UNIVERSITY OF KENT
Programme Specification
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 passes the programme. More detailed information on the learning outcomes, content and teaching, learning and assessment methods of each module can be found in the programme handbook. The accuracy of the information contained in this specification is reviewed by the University and may be checked by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education.MSc in Integrated Circuit Design Engineering
1. Awarding Institution/Body / University of Kent
2. Teaching Institution / University of Kent
3. School responsible for management of the programme / Engineering and Digital Arts
4. Teaching Site / Canterbury
5. Mode of Delivery / Full-time
Part-time
6. Programme accredited by / IET (to be sought)
7. Final Award / MSc/PGDip
8. Programme / Integrated Circuit Design Engineering
9. UCAS Code (or other code)
10. Credits/ECTS value / 180 (MSc); 120 (PGDip)
11. Study Level / 7
12. Relevant QAA subject benchmarking group(s) / Engineering
13. Date of creation/revision / March 2016
14. Intended Start Date of Delivery of this Programme / September 2016
15. Educational Aims of the Programme
The programme aims to:
The programme aims to educate mathematics, physics and (typically, with some additional mathematics provision) computer science graduates, equipping them with advanced knowledge in Integrated Circuit Design Engineering for careers in industry and academia.
The programme will provide an excellent quality of higher education with teaching informed by research and scholarship
It will meet the lifelong needs of a diversity of students
It will support national and regional economic success by increasing the supply of highly-capable graduate engineers in a field of high demand
The programme will produce graduates of value to the region and nationally, in possession of key knowledge and skills, with the capacity to learn
It will prepare students for employment or further study in a field of high demand
It will provide learning opportunities that are enjoyable experiences, involve realistic workloads, based within a research-led framework and offer appropriate support for students from a diverse range of backgrounds
It will provide high quality teaching in a supportive environments with appropriately qualified and trained staff
It will strengthen and expand the opportunities for industrial collaboration with the School of Engineering and Digital Arts
The programme will permit students to meet academic requirements for accreditation by the IET/Engineering Council on successful completion of the programme
16 Programme Outcomes
The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, qualities, skills and other attributes in the following areas. The programme outcomes have references to the subject benchmarking statement for Engineering. Note that the QAA Subject Benchmark Statement for Engineering merely points to the Engineering Council’s Accreditation of Higher Education Programmes: UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC) for specific learning outcome benchmark statements These have informed IET guidance (which uses precisely the same statements but adds specifc codes against each statement) for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, on which the outcomes below are based. The “fl” postfix refers to the Masters (further learning) outcomes in the IET guidance (IET Academic Accreditation: Guidance on how to meet the Learning Outcome requirements for Accreditation).
A. Knowledge and Understanding of:
1. A thorough appreciation of the methodologies of engineering research and development and engineering design (EP2fl).
2. A comprehensive understanding of digital electronic circuits and systems at the transistor, gate and system level. An awareness of the impact of innovations in integrated circuit technology on digital circuit design. (SM1fl, SM2fl, EP1fl)
3. A comprehensive knowledge and understanding of mathematical and computer models for analysis of digital and analogue integrated circuits.
4. A wide knowledge and understanding of design processes relevant to digital, analogue and mixed signal integrated circuit design. (SM3fl, EP1fl)
5. An extensive knowledge of the characteristics of materials, equipment, processes and products, such as those of semiconductor technologies and integrated circuits. (SM2fl, SM3fl, EP2fl)
Teaching/learning and assessment methods and strategies used to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated
Lectures, tutor-led examples classes, laboratory classes and assignments, problem-based learning, mini-projects; all aspects of project work including formulation, specification and execution.
Written unseen examinations, laboratory assignments and mini-projects, coursework assignments; individual project presentation and demonstration
Skills and Other Attributes
B. Intellectual Skills:
1. Ability to use fundamental knowledge to explore new and emerging technologies.(EA2fl)
2. Ability to understand the limitations of mathematical and computer-based problem solving and assess the impact in particular cases. (EA1fl)
3. Ability to extract data pertinent to an unfamiliar problem and apply it in the solution. (EA3fl)
4. An ability to analyse a problem and independently develop a specification for its solution. (D1fl, D3fl)
5. An ability to apply engineering techniques taking into account commercial and industrial constraints. (EP3fl, ET5fl, ET6fl))
Teaching/learning and assessment methods and strategies used to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated
Lectures, tutor-led examples classes, laboratory classes and assignments, problem-based learning, mini-projects; all aspects of project work including formulation, specification and execution.
