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Robotics with Foundation Year

Entry requirements


32 to 48 UCAS points to include minimum 2 A Levels.

Considered in combination

Pass Access. Science/Engineering/Maths preferred

Considered in combination

Considered in combination

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

24

Maths and English accepted within

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)

H5,H5,H5,H5,H5-H5,H5,H5,H6,H6


Maths and English accepted within

Considered in combination

Considered in combination

Considered in combination

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

MP-PP

Considered in combination

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

PPP

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

M,M

Considered in combination

32 to 48 UCAS points to include minimum 2 Advanced Highers.

Considered in combination with Advanced Highers

T Level

P

Science / Technology pathways

UCAS Tariff

32-48

To include minimum 2 A Levels.

Considered in combination

Considered in combination

About this course


This course has alternative study modes. Contact the university to find out how the information below might vary.

Course option

4years

Full-time including foundation year | 2024

Other options

5 years | Sandwich including foundation year | 2024

Subjects

Mechatronics and robotics

Cybernetics

Develop a solid grounding in robotics and electronics, and set yourself up for success. This four year degree route (incorporating a foundation year) covers applied mathematics, physics and electronic engineering and successful completion allows you to progress to any of our degrees in robotics or electronic engineering. This course is suitable if your qualifications don't allow you to enter the first year of our robotics degrees, or if you've been out of formal education for some time.

You will advance with a course with some of the highest satisfaction rates in the UK. You will experience being part of the University from the start, taught by staff who’ll teach you on your degree courses. You’ll immerse yourself in hands-on laboratory sessions. You will develop highly practical skills and learn through doing. You’ll discuss with your lecturers which degree to select towards the end of your first year of study.

**Key features:**

* Develop your skills with a variety of modules including analogue and digital electronics, microprocessors, electrical power systems and programming in the context of eco-focused embedded systems. We have a strong emphasis on both hardware design and software development.

* Draw on our strong industry links and benefit from industry participation in course development, delivery and project sponsorship.

* Develop highly practical skills and learn through doing.

* Immerse yourself in a degree accredited by the Institution for Engineering and Technology (IET) and meet the educational requirements for becoming a chartered engineer (CEng).

* Benefit from free IET membership while you are on the course.

* Take advantage of our flexible course, allowing you to switch between electronics and robotics until your final year, as your interests develop.

* Advance with a course with some of the highest satisfaction rates in the UK. Highlighted by consistently excellent scores in the National Student Survey and the Key Information Statistics.

* Take part in our final year student project open day, showcasing the excellence of the engineering skills development and the high levels of achievement of our undergraduates, with many industrially sponsored prizes awarded.

* Immerse yourself in hands-on laboratory sessions and a final year project module.

* Make use of our well-equipped undergraduate laboratory space, one of the largest undergraduate laboratories in the country.

* Students in engineering, science and the arts have access to a range of specialist equipment and innovative laboratories in our new engineering and design facility.

* There is a possibility of transfer to BEng after the first year and MEng after the second year, subject to you demonstrating satisfactory progress.

* Progress towards becoming a chartered engineer with appropriate professional training and experience.

* Experience being part of the University from the start, taught by staff who’ll teach you on your degree courses.

* Take advantage of one-to-one mathematics support during term with our SUM:UP scheme.

* Develop an innovative engineering or robotics project. Examples of previous projects include building an FM frequency bug, a small robot with on-board computer, and an electronic synthesiser.

* Discuss with your lecturers which degree to select towards the end of your first year of study.

* To complement your formal learning we offer regular PALS sessions that provide the opportunity for you to learn with and from your peers. Share knowledge, discuss ideas, and ask questions in a relaxed and friendly environment.

* The foundation year is an integral part of the extended degree. Completion of the foundation year will not lead to a separate award or qualification its own right but will provide access to Year 1 of your degree.

Modules

Taught by University lecturers on campus, you’ll be part of the University of Plymouth from day one. You'll study six modules over the foundation year, including mathematical methods, applied mathematics (mechanics), physics and electronics. The year is geared towards helping you to progress onto one of our degrees in electronic engineering or robotics. You’ll take about 17 taught hours per week, and put in at least the same amount of time in independent study.

