MEng Mechatronics and Autonomous Systems

Entry year:
2025/26
Start date:
September
Study mode:
Full-time
Course duration:
4 years FullTime, 5 years Placement year
Campus:
City
UCAS Code:
F003
Grades/points required:
ABB-AAB (128-136)

Why study Mechatronics and Autonomous Systems at LJMU?

  • Interdisciplinary course fusing mechanical, electronic and control engineering
  • Well-equipped electronics and computing laboratories
  • State-of-the-art software and excellent technical support
  • To be accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)
  • Options for sandwich with year-long industrial placement or study abroad
  • LJMU ranked 15th university in the UK for general engineering degrees (The Times UK University Rankings 2025)
This course is also available as a Foundation Year
99% of graduates are in full-time work within a year
Study abroad at 100+ partner universities worldwide
2,000+ PCs and loan laptops on campus

About your course

Mechatronic and autonomous systems build and run the world we live in. From the robots that built your car to fast food restaurant interactive kiosks, intelligent machines are the future. The MEng(Hons) in Mechatronics and Autonomous Systems will make sure you take an important part in that future.

This programme has been developed to answer a need in industry for engineers with the fusion of electronic and mechanical skills required to develop modern automation systems. LJMU has built a good relationship with North West engineering companies and their feedback has been a big factor in the development of this programme. We live in an information age and our graduates leave equipped with the software and hardware skills required to succeed in the exciting times ahead.

Research undertaken by the Department of Electronics and Electrical Engineering is based within the Electrical and Electronic Engineering Research Centre. The Centre has two key research groups the Microelectronics Research Group and the Electric Machines and Drives Research Group. These two research groups have expertise within the following key research areas:

  • New materials and devices for future microelectronic industry
  • New characterisation techniques for VLSI devices
  • Development of advanced techniques for variables-speed electric drives
  • Qualification, modelling and aging prediction
  • Development of novel control techniques for power electronic converters
  • Modelling, simulation and experimental characterisation of power electronic converters and variable speed drives

Research staff are encouraged to make use of their expertise during undergraduate and postgraduate teaching.

Course modules

What you will study on this degree

Further guidance on modules

Modules are designated core or optional in accordance with professional body requirements, as applicable, and LJMU’s Academic Framework Regulations. Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules provide you with an element of choice. Their availability may vary and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.

Where changes to modules are necessary these will be communicated as appropriate.

Core modules

Engineering Mathematics 1a
10 credits

This module provides a foundation in engineering mathematics for its application to the solution of engineering problems.

 

Engineering Mathematics 1b
10 credits

This module provides a foundation in engineering mathematics for its application to the solution of engineering problems. It is a continuation of Engineering Mathematics 1a.

 

Applied Mechanics 1
20 credits

This module aims to introduce you to the essential principles of applied mechanics.

 

Software Development for Embedded Systems
20 credits

The module provides an overview of the operation of modern microprocessors/microcontrollers and the mechanisms used to represent and process information. It will also help you design and implement applications written in both low level and high level languages.

Engineering Circuit Analysis
20 credits

This module aims to enhance your knowledge and understanding of the essential mathematics underpinning electrical and electronic engineering. It also aims to develop your intellectual abilities in selecting and applying appropriate circuit analysis techniques for analysing various electrical and electronic circuits. It introduces passive electronic components and helps to understand their operating characteristics. It also gives an introduction to the operating principles of single-phase transformers and electronic filters.

Analogue Electronics
20 credits

This module will provide an introduction to diodes, transistors, small-signal equivalent circuits and the use of operational amplifiers.

Professional Practice and the Environment
20 credits

The module aims to enhance your knowledge and understanding of electrical and electronic circuits by completing a set of practical experiments. It will help you gain experience in practical design of electronic circuits including prototyping, PCB design and manufacture. It will help you develop professional practical skills, undertake experimental laboratory work, analyse and critically evaluate technical issues, present and document ideas and results and develop your ability in data manipulation and sorting. It will also help you to develop a personal development plan and understand the impact that engineering has on the environment.

Core modules

Applied Mechanics 2
20 credits

This module provides the means for solving many mechanical engineering problems by learning the principles of mechanics for rigid and deformable solid bodies.

 

Mechatronics 2
20 credits

This module helps to develop a practical understanding of how sensors and actuators may be used along with embedded systems to control and monitor mechanical engineering systems.