Written unseen examinations, laboratory assignments and mini-projects, coursework assignments; individual project presentation and demonstration
C. Subject-specific Skills:
1. Ability to apply knowledge of design processes in unfamiliar situations and to generate innovative designs to fulfil new needs, particularly in the area of IC design. (D2fl, D3fl)
2. Ability to design, debug and test hardware/software systems through experiment and simulations and critically evaluate results.
3. To be able to use a range of CAD tools to analyse problems and develop innovative/original solutions.(D2fl, D3fl)
4. Ability to search and obtain technical information, critically evaluate it and apply it to a design. (EA3fl)
5. Ability to prepare and present technical and non-technical reports and presentations.
Teaching/learning and assessment methods and strategies used to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated
Lectures, tutor-led examples classes, laboratory classes and assignments, problem-based learning, mini-projects; all aspects of project work including formulation, specification and execution.
Written unseen examinations, laboratory assignments and mini-projects, coursework assignments; individual project presentation and demonstration
D. Transferable Skills:
1. The ability to generate, analyse, present and interpret data.
2. Use of Information and Communications Technology, project management and presentation tools.
3. Personal and interpersonal skills, the exercise of initiative and personal responsibility as an individual and as a member of a team (ET1fl, EP4fl).
4. The ability to learn independently for the purpose of continuing professional development.
5. The ability to make decisions in complex situations using critical thinking. Reasoning and reflection (ET1fl, ET2fl).
6. An ability to manage time and resources within an individual and group project (ET3fl).
7. An ability to communicate effectively to different audiences using a range of techniques and to present complex data clearly using good written English.
Teaching/learning and assessment methods and strategies used to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated
These skills pervade all modules; they are developed through examples classes, laboratory classes, assignments and, in particular, through mini-project and project work.
The skills are not formally assessed in themselves although they all have an impact in varying degrees on the assessments of laboratory work, assignments, presentations and the dissertation.
For more information on the skills developed by individual modules and on the specific learning outcomes associated with any fallback award relating to this programme of study, see the module mapping table, located at the end of this specification.17 Programme Structures and Requirements, Levels, Modules, Credits and Awards
This programme is studied over one year full-time or two or three years part-time.
The programme is divided into two stages. Stage 1 comprises modules to a total of 120 credits and Stage 2 comprises a 60 credit dissertation module. Students must successfully complete each module in order to be awarded the specified number of credits for that module. One credit corresponds to approximately ten hours of 'learning time' (including all classes and all private study and research). Thus obtaining 180 credits in an academic year requires 1,800 hours of overall learning time. For further information on modules and credits refer to the Credit Framework at http://www.kent.ac.uk/teaching/qa/credit-framework/creditinfo.html
Each module and programme is designed to be at a specific level. For the descriptors of each of these levels, refer to Annex 2 of the Credit Framework at http://www.kent.ac.uk/teaching/qa/credit-framework/creditinfoannex2.html. To be eligible for the award of a masters degree students must obtain 180 credits, at least 150 of which must be Level 7. Students who obtain 120 credits, but excluding the dissertation, will be eligible for the award of postgraduate diploma.
Students successfully completing Stage 1 of the programme and meeting credit framework requirements who do not successfully complete Stage 2 will be eligible for the award of the Postgraduate Diploma.
Compulsory modules are core to the programme and must be taken by all students studying the programme. Optional modules provide a choice of subject areas, from which students will select a stated number of modules.
For further information refer to the Credit Framework at http://www.kent.ac.uk/teaching/qa/credit-framework/creditinfo.html.
Where a student fails a module(s), but has marks for such modules within 10 percentage points of the pass mark, the Board of Examiners may nevertheless award the credits for the module(s), subject to the requirements of the Credit Framework and provided that the student has achieved the programme learning outcomes. For further information refer to the Credit Framework.
