International Year One in Engineering

The Academic English Skills course teaches students the specific academic language skills they need to develop for success at Cardiff University. The course focuses on the receptive (listening and reading) and productive (speaking and writing) skills through practice in semi and authentic task-based activities which build a strong foundation in preparation for each student's future studies. This critical module places particular emphasis on developing academic reading and research skills; research-based writing along with presentation and seminar speaking skills.

The Design Practice module is a core module for International Year One Engineering. The module aims to introduce the principles and theory underlying limit state design and its application to various design problems and materials. Students will be introduced the design process and the various stages of development towards construction and maintenance. Students will also be introduced to the principles and conventions of engineering drawing, and use drawings/visualisation as a communication tool and, in turn, familiarise themselves with 2/3D computer aided design (CAD) and visualisation software such as AutoCAD and Auto Desk Inventor.

The Engineering Math and Computation module is a core module for International Year One Engineering. The module aims to develop the basic mathematical knowledge and associated intellectual skills appropriate for a modern Engineering degree scheme and will provide the ability to apply such knowledge and skills in an engineering context. We will also introduce algorithm development, program design and structured approach to problem solving using MATLAB programming language. Students will develop knowledge and understanding of a practical programming language for engineering applications through several examples in science and engineering

Geomechanics

The Geodynamics module is a semester two module for the Civil Engineering pathway. The module aims to introduce the concept of a fluid and promote confidence in solving engineering problems involving fluids. Students will be introduced to the principles governing the engineering properties of soils, give an indication of the key sources of water pollution and how pollutants affect the aquatic environment to present in summary of the UK and EU legislation covering the quality of drinking water and that of treated effluents. Students will develop an appreciation of basic geology including mineralogy, petrology, and geological map interpretation.

Civil Engineering and professional practice

The Civil Engineering and Professional Practice module is a semester two module for the Civil Engineering pathway This module introduces students to the breadth of architectural, civil, and environmental engineering, the underlying concepts and principles associated with basic structures, materials, environmental fluid mechanics and geomechanics, and the ability to apply such knowledge and skills in an engineering context. Students will be introduced to the practical application of fundamentals through laboratory tasks allowing them to establish good research and analysis skills.

Fluids

The Fluids module is a semester two module for both the Civil and Mechanical Engineering pathways. The module aims to promote confidence in the understanding and addressing of basic problems involving thermodynamics and fluid mechanics. Students will be introduced to the fundamental definitions and basic principles of Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics, emphasising application of these concepts to both familiar and unfamiliar problems and they will develop an appreciation of the range of industrial applications to which these fundamental concepts may be applied.

Statics and Solid Mechanics

Statics and Solid Mechanics is a semester one module for the Civil and Mechanical Engineering pathways. This module introduces the fundamental stress analysis principles for linearly elastic materials and their application to simple structures. It focuses on the behaviour of structures such as beams and shafts and provides underpinning knowledge for various analyses on applications relevant to civil and mechanical engineering. Moreover, students will also gain a comprehensive understanding of techniques such as energy methods for calculating deflections and an understanding of different sources of stresses on solid materials.

Fundamentals of Materials

The Fundamentals of Materials is a semester one module, which will offer a fundamental knowledge of the materials that are used in engineering. The module provides an understanding of basic materials, in particular atomic structure and bonding, stress and strain, common crystal structures of metals and the constituents and structure of plastics, concrete, brick, timber and other materials. Students will analyse performance of materials and understand how the composition and structure of these materials determine their performance, limitations, and applications.

Electromagnetism and Network Analysis

The Electromagnetism and Network Analysis module is a semester one for Electrical Engineering and the Integrated Engineering pathway. The module aims to understand the fundamental properties and calculation of electric fields. Moreover, the module introduces the basic theorems and analysis techniques for problem-solving in electrical circuit theory. This module uses different software, such as COMSOL, to simulate electric field distributions and the interaction of electric fields with metals and dielectric materials. Finally, students will be introduced to the basic electrical properties and principles of circuit elements and electronic components, voltage, current and resistance concepts, and their application in electrical and electronic Engineering.

Power Engineering

The Power Engineering module is semester two module for the Electrical Engineering pathway and an optional semester two module for the Integrated pathway. The aim of the module is to demonstrate the principal features and operation of electrical power networks. It provides introductions to energy sources and their characteristics, concepts of real and reactive power flow in a power system. Students will gain an understanding of the fundamental properties and calculation of magnetic fields, the interaction of magnetic fields with electrical circuits and magnetic materials, and the applications of these materials in Electrical Engineering Students will also be introduced to the concepts of inductance, the ideal transformer and rotating electric machines from a fundamental perspective.

Communication and Green Technologies

The Communication and Green Technologies Module is a semester two module for both the Electrical and Integrated Engineering pathways. The module reviews the environmental consequences of key energy and resource management activities, including energy generation, waste management, food and water supply, consumer goods (sustainable production and consumption). The students will then go on to consider recent policy initiatives and drivers and examine key green technologies. Students will investigate topics such as energy generation & its environmental impact, Innovation and deployment of emerging green technologies, green technology policies and initiatives, energy policies and initiatives, resource management, policies and initiatives, waste management, geographical Information Systems (GIS) for green technologies and the contribution of green technologies to sustainable development.

Fundamentals of Materials

The Fundamentals of Materials is a semester one module, which will offer a fundamental knowledge of the materials that are used in engineering. The module provides an understanding of basic materials, in particular atomic structure and bonding, stress and strain, common crystal structures of metals and the constituents and structure of plastics, concrete, brick, timber and other materials. Students will analyse performance of materials and understand how the composition and structure of these materials determine their performance, limitations, and applications.

