The third year is designed to build, on a sound foundation of engineering science, an understanding of the technical and organizational aspects of manufacturing through courses in manufacturing technology, design for manufacture, organization and control of production systems, human resources and economics, finance and accounting. These taught courses are linked by a major marketing, design, manufacturing and business project which requires students working in teams to prepare technical and business proposals for the establishment of a new enterprise, either as a small business or as a division of a large corporation. There is a substantial industrial input to the content and assessment of the project.
The fourth year is concerned with the study of advanced manufacturing and business systems as applied to the mechanical, electrical and process industries. Teaching is organized on a modular basis with lectures and seminars given by speakers from industry as well as University staff. Associated with each module are live industrial projects tackling real problems in leading companies throughout Britain. Topics include computer-aided engineering, component manufacturing, automated and manual assembly, electronics manufacturing, process manufacturing, analysis and design of manufacturing systems, innovation and marketing, finance and business policy.
Intensive language courses also form part of the fourth year which concludes with a major project (at the student's sponsoring company where appropriate) and a tour of leading European companies. In addition to University examinations, students normally take external qualifications in accountancy and a foreign language.