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Undergraduate Programme Specification

BEng Computer Engineering

Academic Year 2021/22

A programme specification is required for any programme on which a student may be registered. All programmes of the University are subject to the University's Quality Assurance processes. All degrees are awarded by Queen's University Belfast.

Programme Title BEng Computer Engineering Final Award
(exit route if applicable for Postgraduate Taught Programmes)
Bachelor of Engineering
Programme Code CEN-BENG UCAS Code GH6P HECoS Code 100165 - Electronic engineering - 50
100374 - Software engineering - 50
ATAS Clearance Required No
Mode of Study Full Time
Type of Programme Single Honours Length of Programme Full Time - 3 Academic Year(s) Total Credits for Programme 360
Exit Awards available

Institute Information

Teaching Institution

Queen's University Belfast

School/Department

Electronics, Electrical Engineering & Computer Sci

Quality Code
https://www.qaa.ac.uk/quality-code

Higher Education Credit Framework for England
https://www.qaa.ac.uk/quality-code/higher-education-credit-framework-for-england

Level 6

Subject Benchmark Statements
https://www.qaa.ac.uk/quality-code/subject-benchmark-statements

The Frameworks for Higher Education Qualifications of UK Degree-Awarding Bodies
https://www.qaa.ac.uk/docs/qaa/quality-code/qualifications-frameworks.pdf

Engineering (2015)

Accreditations (PSRB)

Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)

Date of most recent Accreditation Visit 17-12-15

Regulation Information

Does the Programme have any approved exemptions from the University General Regulations
(Please see General Regulations)

None

Programme Specific Regulations

Progression

Stage 2
In order to proceed to Stage 2, students must normally have passed a minimum of 5 Stage 1 modules (100 CATS, taking account of any prerequisites).

Stage 3

In order to proceed to Stage 3, students must normally have passed a minimum of 5 Stage 2 modules (100 CATS, taking account of any prerequisites) and have passed 6 modules (120 CATS) at Stage 1.
Students achieving six Stage 2 module credits (120 CATS) with an average of at least 55% on their first module enrolments may after consultation with the Advisor of Studies transfer to the MEng Software and Electronic Systems Engineering programme at Stage 3.

Award of Degrees
For the award of a BEng degree students must normally have passed at least 16 modules (320 CATS) to include ELE3001 and have achieved a weighted average mark of at least 40%.

For those students that have transferred to this programme from Stage 3 or Stage 4 of the equivalent MEng degree programme, the following conditions apply in place of the above.

For the award of an BEng Honours Degree students must normally have passed at least 16 modules to include a final year project: only one from either ELE3001 or ELE4001. For this purpose, a pass in ELE4001 will be awarded as a pass at Stage 3.

The classification of the BEng degree is determined by a straight aggregate of the weighted marks for the individual modules which contribute to the classification. The classification is based on 6 stage 3 modules, to include: core modules, ELE3001 or ELE4001 and the best optional modules, of equal weight = 60% of the final mark, the 6 modules taken in Stage 2, of equal weight = 30% of the final mark, the 6 modules taken in Stage 1 of equal weight = 10% of the final mark.

Students with protected characteristics

N/A

Are students subject to Fitness to Practise Regulations

(Please see General Regulations)

No

Educational Aims Of Programme

The overall educational aims of this programme, which are aligned to the QAA subject benchmark statement for Engineering, are:

To provide the necessary underpinning knowledge, skills, tools and techniques to enable graduates of the programme to embark on careers in the electronics and software and related industries. In addition, graduates will have the necessary skills and abilities for further study in, or to make a technical contribution to new business enterprises in, the broad field of electronics and software or in a number of themes, e.g., Connected Health, Embedded Systems or Electronic Security.

To inculcate a creative and pragmatic approach to the design and implementation of integrated software and electronic systems that will remain through changes in technology.

To enable students to manage complexity through the use of: abstraction and modelling, effective project management, best practices and standards, appropriate tools, logical reasoning and problem solving.

Informed by top grade research, to provide students with timely exposure to, and practical experience in, a range of technologies relating to integrated electronic and software systems.

