Introduction
The MSc in Industrial Robotics applies fundamental principles from engineering and artificial intelligence to the understanding and development of robotics technologies for sectors as diverse as manufacturing, energy, transport, logistics and healthcare.
This programme is also available to study part time online.
Study Information
At a Glance
- Learning Mode
- On Campus Learning
- Degree Qualification
- MSc
- Duration
- 12 months
- Study Mode
- Full Time
- Start Month
- September
- Location of Study
- Aberdeen
Robotics is an interdisciplinary and highly dynamic field that ranges from the design of mechanical and electronic components to the development of software used to sense the environment, plan robot motions and control their execution.
Drawing on core concepts of robotics, AI, and mechatronics, you will study the emerging technologies driving the digital transformation of industry operations and develop the skills and expertise to design robotic systems using advanced algorithms.
You will benefit from hands-on learning and access to our dedicated robotics laboratory, including the Pepper robot, the Panda robot arm, soft actuators, mobile robots and swarm robotics which we use to research robotics and AI.
You will learn about the use of real-time data analysis, machine learning in industrial processes, including robot kinematics and dynamics, as well as robot programming and learning. You will also cover mobile and bioinspired robotic technologies, robot localisation and mapping and the design of swarm and soft robotic technologies.
The essential areas of control engineering and mathematical optimisation are also covered so that by the end of taught section of the programme you will have the theoretical and practical tools to design robotic systems for multiple industry sectors such as energy, transport, food, logistics and manufacturing.
The programme concludes with your research-based dissertation project, which will allow you further develop your specialist knowledge and apply the concepts you learn throughout the programme.
We welcome students from a broad range of academic backgrounds, including engineering, computer science or the physical or mathematical sciences, who are looking to advance their specialist knowledge and skills by gaining a higher qualification in this exciting field.
What You'll Study
- Stage 1
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Compulsory Courses
- EG505P Intelligent Robotics for Energy Infrastructure
- Getting Started at the University of Aberdeen (PD5006)
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This course, which is prescribed for all taught postgraduate students, is studied entirely online, is studied entirely online, takes approximately 2-3 hours to complete and can be taken in one sitting, or spread across the first 4 weeks of term.
Topics include University orientation overview, equality & diversity, MySkills, health, safety and cyber security, and academic integrity.
Successful completion of this course will be recorded on your Transcript as ‘Achieved’.
- Applied Artificial Intelligence (CS5079)
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15 Credit Points
This course will allow students to use cutting-edge AI technologies to investigate the creation and application of AI systems. Such tools include deep learning libraries and simulation environments.
- Introduction to Mobile Robotics and Bioinspiration (EG504M)
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15 Credit Points
Mobile robots can be used in a range of applications, including warehouses, agriculture, and other real-world environments. One of the main challenges for robots operating in the real world is that this is an unstructured environment. Nature has found clever solutions for the design of intelligent and effective systems operating in the unstructured environment hence biology is an obvious source of inspiration for robotics. In this course we take inspiration from nature to engineer intelligent systems for real-world applications as, for example, locomotion.
- Advanced Control Engineering (EE501T)
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15 Credit Points
This course covers both continuous-time and discrete-time (Digital) state-space control of linear systems. It then extends these concepts to nonlinear system modelling and control.
- Stage 2
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Compulsory Courses
- Kinematics and Dynamics of Industrial Robot Arms (EG554V)
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15 Credit Points
Robotics is an essential component of Industry 4.0. The adoption of robots in industries worldwide is on the rise and robotic arms are the most successful robotic platform.
The course introduces students to the analysis and use of robot arms, by exposing them to the theoretical basis of robotics as well as their practical implementation. This course focuses on the kinematics, dynamics and control of robotic arms.
- Industrial Robot Programming and Learning (EG554W)
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15 Credit Points
The aim of the course is to give an overview of the different approaches to specify motions of industrial and mobile robots, up to autonomous robots that learn from their experiences. The course introduces students to the fundamentals of machine learning, which are relevant for robotics research and practice.
