Master of Engineering

The purpose of this qualification is to

• To educate qualifiers with values, knowledge and skills to enable them to engage at a high level in continued personal intellectual growth, gainful economic activity and rewarding contributions beneficial to society.
• To provide South Africa (and other African countries) with a cadre of master's level graduates who have a sound basis of high level knowledge, competence and skills in science, engineering, technological and management arenas so that they may act as participants or leaders of project teams dealing creatively with social, developmental, environmental, engineering and physical design challenges associated with human activity.
• More specifically, to provide qualifiers with: Postgraduate-level knowledge in mathematical, scientific, engineering and business sciences that will permit them to solve engineering, technological, management and social problems and multi-disciplinary combinations of these, at a high level using processes of analysis and synthesis. The end product of these processes is usually, but not limited to, scientific, engineering, technical and/or management designs, systems, schemes or practices which serve the needs of society with due regard to social, economic and environmental aspects.
• Appropriate high level skills and tools, such as ability to use computers, networks and information sources for accessing, processing and managing information to enhance the engineering and business management enterprise, as well as personal intellectual growth and productivity, and so to promote lifelong learning.
• Effective communication skills, both oral and written, so as to enhance interaction with the wider engineering and business community oriented towards exercising leadership in a knowledge-based economy.
• The necessary high-level understanding of the professional and ethical qualities for the practice of engineering and business management for the good of society.
• High level knowledge, skills and values to contribute to the upliftment of communities and the country through engineering, management and other related professional activities.

Rationale

Part of the University of Cape Town's (UCT) strategic plan is to develop Postgraduate studies. With increasing knowledge skills and competencies required in engineering, which bridges sciences and technology, there is an increasing need for high-level specialised graduates. Not all students completing a four-year Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSc (Eng)) or Bachelor of Science Honours BSc(Hons) Degree wish to enrol for a major master's research project (>50%of credits), but rather concentrate on master's specialisation course work (75% of credits). The potential candidates for this qualification are practising engineers who cannot, and have no interest to, take time out of their active careers to conduct a major research project, but need up to date and high (Postgraduate) level knowledge for (i) effective and competitive practice of their rapidly advancing technical disciplines and (ii) retain (in future) their professional registration through continuing advanced level education. The strong research groups in the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment at UCT, of which there are more than 10, are developing specialisation Master of Engineering Degree (MEng) programmes in their fields of expertise. With some focused advertising it is envisaged that these programmes offering the specialisation MEng qualification can double their master's graduates in five years.

The potential candidates for this qualification are practicing professionals who need to update their knowledge for

• Effective and competitive practice of their rapidly advancing technical disciplines.
• Retain (in future) their professional registration through continuing advanced (PG) level education.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

A four-year Degree (or Senate-endorsed equivalent) is the standard entrance requirement. However, applicants with 3-year Bachelor of Science (BSc) Degrees or with Bachelor of Technology (BTech) or NHD qualifications in cognate engineering or science fields may apply for admission on the basis of relevant work experience. A minimum of 5 years' relevant work experience after qualifying for the undergraduate qualification, validated by employer references, may be accepted as equivalent to the 4th (Hons) year. Applicants who qualify for this work experience exemption can enrol for the Master of Engineering Degree (MEng) directly without having to complete the requisite number of 4th or 5th year level credits (160) to make up for the missing of the 4thyear.

Entry Requirements

The minimum requirement is

• A Bachelor Degree.

Or

• An Honours Degree.

This qualification comprises of compulsory and elective modules at Level 9 totalling 180 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 9, 60 Credits.

• Minor Dissertation, 60 Credits.

