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84 Part-time Prospectus 2009 | 2010
Engineering Courses 85
BACHELOR OF
ENGINEERING IN
MECHATRONICS
Programme Code: BN306
Programme Title: Bachelor of
Engineering in Mechatronics
Award Type: Major
Award Title: Bachelor of Engineering
NFQ Level of Award: 7
ECTS Credits in Award: 60
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 postqualification
experience in an industrial
environment. Such applicant will be
required to take bridging modules.
Students should have access to a PC
and broadband.
Schedule: Online lectures (recorded);
Monday 5pm – 6pm and 6.30pm – 7.30pm
Wednesday 5pm – 6pm
Up to 3 practical sessions,
Saturday 9am – 3pm per semester
Fee: €2,500 per year
Duration: 2 years
COURSE 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
The programme fee will be €2,500 per year.
This 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.