ULearn Student Portal

Updated on: 01/12/2023 Organisations and individuals increasingly depend on the functions and services offered by computing devices such as smartphones, tablets, laptops and personal desktop computers. You make use of computing programs when using an operating system or application programs such as word processing and spreadsheets. Understanding the concepts of high-quality software application design and development is key to ensuring that products are effective. As a programmer, you will need to understand the characteristics of different programming languages in order to select and apply appropriate methodologies to meet a client’s needs. Many organisations and businesses rely on computer programs to help deliver products and services. Organisations and businesses (often known as ‘clients’) work closely with programmers to help design and build computer programs that fulfil their requirements. To complete the assessment task within this unit, you will need to draw on your learning from across your programme of study and apply programming skills to provide a solution for a new IT-related problem. You will learn about computational thinking skills and the principles of designing and developing computer programs. You will apply computational thinking skills to design, develop, test, refine and review computer programs for a given range of purposes. By developing your analytical, problem-solving and programming skills, this unit will help you to progress to higher education or to employment as a software developer.

Updated on: 26-03-2026 The tremendous possibilities of the techniques and processes developed by engineers can only be realised by great design. Design turns an idea into a useful artefact, the problem into a solution, or something ugly and inefficient into an elegant, desirable, and cost-effective everyday object. Without a sound understanding of the design process, the engineer works in isolation without the links between theory and the needs of the end user. The aim of this unit is to introduce students to the methodical steps that engineers use in creating functional products and processes as an individual or part of a design team; from a design brief to the work, and the stages involved in identifying and justifying a solution to a given engineering need. Among the topics included in this unit are: Gantt charts and critical path analysis, stakeholder requirements, market analysis, design process management, technical drawing, modelling and prototyping, manufacturability, sustainability and environmental impact, reliability, safety and risk analyses, and ergonomics. On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to prepare an engineering design specification that satisfies stakeholders’ requirements, implement best practices when analysing and evaluating possible design solutions, prepare a written technical design report, and present their finalised design to a customer or audience

Updated on: 26-03-2026 The responsibilities of the engineer go far beyond completing the task in hand. Reflecting on their role in a wider ethical, environmental, and sustainability context starts the process of becoming a professional engineer – a vital requirement for career progression. Engineers seldom work in isolation and most tasks they undertake require a range of expertise, designing, developing, manufacturing, constructing, operating, and maintaining the physical infrastructure and content of our world. The bringing together of these skills, expertise, and experience is often managed through the creation of a project. This unit introduces students to the techniques and best practices required to successfully create and manage an engineering/manufacturing project designed to identify a solution to an engineering need. While carrying out this project students will consider the role and function of engineering in our society, the professional duties and responsibilities expected of engineers together with the behaviours that accompany their actions. Among the topics covered in this unit are: roles, responsibilities, and behaviours of a professional engineer, planning a project, project management stages, devising solutions, theories and calculations, management using a Gantt chart, evaluation techniques, communication skills, and the creation and presentation of a project report. On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to conceive, plan, develop, and execute a successful engineering project, and produce and present a project report outlining and reflecting on the outcomes of each of the project processes and stages. As a result, they will develop skills such as critical thinking, analysis, reasoning, interpretation, decision-making, information literacy, and information and communication technology, and skills in professional and confident self-presentation.

Updated on: 13/10/2025 Mechanical principles have been crucial for engineers to convert the energy produced by burning oil and gas into systems to propel, steer and stop our automobiles, aircraft, and ships, amongst thousands of other applications. The knowledge and application of these mechanical principles is still the essential underpinning science of all machines in use today or being developed into the latest technology. The aim of this unit is to introduce students to the essential mechanical principles associated with engineering applications. Topics included in this unit are: behavioural characteristics of static, dynamic and oscillating engineering systems including shear forces, bending moments, torsion, linear and angular acceleration, conservation of energy and vibrating systems; and the movement and transfer of energy by considering parameters of mechanical power transmission systems. On successful completion of this unit students will be able to learn about the underlying principles, requirements, and limitations of mechanical systems.

Updated on: 13/10/2025 Mechanical principles have been crucial for engineers to convert the energy produced by burning oil and gas into systems to propel, steer and stop our automobiles, aircraft, and ships, amongst thousands of other applications. The knowledge and application of these mechanical principles is still the essential underpinning science of all machines in use today or being developed into the latest technology. The aim of this unit is to introduce students to the essential mechanical principles associated with engineering applications. Topics included in this unit are: behavioural characteristics of static, dynamic and oscillating engineering systems including shear forces, bending moments, torsion, linear and angular acceleration, conservation of energy and vibrating systems; and the movement and transfer of energy by considering parameters of mechanical power transmission systems. On successful completion of this unit students will be able to learn about the underlying principles, requirements, and limitations of mechanical systems.

Updated on: 13/10/2025 Mechanical principles have been crucial for engineers to convert the energy produced by burning oil and gas into systems to propel, steer and stop our automobiles, aircraft, and ships, amongst thousands of other applications. The knowledge and application of these mechanical principles is still the essential underpinning science of all machines in use today or being developed into the latest technology. The aim of this unit is to introduce students to the essential mechanical principles associated with engineering applications. Topics included in this unit are: behavioural characteristics of static, dynamic and oscillating engineering systems including shear forces, bending moments, torsion, linear and angular acceleration, conservation of energy and vibrating systems; and the movement and transfer of energy by considering parameters of mechanical power transmission systems. On successful completion of this unit students will be able to learn about the underlying principles, requirements, and limitations of mechanical systems.

Updated on: 15-12-2025 While the broad field of electronics covers many aspects, it is digital electronics which now has the greatest impact. This is immediately evident in the mobile phone, laptop, and numerous other everyday devices and systems. Digital electronics allows us to process, store, and transmit data in digital form in robust ways, which minimises data degradation. The unit introduces digital principles and the two main branches of digital electronics, combinational and sequential. Thus, the student gains familiarity in the fundamental elements of digital circuits, notably different types of logic gates and bistables. The techniques by which such circuits are analysed, introduced, and applied, including Truth Tables, Boolean Algebra, Karnaugh Maps, and Timing Diagrams. The theory of digital electronics has little use unless the circuits can be built – at low cost, high circuit density, and in large quantity. Thus, the key digital technologies are introduced. These include the conventional TTL (Transistor-Transistor Logic) and CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor). Importantly, the unit moves on to programmable logic, including the Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). Finally, some standard digital subsystems, which become important elements of major systems such as microprocessors, are introduced and evaluated. On successful completion of this unit students will have a good grasp of the principles of digital electronic circuits, and will be able to proceed with confidence to further study.

Updated on: 10-01-2026 Computer Aided Design (CAD) is the use of computer technology in engineering industries, enabling the exploration of design ideas, the visualising of concepts and to simulate how a design will look and perform in the real world prior to production. The ability to analyse, modify and optimise a Computer-Generated Image (CGI), object and/or 3D environment is an integral part of the design process in all areas of engineering. This unit aims to provide students with opportunities to develop their understanding and knowledge of CAD software applications used in contemporary engineering, and the practical skills to utilise the technology within their own creative work. On successful completion of this unit students will be able to learn about the current and prospective uses of CAD technology within engineering, and be able to produce CAD drawing, objects, 3D environments visualisations and understand the importance of document/revision control and Product Data Management (PDM) systems.

Updated on: 08-04-2025 The aim of this unit is to develop students’ awareness of the different kinds of strategy which could be used in an operational, tactical or strategic role for an organisation. This will be underpinned by a thorough knowledge and understanding of the theories, models and concepts which could significantly support an organisation’s strategic choice and direction.