Postgraduate study

Digital Design and Manufacture MSc

Awards: MSc

Study modes: Full-time

Funding opportunities

Digital Design and Manufacturing refers to a convergence of complementary computing technologies that, in combination, have the potential to create an industrial revolution whose impact on productivity is comparable to the introduction of steam power or the adoption of mass production.

This course provides students with a broad understanding of the theories and practices required to enable successful implementation of these digital technologies in industrial applications.

Technologies and digital manufacturing

The fundamental technologies underpinning digital manufacturing are:

  • Sensing
  • Automation
  • Information
  • Additive manufacturing
  • Simulation and modelling

Their combined use is facilitated by:

  • AI
  • Data mining
  • Image recognition
  • Network communications
  • Geometric modelling

Why Edinburgh?

The University of Edinburgh has:

  • established academic strengths in all the key technologies associated with digital manufacturing
  • both the breadth and depth of research activities needed to underpin a postgraduate programme in this area
  • staff who have a comprehensive knowledge of both the state-of-the-art and also emerging trends and technologies

The aim of the program is to allow students with a background in engineering to enhance their first degree with a specialist programme that blends theory and practice.

This programme is run over 12 months. You will take two semesters of taught courses followed by a research project leading to a master thesis.

We offer choices of optional modules and research projects. This means you can vary your study to suit your interests and aspirations.

Semester 1

You will complete the following compulsory courses:

  • Additive Manufacture and Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM)
  • Industrial Robotics
  • Metrology including Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerances (GD&T)
  • Digital Design & Manufacture Group Project

You will also choose one of:

  • Finite Element Methods for Solids
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics
  • Engineering Project Management
  • Advanced Composite Materials (Part 1)

Semester 2

Your compulsory courses are:

  • Manufacturing Information Systems
  • Technology Entrepreneurship
  • Geometric Computing

You will select optional courses from:

  • Finite Element Methods
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Design of Surgical Tools and Implanted Medical Devices
  • Advanced Composite Materials (Part 2)

Dissertation

During the summer months, you will complete a Digital Design and Manufacturing Dissertation.

This can be on the following topics:

  • Additive Manufacture
  • Manufacturing Data
  • Large Scale Metrology
  • Technology Entrepreneurship
  • Industrial Data Mining
  • AI and Machine Learning for Design and Manufacture applications

This degree aims to:

  • develop your specific knowledge and provide a broad foundation in digital manufacturing and design technologies
  • enable you to use computer-aided design and manufacturing techniques in industrial applications
  • provide an analytical and critical framework to support fresh thinking in design and manufacturing
  • build on your undergraduate or industrial experience
  • help you discover new creative uses of advanced manufacturing and design technologies
  • give you an understanding of the scope and limitations of digital applications in design and manufacturing
  • encourage you to develop business and entrepreneurial skills in working with digital manufacturing technologies

Recent studies have identified digital skills gaps in a range of manufacturing and engineering worldwide industries.

This means our engineering graduates will find many career options open up to them. Whether in research or industry, our students have a bright future in engineering and beyond.

These entry requirements are for the 2023/24 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2024/25 academic year will be published on 2 October 2023.

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in Mechanical, Manufacturing or Industrial Engineering.

Competence in programming is essential. During your degree you must have completed a programming course in a high-level language (such as C++, C#, Java, Python or equivalent).

If you apply with an academic background in another field you may be considered if you have completed the equivalent of 40 credits of courses related to manufacturing technology. Your marks for these courses must be equivalent to UK 2:1 as a minimum.

Examples of courses relevant to this degree are:

  • manufacturing systems
  • advanced manufacturing technology
  • industrial systems engineering
  • industrial information systems
  • industrial automation

This requirement may be partially met by relevant industrial experience. Applicants with non-standard backgrounds may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Students from China

This degree is Band C.

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

English language requirements

You must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies, regardless of your nationality or country of residence.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

  • IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component.
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
  • C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 169 in each component.
  • Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
  • PTE Academic: total 62 with at least 59 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than three and a half years old at the beginning of your programme of study.

Find out more about our language requirements:

Deposit

If you receive an offer of admission you will need to pay a deposit to secure your place:

  • £1,500 (this contributes towards your tuition fees)

Any applicants who are required to pay will receive an offer with full details.

Find out more about tuition fee deposits:

Living costs

You will be responsible for covering living costs for the duration of your studies.

Tuition fees

UK government postgraduate loans

If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.

The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:

  • your programme
  • the duration of your studies
  • your tuition fee status

Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.

Other funding opportunities

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

  • School of Engineering
  • Sanderson Building
  • The King's Buildings Campus
  • Edinburgh
  • EH9 3FB

Please apply as early as possible as this programme may close due to high demand.

Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:

Further information

  • School of Engineering
  • Sanderson Building
  • The King's Buildings Campus
  • Edinburgh
  • EH9 3FB