International Year One in Engineering and Computing

Academic English Skills aims to provide thorough training in the language and related academic skills which will enable international students to best achieve their academic potential at university. Our Academic English programme is validated by UK ENIC, the UK government agency responsible for providing information and expert opinion on qualifications and skills worldwide.

You will develop awareness and competency in a range of language-related academic skills, including the processes of academic writing, effective and extensive reading strategies, effective participation in seminars and delivery of presentations, and listening to and recording information effectively from lectures. You will also develop the accuracy and range of written and spoken language required to use language effectively and appropriately, with clarity and confidence in an academic context.

Alongside your classes, your studies will be supported by an online learning platform, providing you with a range of tasks and activities specifically designed to develop and extend your language and academic skills outside the classroom and to give you more control over your own learning.

This module introduces students to mathematical notation and techniques with an emphasis on developing skills to analyse and solve engineering problems. Topics studied include the concept of a function, polynomial, exponential, logarithm functions and straight-lines and curves; an introduction to complex numbers, elementary differential and integral calculus. Lectures and tutorials demonstrate worked examples of mathematics concepts and illustrate how each mathematical technique is applied. Problem solving tutorial exercises give students the opportunity to practice these skills and techniques.

The purpose of this module is to support the student to use knowledge that they already possess and combine it with engineering knowledge gained through teaching and learning, experimentation, analysis and reflection.

This module provides a foundation to the important properties of engineering materials together with a hands-on appreciation of these through laboratory-based practical sessions. Fundamental relationships between processing, structure, properties and performance are explored to highlight factors which influence the suitability of materials for various engineering applications. The fundamentals of sustainability are also introduced together with engineering applications.

The module introduces students to a basic knowledge of digital and analogue electronics. It focuses on important components, operations and simple circuits. Lectures are used to explain the theoretical principles and laboratory exercises will provide students with the opportunity to apply the theoretical principles by using the appropriate circuit design tools.

This module introduces the fundamentals of electrical circuit theory and how to apply this to analyse simple electric circuits. Students are also introduced to AC power, both single and three phases, transit circuit analysis, series and parallel resonant circuits. Lectures provide an explanation of principles and discussion of applications whilst practical sessions involve the use of laboratory setups to reinforce the lecture material and provide an opportunity to develop practical skills.

In this module students learn about the common types of structure used in engineering and the types of loads they must resist. Students are also provided with the analytical skills necessary to design the components that make up the structure. Areas of study include: basic concept of force, stress and strain; properties of materials and sections; analysis of frames, beams and columns; equilibrium conditions and static determinacy; beam bending moment, shear force and deflection; and lightweight cables. For each major topic, students learn through worked examples either analytically or computationally.

This module introduces students to the basic principles of fluid mechanics, properties of fluids, hydrostatics, continuity equation, Bernoulli's equation, flow measurements, real flow in pipes, friction losses, and momentum equation. It deals with the transfer of heat, energy for solids, liquids and gases. It also explores the various mechanisms for this heat transfer and laws of thermodynamics, and then quantifies these mechanisms and applies them to mechanical systems – principally engines and compressors. Students are introduced to key principles in lectures, worked examples are covered in tutorials and practical investigation is carried out in laboratory work.

This module introduces the fundamental concepts of software development via the Java programming language. Students acquaint themselves with key aspects of the software development process i.e. designing solutions, writing application code, developing documentation and formal approaches to testing. Concepts of Object Oriented Programming are also introduced.

This module provides a quick introduction to the number bases commonly used in computer science and to problem-solving using recreational problems, like games and puzzles, to convey important algorithmic concepts. It then progresses to the development of more intricate programs to solve more complex problems using data structures and appropriate algorithms. Students are introduced to a variety of algorithmic techniques and provided with an appreciation of the use and importance of data structures. A range of well-established data structures are examined and their properties described.

This module is intended to provide the next generation of web technologists with a thorough understanding of the role of Computer Networks to fully appreciate and utilise within modern web-applications. Specific network design solutions are introduced; current trends in network design are explored, including the increased demand for bandwidth, mobile and wireless solutions. Students will get hands on experience using key network devices for wired and wireless network. Security threads, hazards and issues will be explored along with security risk assessment and management. Relevant protocols and hardware technologies are also introduced along with the role of legal requirements, social and ethical issues.

The production of a successful, robust, user-friendly system or application begins with the analysis of the stakeholders’ requirements and a detailed design. This module introduces you to the concepts and techniques of systems analysis and design.