Students with insufficient prior Mathematics will take the module EL7xx Mathematics for Digital Engineering pre-sessional module.
Following Engineering Council/IET requirements, modules with large coursework components (>30%) require passing of both coursework and examination components (or achievement of a mark of at least 40% in each, for compensation).
Additionally, to meet IET accreditation requirements the following rules are applied:
Modules are not condoned.
Only one 15-credit module, may be passed with a mark of 40 -49% through compensation at the discretion of the Board of Examiners.
Only two 15-credit modules may be trailed into Stage 2.
All other modules must be passed at the normal 50% pass mark or above in order to progress into Stage 2.
EL849 cannot be trailed into Stage 2. EL849 and EL890 may not be compensated.
Failure in the Stage 2 MSc Project module may require the student to undertake a new project in order to retrieve credits.
At postgraduate level the ‘Summer Term’ includes the standard summer vacation period. This is indicated in the table below. If students require specific details before commencing on the programme they should contact the programme director for information.
Code / Title / Level / Credits / Term(s)
Stage 1
Compulsory Modules
EL849 / Research Methods and Project Design / 7 / 30 / 1,2 (but mainly in Term 2)
EL894 / Digital Integrated Ciruit Design / 7 / 15 / 1
EL893 / Reconfigurable Architectures / 7 / 15 / 1
EL896 / Computer and Microcontroller Architectures / 7 / 15 / 1
EL897 / Analogue Integrated Circuit Design / 7 / 15 / 2
EL898 / Electronic Design Automation for IC Design / 7 / 15 / 2
Optional Modules Students must select one module from the following:
EL871 / Digital Signal Processing / 7 / 15 / 1
EL827 / Signal & Communication Theory II / 7 / 15 / 1
Stage 2
Compulsory Modules
EL890 / MSc Project / 7 / 60 / 3 (incl. Summer)
18 Work-Based Learning
Disability Statement: Where disabled students are due to undertake a work placement as part of this programme of study, a representative of the University will meet with the work placement provider in advance to ensure the provision of anticipatory and reasonable adjustments in line with legal requirements.
There is no compulsory work-based learning element to the programme. Projects may be carried out in industry or at the university with industry support. All such students carrying out a project in industry would be assigned an academic supervisor to advise on meeting the requirements for the project module and programme. Assessment will be carried out in the same way as for projects undertaken at university.
19 Support for Students and their Learning
· School and University induction programme
· Programme/module handbooks
· Student Support http://www.kent.ac.uk/studentsupport/
· Student Wellbeing www.kent.ac.uk/studentwellbeing/
· Student Learning Advisory Service http://www.kent.ac.uk/uelt/about/slas.html
· Counselling Service www.kent.ac.uk/counselling/
· Kent Union www.kentunion.co.uk/
· Graduate Student Association (GSA) www.kent.ac.uk/graduateschool/community/woolf.html
· Graduate School (Provision of (i) skills training (workshops and online courses) (ii) institutional level induction and (iii) student-led initiatives such as social events, conferences and workshops) www.kent.ac.uk/graduateschool/index.html
· Information Services (computing and library services) www.kent.ac.uk/is/
· Postgraduate student representation at School, Faculty and Institutional levels
· Centre for English and World Languages www.kent.ac.uk/cewl/index.html
· Careers and Employability Services www.kent.ac.uk/ces/
· International Development Office www.kent.ac.uk/international/
· Medical Centre www.kent.ac.uk/counselling/menu/Medical-Centre.html
· Library services, see http://www.kent.ac.uk/library/
· PASS system, see https://www.kent.ac.uk/uelt/quality/code2001/annexg.html
To summarise the main elements of the above, the support seen by a student on the programme after registration can be described as follows:
An induction at which they will meet the other students, course lecturers and academic tutors, and at which they will learn how to use the learning environment. A practice area will be available in which students can communicate with each other to practice their skills in using the learning environment. The learning environment will provide information on the programme as a whole with separate areas for academic information, study and welfare support and resources/software, and areas for individual modules (with the learning material). Each area will include on-line discussion forums.