University home > Unit and programme catalogues in 2021/22 > Programme catalogue > Faculty of Engineering > Department of Engineering Mathematics > Biorobotics (MSc) > Specification
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Programme code | 4EMAT004T |
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Programme type | Postgraduate Taught Degree |
Programme director(s) |
Sabine Hauert
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Faculty | Faculty of Engineering |
School/department | Department of Engineering Mathematics |
Teaching institution | University of Bristol |
Awarding institution | University of Bristol |
Mode of study | Full Time |
Programme length | 1 years (full time) |
This programme aims to develop the student’s interest in and knowledge and understanding of Biorobotics. Students will build frontier robots inspired from biology, or explore life sciences using state-of-the-art robots. From microrobots for cancer treatment, to swarms monitoring wildlife, or soft robots for prosthetics, they will be engineering solutions to today’s global challenges. The course brings together life scientists and engineers in an interdisciplinary environment where solutions are co-created with stakeholders in mind.
As part of this course, students will:
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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General technical concepts and methods will be taught in “Robotics Systems” and Options (1,2) through ‘traditional’ lectures. Research topics in robotics will be taught in “Robotics Research Technology and Methods” through case study work and seminars by external speakers (3). Focus on Biorobotics will be covered in “Biosystems and Biorobotics”, the “Group Project”. The first provides inspiration and demonstrations of Biorobotics from external experts (4,5). The second provides a hands-on unit focussed on problem solving through group work (4,5). Focus on societal and environmental impacts will be provided through “Robotics Research Technology and Methods”, “Biosystems and Biorobotics”, and the “Group Project” as well as Options (6). |
Methods of Assessment | |
Lecture material will be assessed by examinations and coursework. (Note that most of the lecture material in the course is in options drawn from existing provision.) Projects and short courses will be assessed through reflective accounts, presentations and in-class exercises to enable fast efficient assessment and feedback. Seminar material will be assessed by participation monitoring and reflective accounts. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Focus on Biorobotics skills will be covered in “Biosystems and Biorobotics”, the “Group Project”, and the “Dissertation”. The first provides inspiration and demonstrations of Biorobotics from external experts (7). The second provides a hands-on unit focussed on problem solving through group work (8-11), the later focusses on an individual research project assessing (8). |
Methods of Assessment | |
Reflective accounts; presentations; assessment of technical project work; monitoring of participation in group projects and seminars. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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State-of-the-art in robotics will be covered in “Robotics Research Technology and Methods” through case study work and seminars by external speakers (12). Focus on Biorobotics will be covered in “Biosystems and Biorobotics”, the “Group Project” (12). Communication skills will be developed as part of the “Group Project”, “Dissertation”, and through the programme-level assessments, which is geared at creating a portfolio suitable for external consumption (13). The “Group Project” and course “Biosystems and Biorobotics” will be entirely geared towards cross-disciplinary working between robotics and life-sciences (14). The ability to plan, execute and manage an extended research project will be assessed as part of the “Dissertation” (15). Finally, the ability to assess the societal and environmental impact will be embedded explicitly across the programme, in “Robotics Research Technology and Methods” , Biosystems and Biorobotics”, the “Group Project”, the “Group Project” , and “Dissertation”, as well as Optional unit such as “Bio-inspired-Artificial Intelligence”, “World in a Crisis”, and “Sustainable Development”. |
Methods of Assessment | |
Seminar material will be assessed by participation monitoring and reflective accounts. Group projects and Dissertations will be assessed through presentations and written material (blogs, reports, short papers). |
Statement of expectations from the students at each level of the programme as it/they develop year on year.
Level M/7 - Postgraduate Certificate |
60 credits. Students will have the initial foundations needed to design and build biorobotic systems with stakeholder relevance. They will be able to state common applications, challenges, and contextual issues appropriate to biorobotics and to study and evaluate related research. |
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Level M/7 - Postgraduate Diploma |
120 credits (all assessments in TB1 and TB2). Students will have the initial foundations needed to design and build biorobotic systems with stakeholder relevance. They will be able to state common applications, challenges, and contextual issues appropriate to biorobotics and to study and evaluate related research. They will also be able to combine their skills to deliver an integrated biorobotic solution to a problem. |
Level M/7 - Postgraduate Masters |
180 credits (all assessments in TB1, TB2, and 1 dissertation unit). Students will have succeeded at all ILOs of the Programme. |
The intended learning outcome mapping document shows which mandatory units contribute towards each programme intended learning outcome.
For information on the admissions requirements for this programme please see details in the postgraduate prospectus at http://www.bristol.ac.uk/prospectus/postgraduate/ or contact the relevant academic department.
https://www.bristol.ac.uk/engineering/departments/engineering-mathematics/
120 credits must be passed to enable progression to the Dissertation phase of the programme.
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Robotics Systems | EMATM0054 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Introduction to Artificial Intelligence | EMATM0044 | 10 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Robotics Research Technology and Methods | EMATM0058 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
Group Project in Biorobotics | EMATM0063 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
Biosystems and Biorobotics | EMATM0062 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
Dissertation | EMATM0055 | 60 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Select from: | ||||
Introduction to Computer Programming | EMAT10007 | 10 | Optional | TB-1 |
Bio-Inspired Artificial Intelligence | EMATM0029 | 10 | Optional | TB-2 |
Learning, Computation and the Brain | COMSM0094 | 10 | Optional | TB-1 |
Soft Robotics | EMATM0057 | 10 | Optional | TB-2 |
Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Enterprise | INOVM0015 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
World in Crisis? | GEOG16001 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Sustainable Development | UNIV10001 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
180 |
The pass mark set by the University for any level 7(M) unit is 50 out of 100.
For detailed rules on progression please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes and the relevant faculty handbook.
All taught masters programmes, unless exempted by Senate, must allow the opportunity for students to exit from the programme with a postgraduate diploma or certificate.
To be awarded a postgraduate diploma, students must have successfully completed 120 credit points, of which 90 must be at level M/7.
To be awarded a postgraduate certificate, students must have successfully completed 60 credit points, of which 40 must be at level M/7.
An award with Merit or Distinction is permitted for postgraduate taught masters, diplomas and certificates, where these are specifically named entry-level qualifications. An award with Merit or Distinction is not permitted for exit awards where students are required to exit the programme on academic grounds but is permitted in designated programmes (as set out in the programme specification) where students choose to withdraw from the intended programme but otherwise achieve the necessary credit points for the exit award.
The classification of the award in relation to the final programme mark is as follows:
Award with Distinction*: at least 65 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 70 out of 100 for the dissertation. **Faculties retain discretion to increase these thresholds.
Award with Merit*: at least 60 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 60 out of 100 for the dissertation. Faculties retain discretion to increase these thresholds.
* The MA in Law has separate regulations for awarding distinction and merit.
** For the award of Distinction, the Faculty of Engineering requires at least 70 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 70 out of 100 for the dissertation.
All taught masters programmes, unless exempted by Senate, must allow the opportunity for students to choose, or be required, to leave at the postgraduate diploma or certificate stage.
To be awarded a postgraduate diploma, students must have successfully completed 120 credit points, of which 90 must be at level M/7.
To be awarded a postgraduate certificate, students must have successfully completed 60 credit points, of which 40 must be at level M/7.
Please note: 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 if he/she takes full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided.
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