Space Engineering MSc - 2026/7

Awarding body

University of Surrey

Teaching institute

University of Surrey

Framework

FHEQ Levels 6 and 7

Final award and programme/pathway title

MSc Space Engineering

Subsidiary award(s)

Award	Title
PGCert	Electronic Engineering
PGDip	Space Engineering

Professional recognition

Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).
Accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology on behalf of the Engineering Council as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for registration as a Chartered Engineer. Candidates must hold a CEng accredited BEng/BSc (Hons) undergraduate first degree to comply with full CEng registration requirements.

Modes of study

	Route code	Credits and ECTS Credits
Full-time	PFA61031	180 credits and 90 ECTS credits
Part-time	PFA61032	180 credits and 90 ECTS credits

QAA Subject benchmark statement (if applicable)

Other internal and / or external reference points

1. UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence and Commitment (UK-SPEC, Engineering Council, August 2020) and associated Accreditation of Higher Education Programmes, version 4 (AHEP4, August 2020). 2. QAA Subject Benchmark Statement for Engineering (March 2023). 3. Academic Accreditation Information Pack for Higher Education Institutions, Institution of Engineering Technology (accessed 2023).

Faculty and Department / School

Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences - Computer Science and Electronic Eng

Programme Leader

BRIDGES Christopher (Maths & Phys)

Date of production/revision of spec

14/11/2024

Educational aims of the programme

The overarching aim of the MSc in Space Engineering is to provide specialist multidisciplinary knowledge and skills required for a career working with space technologies. As a graduate from this programme, students will learn about all aspects of the design and delivery of spacecraft and payloads. Study is taken to a high level, in both theory and practice, in the specialist areas of space physics, mechanics, orbits, and space-propulsion systems, as well as the system and electronic design of space vehicles. This is a multi-disciplinary programme, and projects are often closely associated with ongoing space projects carried out by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. This programme will assist with professional career development within the relevant industry and, for a small number of students, to serve as a precursor to academic research. The project dissertation will be chosen by the student allowing them to assist with professional career development within industry or to serve as a precursor to academic research.
To ensure that our MSc programmes completely satisfy the educational requirements for Chartered Engineer status thereby allowing our graduates to obtain professional recognition.
To produce graduates equipped with subject specific knowledge and transferable skills aligned to the Surrey Pillars of graduate attributes and graduates capable of planning and managing their own life-long learning to equip them for roles in industry, in research, in development, in the professions, and/or in public service.
To provide opportunities for masters students to demonstrate their knowledge, understanding and application of design principles in the creation and development of innovative products to meet a defined need.
To provide opportunities for masters students to demonstrate their knowledge, understanding and application of engineering concepts and tools in analysis of engineering problems.
To provide opportunities for masters students to demonstrate their knowledge, understanding and application of engineering practice including the importance of project management, teamwork, and communication within an engineering context.
To provide opportunities for masters students to demonstrate their knowledge, understanding and application of mathematical, scientific, and engineering principles.
To provide opportunities for masters students to enhance their digital capabilities through the use of assignments and projects making various use of programming languages as well as enhancing their general transferable information technology skills in the analysis of data, and via the preparation of assignments, reports and presentations.
To provide opportunities for masters students to enhance their employability skills via use of a training needs analysis which students complete for their individual project to understand how they need to build both their technical and transferable skills.
To provide opportunities for masters students to enhance their global and cultural intelligence through working with students from around the world and working on a rich variety of assignments and projects appropriate to their programme.
To provide opportunities for masters students to enhance their knowledge and awareness of sustainability via consideration of sustainability issues such as the UN's Sustainability Development Goals appropriate to their programme.
To provide opportunities for masters students to enhance their resourcefulness and resilience skills via use of authentic style coursework and assignments, working in teams and undertaking a major individual project. This will build up a student's personal confidence as they advance from well-structured problems to open-ended problems and their individual project.

