help you develop sophisticated intellectual capabilities in research, critique, synthesis and innovation, and enhance essential skills such as group working and report writing.

Highlights

• Our dedicated staff team have a wide range of professional experience, industry knowledge, technical expertise and academic credentials, offering you a variety of perspectives and broadening your horizons.
• We prefer to keep lecture and practical classes relatively small, so that you have plenty of opportunities to us ask questions and get help, as well as benefit from the ideas and support offered by your classmates.
• We have well-established links with the software engineering industry, and continually monitor and update the course to make sure the content is industry-relevant and introduces you to the latest thinking and innovations.
• We are committed to helping you develop your employability and career network. You will be encouraged to attend guest lectures that enhance your learning, help you make contacts in the industry and contribute to your professional development.

Key Features

• We offer a warm and friendly environment for your studies, with relatively small class sizes, purpose-built teaching facilities, and excellent student support and library services.
• We want to work with you as an individual, giving you access to the help and support you need to succeed.
• Our commitment to provide the best possible learning environments has seen us make significant investments in our IT facilities.
• Many of our computing facilities can be accessed across the internet, allowing you to work on your assignments whenever and wherever you choose.
• Our lecturers take time to build strong personal relationships with all students, enabling questions to be answered quickly and easily.

Supply chain and logistics is an under-resourced business sector and graduates with expertise in this area are increasingly in demand. This course is designed to help you achieve the transferable skills and knowledge necessary for a career within logistics and supply chain. You’ll cover subjects like global trade and requirements of the industry, risk mitigation, sustainable business operations and the role of information within supply networks, with the aim of gaining a comprehensive overview of the industry and related elements.

You’ll have the opportunity to explore and apply methods and techniques for business improvement in response to environmental, operational and ethical issues, both current and emerging, to build awareness of the industry and its different facets, including logistics, operations, strategy and information technology.

Created with more than a decade’s industry experience delivering supply chain programmes with partners in Malaysia, Botswana, Zambia and Malawi, the MSc Logistics and Supply Chain Management course has a strong international focus to help prepare students for the needs of the global marketplace.

Highlights

• Established in response to the shortage of qualified supply chain professionals, this programme is tailor-made to provide you with the opportunity to build skills relevant to the current and emerging needs of the industry.
• The programme has been developed in compliance with Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply and the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport professional body requirements.
• There is a strong international flavour to the programme, enabling you to enhance your knowledge and understanding of today’s global market.
• Our scholarly activity, research and well-established links with industry professional bodies, help to make sure our course content is industry-relevant and introduces you to the latest thinking and innovations.
• On successful completion of this course, you will be awarded an MSc in Logistics and Supply Chain Management and will have the opportunity for further study up to PhD level.

Key Features

• The MSc Logistics and Supply Chain Management course is designed for the modern, global industry and covers all relevant elements, from sustainability and aggressive marketing of goods and services to the importance of risk mitigation.
• You’ll have the option to take a study skills module at the beginning of the programme in preparation for Master’s level study.
• At the end of the course, you’ll be able to apply your knowledge and skills in practice by preparing a dissertation that covers a specific area of the logistics and supply chain management discipline.
• We’re committed to helping you develop your employability and career network. You’ll be encouraged to attend guest lectures that enhance your learning, help you make contacts in industry and contribute to your professional development.
• Our dedicated staff team have a wide range of professional experience, industry knowledge, technical expertise and academic credentials, offering you a variety of perspectives and broadening your horizons.