MSc Applied Instrumentation and Control

The curriculum has been developed in consultation with industry and can be broadly grouped in three areas: the introduction of new facts and concepts in measurement and control; the application of facts and concepts to real measurement problems and systems; and subjects which are of general importance to the professional engineer, for example safety and safety management and management ethics and project planning.

Students complete eight taught modules - four in trimester A and four in trimester B; and a Masters project in trimester C.The MSc project will be carried out at the student's workplace; this can be in an area relevant to the company's production/maintenance function, thus providing maximum benefit to both the company and the individual.

Control Systems

Consolidates advanced classical and modern control design techniques emphasising the practical considerations in applying control design in an industrial environment. The appropriateness and difficulties encountered in applying various design techniques in practice will be explored. In particular system sensitivity, robustness and nonlinearity will be studied.

Data Acquisition and Analysis

Develops the ability to evaluate, in a given situation, the most appropriate strategy for acquiring data and understand the merits of this strategy with respect to other approaches. A range of modern time and frequency domain analysis techniques will also be discussed.

Industrial Case Studies

Following on from the foundation in measurement and instrumentation provided by the Measurement Theory and Devices module, students will now be equipped to study in depth instrumentation in industrial processes. This module will cover aspects of designing sensor systems for industrial measurements, instrument control, system troubleshooting and optimisation in industrial applications.

Distributed Instrumentation

Develops the ability to evaluate, in a given situation, the most appropriate strategy for acquiring and transmitting data and understand the merits of this strategy with respect to other approaches. A wide range of different instrument communication and networking techniques will be studied. In addition the module provides practical experience of hardware setup and software development, relating to these techniques.

Industrial Process Systems

Identification and system modelling from real data play an important role in this module. This approach thus leads to more complex and realistic models that can be used to design more robust and reliable controllers that take into account problematic physical effects such as time-delays and sensor noise. The module will cover more advanced aspects of control design such as feed forward and multivariable control.

Measurement Systems

A range of advanced measurement systems will be studied in depth. Sensors, signal processing, low-level signal measurements, noise-reduction methods and appropriate measurement strategies will be applied to industrial and environmental applications. The influence of environmental factors and operation conditions will be considered in relation to the optimisation of the measurement system.

Measurement Theory and Devices

Adopts a generalised approach to measurement theory and devices, allowing students to become familiar with the characteristics of measurement systems in terms of the underlying principles. In this way, the students will be able to develop a systems approach to problem solving. They should find this methodology to be a considerable benefit to them when they have to apply their expertise to solving more complex industrial measurement problems.

Professional Practice

Develops the students' ability to select, develop and plan an MSc research project, to research and critically analyse the literature associated with the project and to present research findings effectively, it will also provide students with the ability to apply a competent process of thinking to project planning and give them a critical understanding of safe and ethical working.

Download the Programme Specification for a detailed breakdown of its structure, what you will learn and other useful information.

Entry requirements

UK honours degree 2:2 (or equivalent) in a relevant engineering or physical science discipline with a strong electrical, electronic or physics element.

English language

Academic IELTS score of 6.0 (or equivalent) with no element below 5.5.

Please note: if you are from a majority English speaking country, you may not be required to provide further proof of your English Language proficiency.

All entry requirements listed here should be used as a guide and represent the minimum required to be considered for entry. Applicants who are made a conditional offer of a place may be asked to achieve more than is stated.

Additional information

Other academic and vocational qualifications

Each application to GCU is considered on an individual basis. If you do not have the typical academic entry qualifications, but can demonstrate relevant work experience and/or credits from recognised professional bodies, you may be eligible to enter this course via the University's Recognition of Prior Learning scheme.

International pathways

The tuition fees you pay are mostly determined by your fee status. What is my student fee status?

Annual full-time tuition fees 2020/21

Home: £6,000
RUK: £6,000
EU: £6,000
International: £13,500

Annual full-time tuition fees 2021/22

Home and RUK: £6,000
EU and International: £13,500

Part-time and distance-learning tuition fees

View our part-time and distance-learning fee schedules

Fees are subject to change and published here for guidance only.

Additional costs

As a student at the University, there are additional fees and costs which may or may not apply to you, but that you should be aware of.

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Scholarships

We provide high-quality education for a fair price; as the University for the Common Good, we are committed to offering accessible higher education for talented students by keeping our tuition fees low and providing a generous scholarship package of £2 million per year.

View our postgraduate scholarships.

Accredited by the Institute of Measurement and Control (InstMC) on behalf of the Engineering Council as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for registration as a Chartered Engineer. Candidates must hold a CEng accredited BEng/BSc (Hons) undergraduate first degree to comply with full CEng registration requirements.