The curriculum of the MSc Applied Instrumentation & Control programme has been

developed in consultation with industry; graduates will have the confidence to develop
new ideas and implement real measurement systems, making them of considerable
value to industry.
Accredited by: Affiliated with:
MSc Applied
Instrumentation &
Control
Specialist Oil & Gas pathway available
Brilliance is in the detail.
New developments in sensor technologies, instrument communication, networking and
information processing offer many opportunities to enhance business performance
through improved production, systems optimisation and asset management.
The instrumentation professional must be equipped to
understand the principles and implementation of
instrumentation, the importance of efficient and reliable
measurement and control systems and have a suitably wide
perspective of the subject area so that a number of different
approaches to a problem can be identified.
Brighter futures
The programme caters for an extremely wide range of industries
and services for which the measurement of processes and
environmental factors are vital to their business performance.
It will also be of interest to companies that manufacture and
supply such measurement systems. The range of industrial
sectors includes: petrochemical, agrochemical, the food industry,
pharmaceutical, environmental, optics and optoelectronics,
medical instrumentation, power generation and the water
industry. The employment areas within these sectors include:
computer controlled instrumentation systems, process
instrumentation, technical management and sales, process
control and automation, sensor development and manufacture,
instrument working and test and measurement systems.
Entry requirements & English language requirements
UK honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant engineering or
science discipline. IELTS score of 6.0 (or equivalent) with no
element below 5.5.
Accreditation*
Accredited by the Institute of Measurement and Control as
meeting the Engineering Councils further learning requirements
for Chartered Engineering registration.
Mode of study and duration
Full-time: PgD nine months; MSc 12 months (Sept start) or 15
months (Jan start).
Distance learning: students are not required to attend campus
and will be provided with a comprehensive study pack for each
module.
Programme structure
The curriculum has been developed in consultation with industry
and may be broadly grouped in three areas: the introduction
of new facts and concepts in measurement and control; the
application of facts and concepts to real measurement problems
and systems; and subjects which are of general importance
to the professional engineer, for example safety and safety
management and management ethics and project planning.
Students complete eight taught modules four in trimester A
and four in trimester B; and a Masters project in trimester C.
The MSc project will be carried out at the students workplace;
this can be in an area relevant to the companys production/
maintenance function, thus providing maximum benefit to both
the company and the individual.
MSc Applied Instrumentation & Control
Trimester A modules
Measurement Theory & Devices; Control Systems;
Measurement Systems; and Industrial Case Study B.
Trimester B modules
Professional Practice; Data Acquisition & Analysis; Instrument
Communication & Networking; and Industrial Case Study A.
MSc Applied Instrumentation & Control (Oil & Gas)
Trimester A modules
The Oil & Gas Industry; Measurement Theory & Devices; Control
Systems; and Measurement Systems.
Trimester B modules
Oil & Gas Exploration; Data Acquisition & Analysis; Instrument
Communication & Networking; and Industrial Case Study A.
Distance learning
Students can choose to complete any number of modules
each academic year depending upon their circumstances;
however, students are advised to complete the programme
within five years. Students are required to have access to a
minimum specification of IT equipment (details on request).
*Accreditation pending for the Oil & Gas specialist pathway
Assessment methods
The taught modules are assessed by coursework only or a
combination of coursework and examination. The MSc project
is assessed by project reports, practical operation and an
electronic presentation.
Student support
Study support is available to all students throughout the MSc
programme from personal tutors, module leaders and the
programme leader. A designated international student advisor
can also provide structured mentoring and study support
sessions which cover numerous topics such as academic writing
skills, personal goal setting and pastoral care.
Module information
Control Systems: consolidates advanced classical and
modern control design techniques emphasising the practical
considerations in applying control design in an industrial
environment. The appropriateness and difficulties encountered
in applying various design techniques in practice will be explored.
In particular system sensitivity, robustness and nonlinearity will
be studied.
Data Acquisition & Analysis: develops the ability to evaluate, in a
given situation, the most appropriate strategy for acquiring data
and understand the merits of this strategy with respect to other
approaches. A range of modern time and frequency domain
analysis techniques will also be discussed.
Industrial Case Study A and B: following on from the foundation
in measurement and instrumentation provided by the
Measurement Theory & Devices module, students will now
be equipped to study in depth instrumentation in industrial
processes. These modules will cover aspects of designing sensor
systems for industrial measurements, instrument control, system
troubleshooting and optimisation in industrial applications.


Applied Instrumentation & Control
Instrument Communication & Networking: develops the ability
to evaluate, in a given situation, the most appropriate strategy
for acquiring and transmitting data and understand the merits of
this strategy with respect to other approaches. A wide range of
different instrument communication and networking techniques
will be studied. In addition the module provides practical
experience of hardware setup and software development,
relating to these techniques.
Measurement Systems: a range of advanced measurement
systems will be studied in depth. Sensors, signal processing,
low-level signal measurements, noise-reduction methods and
appropriate measurement strategies will be applied to industrial
and environmental applications. The influence of environmental
factors and operation conditions will be considered in relation to
the optimisation of the measurement system.
Measurement Theory & Devices: adopts a generalised approach
to measurement theory and devices, allowing students to
become familiar with the characteristics of measurement
systems in terms of the underlying principles. In this way, the
students will be able to develop a systems approach to problem
solving. They should find this methodology to be a considerable
benefit to them when they have to apply their expertise to
solving more complex industrial measurement problems.
Oil & Gas Exploration: provides an introduction to petroleum
geology, including: the definition and calculation of resources
and reserves; assessing exploration chance of success; reservoir
characterisation; performance and engineering; conventional
and non-conventional petroleum resources; shale gas; tight
gas sands and coal bed methane; shale oil; and oil sands and
bitumen. Topics relating to exploration and prospecting will also
be scrutinised.
Professional Practice: develops the students ability to select,
develop and plan an MSc research project, to research and
critically analyse the literature associated with the project and to
present research findings effectively, it will also provide students
with the ability to apply a competent process of thinking to
project planning and give them a critical understanding of safe
and ethical working.
The Oil & Gas Industry: provides an introduction to the key
players in the international oil and gas industry and examines:
the legal ownership of hydrocarbon reserves; valuation of
hydrocarbon reserves; investment appraisals for exploration
and production; governmental control and global politics of the
exploitation of hydrocarbons; terminology of the
petroleum industry; and processes involving exploration, drilling
and production.
For more information visit www.gcu.ac.uk/postgraduate
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How to apply
You can apply to a postgraduate programme at Glasgow Caledonian
University (GCU) in a number of ways: apply online or download an
application form from www.gcu.ac.uk/postgraduate/howtoapply;
alternatively, contact our postgraduate team on +44 (0)141 331 8640
or email them at postgraduate@gcu.ac.uk
GCU aims to process all complete postgraduate taught applications
and make an initial decision within 48 hours of receipt of application,
excluding weekends and bank holidays.
Scholarships
Scholarships may be available for this programme.
Visit www.gcu.ac.uk/study/scholarships for details.
Fees and funding
Visit www.gcu.ac.uk/postgraduate/feesfinance for details.