Mechatronic Engineering with Foundation Year
Mechatronic engineering is the discipline that integrates mechanical, electrical and computer engineering to design intelligent machines and devices. Where traditional engineering disciplines operated in relative separation, mechatronics brings them together to create systems that sense, process information and act in the physical world, from robotic manufacturing cells and autonomous vehicles to smart medical devices and consumer electronics. The discipline is at the heart of modern product design and manufacturing, and engineers who can work fluently across its component fields are among the most sought-after in advanced manufacturing and technology sectors.
At the University of Southampton this integrated master's programme runs across five years of full-time study, beginning with a foundation year that prepares you for the engineering demands ahead before taking you through an undergraduate and master's level programme. You will develop advanced skills in mechanical and electrical engineering alongside the computational and control systems knowledge that mechatronics demands. The programme also includes management and legal training, preparing you for the leadership and contractual dimensions of an engineering career as well as the technical ones.
Mechatronic engineering graduates work in robotics, flexible and intelligent manufacturing, automotive engineering, aerospace, consumer electronics, medical devices, industrial automation and a wide range of other sectors where the integration of mechanical, electrical and software systems is central to product development. Many graduates pursue chartered engineer status through relevant professional bodies, which marks a significant milestone in a long-term engineering career. Others move into systems engineering, product management, research and development or technology entrepreneurship, using the broad technical foundation of a mechatronics degree to engage with the most complex and interesting engineering challenges of our time.