Skip to main content

Engineering Management (MSc)

  • Duration: 1 year
  • Mode: Full time

Start date
calendar

Open day

Find out more about studying here as a postgraduate at our next Open Day.

Why study this course

Transition your engineering career to become an impactful management leader ready to deliver sustainable change.

people

Management and Leadership for Engineers

Designed for engineers by world-leading and internationally excellent staff and practitioners.

certificate

Develop in-demand skills

Learn to apply the fundamental knowledge, management and leadership skills needed to sustainably meet industry and societal demands.

building

Engage with industry

Work with world-leading organisations to help address real problems.

globe

Multidisciplinary

Collaborate with engineers across disciplines to transform engineering practice.

scroll

Excellent career prospects

Our graduates are in high demand by engineering industries and related sectors in the UK and internationally.

Our society needs technically competent engineers to transition to become effective managers and leaders to drive sustainable change worldwide.

Designed by engineers and management experts for engineers, this programme will develop your technical knowledge alongside applying management techniques and leadership skills to authentic real-world problems, global challenges and sustainable development goals. It is particularly suited to students with an engineering background who are looking to develop management and leadership skills.

Prepare yourself for the future while enhancing your career opportunities by embracing rapid technological advances, managing change and transformative decision making. Through opportunities to gain hands-on experience within engineering-led management, problem-based multidisciplinary activities, you will have access to a range of excellent research facilities, expert staff across both engineering and management and extensive interaction with industry.

Combining technical knowledge, leadership skills and industrial collaboration will create highly sought after engineering managers, with attributes that can be applied across a broad range of careers.

Where you'll study

School of Engineering

Study in one of the UK's leading engineering Schools for the quality of research and teaching.

  • icon-chatGet in touch
  • Telephone+44 (0)29 2087 0050
  • Marker5 The Parade, Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 3AA

Admissions criteria

In order to be considered for an offer for this programme you will need to meet all of the entry requirements. Your application will not be progressed if the information and evidence listed is not provided.

With your online application you will need to provide:

  1. A copy of your degree certificate and transcripts which show you have achieved a 2:2 honours degree in a relevant engineering subject area, or an equivalent international degree. If your degree certificate or result is pending, please upload any interim transcripts or provisional certificates.
  2. A copy of your IELTS certificate with an overall score of 6.5 with 5.5 in all subskills, or evidence of an accepted equivalent. Please include the date of your expected test if this qualification is pending. If you have alternative acceptable evidence, such as an undergraduate degree studied in the UK, please supply this in place of an IELTS.

If you do not have a degree in a relevant area, your application may be considered on the basis of your professional experience. Please provide additional evidence to support your application such as signed and dated employer references.

Application Deadline

We allocate places on a first-come, first-served basis, so we recommend you apply as early as possible. Applications normally close at the end of August but may close sooner if all places are filled.

Selection process

We will review your application and if you meet all of the entry requirements, we will make you an offer.

Find out more about English language requirements.

Applicants who require a Student visa to study in the UK must present an acceptable English language qualification in order to meet UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) requirements.

Criminal convictions

You are not required to complete a DBS (Disclosure Barring Service) check or provide a Certificate of Good Conduct to study this course.

If you are currently subject to any licence condition or monitoring restriction that could affect your ability to successfully complete your studies, you will be required to disclose your criminal record. Conditions include, but are not limited to:

  • access to computers or devices that can store images
  • use of internet and communication tools/devices
  • curfews
  • freedom of movement
  • contact with people related to Cardiff University.

Course structure

This course is taken on a one-year, full-time basis. You will study core modules to the value of 120 credits during the taught stage and an individual project (worth 60 credits) during the dissertation stage.

The modules shown are an example of the typical curriculum. Final modules will be published one month ahead of your programme starting.

The programme is delivered in 2 stages:

Taught Stage (120 credits)

You’ll follow taught core modules to the value of 120 credits during the Autumn and Spring Semesters. During the taught stage, we’ll integrate your engineering skills with management expertise. You’ll study topics across management and engineering through practical application on authentic real-world problems and case studies.

You’ll study all modules necessary for attaining the knowledge and skills needed to address the change needed across the profession to provide solutions to the sustainability challenges of engineering management through social justice.

Dissertation Stage (60 credits)

On successful completion of Stage 1, you’ll progress to Stage 2, which consists of a Dissertation module worth 60 credits, undertaken over the summer. You’ll have a range of project options available to you from across engineering.

For this dissertation, depending on the subject you choose, you may work with one of our internationally recognised research groups in the School of Engineering or our co-delivery partner, Cardiff Business School. You may, if available, also be able to complete this project in conjunction with one of our industry partners.

