Programme Specification
A statement of the knowledge, understanding and skills that underpin a
taught programme of study leading to an award from
The University of Sheffield
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Programme Title
Advanced Aerospace Materials Manufacturing
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Programme Code
MATT109
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JACS Code
J200
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Level of Study
Postgraduate
5a
Final Qualification
Master of Science in Engineering (MSc (Eng))
5b
QAA FHEQ Level
Masters
6a
Intermediate Qualification(s)
Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert), Postgraduate Diploma
(PGDip)
6b
QAA FHEQ Level
Masters
7
Teaching Institution (if not Sheffield)
Not applicable
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Faculty
Engineering
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Department
Materials Science and Engineering
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Other Departments involved in
teaching the programme
None
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Mode(s) of Attendance
Full-time or Part-time
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Duration of the Programme
1 year Full-time, or 2 years Part-time
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Accrediting Professional or Statutory
Body
The Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining
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Date of production/revision
April 2014
15. Background to the programme and subject area
The UK aerospace industry is the largest in Europe and second only in the world to the United States; it
supports 3,000 companies and employs 230,000 people. But the potential for growth is widely acknowledged,
and considerable effort is being made to put the UK in the best position to take advantage of the potential new
contracts, e.g. Rolls Royce will open an advanced aero-engine blade casting facility in Rotherham capable of
manufacturing 100,000 blades per year when fully operational.
In order to underpin these developments, industry requires a lot more specialists who have a thorough
understanding of aerospace materials manufacturing coupled with the professional and technical leadership
skills to apply this expertise.
The MSc in Advanced Aerospace Materials Manufacturing programme provides students with the technical
skills and knowledge, adaptability, professional awareness, imagination and creativity to find solutions to new
and unusual challenges that current and emerging manufacturing technologies produce. The type of work for
which the training provides the necessary skills are as follows:
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Defining quality and its control, including the use of standards and specifications
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The use of non-destructive evaluation to identify manufacturing defects and maintain product integrity
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The use of modelling to fast track the development and/or optimisation of new or existing process routes
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Failure analysis and failure prevention
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The identification of the most appropriate manufacturing method for a new product
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An understanding of the emerging manufacturing technology landscape and how it can be implemented
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16. Programme aims
The University’s Mission is to provide students from a wide variety of educational and social backgrounds with
high-quality education in a research-led environment using staff working at the frontiers of academic enquiry.
The Department of Materials Science and Engineering implements this through its strong commitment to both
teaching and research. It also aims to engender in its students a commitment to future self-learning and social
responsibility.
The specific aims of the programme are to:
1. Provide access to an engineering degree to students from a range of academic and social backgrounds;
2. Prepare students for a professional career in industry, education, public and commercial sectors;
3. Develop interpersonal skills appropriate to a professional person;
4. Encourage students to think for themselves, work effectively on their own initiative, and develop a social
awareness;
5. Provide experience in conducting extended individual projects;
6. Provide experience in conducting industrial based group projects;
7. Develop the students’ ability to make technical decisions;
8. Provide students with an education through a firm understanding and practical knowledge in metallurgy and
advanced manufacturing;
9. Provide students with methods of defining quality and its control;
10. Develop students’ skills in identifying the key issues for manufacturing a metals based product;
11. Develop students’ skills in identifying the key issues for manufacturing a polymer based composite based
product;
12. Develop students skills in modelling technologies;
13. Develop students’ skills in implementing new technologies.
17. Programme learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding:
Candidates for MSc, PG Dip and PG Cert will have developed:
K1
Knowledge and understanding of the basic characteristics, processing, heat treatment, microstructure,
properties and applications of engineering alloys, such as aluminium alloys, titanium alloys, carbon steels
and advanced structural steels;
K2
An understanding of the metallurgical factors underlying the development, processing and properties of
light alloys and steels and their selection for applications.
K3
Knowledge and understanding of the basic characteristics, lay-up strategies, anisotropy, dimensional
stability, part consolidation, surface finish, and properties and applications of engineering composures,
such as Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer (GFRP), Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP), Aramid
Fiber Reinforced Polymer (AFRP) as well as multi-material composites, such as GLARE;
K4
Knowledge of the sources of failure and failure prevention/mitigation
K5
An appreciation of the underlying principles of non destructive inspection methods and their interpretation
K6
An understanding of welding and joining methods
K7
Knowledge and understanding of the wide variety of aerospace materials manufacturing techniques and
their applicability to certain materials and applications
K8
An understanding of the importance and use of quality control across a range of organisations in the UK
and worldwide manufacturing sectors.
K9
An understanding of the importance of advanced manufacturing techniques in providing a step change in
economics of production.
K10
An understanding of the implications of applying disruptive technologies into the supply chain.
K11
Knowledge of professional and ethical responsibilities including the global and social context of
engineering
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Skills and other attributes:
Candidates for MSc, PG Dip and PG Cert will be able to:
S1
Identify the appropriate manufacturing technique for a particular material and its application.
S2
Identify the appropriate process control method(s) for a particular manufacturing technique.
S3
Identify the strengths and limitations of a range of quality control methodologies.
S4
Independently use commercial software to investigate and optimise a manufacturing process route.
S5
Prepare a quality control report using the appropriate industrial standards.
S6
Research for information to develop ideas further.
S7
Apply engineering techniques taking into account industrial and commercial constraints.
S8
Undertake manipulation, sorting and presentation of data.
S9
Make use of scientific evidence based methods in the solution of problems.
S10
Make use of general IT tools
S11
Make use of creativity and innovation in problem solving.
S12
Work with limited or contradictory information.
