Robotics and Automation

Robotics and automation is one of the most dynamic and consequential fields in modern engineering. Robots are no longer confined to factory floors; they now explore space, perform surgery, carry out search and rescue missions and underpin global manufacturing at a scale that continues to grow. Automation, driven by advances in sensing, computing and artificial intelligence, is reshaping industries from logistics and agriculture to healthcare and construction.

Studying robotics means engaging with the technologies that are defining how the next generation of production, exploration and human-machine interaction will work.

At Leeds Beckett University, this three-year full-time programme prepares you to design, build and program intelligent machines. You will develop expertise in electronics, mechanical systems, control theory, sensors and actuators, computer vision and the programming languages used to bring robotic systems to life. The programme includes a sandwich year, a year abroad and a work placement, offering substantial experience in professional and international engineering environments before you graduate.

The typical entry tariff is 104 UCAS points. The programme preserves genuine curriculum content noted by the institution, and the combination of practical lab work and theoretical study means you graduate able to operate to industry standards.

Robotics and automation graduates are in demand across a wide range of sectors, including automotive manufacturing, aerospace, medical devices, consumer electronics, defence and research institutions. Roles in robotics engineering, systems integration, automation design, embedded systems development and research and development are common entry points. The interdisciplinary nature of the subject also means graduates are well placed to work at the boundary of mechanical and software engineering, a skillset that is increasingly valuable as physical and digital systems converge.

Chartered engineer status through professional bodies such as the Institution of Engineering and Technology is a goal for many graduates. Postgraduate study in robotics, autonomous systems or artificial intelligence is also a well-established route for those who want to specialise.