Engineering Projects & Systems Management MSc

Reasons to choose Kingston University

• The course is designed to complement your engineering degree with a rich spectrum of engineering and project management skills.
• Academic teaching is supported by specialist speakers from industry, keeping you up to date with the challenges and developments in the real world.
• Many modules are supported by practical workshops using the software. Such practical skills can easily be transferred into the working environment.

What you will study

You will learn how to apply advanced project management and resource optimisation skills, and will be able to identify, evaluate and recommend solutions to critical engineering management problems that need improvement. You will study the important ingredients of running a successful business, and how to improve its operations, productivity and competitiveness by using different management techniques specific to engineering companies. You will be able to develop and manage new projects more effectively and within the given constraints in functions, cost and time. You will also learn how to expand your business through deploying the latest e-commerce and IT techniques.

Throughout the course you will have many hands-on sessions to practise what you have learned in the classroom. These practical skills will be obtained through using specialist software in operation management, quality analysis, business decision modelling, supply chain management and resources simulation. The project dissertation will allow you to develop a chosen field of knowledge which will complement your career ambition. Teamwork, group presentations, case studies and industrial speakers are other highlights of the course, enhancing your learning experience and employability.

Your MSc project gives you the opportunity to further specialise in a chosen field. We provide careful consultation to make sure you choose the right project topic (from a wide-ranging list) for your career ambitions. Many projects are company-oriented, which means that you have the opportunity to deal with real-world problems in your chosen subject.

Please note that this is an indicative list of modules and is not intended as a definitive list.

Teaching on this course usually takes place in two separate specific week blocks (Monday to Friday 9am–5pm). For further details please contact secpgstudentoffice@kingston.ac.uk.

For a student to go on placement they are required to pass every module first time with no reassessments.

The information above reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. Updates may be made on an annual basis and revised details will be published through Programme Specifications ahead of each academic year. The regulations governing this course are available on our website. If we have insufficient numbers of students interested in an optional module, this may not be offered.

Facilities

There is a wide range of facilities for practical work at our Roehampton Vale campus, where this course is based. You will have access to a modern environment with the latest technology, including:

• large-scale wind tunnels that enable testing in winds of up to 90 miles per hour;
• a Learjet 25, providing a real-world environment for gaining practical engineering skills;
• engine-testing facilities, plus several display engines, such as a V6 Ford Cosworth and a 3-cylinder orbital direct injection engine; and
• industry-standard test and experimental equipment for metrology, robotics, rapid prototyping, fatigue and quality control.

We also have a dedicated postgraduate workroom with high spec PCs and a range of software. Computer-aided design facilities include:

• a range of CAD/CAM packages, such as Ideas, SolidWorks and AutoCad;
• finite element analysis
• computational fluid dynamics; and
• virtual instrumentation.

The recently enlarged library at Roehampton Vale provides collections of specialist engineering books and journals. The Graduate Centre, exclusively for postgraduate students, provides space for private study, meetings and socialising.

The £4 million Hawker Wing, which opened in December 2007, provides three floors of extra space for students and staff at Roehampton Vale, including improved learning and teaching facilities 

Careers and recruitment advice

The Faculty of Science, Engineering and Computing has a specialist employability team. It provides friendly and high-quality careers and recruitment guidance, including advice and sessions on job-seeking skills such as CV preparation, application forms and interview techniques. Specific advice is also available for international students about the UK job market and employers' expectations and requirements.

The team runs employer events throughout the year, including job fairs, key speakers from industry and interviews on campus. These events give you the opportunity to hear from, and network with, employers in an informal setting.

Where this course will take you

The market for graduates of the MSc Engineering Projects & Systems Management is continually growing. This programme, with its balanced diet of theoretical and practical contents, will prepare graduates well for the senior technical and management positions in a range of industry such as:

• oil and gas resources management;
• avionics logistics management;
• project management;
• supply chain and logistics management;
• changed management;
• factory and plant operation management;
• public sector and education;
• manufacturing management;
• production control and inventory management;
• transportation systems design;
• warehouse and logistics simulation;
• resources management and simulation; and
• software development.

Graduates roles include:

• Project leaders and managers.
• Manufacturing plant engineers/managers.
• Operation managers.
• Business IT consultants.
• Quality managers.
• Profession in higher education.
• Research and development engineers.
• Opportunity to undertake further research for a PhD qualification.

Find out more details on what this course covers

This course provides the key skills you need to apply the principles of project and resources management within an engineering field. You will also learn how to identify, evaluate and propose solutions to critical engineering systems management areas that need improvement.

Once you are equipped with this knowledge, you will be able to deal with real-world challenges, including how to:

• improve overall productivity;
• identify key staff and resources for new projects;
• develop new products;
• construct new manufacturing facilities;
• implement changes in organisational structure;
• create factory simulation models for operation improvement;
• manage company resources more effectively; and
• apply quality assurance procedures for engineering processes.

You will gain an understanding of business efficiency and international marketing appropriate to engineering fields. There will be plenty of opportunities to engage in hands-on software workshops and group activities. Learning about how to implement appropriate hardware and software systems into engineering companies will improve your operational efficiency and production performance.

You will also:

• learn how to devise and evaluate logical procedures to implement proposed design solutions;
• study the analytical techniques used to deal with engineering constraints and maximise company profits; and
• become familiar with the concepts of entrepreneurship, total quality management, financial systems and risk analysis - all of which are very important aspects in any decision-making process in an engineering environment.

Your MSc project gives you the opportunity to further specialise in a chosen field. We provide careful consultation to make sure you choose the right project topic (from a wide-ranging list) for your career ambitions. Many projects are company-oriented, which means that you have the opportunity to deal with real-world problems in your chosen subject.

What this course offers you

• This course covers systems management concepts and techniques that can be implemented in many engineering disciplines.
• It will develop your professional, analytical and management skills, as well as improving your technical skills and knowledge. For example, you will gain communication, teamwork, IT and problem-solving skills.
• Each module combines a stimulating mix of lectures, practical laboratory work, group work and presentations.
• We use a wide range of industrial case studies so that you can learn from real-world examples.
• Your project allows you to build on your academic knowledge and extend your in-depth knowledge in your area of specialisation. It can be an excellent selling point when looking for a job or promotion.
• Input from industry experts complements the academic teaching throughout the course. You will also have the chance to visit sponsoring engineering companies and industrial exhibitions.
• You can choose to study the course full-time, full-time with work placement, or part-time to suit your circumstance. The two intakes of September and January start dates will give you extra flexibility.
• We regularly review all our postgraduate courses to make sure that they are up-to-date, reflect industry needs and are comparable to other university courses.
• Graduates from this course will have a range of employment options open to them.
• This course is accredited by the IMechE. It will meet, in part, the exemplifying academic benchmark requirements for registration as a Chartered Engineer.