Programme Specification
MSc in Sustainable Engineering
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the
programme and the learning outcomes that students are expected to achieve if full
advantage is taken of the learning opportunities that are provided. More detailed information
on the learning outcomes, content and teaching, and learning and assessment methods of
each module can be found in Module Specifications and other programme documentation
and online at http://www.lboro.ac.uk/admin/ar
The accuracy of the information in this document is reviewed by the University and may be
checked by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education.
Awarding body/institution
Loughborough University
Department
Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering
Teaching institution (if different)
Details of accreditation by a
professional/statutory body
Award
Being sought
Provisional
Established

MSc
(e.g .BA, MSc etc)
Programme title
Sustainable Engineering
Length of programme
1 year full-time, up to 8 years’ part-time
UCAS code
N/A
Date at which the programme
specification was written or
revised
January 2010
1. Programme Aims:
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To provide opportunities for students to acquire vocationally relevant knowledge and
understanding, and to develop appropriate skills, values and attributes such that they
are able to usefully contribute to sustainable product and process design at a
professional level upon graduation.
To advance the understanding of sustainable engineering and its application to
improvements in process efficiency and product design that enhance physical and
economic performance, and improve business environmental and sustainability
performance.
To develop and foster both analytical and creative abilities through individual and
team-based experiences and learning.
To enable students to develop effective communication skills, including those
required for verbal, visual and technical presentation.
To provide opportunities for students to develop and apply appropriate skills to the
improvement of process efficiency and in the creation of sustainable product designs.
To enhance students’ careers and employment opportunities.
2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external and internal
reference points used to inform programme outcomes:
External references:
Benchmark statements for Engineering.
Industry input to steer programme content and delivery has been through an Industrial
Liaison Committee which meets annually.
Internal references:
The University’s Professional Development unit.
Best practices in distance learning developed by the HEA Engineering Subject Support
Centre.
Departmental Teaching and Learning Committee.
3. Programme Learning Outcomes
3.1
Knowledge and understanding
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to
demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
 The nature of the Innovation process.
 The generic nature of design and the phases and activities within the overall
design process.
 Sustainable development, environmental legislation, resource conservation
and design for the environment in a company context.
 Environmental management principles and practice.
 The role of human mental processes in design.
 The relationships between design, manufacturing and commerce and the
principles of new product development.
 A knowledge of modern manufacturing practices.
 The principles and application of life-cycle assessment (LCA).
 Sustainable product design principles and practice.
 The role and implications of integrated software support systems for product
design.
 Management and business practices (including finance, design management
and quality).
 Basic company accounting.
 The specification of requirements for a manufacturing enterprise and
business process.
 Team management techniques and practices.
Learning, teaching and assessment methods to enable outcomes to be
achieved and demonstrated:
In addition to the information provided in the section introduction, students should
note that they may be required to work both individually and in groups. Students will,
in certain modules, be taught how to use computer-based tools and be given the
opportunity to practice their new-found skills in group exercises and/or coursework
assignments. The major project provides the opportunity for a student to demonstrate
how they can apply the knowledge and skills learned within a comprehensive
investigation of a sustainable engineering problem.
3.2
Skills and other attributes:
a. Subject-specific cognitive skills
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:
 Appreciate the broad range of influences and activities within the design
process and explain their significance.
 Evaluate technical and commercial risk and make decisions based on
available information.
 Apply the principles and practices of environmental management.
 Appreciate the range of available modern manufacturing processes and
understand their environmental impacts.
 Identify solutions to engineering problems from a
sustainability/environmental standpoint.
 Apply life-cycle assessment to reduce product and process environmental
impact.
 Apply design tools to aid sustainable product design.
Learning, teaching and assessment methods to enable outcomes to be
achieved and demonstrated:
In addition to the information provided in the section introduction, students should be
aware that assessment and feedback will emphasise the need for a high standard of
cognitive awareness.
b. Subject-specific practical skills
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:
 Use the design process to plan and carry out projects.
 Plan and implement re-organisation of a company for increased
environmental effectiveness.
 Apply life-cycle assessment methodologies to improve product and
process environmental performance.
 Select and use appropriate design tools to support sustainable product
design.
 Select and conduct experimental procedures to support analysis.
 Generate new ideas and develop and evaluate a range of solutions.
 Understand project management skills and team working practices.
 Understand the need for good communication skills.
