The curriculum of the MSc Applied Instrumentation & Control programme has been developed in consultation with industry; graduates will have the confidence to develop new ideas and implement real measurement systems, making them of considerable value to industry.

Accredited by: Affiliated with:

MSc Applied Instrumentation & Control Specialist Oil & Gas pathway available

Brilliance is in the detail.New developments in sensor technologies, instrument communication, networking and information processing offer many opportunities to enhance business performance through improved production, systems’ optimisation and asset management.

The instrumentation professional must be equipped to understand the principles and implementation of instrumentation, the importance of efficient and reliable measurement and control systems and have a suitably wide perspective of the subject area so that a number of different approaches to a problem can be identified.

Brighter futuresThe programme caters for an extremely wide range of industries and services for which the measurement of processes and environmental factors are vital to their business performance. It will also be of interest to companies that manufacture and supply such measurement systems. The range of industrial sectors includes: petrochemical, agrochemical, the food industry, pharmaceutical, environmental, optics and optoelectronics, medical instrumentation, power generation and the water industry. The employment areas within these sectors include: computer controlled instrumentation systems, process instrumentation, technical management and sales, process control and automation, sensor development and manufacture, instrument working and test and measurement systems.

Entry requirements & English language requirementsUK honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant engineering or science discipline. IELTS score of 6.0 (or equivalent) with no element below 5.5.

Accreditation*Accredited by the Institute of Measurement and Control as meeting the Engineering Council’s further learning requirements for Chartered Engineering registration.

Mode of study and duration• Full-time: PgD nine months; MSc 12 months (Sept start) or 15

months (Jan start).• Distance learning: students are not required to attend campus

and will be provided with a comprehensive study pack for each module.

Programme structureThe curriculum has been developed in consultation with industry and may 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.

MSc Applied Instrumentation & ControlTrimester A modulesMeasurement Theory & Devices; Control Systems; Measurement Systems; and Industrial Case Study B.Trimester B modulesProfessional Practice; Data Acquisition & Analysis; Instrument Communication & Networking; and Industrial Case Study A.

MSc Applied Instrumentation & Control (Oil & Gas)Trimester A modulesThe Oil & Gas Industry; Measurement Theory & Devices; Control Systems; and Measurement Systems.Trimester B modulesOil & Gas Exploration; Data Acquisition & Analysis; Instrument Communication & Networking; and Industrial Case Study A.

Distance learningStudents can choose to complete any number of modules each academic year depending upon their circumstances; however, students are advised to complete the programme within five years. Students are required to have access to a minimum specification of IT equipment (details on request).

*Accreditation pending for the Oil & Gas specialist pathway

Assessment methodsThe taught modules are assessed by coursework only or a combination of coursework and examination. The MSc project is assessed by project reports, practical operation and an electronic presentation.

Student supportStudy support is available to all students throughout the MSc programme from personal tutors, module leaders and the programme leader. A designated international student advisor can also provide structured mentoring and study support sessions which cover numerous topics such as academic writing skills, personal goal setting and pastoral care.

Module information

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

Applied Instrumentation & Control

Instrument Communication & Networking: 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.

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 & 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.

Oil & Gas Exploration: provides an introduction to petroleum geology, including: the definition and calculation of resources and reserves; assessing exploration chance of success; reservoir characterisation; performance and engineering; conventional and non-conventional petroleum resources; shale gas; tight gas sands and coal bed methane; shale oil; and oil sands and bitumen. Topics relating to exploration and prospecting will also be scrutinised.

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.

The Oil & Gas Industry: provides an introduction to the key players in the international oil and gas industry and examines: the legal ownership of hydrocarbon reserves; valuation of hydrocarbon reserves; investment appraisals for exploration and production; governmental control and global politics of the exploitation of hydrocarbons; terminology of the petroleum industry; and processes involving exploration, drilling and production.

For more information visit www.gcu.ac.uk/postgraduate

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How to applyYou can apply to a postgraduate programme at Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) in a number of ways: apply online or download an application form from www.gcu.ac.uk/postgraduate/howtoapply; alternatively, contact our postgraduate team on +44 (0)141 331 8640 or email them at postgraduate@gcu.ac.uk

GCU aims to process all complete postgraduate taught applications and make an initial decision within 48 hours of receipt of application, excluding weekends and bank holidays.

ScholarshipsScholarships may be available for this programme. Visit www.gcu.ac.uk/study/scholarships for details.

Fees and fundingVisit www.gcu.ac.uk/postgraduate/feesfinance for details.