Module titleModule codeCredits
Leading ChangeENT80130 credits
Management StrategiesENT80230 credits
Sustainability ProjectENT80330 credits
Making and CheckingENT80430 credits
Engineering Management DissertationENT80560 credits

The University is committed to providing a wide range of module options where possible, but please be aware that whilst every effort is made to offer choice this may be limited in certain circumstances. This is due to the fact that some modules have limited numbers of places available, which are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, while others have minimum student numbers required before they will run, to ensure that an appropriate quality of education can be delivered; some modules require students to have already taken particular subjects, and others are core or required on the programme you are taking. Modules may also be limited due to timetable clashes, and although the University works to minimise disruption to choice, we advise you to seek advice from the relevant School on the module choices available.

Learning and assessment

How will I be taught?

Modules are delivered through a series of lectures, tutorials, practicals, workshops and seminars, as well as problem and research-led activities. These methods vary from module to module, as appropriate depending on subject matter and the method of assessment. Supplementary learning resources are also provided to both aid student learning and provide stretching activities.

Individual modules provide further information on how to study and guidance on learning resources and further support.

As well as having individual activities, learning together is an important aspect of this programme, especially when collaborating across multi-disciplinary groups. Directed support is provided concerning effective team participation, developing group dynamics and reviewing peer contribution.

Experts from industry will also contribute by contextualising taught content with real-world problems, exploring latest engineering innovations and presenting practical management case studies.

How will I be assessed?

Summative assessments are designed to best reflect practical relevance and to be authentic, while evidencing achievement of the learning outcomes. Formative assessments which carry no marks are used to assist students in preparing for summative assessments.

 

This gives a measure of performance to inform you, us as staff, and potential employers about your progress and achievement. It can also help the learning process by highlighting areas of success and areas needing more attention.

 

Assessment involves a blend of methods that are selected to suit the outcomes of each module and the course as a whole including:

  • Written assignments such as reports, essays and posters
  • Planning, conduct and reporting of project work
  • Problem-based exercises based on real-world challenges
  • Presentations – oral live and recorded
  • Peer review
  • Reflective practices

How will I be supported?

You’ll be allocated a personal tutor to assist with both your academic progress and pastoral support in an informal and confidential manner. We take pride in providing a warm and welcoming environment for all.

Your personal tutor will see you regularly during the programme. For the dissertation stage, you’ll be allocated a supervisor and if appropriate, an industrial mentor in your specialist field, whom you’ll be expected to meet with regularly.

In addition to the broad range of support services provided centrally by Cardiff University, our Senior Personal Tutor will be available to help and advise on any personal matters.

You’ll have access to a comprehensive handbook appropriate to your programme, containing details of the School’s procedures and policies. We make extensive use of the University’s Virtual Learning Environment (Learning Central) to share information, teaching materials and support your learning.

Feedback is an essential element of your learning experience and will be provided during the duration of your studies. Each module will have feedback mechanisms to aid in your learning and development. Formative assessments which have no marks will have feedback that assists you in developing your knowledge, understanding and skills. Feedback following summative assessments will outline the evidence used to mark your submission against set criteria and provide constructive comments towards developing your knowledge, understanding and skills for the future.

Dedicated School Careers Advisers and staff from Student Futures will also support you to achieve your future career goals and develop your skills to be successful in the Graduate recruitment process.

What skills will I practise and develop?

The Learning Outcomes for this Programme describe what you will achieve by the end of your programme at Cardiff University and identify the knowledge and skills that you will develop. They will also help you to understand what is expected of you.

On successful completion of your Programme you will be able to:

Knowledge & Understanding:

  • Demonstrate extended comprehension of key concepts related to engineering management and leadership, and their applications to authentic real-world challenges in research and industry.
  • Appraise and critically evaluate engineering and management principles, procedures and strategies when applied to real engineering sustainability challenges.
  • Demonstrate a systematic understanding of mathematics, statistics and engineering principles to the solution of complex problems to reach substantiated conclusions.
  • Show critical awareness of new developments in engineering and their potential benefits and threats across multidisciplinary teams and environments.
  • Evaluate design solutions for complex problems that evidence some originality while meeting a combination of engineering, management, leadership, financial, legal compliance risk assessment, sustainability and societal needs.