Learning, teaching and assessment methods to enable outcomes to be
achieved and demonstrated:
In addition to the information provided in the section introduction, students will be
required to demonstrate their ability to select appropriate tools and strategies to
develop and analyse solutions for design problems. Assessment will focus on the
student’s ability to demonstrate the skills necessary for innovation.
c. Generic skills
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:
 Plan and monitor multi-disciplinary projects.
 Appreciate the central role of design within engineering.
 Understand how to access and analyse information from a range of
sources.
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Understand the concepts of commercial risk and cost-benefit analysis.
Communicate effectively and make presentations of a technical/business
nature to achieve maximum impact.
Indentify methods to assist in innovation, team-working and engineering
communication.
Demonstrate competence in using computer based engineering
techniques, specifically for LCA and sustainable product design.
Analyse and understand complex engineering problems.
Use team-working skills.
Learning, teaching and assessment methods to enable outcomes to be
achieved and demonstrated:
In addition to the information provided in the section introduction, students will have
ample opportunity for experiential learning in self-organisation and timemanagement; they will have experience of team-working and both learn and practice
the skills necessary for effective communication.
4. Programme structures and requirements, levels, modules, credits and
awards:
The programme is the responsibility of the Wolfson School of Mechanical and Manufacturing
Engineering. It is studied on a full-time or part-time basis and leads to one of the following
awards:
 MSc – 180 credits
 Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) – 120 credits
 Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) – 60 credits
The programme is made up of taught modules and a substantial project. All modules have a
credit weight. The credit weight for a module is awarded to a candidate who gains a module
mark of not less than 50%. The lowest acceptable mark for a module is 40% (the minimum
performance level). Full-time candidates may be awarded an MSc after accumulating 90
credits for their project, 60 credits from taught modules and being assessed at the minimum
performance level or better in further modules with a total credit weight of 30.
Full details can be found in the Programme Regulations:
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/admin/ar/lps/progreg/year/1011/docs/Sustainable%20Engineering%2
0MSc.DOC
5. Criteria for admission to the programme:
Admission is normally by an honours degree in engineering or physical sciences. Other
academic or professional qualifications such as a chartered professional qualification are
considered on their merits. Industrial or other appropriate experience may also be used as
part qualification for admission to the programme.
6. Information about the programme assessment strategy:
Students are assessed on each module using coursework and/or examination. Assessment
of a module normally takes place at the end of the semester in which the module is taught.
The individual project is assessed at the end of the programme. Reassessment may take
place during the University’s special assessment period. The pass mark to achieve credit for
a module is 50%. There is also a minimum performance pass-level, which is set at not less
than 40% in the module assessment. In order to pass the MSc students must:
 Take modules with a total credit weight of 180, including the project module;
 Obtain 150 credits;
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Pass modules with a further credit weight of 30 at the minimum 40% performance
pass-level.
In terms of marks in the module assessments, this means that students must obtain:
 50% or more in their project module (yielding 80 credits full-time/90 credits part-time);
 50% or more in modules with a credit weight of 60 part-time/70 full-time;
 40% or more in further modules with a credit weight of 30.
In order to obtain distinction in the MSc, students must obtain 180 credits and have a
weighted average assessment score over all offered modules of at least 70%.
7. What makes the programme distinctive?
This programme was developed as a unique response to the need for a programme that
considered the inter-relationships between product and process design and business
management to deliver improved manufacturing business environmental and sustainability
performance. The programme is founded on the Wolfson School’s pioneering provision of
sustainability modules in undergraduate and postgraduate engineering courses and on its
world-leading research. The programme will also benefit from the University’s crossboundary commitment to sustainability, as evidenced from the Sustainability Research
School www.lboro.ac.uk/schools/sustainability/ and the opportunity this provides for
incorporating knowledge and expertise from other departments within the teaching
programme. In particular, the programme features taught input from the departments of
Design and Technology, and Materials. This combination of attributes will ensure that
graduates will develop the knowledge and skills necessary to enable them to contribute
effectively to the ‘greening’ of industry and commerce.
8. Particular support for learning:
Information on all the University’s support services can be found at:
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/admin/ar/templateshop/notes/lps/index.htm
Additional Wolfson School services include:
Computing Facilities:
The School has installed many computers to enhance the extensive central facilities
provided by Computing Services. There are four networked computer suites within the
Wolfson School building that are used for both teaching and private study with access 24
hours, 7 days a week.
9. Methods for evaluating and improving the quality and standards of
learning:
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/admin/ar/templateshop/notes/lps/index.htm