Core modules:

* Mathematical Methods
* Applied Mathematics
* Physics
* Robotics

The modules shown for this course or programme are those being studied by current students, or expected new modules. Modules are subject to change depending on year of entry and up to date information can be found on our website.

Assessment methods

For up to date details, please refer to our website or contact the institution directly.

The Uni


Course location:

University of Plymouth

Department:

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

Read full university profile

What students say


We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.

62%
Mechatronics and robotics
79%
Cybernetics

How do students rate their degree experience?

The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Production and manufacturing engineering

Teaching and learning

67%
Staff make the subject interesting
79%
Staff are good at explaining things
75%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
79%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

79%
Library resources
73%
IT resources
79%
Course specific equipment and facilities
33%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

87%
UK students
13%
International students
82%
Male students
18%
Female students
84%
2:1 or above
18%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

B
C
D

Electrical and electronic engineering

Teaching and learning

71%
Staff make the subject interesting
79%
Staff are good at explaining things
71%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
100%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

71%
Library resources
77%
IT resources
93%
Course specific equipment and facilities
64%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

84%
UK students
16%
International students
84%
Male students
16%
Female students
82%
2:1 or above
23%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

B
C
D

After graduation


The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Production and manufacturing engineering

What are graduates doing after six months?

This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.

£22,000
med
Average annual salary
98%
high
Employed or in further education
85%
high
Employed in a role where degree was essential or beneficial

Top job areas of graduates

46%
Engineering professionals
14%
Science, engineering and production technicians
6%
Business, research and administrative professionals

Graduates are in significant demand, so unemployment rates are well below the national graduate average and starting salaries are well above average. Much the most common industries for these graduates are now vehicle manufacture - there are not enough people with these degrees to go round and so the big employers tend to take the lion's share at the moment. But pretty much anywhere there is manufacturing, there are production engineers. Bear in mind that a lot of courses are four years long, and lead to an MEng qualification — this is necessary if you want to become a Chartered Engineer.

Electrical and electronic engineering

What are graduates doing after six months?

This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.

£26,000
med
Average annual salary
91%
med
Employed or in further education
88%
med
Employed in a role where degree was essential or beneficial

Top job areas of graduates

61%
Engineering professionals
11%
Information technology and telecommunications professionals
7%
Business, research and administrative professionals

This is one of the more popular areas to study engineering and there is not quite such a serious shortage of electrical engineers as there is of other engineering subjects - but there's still plenty of demand. The most common jobs are in telecommunications, electrical and electronic engineering, but there is some crossover with the computing industry, so many graduates start work in IT and computing jobs. At the moment, there's a particular demand for electrical engineers in the electronics, and the car and aerospace industries, and also in defence, and salaries can vary across the country depending on the industry you start in. Bear in mind that a lot of courses are four years long, and lead to an MEng qualification — this is necessary if you want to become a Chartered Engineer.

What about your long term prospects?

Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.

Production and manufacturing engineering

The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.

£25k

£25k

£30k

£30k

£37k

£37k

Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.

Electrical and electronic engineering

The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.

£25k

£25k

£30k

£30k

£37k

£37k

Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.

Explore these similar courses...

Higher entry requirements
University of Huddersfield | Huddersfield
Mechatronic Engineering
BEng (Hon) 3 Years Full-time including foundation year 2024
UCAS Points: 112-120
Same University
University of Plymouth | Plymouth
Robotics
BEng (Hon) 3 Years Full-time including foundation year 2024
UCAS Points: 120
Lower entry requirements
University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) | Inverness
Electrical and Mechanical Engineering
BEng (Hon) 4 Years Full-time including foundation year 2024
UCAS Points: 21-24
Nearby University
University of Exeter | Exeter
Electronic Engineering with Year in Industry
BEng (Hon) 4 Years Full-time including foundation year 2024
UCAS Points: 128-153

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This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

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Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):

We've received this information from the Department for Education, via Ucas. This is how the university as a whole has been rated for its quality of teaching: gold silver or bronze. Note, not all universities have taken part in the TEF.

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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).

This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.

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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.

You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.

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Post-six month graduation stats:

This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.

It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.

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Graduate field commentary:

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show

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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?

Have a question about this info? Learn more here