S13
Have effective written and oral communication.
S14
Exhibit time and resource management.
S15
Work in a team environment and display leadership.
Candidates for MSc will also be able to:
S16
Progress a larger scale study project by assembling the necessary knowledge and applying experimental
or modelling knowledge.
S17
Develop a set of conclusions and recommendations based on relevant data generated from a large scale
project.
18. Teaching, learning and assessment
Development of the learning outcomes is promoted through the following teaching and learning
methods:
The main teaching and learning methods adopted for each learning outcome are shown below. In most cases a
combination of methods is used. For modules delivered fully within the University, lectures are the principal
means of imparting knowledge, and understanding is gained through a combination of bespoke online learning
activities, workshops/tutorials, example classes, and coursework assignments. For modules delivered in
partnership with industry, lectures, seminars and case studies form the base which knowledge is imparted;
understanding is then developed through works visits and group projects.
The programme also provides a number of opportunities for personal development, including the interaction
with industrialists and by encouraging responsibility in the decision making process, often when confronting
complex industrial plant scenarios.
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Tutorials /example classes
On-line learning activities
Individual investigative project for the MSc
Written examinations
Coursework submissions
Individual investigative project for the MSc
dissertation and presentation
K1 Basic metallurgical characteristics
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K2 Light alloys and steels
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K3 Microstructure and properties
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K4 Failure
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K5 Non destructive inspection
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K6 Welding and joining
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K7 Manufacturing techniques
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K8 Quality control
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K9 Advanced Manufacturing
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K10 Disruptive technologies
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K11 Ethics
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LEARNING OUTCOME
(abbreviated - see Section 17 for full
text)
Industrial seminars
Coursework and case Study assignments
Assessment
Lectures
Teaching/Learning
S1 Manufacturing Technique
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S2 Process control
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S3 Quality control
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S4 Software
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S5 Industrial standards
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S6 Research
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S7 Industrial application
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S8 Data and manipulation
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S9 Scientific evidence based methods
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S10 IT tools
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S11 Creativity and innovation
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S12 Limited information
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S13 Oral and written communication
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S14 Time management
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S15 Teamwork and leadership
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S16 Large scale project
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S17 Conclusions from project
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Opportunities to demonstrate achievement of the learning outcomes are provided through the
following assessment methods:
Knowledge and understanding are primarily assessed in written and orally presented assignments and case
studies and written examinations. Skills are acquired mainly through coursework and case studies. For those
following the MSc programme, additional skills are acquired by means of an individual project undertaken as a
research project and this forms a major part of the overall assessment. The learning outcomes associated with
the assessment methods are shown in the table above.
19. Reference points
The learning outcomes have been developed to reflect the following points of reference:
•
Subject Benchmark Statements http://www.qaa.ac.uk/AssuringStandardsAndQuality/subjectguidance/Pages/Subject-benchmark-statements.aspx
•
Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (2008)
http://www.qaa.ac.uk/Publications/InformationAndGuidance/Pages/The-framework-for-higher-educationqualifications-in-England-Wales-and-Northern-Ireland.aspx
•
University Strategic Plan http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/strategicplan
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Learning and Teaching Strategy (2011-16) http://www.shef.ac.uk/lets/staff/lts
•
Academic Standards – Engineering; Subject Benchmark Statement, Quality Assurance Agency for
Higher Education, 2000 (as far as this pertains to postgraduate masters programmes).
•
Draft Annex to Academic Standard – Engineering, Subject Benchmark Statement, Quality Assurance
Agency for Higher Education, 2002 (as far as this pertains to postgraduate masters programmes).
20. Programme structure and regulations
Students are required to complete 9 taught compulsory modules (120 Credits) and a 60 credit compulsory
project module (MAT6040). Taught modules are assessed by assignment and examination and by a dissertation
for MAT6040. The objective of the project is to allow the students to demonstrate the practical application of a
number of skills acquired on the programme in large research based project.
The overall workload for full-time and part-time students following the MSc programme is the same. Full-time
students should complete all of the work elements in one year and part-time students are required to complete
all of the modules and assignments within two years with not fewer than four modules completed within the first
year. Part-time students are allowed to take a third year for the completion of their project and dissertation
submission. Students registering for the Diploma do not undertake a project. Students registering for the
Certificate are required to pass 60 credits of taught modules.
Detailed information about the structure of programmes, regulations concerning assessment and progression
and descriptions of individual modules are published in the University Calendar available on-line at
http://www.shef.ac.uk/govern/calendar/regs.html.
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21. Student development over the course of study
Assignments set for the programme are intended to allow the student to demonstrate the required level of
knowledge for a particular element of taught work. The pass level for assessed work is set by the Faculty, and
award of the final MSc degree or PG Diploma is based on the Faculty rules regarding credits obtained during
the programme.
22. Criteria for admission to the programme
The programme is aimed at advanced level professionals and forms the basis for both a fundamental and
applied approach to implementing advanced manufacturing methodologies into the metals supply chain and its
end users. Entry to the programme is based on successful completion of a first degree in a suitable science or
engineering subject.
Detailed information regarding admission to programmes is available from the University’s On-Line Prospectus
at http://www.shef.ac.uk/courses/.
23. Additional information
For further information, students are directed to the Department of Materials Science and Engineering web site
at http://www.shef.ac.uk/materials
This specification represents a concise statement about the main features of the programme and should be
considered alongside other sources of information provided by the teaching department(s) and the University. In
addition to programme specific information, further information about studying at The University of Sheffield can
be accessed via our Student Services web site at http://www.shef.ac.uk/ssid.
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