Guide to studying Robotics

CONTENTS

1. What's Robotics?

2. Why study Robotics?

3. What jobs can you get as a Robotics graduate?

4. What do graduates earn?

5. What qualifications do you need?

6. What degrees can you study?

7. How will you be assessed?

8. What are the postgraduate opportunities?

What's Robotics?

Robotics is a branch of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, electronic engineering and computer science.

It deals with the design, construction, operation, and application of robots, as well as computer systems for their control, sensory feedback and information processing.

Why study Robotics?

There are plenty of areas to specialise in. Intelligent systems range from unmanned vehicles in aerospace and robots in sub-sea exploration, to consumer products and the creative arts.

Industry forecasters predict massive growth and estimate the service robotics market to increase to an annual $66 billion by 2025. There's money to be made if you know what you're doing.

Demand for graduates with the technical and creative ability to work in this area is set to increase. The difficult job market of today is still pretty open for robotics graduates.

Some courses include work placements with blue-chip organisations like Intel, the London Stock Exchange and IBM. Others offer the knowhow required to start up your own business.

What jobs can you get as a Robotics graduate?

Robotics degrees teach transferable skills, such as presentation, research and communication, as well as detailed skills in programming as well as physical engineering, which are equally important.

Particular job areas include technical robotics, computer programming, sales and marketing, software engineering, clinical and laboratory research, and applied process engineering.

Numerous companies offer graduate schemes in this subject, such as Bosch.

What do graduates earn?

The infographic below shows the average salaries of undergraduate Robotics students entering employment. The three skill levels – high, medium and low – reflect the UK's Standard Occupational Classification's major groups 1–3, 4–6 and 7–9 respectively.

Source: HESA Graduate Outcomes Survey 2017/18

What qualifications do you need? 

Entry requirements depend on the university and course, and are subject to change.

What degrees can you study?

• BEng Mechatronics and Robotic Systems
• BSc Artificial Intelligence
• BEng Robotics

How will you be assessed?

Courses are assessed via a variety of ways, through a mixture of exams and coursework. The best and most rewarding courses place a strong emphasis on a hands-on approach, and teach with a mixture of lab sessions, lectures, tutorials and projects.

What are the postgraduate opportunities?

Examples of taught MAs and research degrees at postgraduate level include straight MAs in Robotics, as well as master's courses in Artificial Intelligence, Automation Control, Computational Intelligence, Cognitive Robotics and Intelligent Systems.