 

Linear Electronics Design and the Environment
10 credits

The module aims to broaden your knowledge and understanding of linear electronic circuit design, and also provides you with practical skills necessary to design, analyse and simulate circuits regarding processing environmental signals.

Instrumentation and Control Engineering
20 credits

This module develops your understanding of components and the principles of control systems, basic design and analysis techniques, and practice some control applications.

Professional Practice Integrative Project
20 credits

This module enables you to develop the skills required to practice as a professional engineer. This module provides a broad range of experiences with an emphasis upon the systematic thinking, planning and execution required of engineers in a modern professional environment. You will be required to design build and test an electronic product to a given specification. The product will incorporate elements covered elsewhere on the course, including analogue electronics and a programmable device such as a microcontroller, a motor and sensors.

Local Communications Systems and Applications
20 credits

Upon completion of this module, you will be able to review the communications options available to interconnect hardware elements and justify a selection to resolve a problem.

Advanced Mathematics
10 credits

This module provides a foundation in engineering mathematics for application to the solution of engineering problems.

Optional Modules

Sandwich Year - Electrical and Electronic Engineering
120 credits

The aim is to provide students with an extended period of work experience at an approved partner that will complement their programme of study at LJMU. This will give students the opportunity to develop professional skills relevant to their programme of study as well as the attitude and behaviours necessary for employment in a diverse and changing environment. This extended placement forms a key part of a sandwich degree. All placements need to be assessed and approved prior to commencement in line with the LJMU Placement Learning Code of Practice. The Code of Practice requires students to conduct themselves in a professional and responsible manner during the placement - failure to do so may lead to the placement being terminated prematurely. Placements are normally for one calendar year on a full-time basis. Split placements of a shorter duration may be permissible. There is an expectation that a minimum of 1200 hours will be spent in the workplace.

Study Year Abroad - Electrical and Electronic Engineering
120 credits

The aim is to provide students with an additional year of study at an approved overseas partner that will complement their programme at LJMU. This is an additional year of full-time study at an approved higher education institution. The modules to be studied must be agreed in advance, and must be appropriate for the student's programme of study. Assuming successful completion of this year, mark-bearing credit will be awarded by the Faculty Recognition Group. The grade conversion scale to be used will be made available in advance of the year abroad.

Core modules

Dynamics and Control
10 credits

The module aims to develop your knowledge and experience of analytic and simulative methods applied to modelling and control design of open loop and closed loop engineering systems.

 

Automation and IoT
20 credits

The module aims to develop your knowledge and practical understanding of automation and IoT for industrial processes and applications.

Process Control and Applications
20 credits

This module helps to appreciate the problems associated with the design of closed-loop control of process systems. It also helps to understand the principles of cascade, feedforward and ratio control. It further helps to analyse non-linear process systems, systems containing large dead-time and coupled multi-loop systems.

Autonomous Systems and Machine Learning
20 credits

The aim of this module is to study the fundamentals of computational intelligence (CI) and their potential applications in robotics, and practise some CI-based techniques in the planning and control problems.

Mechatronics Engineering Project
40 credits

The project aims to provide you with a supervised but student led learning activity in a relevant area of engineering or technology. It aims to develop your academic, technical and organisational skills required to undertake a substantial individual engineering project from specification to conclusion. The project activity should reflect Mechatronic Systems development.

Engineering Management
10 credits

This module is designed to develop the core management techniques required in modern industry.

Core modules

Professional Practice
20 credits

This module aims to develop critical thinking skills around topics which are essential to the practice of a professional Engineer. These include Ethics, Risk, Security and the importance of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. The module is framed in terms of personal and professional development and requires you to develop plans for your future learning.

 

Control Engineering
20 credits

This module aims to enhance your knowledge on state space control method for dynamic system modelling, control, analysis and simulation.

Digital Control
10 credits

This module extends concepts of digital control theory into system identification, controller design and self-tuning control techniques for single-input, single-output systems.

Group Design Project
30 credits

This module aims to build upon the Level 6 Electrical Engineering Design module, by providing an authentic design project in conjunction with an internal or external client group or company (typically a research group or local industry). It will require you to demonstrate substantial independent initiative, working with the client to develop and communicate a design specification and project plan. You will select appropriate engineering and design processes and techniques to solve the problem.