Programme learning outcomes

	Attributes Developed	Awards	Ref.
To provide opportunities for masters students to enhance their resourcefulness and resilience skills via use of authentic style coursework and assignments, working in teams and undertaking a major individual project. This will build up a student's personal confidence as they advance from well-structured problems to open-ended problems and their individual project.	KC	PGDip, MSc	M1
Formulate and analyse complex problems in space engineering to reach substantiated conclusions.	KC	PGDip, MSc	M2
Select and apply appropriate computational and analytical techniques to model complex problems in space engineering, discussing the limitations of the techniques employed	KCT	PGDip, MSc	M3
Select and critically evaluate technical literature and other sources of information to solve complex problems in space engineering	CT	PGDip, MSc	M4
Design solutions for complex problems in space engineering that evidence some originality and meet a combination of societal, user, business and customer needs as appropriate to include consideration of applicable health + safety, diversity, inclusion, cultural, societal, environmental and commercial matters, codes of practice and industry standards	CP	PGDip, MSc	M5
Evaluate the environmental and societal impact of solutions to complex problems in space engineering (to include the entire life-cycle of a product or process) and minimise adverse impacts	CP	PGDip, MSc	M7
Function effectively as an individual, and as a member or leader of a team. Evaluate effectiveness of own and team performance	PT	MSc	M16
Communicate effectively on complex engineering matters with technical and non-technical audiences, evaluating the effectiveness of the methods used	PT	MSc	M17
Apply knowledge of mathematics, statistics, natural science and engineering principles to the solution of complex problems in electronic engineering.	KC	PGCert
Formulate and analyse problems in electronic engineering to reach substantiated conclusions.	KC	PGCert
Select and apply appropriate computational and analytical techniques to model problems in electronic engineering	KCP	PGCert
Select and evaluate technical literature and other sources of information to solve problems in electronic engineering	CT	PGCert
Design solutions for problems in electronic engineering that evidence some originality and meet a combination of societal, user, business and customer needs as appropriate to include consideration of applicable health + safety, diversity, inclusion, cultural, societal, environmental and commercial matters, codes of practice and industry standards	CP	PGCert

Attributes Developed

C - Cognitive/analytical

K - Subject knowledge

T - Transferable skills

P - Professional/Practical skills

Programme structure

Full-time

This Master's Degree programme is studied full-time over one academic year, consisting of 180 credits at FHEQ level 7*. All modules are semester based and worth 15 credits with the exception of project, practice based and dissertation modules.
Possible exit awards include:
- Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits)
- Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits)
*some programmes may contain up to 30 credits at FHEQ level 6.

Part-time

This Master's Degree programme is studied part-time over three to five years, consisting of 180 credits at FHEQ level 7*. All modules are worth 15 credits with the exception of project, practice based and dissertation modules.
Possible exit awards include:
- Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits)
- Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits)
*some programmes may contain up to 30 credits at FHEQ level 6.

Programme Adjustments (if applicable)

N/A

Year 1 (full-time) - FHEQ Levels 6 and 7

Module code	Module title	Status	Credits	Period
EEE3039	SPACE DYNAMICS AND MISSIONS	Compulsory	15	1
EEE3040	SPACE SYSTEM DESIGN	Compulsory	15	1
EEEM004	60 CREDIT STANDARD PROJECT	Core	60	Year-long
EEEM009	ADVANCED GUIDANCE, NAVIGATION AND CONTROL	Optional	15	2
EEEM012	LAUNCH VEHICLES & PROPULSION	Optional	15	2
EEEM032	ADVANCED SATELLITE COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUES	Optional	15	2
EEEM033	SATELLITE REMOTE SENSING	Optional	15	1
EEEM044	RF SYSTEMS AND CIRCUIT DESIGN	Optional	15	1
EEEM049	SPACECRAFT STRUCTURES AND MECHANISMS	Optional	15	2
EEEM057	SPACE ENVIRONMENT AND PROTECTION	Optional	15	2
EEEM059	SPACE AVIONICS	Optional	15	1
EEEM031	SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS FUNDAMENTALS	Optional	15	1
EEEM072	RESEARCH, PROFESSIONALISM AND INNOVATION	Core	15	2

Module Selection for Year 1 (full-time) - FHEQ Levels 6 and 7

Choose 2 of the optional modules in Semester 1
Choose 3 of the optional modules in Semester 2

Unstructured (3-5 years) - FHEQ Levels 6 and 7

Module code	Module title	Status	Credits	Period
EEE3039	SPACE DYNAMICS AND MISSIONS	Compulsory	15	1
EEE3040	SPACE SYSTEM DESIGN	Compulsory	15	1
EEEM033	SATELLITE REMOTE SENSING	Optional	15	1
EEEM044	RF SYSTEMS AND CIRCUIT DESIGN	Optional	15	1
EEEM059	SPACE AVIONICS	Optional	15	1
EEEM009	ADVANCED GUIDANCE, NAVIGATION AND CONTROL	Optional	15	2
EEEM012	LAUNCH VEHICLES & PROPULSION	Optional	15	2
EEEM032	ADVANCED SATELLITE COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUES	Optional	15	2
EEEM049	SPACECRAFT STRUCTURES AND MECHANISMS	Optional	15	2
EEEM057	SPACE ENVIRONMENT AND PROTECTION	Optional	15	2
EEEM004	60 CREDIT STANDARD PROJECT	Core	60	Year-long
EEEM031	SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS FUNDAMENTALS	Optional	15	1
EEEM072	RESEARCH, PROFESSIONALISM AND INNOVATION	Core	15	2

