Study at ITB

Bachelor of Engineering in Mechatronics

Minimum Entry Requirements

Higher Certificate (NFQ level 6) with pass grade in a cognate area (or equivalent qualification). Applicants who have completed a FETAC Level 6 award in a craft such as Electrical, Electrical Instrumentation or Fabrication and have 3 years post-qualification experience in an industrial environment. Such applicant will be required to take bridging modules. Students should have access to a PC and broadband.

Aims

The programme is targeted towards those working in a related industry, who have already achieved the award of Higher Certificate in Engineering (Electronics/Mechanical/Mechatronics or related) (NFQ level 6) or with a FETAC level 6 craft award (subject to conditions), who desire to upskill to a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechatronics (NFQ level 7).

Mechatronics is the integration of precision mechanical engineering, control theory, computer science and electronics in:

• Product design process, for creation of more functional and adaptable products.
• Process control and automation.
• Quality control/Management.
• System efficiency enhancement, including ergonomics.

Employment opportunities exist in (among other key industries):

• Industries requiring automated manufacturing processes for mass production and quality control (e.g. pharmaceutical industry, vehicle manufacture and assembly, food processing etc.).
• Design and development of intelligent machines (e.g. robots) and autonomous vehicles for application in hostile environments e.g. fire fighting, bomb disposal etc.
• Medical devices industry incorporating sensors, control and machine vision.

This programme allows students to achieve the award of Ordinary Degree in Engineering in Mechatronics. This is a widely recognised and accredited multidisciplinary engineering qualification. It will give students the necessary knowledge, know-how and skills to advance in their employment as a technician in a relevant industry. It will also give students the opportunity to proceed to further studies in Mechatronics (i.e. honours level studies).

Course Content

Subjects covered in the programme include aspects of electronics, mechanics, automation, production, software engineering and mathematics, with a strong emphasis on practical skills. A significant aspect of the programme is the undertaking of a project, in which the theoretical and practical skills developed during the programme are brought together in the design and construction of a Mechatronics solution to an engineering problem. A detailed breakdown of the modules is provided in the course schedule.

At ITB we have a range of fully equipped laboratories and computer rooms. These facilities allow students to successfully design, test and build engineering projects. The computers have the latest software packages in computer aided design, instrumentation and control, simulation and programming.

Cost and Fees

Course fee includes all the learning and support sessions, including necessary learning material. Each student will be provided with a toolkit that contains all the necessary tools to complete the practical elements of the course. Access and support will be provided to email and online learning resources. Any necessary software will be provided to complete additional coursework at home.

Course Delivery

This course will be offered over 2 years in four semesters. The lecture content will be provided as ‘live’ on-line lectures. These are recorded and can be viewed again at a time more convenient to the student. Students will be required to attend ITB for up to four practical days per semester, these normally take place on a Saturday. Tutorials and continuous assessment will be provided online as applicable.

As Mechatronics is the integration of precision mechanical engineering, control theory, computer science and electronics the first semester will offer students elective subjects in a discipline they haven’t studied before e.g. a student with an electronics background will be required to take a mechanics module. Students with a FETAC level 6 qualification will be expected to sit all elective subjects as their bridging studies for acceptance onto the programme.

Occasionally during the programme students may be expected to be available for accelerated delivery of certain practical modules. The time and duration of these modules will be agreed in good time.

Support

Resources such as lecture notes, past exam papers, tutorial etc. will all be made available online, for access at home or work.

Through discussion groups, forums as well as e-mail and phone support there is a wide range of support available to you from both your lecturers and your class colleagues.

Computer facilities are available to you in ITB at all times once registered as a student. Computer application training is given during the first semester. Online material is available to students who have internet access. In addition to web resources the library stocks many of the texts referred to in class.

Assessment

There is a wide range of assessment procedures employed in this programme. Assessment will range from laboratory assignments to online tests. Many of the modules will be continuously assessed throughout the semester, and the final module mark arrived at by a combination of final exam and continuous assessment. In some cases modules are assessed by ongoing continuous assessment only.

Course Content

As this course is aimed at providing a Mechatronics degree to students from various engineering disciplines, two elective modules are provided. These are Analog and Digital Electronics and Mechanics. These provide an in-depth basic knowledge which will allow students to complete further studies in these disciplines. Students with a FETAC level 6 background will take these modules together with Mathematics 2 as bridging modules.

How to Apply ?

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For further details please contact the marketing team on 01 885 1000 or e-mail: info@itb.ie.