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Engineering Top-Up BSc Welcome Pack

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Welcome to Engineering Top-Up BSc 2024

On behalf of the Engineering team I’d like to welcome you to the BSc Engineering Top-up.  I look forward to meeting you at the welcome session. We are a very open team who enjoy engaging with our students, it gives us great pleasure to see our students succeed.

This course has been designed to provide you with a broad foundation in the fundamental topics within engineering, building upon knowledge you’ll have gained in the years prior to starting the course.  Key areas include electronic and mechanical engineering, design, industry standards and your individual research project.  As you’d expect we provide you with extensive support and guidance for your studies, but there will be an expectation that you’d undertake significant individual research and study.  Learning is delivered through a range of methods, examples include lectures, seminars, lab-based activities and one to one project sessions.

The programme has a strong industry focus and throughout the year there will be opportunities for you to engage with industry should you wish to.  Please see the enhancing skills section below.

Whilst the programme does require a high degree individual effort, we do find that students joining this course are highly focused and achieve very good results.  The programme is delivered over one day, enabling those who are in employment to study on a day release basis.  Should you choose to work whilst studying, then as you’d expect you’ll have to use some evenings and weekends to undertake the additional out of class study the programme requires.

We look forward to assisting you in achieving your degree ambitions!

Your Programme Leader

daniel-bailey-senior-lecturer-engineeringDaniel Bailey

Senior Lecturer in Engineering

Daniel.bailey@northampton.ac.uk

 

Welcome and induction sessions

This is your induction timetable with in-person sessions starting on Monday 16 September. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact induction organiser, Daniel Bailey: Daniel.Bailey@northampton.ac.uk.

  • Monday 16 September

    • Session: Programme Welcome activity – this is an opportunity to meet and get to know the programme leader as well as your fellow students.
    • Time: 9.30am to 10am
    • Location: CH011, ground floor, Creative Hub

     

    • Session: Introduction to the Programme and Uni life – the programme leader will run through a range of information in relation to the programme including Academic content, delivery methods and expectations, student support available, professional development guidance and support, industrial Engagement opportunities and Students’ Union
    • Time: 10am-11am
    • Location: CH011, ground floor, Creative Hub

     

    • Session: Personal Academic Tutor (PAT) meeting – the role, purpose and importance of the PAT meetings will be explained, and brief initial individual sessions will be offered.
    • Time: 11am-12pm
    • Location: CH011, ground floor, Creative Hub

     

    • Session: Welcome by Dr Funmi Obembe, Head of Subject for Technology. This will also be an opportunity to meet the Engineering Programme Team.
    • Time: 12pm-12-45pm
    • Location: The Hide, fourth floor, Learning Hub

     

    • Session: Access to Software and Systems – during this session we shall be providing details of the software you’ll be using and how you can access this and the other systems you’ll be using to support your studies. This will be followed by a brief tour of the labs.
    • Time: 2pm-2.45pm
    • Location: CH011, ground floor, Creative Hub

     

Preparation/Specialist Equipment

During the course you’ll be using a wider range of specialist equipment and software to support practical elements of your course.  This is provided and supported as part of your fees. The only element of equipment you will have to purchase is a scientific calculator.  This can be purchased during the course following advice from the relevant module leader.

The following is indicative understanding prior undertaking this course:

In terms of maths:

  • Fundamental Algebra: one variable linear equations, one variable linear inequalities, two-variable linear equations, functions, linear equations and functions word problems, sequences, systems of linear equations, two-variable linear inequalities, absolute value and piecewise functions., expressions with rational exponents and radicals, introduction to exponential functions, polynomials, polynomial factorization, quadratic equations, rational and irrational numbers
  • Matrix manipulation. Representing linear systems of equations with augmented matrices. Adding and subtracting, multiplying matrices, Matrix inverse, solving equations with inverse matrices.
  • Basic Trigonometry. The unit circle definition of basic trigonometric functions.  Graphs of trigonometric function.
  • Trigonometry with general triangles
  • Trigonometric equations and identities
  • Integration and differentiation. Integration by parts, u-substitution, integration using trigonometric identities. Basic differentiation rules, power rule, differentiating linear functions, polynomial function differentiation, radical functions differentiation, exponential and natural logarithms differentiation.

In terms of electrical and electronic concepts:

  • Kirchhoff’s Laws, Circuit Analysis – Nodal and Mesh
  • Linearity and Superposition, Source Transformations, Thévenin and Norton Equivalents
  • RC,RL, RLC circuits.
  • Frequency response.
  • Semiconductors, diodes and bipolar transistors.
  • OPAMPS.
  • Boolean algebra rules, logic gates and logic simplification using Karnaugh Map.
  • Basic Arduino Programming.

Preparation to the programme – support materials

We find that if some students have been out of learning for some time they may find some topics with mathematical content challenging.  The following links will provide useful information, which will prepare you prior to and during the course.

The following Khan Academy links cover the Engineering Maths requirements:

The following Khan Academy links cover the Engineering Physics requirements:

The following links are useful to get used to Arduino and electronics:

The information above is only a guide and you will not be expected to have learned everything before you start the Programme, but the more you can consider the better prepared you’ll be upon starting the course.

Industrial Engagement

A key part of the course is ensuring that students have an appreciation and as far as possible prepared for employment.  Our industrial partners through the Northampton Engineering Training Partnership (NETP) support the Course.  The NETP provides a range of optional engagement opportunities such seminars, networking events and industry visits.

Please check out the NETP activities via the following link: http://www.netpengineering.co.uk/

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