To develop a wide range of interpersonal skills, including effective oral, written, presentation and listening skills and team-working skills.

Through the Professional Engineering Practice modules at Stages 2 and 3, students are exposed to the commercial and legal realities of industry and the professional behaviours expected of graduate engineers.

Consistent with the general educational aims of the programme and the specific requirements of the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence, this specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme, and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate.

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes: Cognitive Skills

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

Analyse, interpret, synthesise and evaluate information across a variety of sources including the effective and efficient organisation and management of that information.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Problem solving and design pervade the degree, with each module emphasising some aspect of problem solving and/or good design practice. All modules have a coursework component (practical work, homeworks or assignments) which supports, illustrates and reinforces the theoretical material presented in lectures. The coursework develops from guided work leading to understanding in first year to objective focused design and investigation in final year.

Methods of Assessment

Assessed through homework, assignments and end-of-module written examinations.

Critically apply knowledge and understanding of facts, concepts, principles or theories to reason about problems and unfamiliar situations.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Problem solving and design pervade the degree, with each module emphasising some aspect of problem solving and/or good design practice. All modules have a coursework component (practical work, homeworks or assignments) which supports, illustrates and reinforces the theoretical material presented in lectures. The coursework develops from guided work leading to understanding in first year to objective focused design and investigation in final year.

Methods of Assessment

Assessed through assignments, reports on practical work and project reports, presentations and demonstrations.

Develop strategies to solve problems that require the synthesis of facts, concepts, principles or theories.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Problem solving and design pervade the degree, with each module emphasising some aspect of problem solving and/or good design practice. All modules have a coursework component (practical work, homeworks or assignments) which supports, illustrates and reinforces the theoretical material presented in lectures. The coursework develops from guided work leading to understanding in first year to objective focused design and investigation in final year.

Methods of Assessment

Assessed through homework, assignments and end-of-module written examinations.

Critically evaluate designs, components, products and artefacts and develop improvements where appropriate.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Problem solving and design pervade the degree, with each module emphasising some aspect of problem solving and/or good design practice. All modules have a coursework component (practical work, homeworks or assignments) which supports, illustrates and reinforces the theoretical material presented in lectures. The coursework develops from guided work leading to understanding in first year to objective focused design and investigation in final year.

Methods of Assessment

Assessed through assignments, reports on practical work and project reports, presentations and demonstrations.

Apply professional judgement to balance quality and safety indicators in the design, development and deployment of electronic and software systems.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Problem solving and design pervade the degree, with each module emphasising some aspect of problem solving and/or good design practice. All modules have a coursework component (practical work, homeworks or assignments) which supports, illustrates and reinforces the theoretical material presented in lectures. The coursework develops from guided work leading to understanding in first year to objective focused design and investigation in final year.

Methods of Assessment

Professional judgement and balance skills are largely assessed through the individual and design project assessments, dissertations and reports at Stage 3

Learning Outcomes: Transferable Skills

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

Retrieve information effectively and efficiently from a variety of sources and by a variety of techniques.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Developed through assignments and project work involving library resources (catalogues), web-based resources (browsers and search engines) and personal contacts.

Methods of Assessment

Indirectly assessed through assignments, practical work and projects.

Use information technology effectively, efficiently and appropriately.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Developed and practised within assignments, practicals and projects.

Methods of Assessment

Explicitly assessed within some technical assignments, practicals and projects, including the preparation of the dissertation and final report for the individual and industrial projects, respectively. Positive assessment of this skill is implicit to successful completion of any form of assessment involving electronic information manipulation.

Communicate succinctly and effectively within groups and to a range of audiences (orally, electronically or in writing).

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Explicitly taught in the Professional Studies modules; practised, assessed and developed through feedback within assignments and projects through presentations, demonstrations, reports, dissertations, etc.

Methods of Assessment

Practised, assessed and developed through feedback within assignments and projects through presentations, demonstrations, reports, dissertations, etc.

Understand, use, evaluate and present information involving a quantitative dimension

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Developed within lectures and practised through assignments and practicals.

Methods of Assessment

Assessed within assignments, practicals and through unseen written examinations.

