Everything you need to know...
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What is the fee?
Home: £12,120 for the course
International/EU: £19,225 for the course -
How long will I study?
2 Years
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Where will I study?
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When do I start?
September 2025
January 2026
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Placement year available?
Yes
Course summary
- Learn the latest theories and applications of automation, control and robotics.
- Explore leading-edge technologies, processes and systems.
- Enhance your professional skills through real-life projects and work placements.
- Apply principles of modelling, control concepts and controller design packages.
On this course you’ll learn how to design and exploit automation and robotic systems in a range of manufacturing and industrial applications. You’ll cover a wide range of core engineering subjects – including industrial automation, robotics, artificial intelligence and control systems – preparing you to apply them to any modern engineering industry.
Accredited by
Accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) 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.
Come to an open day
Find out more at our postgraduate open days. Book now for your place.
How you learn
Student success story
You’ll apply your knowledge and skills to real-world contexts – actively engaging in work placements, live projects, field trips, networking events and competitions. These experiences will enhance your employability, deepen your understanding of the engineering and management fields, and prepare you to thrive in a dynamic and competitive professional landscape.
Automation, control and robotics are subjects built on solid engineering principles, which you’ll actively engage and reflect on as you progress through the course. To support this, we’ll help you with your learning in a range of ways.
You learn through:
- Lectures
- Tutorials and seminars
- Laboratory sessions
- Problem-based sessions
- Practical activities
- Group and individual project work
- Mentoring new students
Key themes
The course covers a wide range of important topics in automation, control and robotics. These range from control systems, advanced control methods and industrial robotics to mobile robots, industrial automation and artificial intelligence. Course support
You’ll be supported in your learning journey towards highly-skilled, graduate-level employment. This includes:
- Access to specialist support services to help with your personal, academic and career development.
- Access to our Skills Centre with one-on-ones, webinars and online resources, where you can get help with planning and structuring your assignments.
Course leaders and tutors
Applied learning
Live projects
Throughout the course, you’ll have the opportunity to engage in exciting live projects, applying your knowledge and skills to real-world scenarios, design challenges and problem-solving tasks.
Collaborating with industry partners, you’ll gain practical experience in managing projects, working in interdisciplinary teams and delivering innovative solutions. These live projects enable you to enhance your professional skills and your creativity – as well as developing a holistic understanding of the engineering and management field.
Work placements
You’ll have the opportunity to go on a work placement for up to 12 months, where you’ll apply academic theory and your skills in a real-world setting. This hands-on experience will enhance your professional development and help you to make informed career choices after graduation. We’ll support you to source a placement that is relevant to your course.
Throughout your placement, you’ll be supported to reflect on your experience and contribution to the organisation you work for. You'll also share your progress and achievements with your Placement Academic Supervisor as part of your final assessment.
Networking opportunities
During the course you’ll have numerous opportunities to engage with career management, career fairs and workshops, employer presentations, visits and professional advisers.
Field trips
You’ll make regular visits to Hallam’s research centres to develop your research skills and find research project opportunities. We also look for opportunities to organise industrial field trips.
Competitions
Our School of Engineering and Built Environment runs a best-project competition among the MSc Automation Control and Robotics students
Future careers
This course prepares you for a career in:
- Computer vision
- Machine learning
- Artificial intelligence
- Robotics
- Automation engineering
Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work for:
- General Electric
- Applied Integration UK Ltd
- Bilfinger UK
- Nprime Ltd
- Primetals Technologies
Where will I study?
You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
City Campus
City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.
City Campus map | City Campus tour
Adsetts library
Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreEquipment and facilities
You’ll learn through teaching in lectures, tutorials and practical laboratory sessions using Hallam’s specialist facilities at the Centre for Automation and Robotics Research, as well as the National Centre of Excellence for Food Engineering.
The virtual learning environment and industry-standard specialist software on this course includes:
- Matlab/Simulink
- LabView
- PLC Programming (Mitsubishi & Siemens)
- HMI & SCADA
- CIROS (Festo)
- Robot Programming
Entry requirements
All students
Normally one from • an honours degree (2.2 or above) in a science or engineering subject, • suitable professional qualifications in an engineering field • a degree in any discipline containing aspects relevant to automation and control engineering , plus at least one year of appropriate industrial experience • a diploma in a technological area, with at least three years of relevant experience International students India • a first class BE in a relevant discipline, or a good second class BE with a strong performance in mechanical and manufacturing subjects China • a four year Bachelors degree in a relevant discipline, with an overall average of at least 80 per cent or equivalent Other countries • a good honours degree or equivalent in a relevant subject
Overseas applicants from countries whose first language is not English must normally produce evidence of competence in English. An IELTS score of 6.0 with 5.5 in all skills (or equivalent) is the standard for non-native speakers of English. If your English language skill is currently below an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English level.
Additional information for EU/International students
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.
For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.
Modules studied may differ depending on when you start your course.
Modules
Important notice: The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.
Modules studied may differ depending on when you start your course.
You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.
Year 1
Compulsory modules
Artificial Intelligence Concepts And Applications
Control Systems & Industrial Automation
Machine Vision
Postgraduate Work Experience Applied Professional Diploma
Robotics And Advanced Control Methods (Acm)
Final year
Compulsory modules
Project And Dissertation
Research Methodology And Practice
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £12,120 for the course. The tuition fee displayed above is for the full course. For this work experience route, your fees will be payable over two years, divided into two annual payments based on credits studied. The fee includes dedicated employability support to help you prepare for and secure work experience. It does not guarantee you a placement and if a placement is not secured the work experience fee will still be charged. If a placement is not secured you will transfer to the standard version of the course to complete your remaining credits, where the balance of your course fees will be due in year one in line with completing the course.
If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
International students
Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £19,225 for the course. The tuition fee displayed above is for the full course. For this work experience route, your fees will be payable over two years, divided into two annual payments based on credits studied. The fee includes dedicated employability support to help you prepare for and secure work experience. It does not guarantee you a placement and if a placement is not secured the work experience fee will still be charged. If a placement is not secured you will transfer to the standard version of the course to complete your remaining credits, where the balance of your course fees will be due in year one in line with completing the course.
Postgraduate student loans
Up to £12,471 is available in 2024/25 for home students on most masters courses.
Additional course costs
The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
General course additional costs
Additional costs for School of Engineering and Built Environment (PDF, 142.7KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