Elective Modules

• Introduction to Electronic Defence, 20 Credits.
• Integrated Urban Water Management, 20 Credits.
• Design of Biological Nutrient Removal Systems, 20 Credits.
• Integrated Wastewater Treatment Plant Design, 20 Credits.
• Adv Mech of Materials, 16 Credits.
• The Activated Sludge System, 10 Credits.
• Sedimentation in Water Treatment, 8 Credits.
• Introduction to Wastewater Treatment, 4 Credits.
• Management of Transport Supply and Demand, 20 Credits.
• Fundamentals of Radar Signal and Data Processing, 20 Credits.
• Advanced Infrastructure Management, 20 Credits.
• Repair and Rehabilitation of Concrete Structures, 20 Credits.
• Microwave Components and Antennas, 20 Credits.
• Nuclear Reactor Theory and Design, 20 Credits.
• Nuclear Reactor Operations and Safety, 20 Credits.
• Regulatory Requirements for Nuclear Power, 20 Credits.
• Durability and Condition Assessment of Concrete Structures, 20 Credits.
• Structural Performance Assessment & Monitoring, 20 Credits.
• Plate and Shell Structures I, 16 Credits.
• Safety of Special Structures, 20 Credits.
• Structural Dynamics with Appl, 16 Credits.
• Sewage Sludge Treatment, 8 Credits.
• Project Planning and Implementation, 20 Credits.
• Thermodynamics for Nuclear Power Stations, 16 Credits.
• Electrical and Mechanical Equipment in Nuclear Power Stations, 16 Credits.
• Radar System Modelling,20 Credits.
• Special Topics in Radar D, 10 Credits.
• Introduction to Radar Systems, 20 Credits.
• Special Topics in Radar E, 10 Credits.
• Minor Dissertation, 60 Credits.
• Managing New Venture Projects, 20 Credits.
• Nuclear Manufacturing and Construction Eng Management, 12 Credits.
• Introductory Nuclear Physics and Radiation for Power Supply, 16 Credits.
• Public Transport System Design & Operations Management, 20 Credits.
• Advanced Radar and Electronic Protection Mathematics, 20 Credits.
• Integrated Land Use Transport Plnng, 20 Credits.
• Sustainable Urban Systems, 20 Credits.
• Structural Concrete Properties and Practice, 16 Credits.
• Non-motorised Transportation, 20 Credits.
• Introduction to Business Administration, 40 Credits.
• Project Risk Management, 20 Credits.
• Transport Demand Analysis and Project Assessment, 20 Credits.
• Research Communication and Methodology, 16 Credits.
• Transport Modelling, 20 Credits.

1. Competent to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with engineering, scientific or business audiences and the community at large.
2. Critically aware of the impact of engineering, business and management activity on society and the environment, and to exercise the appropriate judgement in analysis, synthesis and design.
3. Competent to work effectively as an individual, in terms and in multi-disciplinary environments showing leadership and performing critical functions.
4. Critically aware of the need to act professionally and ethically, to take responsibility and to exercise judgement commensurate with knowledge and experience.
5. Aware of the need for lifelong learning, and is able to undertake continuing professional development through ongoing formal and informal education.
6. Demonstrate the ability to think and apply information logically and creatively.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome

• Undertake or propose at a high level engineering, planning and/or managerial designs, procedures and/or processes that integrate first principle solutions or code approaches with an understanding of the use of materials, all within the context of maximum economy and due regard for the environment.
• Assist in planning, managing, construction, operation and maintenance of engineering and managerial systems or processes with due regard for the health and safety of personnel, and within the constraints of a budget.
• Access, manipulate, process, provide and use spatially referenced data for the solution of engineering problems.
• Exercise leadership and managerial skills in the wider engineering and business environment, thus enhancing productivity and effectiveness.

Integrated Assessment

Learners on the qualification will have the opportunity to be assessed through a range of methods for both formative and summative purposes including formal examinations and assignments. These will be designed to enable them to demonstrate their critical understanding of the subject matter to which they have been exposed as well as their competence to deal with practice-based problems or issues arising out of that subject matter. For the dissertation component, students will be able to identify problems or areas of interest which they want to explore further. The project will consist of a small scale investigation focusing on some educational issue that could arise out of their own disciplinary context. The criteria for the assessment will be; a clear identification and justification of the educational problem which gives rise to the enquiry; the extent to which the project is contextually sensitive, theoretically justified, and practically feasible; a project which is communicated in an appropriate manner.