Propose, use and assess appropriate methods to solve problems in an effective and efficient manner.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Developed within lectures and practised through assignments and practicals.

Methods of Assessment

Assessed within assignments, practicals and through unseen written examinations.

Manage one’s own learning and development including time management and organisational skills

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Practised and developed as an integral component of students’ learning experience as delivered within independent study, lectures, assignments, practicals and projects.

Methods of Assessment

Positive assessment of this skill is implicit to successful completion of any form of assessment of previously unfamiliar material

Learn independently in familiar and unfamiliar situations with open-mindedness and a spirit of critical enquiry acting positively upon feedback.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Developed as an integral component of students’ learning experience as delivered within independent study, lectures, assignments, practicals and projects.

Methods of Assessment

Positive assessment of this skill is implicit to successful completion of any form of assessment of previously unfamiliar material

Plan and manage their career, appreciating the need for continuing professional development in the wider context of lifelong learning.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Learners are given the opportunity to develop this skill through regular interaction with the Student Guidance Centre and Careers Service and other University-wide initiatives such as Degree Plus.

Methods of Assessment

The monitoring of the progress students are making in their employability and related skills development will be through Personal Development Plan (PDP) and a structured personal tutorial system. Additional positive assessment of skill D8 is implicit to successful completion of any form of assessment that requires the student to engage in a period of professional development, e.g. as found within the Stage 3 Individual Project

Learning Outcomes: Knowledge & Understanding

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

Understanding of the underpinning mathematics, physics and theoretical framework relevant to software and electronic systems.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Principally through lecture and directed individual study across all stages.

Methods of Assessment

Practised through the application of understanding within assignments, practicals and projects and primarily assessed with unseen written examination and, to a lesser extent, assignments or class tests

Understanding of the essential facts, concepts, principles and theories common to all Electronic Engineering and Computing disciplines and specific to software and electronic systems.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Principally through lecture and directed individual study across all stages.

Methods of Assessment

Practised through the application of understanding within assignments, practicals and projects and primarily assessed with unseen written examination and, to a lesser extent, assignments or class tests.

Understanding of scientific and engineering practice, standards and associated problems, in the specification, design, development, implementation, testing, delivery and maintenance of electronic and software based solutions.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Knowledge and understanding of KU3 forms an integral part of all technical strands of the programme assuming increasing importance as students progress through the stages and is a major feature of the individual project, module embedded design projects and Stage 1 and the Stage 2 Professional Engineering Practice which includes design projects (ECS2001).

Methods of Assessment

Practised through the application of understanding within assignments, practicals and projects and primarily assessed with unseen written examination and, to a lesser extent, assignments or class tests.

Understanding of professional aspects of the engineering discipline, including legal and ethical issues, principles of business and management and entrepreneurship.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Acquisition of KU4 is mainly at Stage 2 and Stage 3 Professional Engineering Practice) modules and (optionally) the year in industry.

Methods of Assessment

Primarily assessed within projects, practicals and assignments and to a lesser extent through unseen written examinations.

Understanding of the technological developments related to emerging applications of software and electronic systems such as connected health, embedded systems and electronic security.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Through specialist modules at Stage 3 (Information System Security, Connected Health and Digital Systems Architecture and Design) and the individual project, depending on the specific options selected by the learner.

Methods of Assessment

Knowledge and understanding is developed through feedback given to students on practical work etc.

Learning Outcomes: Subject Specific

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

Apply scientific principles and mathematical methods to the modelling and analysis of devices, modules, libraries, circuits, networks and other component factors of electronic and software systems

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Skill P1 is an integral component of all the technically oriented modules across all stages. Related theory is taught and demonstrated within lectures, practicals and assignments and practised within assignments, practicals and projects

Methods of Assessment

Lectures, practicals and assignments.

Write efficient and reliable computer programmes, applying the basic principles of software engineering.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Skill P2 is introduced at Stage 1, emphasising object-oriented (CSC1029), procedural (CSC1025) and low-level (ECS1001) approaches. At Stage 2 programming skills and principles are further developed through Data Structures & Algorithms (CSC2040)

Methods of Assessment

Assessed within unseen written examinations, assignments, practicals and projects. However, subject to the options selected, P2 can continue to be developed and assessed through modules at Stage 3 and Stage 4 and within the Stage 3 individual project.