Opportunities for placements / work related learning / collaborative activity

Associate Tutor(s) / Guest Speakers / Visiting Academics	Y
Professional Training Year (PTY)	N
Placement(s) (study or work that are not part of PTY)	N
Clinical Placement(s) (that are not part of the PTY scheme)	N
Study exchange (Level 5)	N
Dual degree	N

Other information

Digital capabilities Students on this MSc programme will have many opportunities to enhance their digital capabilities skills via programming and coding exercises making use of the relevant programming languages (such as Python) or modelling languages such as MATLAB. Students will also need to present their findings in the form of an individual and group-based report and presentation using appropriate writing and presentation software. In Year 4 of the programme further advanced modules will improve the modelling skills.

The MSc programme learning outcome most closely aligned to the Digital Capability Pillar is
LO3: Select and apply appropriate computational and analytical techniques to model complex problems recognising the limitations of the techniques employed (KCT).

In addition, the following programme LOs partly address the Digital Capability Pillar
LO1: Apply knowledge of mathematics, statistics, natural science and engineering principles to the solution of complex problems in the subject speciality (K).
LO2: Analyse complex problems to reach substantiated conclusions using first principles of mathematics, statistics, natural science and engineering principles in the subject speciality (KC).
LO5: Design solutions for complex problems that meet a combination of societal, user, business and customer needs as appropriate to include consideration of applicable health & safety, diversity, inclusion, cultural, societal, environmental and commercial matters, codes of practice and industry standards in electronic engineering.(CPT)

Employability skills for masters students will be enhanced for those modules that have team activities. Employability is best seen via the preparation and delivery of a major personal project where demonstration and documentation of project deliverables against project objectives will be especially valued by numerate based employers. An opportunity to discuss the project with experts and non-experts during formal evaluation of the project and their peers will be invaluable.

The MSc programme learning outcomes most closely aligned to the Employability Pillar are
LO16: Function effectively as an individual, and as a member or leader of a team (PT)
LO17: Communicate effectively on complex engineering matters with technical and non-technical audiences (PT)

Global and Cultural Capabilities Students on this programme will have an opportunity to engage and work with other masters' students from a range of different regional and cultural backgrounds. Through peer learning and support students will have opportunities to gain appreciation of how engineering is seen and used in different parts of the world. Engineering ethical considerations require students to complete a project Self-Assessment for Governance and Ethics for Human and Data research.

The following programme LOs also contributes, in part, to the Global and Cultural Capabilities Pillar
LO5: Design solutions for complex problems that meet a combination of societal, user, business and customer needs as appropriate to include consideration of applicable health & safety, diversity, inclusion, cultural, societal, environmental and commercial matters, codes of practice and industry standards in electronic engineering. (CPT)

Resourcefulness & Resilience features heavily in the project planning and delivery of their project. Students' resourcefulness and resilience will be enhanced as they will need to think critically and exercise engineering judgment underlying the some of the assumptions they would need to employ in advanced calculations and identify the limitations of those assumptions.
The MSc programme learning outcome most closely aligned to the Resourcefulness & Resilience pillar is
LO4: Select and critically evaluate technical literature and other sources of information to solve complex problems (CT)

Sustainability Students are exposed to sustainability via choice of components and equipment and need to consider the UN's Sustainability Development Goals in their project work. Sustainability is also to be found in the efficient use of modelling or computational methods to reduce energy.

The MSc programme learning outcome most closely aligned to the Sustainability pillar is
LO7: Evaluate the environmental and societal impact of solutions to broadly-defined problems (CPT)

In addition, the following programme LOs also contributes, in part, to the Sustainability Pillar
LO5: Design solutions for complex problems that meet a combination of societal, user, business and customer needs as appropriate to include consideration of applicable health & safety, diversity, inclusion, cultural, societal, environmental and commercial matters, codes of practice and industry standards in electronic engineering. (CPT)

Quality assurance

The Regulations and Codes of Practice for taught programmes can be found at:

https://www.surrey.ac.uk/quality-enhancement-standards

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2026/7 academic year.