Course Information course information
About
Five core technologies that are essential to raise the development of manufacturing and productivity to the levels required in the next 50 years are; Artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, automation, internet of things (IoT) and industrial digital technologies (IDTs).
The vast majority of industrial and commercial organisations in N. Ireland are substantially under-prepared for the challenges presented by these advances in technology and will need significant support to develop the capability and capacity to survive, compete internationally with innovative products while extracting greatly increased efficiencies from their processes.
Smart Manufacturing Systems draws on each of these 5 key enablers to provide a platform for development where intelligent factories become the norm with connectivity data and IDTs at the heart of the workplace.
Start Date
September 2025
Campus
Derry~Londonderry
Delivery
This programme will be taught in three 20-credit modules. This course will be offered as a Full-Time (F/T) and a Part-Time (P/T) which will be campus based (Derry~Londonderry) with blended learning.
Term Dates
- In full-time, students will complete the three 20-credit modules between September 25 – May 26.
- In part-time, students will complete the three 20-credit modules between September 25 – December 26
Progression
Students who complete this Postgraduate Certificate can then go on to study for the full MSc Smart Manufacturing Systems.
Contact us
If you have any queries about the course, please email us: sceis@ulster.ac.uk
Modules
Advanced Manufacturing and Industrial Robotics (20 credit points)
This module develops knowledge and understanding in new and non-traditional manufacturing processes. Current push towards adoption of Industry 4.0 principles dictates that the engineer of the future will have to be familiar with, and capable of, using advanced technology to support continuous improvement in manufacturing processes. This module will help develop those skills.
The Global Business in context (20 credit points)
Businesses operate in a globalised and highly connected multi-layered business environment, where the global and the local impacts are increasingly intertwined. Such an environment presents many challenges, typified by the volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity (VUCA) arising from global business.
As the leaders/managers and decision makers of the future, Global Business in Context will help students understand current trends in Global Business, prepare for work in multi-layered global environments, and to understand the need to be flexible and adaptable to change, both in the domestic, regional and global contexts.
Data Science Foundations (20 credit points)
This module introduces students to the fundamentals of data science, including terminology and concepts, core models and algorithms, technologies, and application scenarios. It considers the key technologies used in data collection, curation, processing, integration, analysis, and visualisation, applied to a variety of data types.
Students will be introduced to data scientist toolkit that can be applied to build data-driven applications. Additionally, students will be introduced to concepts including sustainability, ethics, cloud computing, and high performance computing.
Material covered will be contextualised by providing examples of the latest research within the area. Through completion of the module, students will demonstrate qualities including subject-specific knowledge and skills and the ability to use flexible and creative approaches to problem solving and communication.
60 credits successful completion = Postgraduate Certificate in Smart Manufacturing Systems.
Entry Requirements
- Applicants must:
- (a) have gained
- (i) an Honours or non-Honours degree from a University of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland, or from a recognised national awarding body, or from an institution of another country which is recognised as being of an equivalent standard; or
- (ii) an equivalent standard (normally 50%) in a Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma or an approved alternative qualification; and
- the qualification must be in the subject areas of Mechanical Engineering, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related discipline; and
- (b) provide evidence of competence in written and spoken English (GCSE grade C or equivalent);
Eligibility
Places are limited and open to applicants who:
- are over 18 years of age;
- are eligible to work in Northern Ireland;
- are ‘settled’ in Northern Ireland, and has been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least three years; or
- are a person who has indefinite leave to enter or remain in the UK.
- meet the course specific entry requirements. See course pages for requirements.
- meet the Ulster University general entry requirements
Applications will open on 2 June and will close on 22 June
There are a limited number of places on the course. Offers will be extended to those applicants who meet the entry requirements following successful completion of the application process. Applications will no longer be accepted or processed once all offers are extended.
When creating your application you will need to have the following documents saved electronically as they need to be uploaded as part of the application process:
- Passport
- Evidence on meeting three year residency in NI/ROI
- Degree Certificate
- English Competency (If you have a degree from UK/ROI, you don't need to provide anything else)
- Statement of Purpose*
- BRP - If applicable
* Statement of Purpose - this should be no more than an A4 page and should provide details of what you hope to gain from studying this course. This may be to used to assist the course team in the allocation of places, in the event that the number of applicants who meet all other requirements exceed the number of available funded places.
