MRes Engineering Management

This MRes in Engineering Management aims to meet industry’s urgent need for professional engineers with postgraduate knowledge and skills in research and problem solving, project management and engineering-focused business management. It’s an ideal choice if you’re currently working in industry, planning a career that involves research associated with engineering business and management, or pursuing Chartered Engineer (CEng) status.

Engineering Management

Key information

Award:

MRes

Mode of Study:

Part-time

Duration:

36 months

Location:

University of Bolton

Start date:

25/09/2023

Course Details

The engineering sector is key to the UK economy contributing over one quarter of the UK’s GDP – that’s over £420 billion*. In an industry founded on innovation and enterprise, the career opportunities are excellent for those with advanced research and problem solving skills. Moreover, the highly competitive, globalised market ensures that there’s a strong need for engineers with business acumen, and the project management skills that can support these enterprises to bring products to market. The University of Bolton’s MRes in Engineering Management skilfully brings these elements together, so if you’re an ambitious engineering or technology graduate seeking to develop research and business skills this master’s degree should prove an excellent investment in your future.

This MRes is designed to support you to gain the theoretical knowledge needed to solve technological problems by applying analytical techniques, along with the strategic and operational business management skills required for commercial success in the engineering sector. Our expert staff will guide you as you gain postgraduate research, problem solving, and critical thinking and evaluation skills. You’ll explore the essential elements of business management, including leadership, human resource management and marketing, and develop essential skills such as communication and time management. You’ll also have a choice between studying project planning and management or exploring integrated management systems and techniques for quality, sustainability, lean and innovation.

We’ll guide you as you attend work placements (either through existing employment or organised short duration placements) where you’ll collect the data and information that will form the basis of your dissertation. By focusing on the problem solving techniques, research methods and theories relevant to the investigation of complex engineering business and management problems, we aim to prepare you for success in engineering management roles in this essential industrial sector.

The course is designed to meet professional institution standards in the UK and to support you to achieve Chartered Engineer (CEng) status.

* https://www.engineeringuk.com/research/engineering-uk-report/at-a-glance-2018/ accessed on 29 April 2019

Highlights
  • This MRes in Engineering Management expertly combines study in our vibrant higher education environment with practical and focused work-based learning and experience.
  • The course is designed to meet professional institution standards in the UK, and supports your achievement of Chartered Engineer (CEng) status.
  • Face-to-face sessions and one-to-one support is offered by our dedicated staff team who offer a wide range of professional experience, industry knowledge, technical expertise and academic credentials.
  • You’ll have the option to gain an industry-recognised project management qualification, assessed by an external provider. The details and costs of this qualification are in development and details will be available prior to your enrolment on the course.
  • We’ll encourage you to develop a mastery of postgraduate-level research techniques and methodologies relevant to engineering and technology.
Key Features
  • We’ll expect you to undertake two work placements and an industry-based project. Our experienced team will work to find suitable placements to ensure you are supported to achieve the learning outcomes for the MRes.
  • Course materials are available online, allowing you to prepare work at home and make the most of the highly interactive in-class tuition.
  • Our approach to teaching and learning is ‘student-centred’, so we’ll work with you on an individual basis, providing tailored help and support throughout your studies.
  • By studying alongside students and professionals from other engineering specialisms or alternative industrial sectors, you can benefit from a wider range of knowledge and experience that supports cross-disciplinary thinking.
  • This course is based at the University of Bolton’s campus in the North West of England.
  • We also offer master’s degrees and postgraduate apprenticeships in Systems Engineering and Engineering Management, and this programme is part of a well-established suite of master’s programmes offered by the University of Bolton.
Professional recognition

The University of Bolton’s MRes Engineering Management uses UK-SPEC learning outcomes and is designed to meet the academic requirements leading to Chartered Engineer (CEng) status. Please see the Engineering Council UK website for further details of UK-SPEC.


  • Normally, you should have successfully completed an Honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject; for instance, engineering or science.
  • If you have successfully completed a Level 6 apprenticeship in a relevant area, then you’ll normally be eligible for admission.
  • If you have a Level HE5 qualification (such as a HND or Foundation Degree) and substantial experience in engineering at a senior level, then we’ll consider your application.
  • We welcome your application if you hold a degree awarded by an overseas institution. The University will assess the equivalence of your qualifications.
  • We'll consider applications where appropriate work experience can be demonstrated in lieu of, or in addition to, the published academic qualifications in line with the University’s Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL) procedures.
  • You may be required to attend an interview and/or provide a portfolio of work.
  • If English isn’t your first language, you’ll also need IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band (or equivalent). We also accept a range of other English language qualifications – please visit our English Language Requirements web page for more details.

Where changes are made to material information contained in this course description or a decision is taken to suspend a course between the offer of admissions and enrolment, we will inform applicants at the earliest possible opportunity and will outline the various options available to the applicant.


This course addresses contemporary issues in engineering and engineering management. Graduates of the course can explore management positions within engineering, or look to take a more technical role in a business setting, leading on change and strategy. In addition to developing your technical knowledge and experience, this programme will also give you greater confidence in your transferable and personal skills. These include project planning and management, leadership, HR management, communication and marketing.

