ObjectivesThis programme trains students in general and specialist process systems engineering subjects. Such areas are not generally covered in engineering and science curricula and graduates tend to be ill prepared for the systems challenges they will face in industry or academia upon graduation. The programme aims to provide students with the skills required for a successful career in the process industries. The MSc in Process Systems Engineering is aimed at graduates of engineering (chemical, biochemical, process, mechanical, manufacturing), science (chemistry, biochemistry) or related disciplines. Such skilled persons would be able to help technology-intensive organisations make important decisions in view of vast amounts of information by adopting, combining, implementing and executing the right technologies. There is a wide selection of modules on offer within the programme. All taught modules are delivered by qualified experts in the topics and academic members of the University staff, assisted by specialist external lecturers. The programme aims to provide high quality education with substantial intellectual challenges, commensurate with the financial rewards and job satisfaction for the student when venturing into the real world. It aims to make students aware of current technologies and trends based on rigorous training in matters relating to the fundamentals of the subject.
Entry requirementsTypical entry requirements Candidates should be graduates with at least a second class honours degree (or equivalent) in an engineering, science or related subject. Practitioners with suitable qualifications and relevant experience in engineering, science or technology are also welcome to apply.
Academic titleMSc/PGDip/PGCert in Process Systems Engineering
Course descriptionMSc/PGDip/PGCert in Process Systems Engineering Module overview
Compulsory Modules
Optimisation and Decision Making
This module seeks to develop students' understanding of the technology available to optimise process systems, business models and operations. Students are provided with state-of-the-art versions of modelling and optimisation approaches in order to understand both the potential and the limitations of available techniques.
Process and Energy Integration
This module aims to develop students' understanding of the area of process integration. It highlights solution strategies for the synthesis of energy recovery networks in the context of the overall chemical flowsheet, with students becoming familiar with the type of problems commonly faced by the energy systems engineer.
Process Systems Design
This module develops students' understanding of how to systematically synthesise and design chemical process systems. It will disseminate process synthesis and integration technology that can be applied in order to improve the economic efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of chemical processing plants.
Supply Chain Management
This module provides knowledge about the latest trends in the management of product supply chains and enterprise resource planning. Students learn the basic constituents of supply chains followed by the systems engineering aspects of supply chain monitoring, simulation and optimisation.
Software Development
Students gain an appreciation of the technical issues involved in the production of computationally intensive engineering design and simulation software. Students are able to explore the software design and production process from the mathematical origins to the final user interface. This module concentrates on the technical issues of algorithm design whilst touching on the business and user-interface aspects of commercial packages.
Research Methods
This module aims to provide an introduction to the general principles and practices associated with planning, undertaking and reporting research in engineering or physical sciences. At the end of the module students should be in a position to apply the taught material to their own project, in order to produce a strategy for a literature search and an outline experimental plan.
Dissertation
The dissertation provides an opportunity for students to pursue a single topic in depth and to demonstrate evidence of research potential for the Masters award. Students are encouraged to either research a new concept or apply existing technology in a new field. A number of dissertations are carried out in collaboration with industry. Upon successful completion of the module, students will be able to approach an open-ended topic, to research new ideas and experiment with new technologies.
Optional modules include:
-Business and Research Seminars
-Knowledge-based Systems and Artificial Intelligence
-Computational Mathematics
-E-commerce and Emerging Technologies on the Internet
-Informatics
-Real Time Systems