- Mathematical Optimisation (EG551T)
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15 Credit Points
Ever wondered how Excel is able to draw an optimal line through a set of points? This course looks at how typical engineering problems that cannot be described mathematically (or are difficult to do so) can be solved so that the optimal solution is found. The course contains a range of examples to show how the techniques are applied to real world problems in different engineering disciplines. The course will show how to develop computational algorithms from scratch, with a fundamental understanding of how the algorithms function, both mathematically and then in real time on a computer.
- Rehabilitation Engineering and Biomechanics (EG555K)
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15 Credit Points
Our bodies are shaped by the forces that act on them, and to understand movement, we need to understand the nature of that interaction. In this course, students will learn the basis of human movement in terms of the biomechanics of the musculoskeletal system. They will also appreciate the impacts that disease or injury can have on our ability to move, and gain insight into some of the technologies that can help improve function in people with movement disorders.
- Stage 3
-
Compulsory Courses
- MSc Individual Project (EG59F1)
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60 Credit Points
The MSc Individual Project is an independent piece of research based on a topic related to a student’s degree programme. Students are encouraged to focus on a problem confronting industry or a related area. The individual project provides students with an opportunity to demonstrate how the in-depth skills and knowledge they have gained during the taught courses can be used to provide solutions to practical problems. The individual project should contain a degree of original research.
We will endeavour to make all course options available. However, these may be subject to change - see our Student Terms and Conditions page.
| Fee category | Cost |
|---|---|
| EU / International students | £26,250 |
| Tuition Fees for 2025/26 Academic Year | |
| UK | £11,100 |
| Tuition Fees for 2024/25 Academic Year |
Fee Information
Additional Fee Information
- In exceptional circumstances there may be additional fees associated with specialist courses, for example field trips. Any additional fees for a course can be found in our Catalogue of Courses.
- For more information about tuition fees for this programme, including payment plans and our refund policy, please visit our Tuition Fees page.
Funding Opportunities
- Shell U.K. Limited is offering three £20,000 scholarships for students starting a Masters programme aligned with the Centre for Energy Transition (CET) commencing in September 2024. Find out more
Scholarships
Self-funded international students enrolling on Postgraduate Taught (PGT) programmes for January 2025 will receive one of our Aberdeen Global Scholarships, ranging from £3,000 to £8,000, depending on your domicile country. Learn more about these Aberdeen Global Scholarships here.
From September 2025 all eligible self-funded international Postgraduate Masters students will receive an £8,000 scholarship. Learn more about this Aberdeen Global Scholarship here.
To see our full range of scholarships, visit our Funding Database.
How You'll Study
Learning Methods
- Group Projects
- Individual Projects
- Lab Work
- Lectures
- Seminars
Why Study Industrial Robotics?
- This is the first programme in the UK to explicitly target the area of ‘Industrial Robotics’, which gives this programme a unique focus on industrial automation and biomedical engineering.
- Study emerging technologies driving the digital transformation - including Industry 4.0 and Biomedical Engineering.
- Students have access to our dedicated robotics laboratory, including Pepper: used for human-robot interaction; Panda robot arm: used for machine learning for manipulation; Soft robots: used for wearable devices for rehabilitation and advanced control; Dingo robot: used for machine learning and artificial intelligence; Kilobots and arena: used for swarm robotics; Epuck: used for mobile robotics
- This interdisciplinary programme covers a large variety of engineering disciplines such as Robotics, Mechatronics, Machine Learning, Biorobotics, Probabilistic Reasoning and Soft Robotics. Training in these areas will advance the student proficiency in transferrable skills like computer programming, project planning and managing.
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Delivered by specialist staff drawn from electrical and mechanical engineering as well as computer science, this MSc in Industrial Robotics offers a true interdisciplinary education. Prof Sumeet S. Aphale, a Chartered Engineer and Senior Member of the IEEE, brings close to two decades of experience in the design, analysis and control of robotic/mechatronic systems and sensors. Dr Aphale has successfully designed and tested novel flexible robotic manipulators, vibration damping and isolation systems, precise positioning devices and devices for neuromuscular stimulation for enhanced injury recovery. He has been a named researcher on several industry and government-funded projects totalling ~£1.5M and his research has been published in over 80 peer-reviewed papers.