What can I do with this qualification?

As a graduate of this MRes, you’ll be able to progress to a management role in an engineering-based organisation and be able to undertake independent research at the forefront of the engineering management field. You could pursue a career with a large international organisation or government department and work in sectors such as software, integrated systems, mechanical, electrical, electronic, electromechanical, fluid power components/systems or materials.

Typical occupations include research and development engineer, design and development engineer, system integration engineer, quality assurance/compliance engineer, test/qualification engineer, manufacture/production engineer, maintenance/test engineer, product support engineer, decommissioning/disposal engineer, supply chain/procurement engineer, and engineering business manager. It’s likely that you will seek to achieve Chartered Engineer (CEng) status, and this master’s is designed to meet the academic requirements leading to this professional registration.

Research is an exciting career path which will allow you to explore working in research and development roles or in academia. An MRes can also be used as a stepping stone for those who wish to continue to an MPhil or PhD.

Alternative career options

Graduates can also use the qualification to enter a range of other careers, bearing in mind that relevant experience or postgraduate study may be required. Some of these roles include:

  • Research and development
  • Teaching and education
  • Project management
  • Test engineering
  • Consultancy
  • Manufacturing
  • Medicine
  • Materials science
  • Civil engineering
  • Chemical engineering
  • Quality management
  • Product management

Course fees

Important note regarding tuition fees for the 2022-2023 academic year: EU nationals who meet residency requirements (have settled or pre-settled status) may be eligible for 'Home' fee status. If you do not meet these residency requirements, overseas fees will apply. Irish citizens living in the UK or Ireland will be eligible for 'Home' fee status under the Common Travel Area arrangement. Please read the student finance for EU students web page on www.gov.uk for information.

The fees for a student's course of study will be set for the normal duration of that course subject only to inflationary increases – measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) recorded in March each year to take effect for subsequent start dates.

Bursaries

Click here for more information on our Master's Bursaries.


For details of how to apply for this course, please choose your status from the options below:

You may apply directly to the University using the University's online application form. Please select your chosen start date from the list below:

You should have to hand:

  • Details of the educational establishments you attended and dates

  • Your certificates for the qualifications you are using to gain entry to the course – you will need to enter the completion date and upload copies

  • Details of any employment history including name, address, dates and role

  • Personal statement – this can be either input into the relevant field or uploaded separately

  • Details including e-mail addresses of two referees, at least one of which should be someone who can provide an academic reference

Please make sure any documents you wish to upload in support of your application are in pdf or jpeg format. Personal statements may be word documents.

Please ensure your data is correct at each stage of the application before you proceed to the next page. If you use the back button at any time during the application, you should check the validity of the data you have already input.

If you experience difficulties during the application process, contact the Admissions Team on 01204 903394 or admissions@bolton.ac.uk

International applications are not possible for this course

As an international student you are not allowed to study this course because of the restrictions on your visa.

We offer a wide range of full-time courses in lots of different subjects, many of our courses start in September and January. If you would like to see what courses are available please visit our Course Search.


This Master of Research (MRes) degree combines taught modules with a significant amount of supervised research. For the taught modules we offer a range of teaching and learning approaches, including lectures, seminars, workshops, practical sessions and tutorials. These are supported by online discussions and activities posted on the University’s virtual learning environment (VLE). The work-based project modules and dissertation involve workshops, independent learning and tutor support; which may be face-to-face or through the VLE. Our experienced team will work with you to find suitable placements to ensure you are supported to achieve the learning outcomes for the MRes.

Overall, we expect you to be fairly autonomous and self-directed in your studies, but of course we’ll offer you plenty of encouragement and support along the way. Each module on the programme involves several assessments, which all contribute towards your final grade for the module, and to your overall master’s qualification. Assessment types are varied, but typically involve assignments, practical work, projects and oral presentations at the end of the programme.

Modules

The modules listed below may be a mixture of compulsory and optional. You may not have the opportunity to study all the modules shown as part of the course.

  • Research Skills and Methods
  • Integrated Management Systems
  • Project Management
  • Business and Management in Engineering
  • Work-based Poject 1
  • Work-based Project 2
  • Dissertation
Assessment methods
LevelAssesment method
Level oneCoursework 100%
Learning activities
LevelLearning activity
Level oneGuided independent study 74%, Placement/study abroad 20%, Scheduled learning and teaching activities 6%

Disclaimer

The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. The university considers changes to courses very carefully and the university will minimise any changes. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis and changes may be necessary due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory and academic reasons. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up-to-date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason, we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.

The academic staff detailed above teach across a range of courses in this subject area and may not teach on this course specifically.

Programme Contacts

Peter Farrell
Programme Leader and Admissions Tutor

P.Farrell@bolton.ac.uk

+44 (0)1204 903426

Furat Al-Faraj
Lecturer

F.Al-Faraj@bolton.ac.uk

+44 (0)1204 903845

Enquiry Team
University of Bolton

enquiries@bolton.ac.uk

+44 (0)1204 903903

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