Optional Modules

Modelling and Control of Electric Machines and Drives
20 credits

This module helps to develop an understanding of principles and acquire working knowledge of mathematical modelling of electrical machines. It introduces the principles of control of variable speed electric drives using power electronic converters and concept of vector control as applied to induction machines.

Artificial Intelligence
20 credits

This module provides you with the theoretical and practical skills required to design and implement artificial intelligence systems.

Embedded Systems
20 credits

This module aims to provide both the theoretical and practical skills in the design and development of advanced embedded systems.

Your Learning Experience

Excellent facilities and learning resources

We have three modern electronics laboratories containing sixty-five workstations equipped with state of the art equipment, including computers with industry standard software such as Proteus, Matlab and LabVIEW. The department has two computer suites of its own, one is a sixty-seater with air conditioning, as well as access to further large computer suites in other parts of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology. Specialist facilities include a Mechatronics lab equipped with Festo automation rigs and Siemens PLCs, an Electrical Machines lab and TV and audio recording studios.

Work-related Learning

The Department of Electronics and Electrical Engineering has a very high success rate in terms of its graduates finding employment within their chosen field of study. Employers recognise that, because of the department's strong focus on practical work, our graduates are able to make a useful contribution within a very short time-frame.

Dedicated personal tutor, plus study skills support

The Department of Electronics and Electrical Engineering is an enterprising community of 300 students and 30 staff who are dedicated to the study of electronics and electrical engineering. The department is situated in the City Campus at Byrom Street, a short walk from the city centre shops, amenities and transport links.

Assessment varies depending on the modules you choose, but will usually include a combination of exams and coursework.

Assessment is usually via a combination of exams and coursework, and sometimes by a portfolio of work, depending on the subject. A final year project gives you the chance to work independently and contributes considerably to your final mark. Your tutors will give prompt and constructive feedback via Canvas (our virtual learning environment), face-to-face or in writing. This will help you to identify your strengths as well as the areas where you may need to put in more work

 

Where you will study

What you can expect from your School

This programme is delivered in the Byrom Street complex of LJMUs City Campus. Here you'll find high quality lecture theatres, meeting and seminar rooms plus social spaces and a large café. The Avril Robarts Library is just minutes away on Tithebarn Street.

Course tutors

Career paths

Where will my MEng in Mechatronics and Autonomous systems take me?

Quite literally anywhere in the world. All of industry now uses industrial automation systems, whether the company is involved in manufacturing or process control. Modern automobile production would be impossible without the robots, CNC machines and automated test equipment that make sure the sub-assemblies the human workers bolt together, fit properly and work as intended.

Robotics and autonomous systems are a red-hot topic now, with the move toward self-driving automobiles, which will almost certainly be upon us in the next few years. This will be the biggest change in transport since the invention of the "horseless carriage".

Even service industries are now using automated systems. Fast food restaurants use automatic serving kiosks, not only to save on wages, but because they have found to their surprise that customers actually like them! Machines allow the customer to be in control and choose whatever weird meal combination they want.

Recent LJMU engineering graduates are now working at Sellafield, Jaguar Landrover, Aston Martin and IBM.

Student Futures - Careers, Employability and Enterprise Service

A wide range of opportunities and support is available to you, within and beyond your course, to ensure our students experience a transformation in their career trajectory. Every undergraduate curriculum includes Future Focus during Level 4, an e-learning resource and workshop designed to help you to develop your talents, passion and purpose.

Every student has access to Careers Zone 24/7, LJMU's suite of online Apps, resources and jobs board via the LJMU Student Futures website.

Professional accreditation/links

Accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer. We aim to seek reaccreditation, however this cannot be guaranteed at this stage. Accreditation status will be updated when new information is available. If you require any further information, please contact the University directly.

