The world we live in would not exist without manufacturing. At the heart of the industrial economy, it is manufacturing engineers who create and sustain living standards - now and in the future.
Uniquely designed to encompass a number of key areas of this multi-discipline field, with this MSc you will be equipped to tackle the most diverse, exciting set of challenges.
This course addresses two major aspects of manufacturing: manufacturing technologies and manufacturing systems. The first area includes various manufacturing processes and tools, such as lasers, conventional machining, polymer processing and additive manufacturing, robotics and metrology, to name a few.
Manufacturing systems then looks at the organisation of manufacturing entities, such as the various steps involved in the making of devices, the planning/scheduling of the various stages of a manufacturing process, Internet of Things (Industry 4.0).
In contrast to many courses offered by other universities, which focus on niche topics within the wider subject area of manufacturing, this course's curriculum covers a range of key manufacturing subjects, thereby providing students with a holistic understanding of manufacturing.
The course is designed such that it addresses both the fundamental and theoretical aspects of manufacturing technology and systems through lectures and tutorials, as well as provides extensive hands-on experience through practical sessions, such as laboratories, computer cluster programming exercises, and coursework.
The course benefits from its strong connection to the University's manufacturing research group, allowing students not only to get exposed to and taught by academics researching at the cutting edge of manufacturing technology and systems management, but also to have the opportunity to conduct research in these areas during their dissertation period and, thereby, contributing to the advancement of manufacturing.
Here at The University of Manchester, our students learn more than excellent theoretical skills; we prioritise the highly prized practical elements too. Design, development, research - you will learn to analyse and investigate problems at every stage within modern manufacturing technology. Ideal for those wishing to pursue an industrial career, this course also prepares graduates for the management of manufacturing systems and for further research in the field.
Course Duration 12 months (full-time)
Accreditation This course is accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers
Total Self-study Time Approximately 150 hours of independent study in total for a 15-credit module
Teaching Time Approximately 20-25 hours per week of contact time between students and staff members
WHAT CAREER PATHWAYS ARE AVAILABLE TO ME?
Most of our graduating students move into industry where they take up jobs in manufacturing departments, but also other areas within a company (e.g. design, maintenance, R&D, etc.). Their jobs cover a wide range of positions - from maintenance engineer to manufacturing process consultant, and more managerial roles such as site manager.
Other graduates stay in academia and continue with a research degree to pursue an academic career, but also to enter industry for a more research-focused position at a later stage in, for example, R&D.
Our graduates have gone on to take up positions at a variety of companies such as Rolls Royce, Airbus, Toyota, The Welding Institute, Tata Steel, Jaguar LandRover - just to name a few.
WHAT ROLES HAVE GRADUATES SECURED?
On this course, you'll be equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to go into a variety of roles and sectors.
Our recent graduates have gone to work for companies including:
- Rolls Royce
- Airbus
- BAE Systems
- Toyota
- The Welding Institute
- Jaguar LandRover
- ARCADIS
and have gone into roles such as:
- Consultant Engineer
- Design Engineer
- PhD Researcher
- Manufacturing Engineer
- Plant Engineer
- Research and Technology Engineer
OUR STUDENTS' MSc PROJECTS
The MSc project is one of the most exciting parts of a master’s degree — you are paired with an expert supervisor and get a chance to dive deep into a topic you’re passionate about, solve real-world problems, and bring your ideas to life. It’s where everything you’ve learned comes together, showcasing your skills, creativity, and potential to stand out in your field. Here are some projects that our MSc graduates have worked on:
🔎 Investigation of laser processes for manufacturing composite aircraft materials
Investigated whether lasers could be employed for the machining of aircraft components made of carbon fibre reinforced plastics (CFRPs).
🔎 Investigate the use of airborne sound for tool conditioning monitoring in drilling Explored the potential use of sound recorders during a drilling process at an aircraft assembly site for determining the wear state of the cutting tools employed to increase the quality of the components produced.
🔎 Bio-inspired surface textures for a robotic hexapod Explored the benefits of using surfaces that mimic the surfaces found on plants (e.g., lotus leaves) to enhance the capabilities of robotic manipulators.
🔎 Measurable Health and Safety Industry 4.0 Devised a generic health and safety monitoring and management framework to enable detecting general hazards in a workplace.
Dr Robert Heinemann Senior Lecturer
ACADEMIC'S VOICE
This course provides a unique blend of traditional and evolving manufacturing technologies as well as manufacturing systems, which gives students an insight not only into the technical aspects of manufacturing but also allows them to understand the organisational side of a manufacturing plant.
ALUMNI'S VOICE
After completing my Master’s in Advanced Manufacturing Technology and Systems Management at The University of Manchester, I’ve built a career at the intersection of engineering, digital systems, and asset management - primarily across the aerospace and railway sectors. The programme’s emphasis on systems integration, lean thinking, and digital manufacturing equipped me to contribute effectively to high-integrity environments.
In rail, I’ve led projects on digitalising maintenance systems, improving asset lifecycle strategies aligned to ISO55001, and supporting operational readiness for large transport networks. My aerospace exposure included systems-based engineering approaches and process assurance for safety-critical environments. The analytical and structured problem-solving skills from my degree have been key to delivering improvements in performance, safety, and cost efficiency in both industries.
Tarun Sai Nagubandi MSc Advanced Manufacturing Technology and Systems Management Graduate, Class of 2021
Current role: Engineering and Management Consultant at ARCADIS London
The University of Manchester Oxford Rd Manchester M13 9PL UK