- Students receive hands-on tutorials with mobile robotic systems and will attend demonstrations in the newly built robotics laboratory at the University of Aberdeen.
- This programme has attracted significant support from the industry, including the provision of industry-standard software.
- The assessments in this degree programme cover the entire assessment spectrum from timed, in-class exams to homework assignments, software-based simulations, hardware-based experiments, design reports, presentations, group work and research-based dissertations; making it a richly rewarding and exciting learning experience.
Entry Requirements
Qualifications
The information below is provided as a guide only and does not guarantee entry to the University of Aberdeen.
- 2:1 (upper second class) UK Honours degree, or an Honours degree from a non-UK institution which is judged by the University to be of equivalent worth in Electrical / Electronics / Mechanical / Mechatronics / Automation / Control / Computer Engineering or Computer Science is preferred.
- Those with a 2:2 Honours degree may also be considered if they can demonstrate 1+ years of relevant experience.
- Applicants from other academic backgrounds are strongly urged to contact the Admissions Team with their academic transcript listing all the courses they have studied, in order to discuss suitability.
Please enter your country to view country-specific entry requirements.
English Language Requirements
To study for a Postgraduate Taught degree at the University of Aberdeen it is essential that you can speak, understand, read, and write English fluently. The minimum requirements for this degree are as follows:
IELTS Academic:
OVERALL - 6.5 with: Listening - 5.5; Reading - 5.5; Speaking - 5.5; Writing - 6.0
TOEFL iBT:
OVERALL - 90 with: Listening - 17; Reading - 18; Speaking - 20; Writing - 21
PTE Academic:
OVERALL - 62 with: Listening - 59; Reading - 59; Speaking - 59; Writing - 59
Cambridge English B2 First, C1 Advanced, C2 Proficiency:
OVERALL - 176 with: Listening - 162; Reading - 162; Speaking - 162; Writing - 169
Read more about specific English Language requirements here.
Document Requirements
You will be required to supply the following documentation with your application as proof you meet the entry requirements of this degree programme. If you have not yet completed your current programme of study, then you can still apply and you can provide your Degree Certificate at a later date.
- Degree Transcript
- a full transcript showing all the subjects you studied and the marks you have achieved in your degree(s) (original & official English translation)
- Personal Statement
- a detailed personal statement explaining your motivation for this particular programme
Aberdeen Global Scholarship
Eligible self-funded Postgraduate Taught (PGT) students will receive the Aberdeen Global Scholarship. Explore our Global Scholarships, including eligibility details, on our dedicated pages.
January 2025 September 2025Careers
This Masters programme is designed to enable students to avail of the rapidly growing career opportunities in robotics and AI, for example, as roboticists, automation and controls engineers, software engineers and data scientists.
Our aim is to educate and train a new generation of roboticists required to enable the Industry 4.0 revolution. A recent McKinsey Global Institute study predicts that the total number of jobs related to developing and deploying new technologies, automation-, IT-/AI-, and robotics-related applications, could potentially increase to between 20 and 50 million globally by 2030.
It is reported that as many as 375 million workers will have to learn new skills as their current jobs change due to automation, robotics and AI. (McKinsey Global Institute, “Jobs lost, jobs gained: workforce transitions in a time of automation,” December 2017)
This programme aims to shape candidates suitable for employment in a wide range of roles. Graduates from this programme can pursue relevant specialist roles enabling industrial automation research, development and deployment. Some students will also pursue further education via the PhD route.
Our Experts
- Other Experts
- Dr Maria Elena Giannaccini
- Dr Andrew Starkey
- Programme Coordinator
- Dr Sumeet Sunil Aphale
Information About Staff Changes
You will be taught by a range of experts including professors, lecturers, teaching fellows and postgraduate tutors. However, these may be subject to change - see our Student Terms and Conditions page.
Get in Touch
Contact Details
- Address
-
Student Recruitment & Admissions
University of Aberdeen
University Office
Regent Walk
Aberdeen
AB24 3FX