Engineering: Instrumentation, Measurement and Control

Year 1

Students start the course by learning fundamental practical and theoretical skills essential within the general engineering discipline: using tools and equipment to draw and make things; expanding mathematical skills; enhancing science and engineering to comprehend how things work and are controlled; learning about working in industry.

Year 2

Building on the first year, students will find out more about electronics and control, by looking at signals - how to transmit and process them - and controlling systems using microprocessors. They will learn management and technical skills by working through an embedded controller project.

Year 3

The third year sees students working on technically challenging group projects to develop core skills in communication and project management, balancing leadership and individual responsibility. Process related technical skills are enhanced in areas of control systems, metrology and understanding industrial installations and issues relating to their operation.

Year 4

Year 4 builds on the student's skills and independent working by undertaking the honours project. This year includes advanced subjects in control and estimation, batch processing, quality, alarm management and the integration of inter-related systems; basic process control, fire and gas, safety instrumented, and emergency shutdown systems.

Learning Methods

The course is designed to meet the national frameworks developed by Skills Development Scotland, the subject frameworks of the QAA and the skill and knowledge areas identified as crucial by industry.  The teaching and learning strategy for this course is characterised by a commitment to ensuring a genuine interaction between theoretical and work-based learning. It enables the student to acquire and develop the subject knowledge and understanding necessary for successful professional employment.  

Activity Summary

This is a work-based learning course mainly delivered online through our virtual learning environment (VLE) with one or two full-day(s) on campus workshop per module.

• Approximately 25 students per cohort 
• Online learning delivery for teaching material
• Workplace visits by academic staff
• Around 1 hour per week for online interactive workshop (tutorial or technical Q&A live session) with academic staff

There will be two terms, each approximately 20 weeks in length. Students will study two modules concurrently in each term (a total of 4 modules per year). This will typically require:

• Independent Study - 30 hours per module
• Work Based Learning - 240 hours per module
• Online class participation - 30 hours per module

Independent Study

The majority of the learning will be taking place at work and as students progress from Year 1 – 4, the level of independent learning increasing significantly within specialist areas of the course. Students are expected to have the confidence to apply knowledge to more complex contexts and work on their own initiative as they progress towards graduation.

Staff Delivering on This Course

Staff are lecturers from traditional courses taught currently at RGU along with the potential for recorded guest lectures delivered by industry experts. Teaching will be undertaken mostly by staff with established expertise in the subject area of instrumentation, measurement, and control, who hold a chartership status CEng and who are already involved in joint projects with different industrial partners.

Workplace Mentor

Employers assign a Workplace Mentor whose role will be to oversee the work-based learning undertaken by the student. In addition to mentoring support for students, supplementary support may be provided by the employer, for example when subject matter experts are brought in to provide specific business or technical expertise or through access to other departments within the organisation. This ensures that the curriculum is fully covered as the student progresses in their studies.

Graduate Apprenticeship Success Coach

During the first year of study, access is provided to a dedicated Graduate Apprenticeship Success Coach to help make the most of all learning opportunities.

Assessment

A variety of assessment methods are used in this course, as deemed appropriate to the learning outcomes and subject material being assessed and the context in which the material is delivered.

Students will be assessed for each module using a variety of formative and summative assessment methods including:

• Reports
• Case studies
• Portfolios of evidence
• Logbooks
• Presentations
• Engineering drawings
• Product evaluation
• CAD and CAM assignments
• On-line tests
• NC programming
• Project reports

In addition in year 4, students are assessed on their dissertation and on project outputs.

Feedback

We aim to provide you with feedback within 20 working days of submission of coursework.

Academic Support

The Inclusion Centre advises and supports students who disclose a sensory or mobility impairment, chronic medical condition, mental health issue, dyslexia and other specific learning differences. Applicants are encouraged to arrange a pre-entry visit to discuss any concerns and to view the facilities.

Online Learning & Support

All undergraduate and postgraduate students, whether you are learning on campus or by online learning, benefit from using our collaborative virtual learning environment, CampusMoodle. You will be provided with 24/7 online access to your learning material and resources, along with the ability to interact with your class members and tutors for discussion and support.

Study Skills Support

The Study Support Team provides training and support to all students in:

• Academic writing
• Study skills (note taking, exam techniques, time management, presentation)
• Maths and statistics
• English language
• Information technology support

Library Support

The Library offers support for your course, including the books, eBooks, and journals you will need. We also offer online reading lists for many modules, workshops and drop-ins on searching skills and referencing, and much more.

Employment: All applicants must be employed full-time in a role related to the course of study, must have the right to live and work in Scotland and be working in Scotland. The employer must commit to providing a suitable workplace environment and to offering guidance and mentoring support to the apprentice. In addition, the company must be willing to partner with the university via a Collaboration Agreement to create a setting in which the student will be able to achieve the required experience and learning outcomes.

SQA Higher: BBBB to include Maths and either Engineering Science, Physics or Technological Studies. English at National 5 grade C or above is required if not held at Higher.

Alternative Qualifications

We welcome applications from those with equivalent qualifications or work experience which equip them with an equivalent starting point for the course. For those applicants who do not meet our Standard Course Entry Requirements, applications may be considered from those who possess one years’ relevant work experience and where the applicant has demonstrated the development of key skills evidenced through a detailed CV. Applications from students with non- standard qualifications (including Foundation Apprenticeships, Modern Apprenticeships, SVQs/NVQs and access programmes) or work experience will be considered on an individual basis.

Advanced Entry

Applicants who are interested in applying for advanced (or flexible) entry will be considered on an individual basis. Attention is drawn to the university's process for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

For Academic Year 2023/2024

• £1,820 per academic year

For Academic Year 2022/2023

• £1,820 per academic year

Additional Costs

GA courses include an on-campus induction, together with one on-campus day per module, therefore employers supporting Graduate Apprenticeship students need to plan for this time away from the workplace together with any associated travel and accommodation costs.

The following course-related costs are not included in the course fees:

• The cost of books that you may wish to purchase.
• Accommodation and living costs
• Printing
• Re-sit fees, fees for re-assessment opportunities in a repeat year

Student Funding

Subject to meeting course entry and employer eligibility criteria, a number of fully-funded places are available for this course. 

Students should apply to SAAS to have their tuition fees paid:

As a paid employee, apprentices would not be eligible for other SAAS funding such as bursaries and student loans.  

Find out more information about funding and other frequently asked questions: