The School of Applied Sciences
MSc in Lift Engineering

Contact with LEIA, experience within the Lift Industry and contact with Directors and Senior Managers in the UK and overseas indicates a need for :

• High quality engineering education oriented towards lift engineering at postgraduate level

• Continuing professional development for current practitioners in the industry

• A need from employers for engineers to obtain theoretical underpinning of advanced practice

• Development and formation of graduate engineers to full professional capability

The course will provide the necessary academic underpinning, and, consequent on the distance learning format, will obviate much of the necessity actually to release engineers from their day to day duties to attend for full time or part time instruction. Only at certain, pre-determined times are there weekend (Friday/Saturday) workshops for UK based students. For the benefit of overseas students, a summer school provides appropriate workshops and seminars. Within the Division of Engineering the existing LEIA Distance Learning provision in Lift Technology has given many years of experience operating with students in this industry, placing the School in a strong position to extend that provision to postgraduate level.

The Course

The taught, modular, distance learning course leads to the award of MSc in Lift Engineering, validated and awarded by the University of Northampton. The course aims to provide a detailed, academic study of lift engineering and related management issues, together with a higher-level qualification for persons employed in the lift making and allied industries. Entry is normally from an engineering or similar first degree. However, to align with the essential needs of the industry, consideration is also given to those who can demonstrate relevant learning and experience at an appropriate level. Exemption from the degree qualification may be given through Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) and/or Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL). Details are given below in Entry Requirements

The course is composed of compulsory and elective taught modules, plus an independent, industry based research study presented in the form of a dissertation. Compulsory modules will be concerned with Applications Engineering, Codes and Standards and Contract Management, all of which are considered to be essential. Elective modules will provide students with the opportunity to pursue their own particular specialisation within the industry.

Course Structure

It is expected that students will normally require at least three years to complete the MSc, although students will be able to negotiate their own pace of study, either shorter or longer. A number of students have chosen a different pattern of study, completing only two taught modules per academic year. (Note that University regulations currently impose a maximum of five years for completion of the MSc.)

Recomended pathway for completion of MSc in 3 years

Recomended pathway for completion of MSc in 4 years

To qualify for the award of MSc, it will be necessary for students to complete six modules :

• five 'compulsory' modules, including the dissertation,

together with

• two designated modules which tailor the programme to a particular student's needs and interests.

The dissertation, based upon a professional practice project, will count as a 'triple' module. The dissertation module will be carried out within the student's company. It will consist of design or investigative research in an appropriate topic related to the course material and objectives, proposed by the student and negotiated with the course team. Examples of topics which might be considered suitable are :

• Technical and commercial or design supervision of a significant vertical transportation project

• Implementation of a suitable information technology project within a service or commercial organisation

In order to succeed in the module, it would not be sufficient simply to record such a project. The demands of the award will require that the background to the project is properly and comprehensively researched in an academic context.

Study Modules

The subjects available are shown in the table below. Students will follow the compulsory modules, together with two elective modules chosen from the five available.

Assessment

Assignments :

Specific and appropriate scenarios and problems presented to the student for solution and/or survey and discussion in the context of the module being studied.

Design projects either drawn from the student's own working environment, or based on an appropriate scenario provided by the course team.

Investigation projects comparing the course material with a real example or working practice within the student's working experience/ environment.

Final Assessment

The compulsory taught modules LIFM001DL, LIFM002DL and LIFM003DL will be assessed through coursework. The achievement of learning outcomes will be assessed through a report, single examination and panel interview in the module LIFM004DL.

Individual elective modules will each be subject to a final assessment by examination.

Dissertation

The dissertation module is assessed through the dissertation, and is normally subject also to a 'Viva Voce' (oral) examination. For overseas students, this latter may be carried out through video conferencing.

Resources

Learning Resources Unit

T he relevant published texts used in the course are available in the University. With the Distance Learning nature of the provision, students will normally obtain the necessary publications either through their company, or through a local library. However, there are arrangements for students to obtain texts held in the University library. A particular need will be for copies of relevant codes and standards. Whilst British Standards are likely to be available in local libraries or in-company, the course will also deal with relevant foreign (e.g. American and Australian) standards, and it is essential that students have access to these.

Information technology

Internet access is essential for students following this course. Significant elements of tutorial support will require the use of e-mail and the Internet based tutorial communication network operated by the Lift Technology section of the University. Access to additional IT facilities, together with specialist software, will be provided in the case of students attending the University for supplementary weekend and summer schools. Admission to the programme is conditional upon access to the Internet and e-mail. (See Entry Requirements below)

Further Information

For further information, advice, application forms and course fees please contact :

Admissions Office
University of Northampton
Avenue Campus
St. George's Avenue
Northampton NN2 6JD.
Telephone: 01604 735500 (International : 00 44 1604 735500)
Fax : 01604 717813 (International : 00 44 1604 717813)
e-mail : admissions@northampton.ac.uk

Indicative module content

Entry Requirements

Owing to the extensive range of academic qualifications available world wide, entry requirements are described here in terms of UK academic awards. Applicants from outside UK should submit evidence of their own qualifications. The Academic Registry at the University will then establish the equivalence of those qualifications in the UK context.

Applicants with a first degree will normally be expected to have attained honours at least class 2.2 (or its equivalent) in a relevant engineering or associated technical discipline.

Within the framework of the University and Faculty processes for Accreditation of Prior Learning/Prior Experiential Learning (APL/APEL), candidates who can demonstrate an appropriate level of relevant learning and achievement will be considered. Such achievement will be demonstrated, in the first instance, through the assembly of a portfolio of evidence of personal technical achievement, corroborated as an accurate and authentic record by a Chartered Engineer, or person of similar technical standing.

In addition to the portfolio, one of the following criteria must be satisfied :-

For candidates who have achieved at least an HND/HNC level qualification in an appropriate engineering or associated technical discipline, a minimum of three years' design and/or technical supervisory experience in lift engineering.

Candidates who are not academically qualified to HNC/HND level must demonstrate the aptitude to benefit from, and succeed in the course through typically five years' design and/or technical supervisory experience in lift engineering

Any candidate may be required to undergo an interview to establish their potential to benefit from the course. This interview may, where appropriate, be conducted remotely by video conferencing or by telephone at the discretion of the admissions tutor.

The language of the course and its assessment will be English. Overseas candidates whose first language is not English must demonstrate competence in the English Language by achievement of a TOEFL score of 600 or above, or an IELTS score of 6 or above, or an equivalent certificate of competence in written English.

Information technology

Tutorial support for students will require significant use of Information Technology, and, in particular, communication via the Internet. Before acceptance into the course, students will be required to confirm appropriate access to the required Information Technology and networking facilities.

Application form

An application form (Word 541KB) is available. The form may be printed out and filled in but must be submitted in hard copy to the Admission Office.

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