Fees and funding

Tuition Fees:

Home fee:
£9,535
Placement year:
£1,905

Fees

The fees quoted above cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as:

  • library membership with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources
  • access to programme-appropriate software
  • library and student IT support
  • free on-campus wifi via eduroam

Additional costs

Although not all of the following are compulsory/relevant, you should keep in mind the costs of:

  • accommodation and living expenditure
  • books (should you wish to have your own copies)
  • printing, photocopying and stationery
  • PC/laptop (should you prefer to purchase your own for independent study and online learning activities)
  • mobile phone/tablet (to access online services)
  • field trips (travel and activity costs)
  • placements (travel expenses and living costs)
  • student visas (international students only)
  • study abroad opportunities (travel costs, accommodation, visas and immunisations)
  • academic conferences (travel costs)
  • professional-body membership
  • graduation (gown hire etc)

Funding

There are many ways to fund study for home and international students. From loans to International Scholarships and subject-specific funding, you'll find all of the information you need on our specialist funding pages.

International fee:
£18,250
Placement year international:
£3,830

Courses_UG_Fees_Funding_Subheading_International

Liverpool John Moores University is committed to supporting international students by providing a range of scholarships and flexible payment plans to help students manage their tuition fees.

Scholarships

LJMU provides a variety of scholarships to support international students. Scholarships are available to self-funded students who have accepted their offer and met all the conditions outlined in their offer letter. Students must also demonstrate that they can cover living costs, travel, and other expenses associated to studying at the university. Postgraduate scholarships include tuition fee reductions and are often offered in partnership with external funding organisations.

All self-funded international students are eligible for an automatic scholarship worth up to £4,000. For more details and to view our full list of scholarships, visit the international scholarship webpages.

Deposit

All students must pay a £5,000 deposit before they can receive their CAS letter.

For more information view our deposit page.

Tuition Fee Payment Plan

After paying their £5,000 deposit, students have the option to pay their fees in full or in three equal instalments minus any internal scholarships and discounts. There are two payment options available for international students. You can either pay your tuition fees in full before enrolment or opt for a payment plan. With the payment plan, you can pay your fees in three instalments after making your £5,000 deposit. The first instalment is due before enrolment.

All payments should be made through Flywire. Full details can be found in the How to Pay Guide.

Early Bird Tuition Fee discount

We are excited to introduce a £500 Early Payment Discount to all self-funded international students. Eligible self-funded students who pay their fees by the required deadlines will get a discount which will be automatically deducted from the 1st year of tuition fees.

To see the required deadlines please visit the webpage

Entry requirements

Please choose your qualifications below to view requirements

Grades/points required from qualifications: ABB-AAB (128-136)

Work out how many UCAS points your qualifications are worth using the UCAS Tariff Calculator.

Qualification requirements

GCSEs and equivalents

Grade 4 or grade C or above in English Language and Mathematics/ Numeracy.

GCSE Equivalences accepted:
• Key Skills Level 2 in English/Maths
• NVQ Level 2 Functional skills in Maths and English Writing and or Reading
• Skills for Life Level 2 in Numeracy/English
• Higher Diploma in Maths/English
• Northern Ireland Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number
• Wales Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number

A levels

ABB-AAB
Minimum Number of A Levels: 2
Maximum AS UCAS Points: 20
Subject requirements: Grade B from Maths and a Grade B from one of the following: Physics, Chemistry, Computing, Further Maths, Electronics or Engineering.

BTECs

Extended Diploma: DDM in Engineering discipline + Distinction in Further Engineering Maths

Access awards

Not accepted on MEng-students studying Access can be considered for Beng programme

International Baccalaureate

Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications including minimum score of 6 in HL Mathematics and 6 in HL Physics

OCR Cambridge Technical

Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications From a relevant subject that includes Maths.

Irish awards

Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications from a minimum of 5 subjects including appropriate Maths and Physics

T levels

Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications.

You need to obtain the required UCAS points from a related subject area that includes Maths.

International requirements

IELTS

6.0 overall with no component below 5.5, taken within two years of the course start date.

https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/study/courses/international-entry-requirements

Find your country

Please Note: All international qualifications are subject to a qualification equivalency check.

How to apply

Securing your place at LJMU

UCAS is the official application route for our full-time undergraduate courses. Further information on the UCAS application process can be found here https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/study/undergraduate-students/how-to-apply.

Your student experience

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The university reserves the right to withdraw or make alterations to a course and facilities if necessary; this may be because such changes are deemed to be beneficial to students, are minor in nature and unlikely to impact negatively upon students or become necessary due to circumstances beyond the control of the university. Where this does happen, the university operates a policy of consultation, advice and support to all enrolled students affected by the proposed change to their course or module.
Further information on the terms and conditions of any offer made, our admissions policy and the complaints and appeals process.