Robotics

The Robotics module is a semester two module for the Medical, Mechanical, Electrical and Integrated Engineering pathways. Robots are becoming more widely used in society, with applications ranging from agriculture through to manufacturing, with increasing interest in autonomous systems. This module will introduce students to the fundamentals of robotic systems including kinematics and dynamics as applied to manipulators and mobile robots. To support many application sensors are required, the module will discuss tactile and vision sensing as applied to both fixed and mobile robots. Students will also be introduced in detail to the design and control of multi-fingered end effectors Students will also be introduced to how biological systems have influenced the development of current and future robotic systems, including swarms, humanoid, and other biomimetic robotic systems.

Robotics

The Robotics module is a semester two module for the Medical, Mechanical, Electrical and Integrated Engineering pathways. Robots are becoming more widely used in society, with applications ranging from agriculture through to manufacturing, with increasing interest in autonomous systems. This module will introduce students to the fundamentals of robotic systems including kinematics and dynamics as applied to manipulators and mobile robots. To support many application sensors are required, the module will discuss tactile and vision sensing as applied to both fixed and mobile robots. Students will also be introduced in detail to the design and control of multi-fingered end effectors Students will also be introduced to how biological systems have influenced the development of current and future robotic systems, including swarms, humanoid, and other biomimetic robotic systems.

Statics and Solid Mechanics

Statics and Solid Mechanics is a semester one module for the Civil and Mechanical Engineering pathways. This module introduces the fundamental stress analysis principles for linearly elastic materials and their application to simple structures. It focuses on the behaviour of structures such as beams and shafts and provides underpinning knowledge for various analyses on applications relevant to civil and mechanical engineering. Moreover, students will also gain a comprehensive understanding of techniques such as energy methods for calculating deflections and an understanding of different sources of stresses on solid materials.

Dynamics

The Dynamics module is a semester two module for the Medical and Mechanical Engineering pathways and is an optional module for the Integrated Engineering module. The module aims to introduce students to the basic analytical methods, that is, the fundamental concepts and techniques of engineering dynamics. It will also show the implementation of these methods in the design and analysis of simple basic mechanisms. The module concentrates on dynamics where the concepts of Newton’s laws of motion, forces, work, energy, momentum, and impulse will be covered and explained in depth using examples from everyday phenomena. Students will obtain modelling knowledge, tools, and experience appropriate for a first year engineering module, providing the foundation for higher-level modules.

Fluids

The Fluids module is a semester two module for both the Civil and Mechanical Engineering pathways. The module aims to promote confidence in the understanding and addressing of basic problems involving thermodynamics and fluid mechanics. Students will be introduced to the fundamental definitions and basic principles of Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics, emphasising application of these concepts to both familiar and unfamiliar problems and they will develop an appreciation of the range of industrial applications to which these fundamental concepts may be applied.

Fundamentals of Materials

The Fundamentals of Materials is a semester one module, which  will offer a fundamental knowledge of the materials that are used in engineering. The module provides an understanding of basic materials, in particular atomic structure and bonding, stress and strain, common crystal structures of metals and the constituents and structure of plastics, concrete, brick, timber and other materials. Students will analyse performance of materials and understand how the composition and structure of these materials determine their performance, limitations, and applications.

The Medical Engineering route will not be running for the 2024/25 academic year*

Statics and Solid Mechanics.

Statics and Solid Mechanics is a semester one module for the Civil , Medical and Mechanical Engineering pathways. This module introduces the fundamental stress analysis principles for linearly elastic materials and their application to simple structures. It focuses on the behaviour of structures such as beams and shafts and provides underpinning knowledge for various analyses on applications relevant to civil and mechanical engineering. Moreover, students will also gain a comprehensive understanding of techniques such as energy methods for calculating deflections and an understanding of different sources of stresses on solid materials.

Fundamentals of Materials

The Fundamentals of Materials is a semester one module, which will offer a fundamental knowledge of the materials that are used in engineering. The module provides an understanding of basic materials, in particular atomic structure and bonding, stress and strain, common crystal structures of metals and the constituents and structure of plastics, concrete, brick, timber and other materials. Students will analyse performance of materials and understand how the composition and structure of these materials determine their performance, limitations, and applications.

Robotics

The Robotics module is a semester two module for the Medical, Mechanical, Electrical and Integrated Engineering pathways. Robots are becoming more widely used in society, with applications ranging from agriculture through to manufacturing, with increasing interest in autonomous systems. This module will introduce students to the fundamentals of robotic systems including kinematics and dynamics as applied to manipulators and mobile robots. To support many application sensors are required, the module will discuss tactile and vision sensing as applied to both fixed and mobile robots. Students will also be introduced in detail to the design and control of multi-fingered end effectors Students will also be introduced to how biological systems have influenced the development of current and future robotic systems, including swarms, humanoid, and other biomimetic robotic systems.

Dynamics

The Dynamics module is a semester two module for the Medical and Mechanical Engineering pathways and is an optional module for the Integrated Engineering module. The module aims to introduce students to the basic analytical methods, that is, the fundamental concepts and techniques of engineering dynamics. It will also show the implementation of these methods in the design and analysis of simple basic mechanisms. The module concentrates on dynamics where the concepts of Newton’s laws of motion, forces, work, energy, momentum, and impulse will be covered and explained in depth using examples from everyday phenomena. Students will obtain modelling knowledge, tools, and experience appropriate for a first year engineering module, providing the foundation for higher-level modules.