Intellectual Skills:

  • Critically formulate a strategy for project and change management.
  • Identify and implement appropriate leadership models and innovative approaches to improve complex engineering operations and resource management.
  • Plan, implement and evaluate engineering systems to meet quality and safety standards from project inception, organisational structure to implementation.
  • Appreciate bias within engineering and management practices to challenge existing protocols and processes around social justice and sustainability.
  • Critique and defend engineering solutions within a research, industrial and professional engineering context, including sustainability and social justice, as well as across wider societal impact.

Professional Practical Skills:

  • Develop and implement solutions using a range of engineering, project management, financial and leadership skills, fundamental principles and processes especially around SHEQ.
  • Identify, define and analyse complex issues and ideas, exercising critical judgment in evaluating sources of information and decision-making around uncertainty.
  • Communicate effectively, sharing ideas and arguments in manners appropriate to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.
  • Independently research, analyse and apply primary sources of literature to computational, data-processing and electronic searching skills relating to engineering management information and sustainable engineering practices to develop detailed reasoned arguments, hypotheses and decisions. 
  • Reflect on the impact of engineering management in sustainable, social, economic and ethical contexts.
  • Independently research, analyse, and apply primary sources of literature to computational, data-processing, and electronic searching skills relating to sustainability, management and leadership information to develop, critically evaluate and present detailed reasoned arguments, hypotheses, decisions and findings within a dissertation.

Transferable/Key Skills:

  • Contribute positively and effectively when working in a team and be able to communicate complex ideas effectively to diverse audiences.
  • Deploy a range of skills, including problem-solving, communication, teamwork, collaboration, information retrieval, software skills, self-learning, reflection and career development.
  • Conceive, plan, execute and communicate outcomes of significant projects or research work that include originality in applying knowledge and critical engineering judgement.
  • Develop awareness of your strengths and weaknesses using guidance/feedback to develop strategies for learning with emerging autonomy.
  • Research and study creatively, independently, and reflectively, applying advanced knowledge and skills to unfamiliar or wider world challenges or contexts.

Tuition fees for 2025 entry

Your tuition fees and how you pay them will depend on your fee status. Your fee status could be home, island or overseas.

Learn how we decide your fee status

Fees for home status

Year Tuition fee Deposit
Year one £11,700 None

Students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland

If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss national, your tuition fees for 2025/26 be in line with the overseas fees for international students, unless you qualify for home fee status. UKCISA have provided information about Brexit and tuition fees.

Fees for island status

Learn more about the postgraduate fees for students from the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

Fees for overseas status

Year Tuition fee Deposit
Year one £29,450 £2,500

More information about tuition fees and deposits, including for part-time and continuing students.

Financial support

Financial support may be available to individuals who meet certain criteria. For more information visit our funding section. Please note that these sources of financial support are limited and therefore not everyone who meets the criteria are guaranteed to receive the support.

Additional costs

Living costs

We’re based in one of the UK’s most affordable cities. Find out more about living costs in Cardiff.

Funding

Master's Scholarships

An award open to UK students intending to study one of our taught master’s degrees.

Postgraduate loans

If you are starting your master’s degree in September 2024 or later, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan to support your study at Cardiff University.

Alumni Discount

The alumni discount is available for Cardiff University graduates who are planning to start an eligible master's in 2024/25.

Careers and placements

Graduates are well suited to take up roles in engineering leadership and management roles. You’ll be well prepared with a competitive technical and managerial background as well as transferrable skills to pursue careers in engineering research and industrial, commercial or government organisations, as well as wider public and private institutions.

You’ll develop essential skills in collaboration, communication, sustainability, societal responsibilities, self-learning, self-determination, critical thinking, problem-solving, innovation and reflective practices.

Strong links with our research groups and industrial partners will offer enhanced opportunities for networking and exposure to potential employers. Visiting lecturers from industry and professional advice from engineering institutions together with support from our careers team and Student Futures, will provide further help and support in relation to your future employment opportunities.

Placements

You may have the opportunity to work closely with industry professionals and engage in work-based learning activities, such as short placements, site visits and/or employer meetings as part of a project or dissertation, especially when industrial partners are involved. During the dissertation, you’ll work closely with research groups, embedding yourself within the team under the supervision of a staff member, with co-supervision from an industrial partner as required. Industrially led dissertations will also provide you with further opportunities to work closely with external partners.

Next steps

icon-academic

Open Day visits

Register for information about our upcoming dates.
icon-chat

Make an enquiry

Contact us for more information about this course.
icon-international

International

Learn more about our truly global university.
icon-pen

Discover more

Related searches: Engineering


HESA Data: Copyright Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited 2021. The Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited cannot accept responsibility for any inferences or conclusions derived by third parties from its data. Data is from the latest Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019/20, published by HESA in June 2022.