MSc (Eng) Robotics and the Internet of Things with a Year in Industry

The MSc (Eng) Robotics and the Internet of Things with a Year in Industry gives students extensive hands-on experience from the very beginning. Students spend their first year working directly with hardware, embedded systems, sensor platforms, autonomous robots, and IoT devices inside specialist engineering laboratories. Teaching is delivered through practical lab sessions, demonstrations, simulations and project-based work, allowing students to experiment with real robotic systems, digital design tools and microcontroller platforms.

In the second year, students complete a 30-week industrial placement where they take on a real engineering role within an organisation. This year in industry is designed to build confidence, provide in-depth workplace experience and significantly strengthen employability.

To support this practical immersion, the University of Liverpool provides access to advanced engineering buildings, innovation spaces and specialist robotics environments. These facilities allow students to design, build, test and refine robotics and IoT solutions using industry-standard equipment and professional-level software.

Students benefit from facilities and opportunities such as:

• State-of-the-art robotics laboratories equipped for autonomous systems testing, embedded systems work, sensor integration and mobile robotics experimentation

• The Digital Innovation Facility, featuring robotics labs, VR and mixed-reality suites, simulation environments and an Extreme Environment Laboratory for testing autonomous systems

• The Electrical Engineering & Electronics building, which offers microprocessor labs, PCB design tools, rapid-prototyping equipment, IoT development hardware and dedicated technical support

• Active Learning Labs designed for hands-on engineering projects, including manufacturing robots, electronics workbenches and prototyping tools

• Access to research laboratories led by the Robotics and Autonomous Systems Group featuring immersive simulation spaces and cyber-physical systems labs

• Specialist software used in robotics, digital system design, ARM microcontroller development, simulation, communication networks and image processing

• Group design projects that help students practise teamwork, leadership, and communication while applying technical skills to solve real engineering problems

• A full 30-week industrial placement in Year 2, supported by the university’s placement team, enabling students to work on a defined engineering project within a company

• Access to the university’s engineering library collections, digital resources and research institutes that support ongoing project work and independent study

Graduate Outcomes (Summary):
Graduates from the MSc (Eng) Robotics and the Internet of Things with a Year in Industry typically progress into high-demand engineering and technology roles. The integrated industry placement strengthens their professional profile, giving them both advanced technical expertise and real workplace experience.

Typical Career Roles Include:

• Robotics Engineer

• IoT Systems Architect

• Embedded Systems Engineer

• R&D or Innovation Engineer

Students benefit from strong university support and industry engagement:

• Career & Employability Service: Offers one-to-one career coaching, interview preparation, CV and application guidance, networking events, and employer-led workshops.

• Year in Industry Support: Dedicated placement teams help students secure placements across engineering, technology, manufacturing, and research organisations.

• Employer Partnerships: Companies in sectors such as automation, embedded systems, telecommunications, and advanced robotics collaborate with the university, with organisations such as ARM plc previously offering placements to students.

• Graduate Employability Strength: The University of Liverpool is consistently recognised as one of the UK’s most targeted universities by major graduate employers.

• Accreditation Value: The programme is currently seeking accreditation from the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), which supports future progression toward Chartered Engineer (CEng) status.

• Graduate Success: Postgraduates typically enter roles in robotics development, sensor networks, control systems, IoT engineering, or continue into research-focused positions within industry or academia.

Further Academic Progression:

Graduates may advance to a PhD in Robotics, Embedded Systems, IoT, Artificial Intelligence, or Control Engineering at Liverpool or other research-intensive universities. Some continue into postgraduate research assistantships, industrial R&D fellowships, or begin accumulating the professional experience required for Chartered Engineer (CEng) registration once accreditation is confirmed.