Apply computer based tools to the analysis and synthesis of algorithms, devices, circuits, networks and systems that combine or otherwise integrate electronics and software.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Skill P3 is specifically introduced at Stage 1 within Electronics (ELE1052), Electric Circuits (ECS1004) and Embedded Systems (ECS1001) and developed at Stage 3 Individual Project. However, many of the technical modules at Stage 1 and Stage 2 contain practicals and assignments which require skill P3 and it is expected that the individual project at Stage 3 will provide further opportunity.

Methods of Assessment

The Assessment of P3 will therefore be primarily achieved through those practicals, assignments, design reports and project reports.

Plan, carry out, report and critically evaluate an engineering design project.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Skill P4 is largely introduced within the Stage 3 Individual Project and the Professional Engineering Practice modules at Stages 2 and 3.

Methods of Assessment

Mainly assessed through project reports and dissertations, assignments interviews and, to a lesser extent, unseen written examinations.

Recognise risks and safety aspects involved in the practical embodiment, test and measurement of electronic and software systems.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Skill P5 is a component of some technical modules. Risks and safety aspects related to business and enterprise are primarily taught within lectures and practised within practicals and assignments and in the Stage 3 individual project module.

Methods of Assessment

Practicals, project work and assignments.

Module Information

Stages and Modules

Module Title Module Code Level/ stage Credits

Availability

Duration Pre-requisite

Assessment

S1 S2 Core Option Coursework % Practical % Examination %
Mathematics 1 ELE1012 1 20 YES YES 24 weeks N YES 50% 0% 50%
Embedded Systems ECS1001 1 20 YES YES 24 weeks N YES 100% 0% 0%
Object Oriented Programming CSC1029 1 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 50% 30% 20%
Procedural Programming CSC1025 1 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 60% 40% 0%
Digital Systems ECS1005 1 20 YES YES 24 weeks N YES 60% 0% 40%
Fundamentals of Electric Circuits ECS1006 1 20 YES YES 24 weeks N YES 25% 15% 60%
Electronics 2 ELE2018 2 20 YES YES 24 weeks N YES 10% 20% 70%
Signals and Communication Systems 2 ELE2020 2 20 YES YES 24 weeks N YES 20% 10% 70%
Circuits and Control ELE2024 2 20 YES YES 24 weeks N YES 15% 15% 70%
Embedded Systems 2 ELE2025 2 20 YES YES 24 weeks N YES 0% 40% 60%
Mathematics and Algorithms ELE2035 2 20 YES YES 24 weeks N YES 20% 0% 80%
Professional Engineering and Innovation ELE2036 2 20 YES YES 24 weeks N YES 40% 60% 0%
Cyber Security Fundamentals CSC2056 2 20 YES 24 weeks N YES 80% 0% 20%
Data Structures and Algorithms CSC2059 2 20 YES 24 weeks N YES 50% 50% 0%
Introduction to Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning CSC2062 2 20 YES 24 weeks N YES 60% 40% 0%
Project 3 ELE3001 3 40 YES YES 24 weeks N YES 100% 0% 0%
Concurrent Programming CSC3021 3 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 100% 0% 0%
Connected Health ECS3003 3 20 YES YES 24 weeks N YES 30% 0% 70%
Networks and Communications Protocols ELE3040 3 20 YES YES 24 weeks N YES 20% 0% 80%
Signal Processing and Communications ELE3041 3 20 YES YES 24 weeks Y YES 15% 0% 85%
Control Systems Engineering ELE3042 3 20 YES YES 24 weeks Y YES 30% 0% 70%
Engineering Entrepreneurship ELE3043 3 20 YES YES 24 weeks N YES 70% 30% 0%
Malware Analysis CSC3059 3 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 0% 50% 50%
Advanced Electronics ELE3046 3 20 YES YES 24 weeks N YES 50% 0% 50%
Deep Learning CSC3066 3 20 YES 12 weeks N YES 60% 0% 40%

Notes