Push the boundaries of the intelligent robotics discipline, bit by bit.
Year of entry: 2025 (September)
1 year full-time
September 2025 (semester dates)
Join us online or in person to find out more about postgraduate study at York.
Upcoming eventsRobots are on the rise. They're present in many areas of everyday life including autonomous transportation, farm machinery, medical and environmental applications and logistics.
Developing robots that are capable of adapting and learning from experience is a significant driver in the robotics industry and is at the cutting edge of research development. This course will provide you with the tools and skills necessary to become a leader in these expanding areas.
We'll prepare you for employment in the robotics and autonomous systems field as well as related industries, and equip you with the knowledge required to pursue further research into intelligent robotics.
Accredited by the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET) under licence from the UK regulator, the Engineering Council. Some employers recruit preferentially from accredited degrees, and an accredited degree is likely to be recognised by other countries that are signatories to international accords.
The subject has challenging courses for every student, which means a fulfilling learning experience The feedback of each course assignment is detailed and responsible, the clear evaluation of strengths and weaknesses makes it a great opportunity to improve your abilities.Han, MSc Intelligent Robotics
We place a strong focus on practical implementation, both in hardware and simulation. Your course will culminate in a team project focused on producing a communicating team of autonomous robots that range from ground robots to flying robots, to complete a challenging task together. You will work in a fully-equipped workshop and a state of the art, dedicated robotics laboratory.
Through lectures and hands-on experience, you'll learn about the development of mechanisms, control systems, algorithms that can learn and adapt, and swarm systems (multiple robots working together). You'll get to experience the liveliness of this exciting field first hand.
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.
This project will immerse you in a life like scenario: a group of engineers developing a large scale multi-robot system. As a group you will design, construct and implement the control of a robotic system. You'll gain practical experience of project management and team skills. The system you design will include both software (such as individual and collective robotic control, and low-level embedded programming) and hardware (such as 3D printed and laser cut parts, and off-the-shelf robot components). The project will produce a multiple-robot system that will be tested and evaluated on a challenging task requiring autonomous robotic control and coordination in the robotics laboratory.
For the project you will typically be working in a group of four to six students. You'll be assigned a target system to design, be given a budget, and then prepare the design presentation that your group will follow. Working together, you'll develop detailed system specifications and establish initial prototypes.
Throughout the project you'll be able to make full use of the Robotics Laboratory and you'll spend the vast majority of your time working on robotic systems, attempting to develop an innovative solution to the problem given. Full technical support is available in the laboratory.
The final presentation of your group will take place in September, where you'll provide physical demos of your system. Your group will also produce a presentation on the work to which everyone will have contributed. Finally, you will submit group documentation along with an individual report.
Every course at York is built on a distinctive set of learning outcomes. These will give you a clear understanding of what you will be able to accomplish at the end of the course and help you explain what you can offer employers. Our academics identify the knowledge, skills, and experiences you'll need upon graduation and then design the course to get you there.
| Study mode | UK (home) | International and EU |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time (1 year) | £13,300 | £31,900 |
Students on a Student Visa are not currently permitted to study part-time at York.
UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.
Find out more information about tuition fees and how to pay them.
All course text books and materials are available in the library or via the VLE. Depending on how you work, you may wish to pay for printing of notes and other material.
Discover your funding options to help with tuition fees and living costs.
We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2025/26 throughout the year.
If you've successfully completed an undergraduate degree at York you could be eligible for a 10% Masters fee discount.
We are pleased to work with Chevening Scholars to offer funding for our Masters programmes. Chevening Scholarships provide one year of fully-funded postgraduate study in the UK for international (including EU) students. The scholarships are open to early and mid-career professionals who have the potential to become future leaders.
If available, subject-specific scholarship opportunities for our taught MSc courses will be advertised on the School funding information page.
You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.
I have just finished building and programming my little robot, it was amazing and very exciting to see that what you program and design can become a reality. I feel that I have learned more here in a couple of months than I have before in a year and because of this reason I am very happy. Just take into account that this academic adventure is challenging, but trust me, you will learn.Alan, MSc Intelligent Robotics
You’ll work with world‐leading academics who’ll challenge you to think independently and excel in all that you do. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace.
You'll be taught through a mixture of lectures, seminars, practicals and workshops.
You will have access to a dedicated area in the 4th floor of the School of Physics, Engineering and Technology building equipped with modern electronics bench equipment and various fabrication tools, and also the purpose-built York Robotics Laboratory on Campus East. This will provide you with a space to programme, design, fabricate, assemble, and test your designs.
The School of Physics, Engineering and Technology is based on Campus West. The majority of teaching takes place within Campus West, and some practical work takes place in the York Robotics Laboratory located on Campus East.
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.
You will be assessed via a combination of exams, coursework, presentations, demonstrations and reports.
This course will prepare you for employment in robotic and autonomous systems related industries or to pursue further research into intelligent robotics. After graduating from this MSc, you will be significantly more attractive to a wider range of employers due to a more comprehensive portfolio, experience from running and managing a team project, and system integration skills.
| Typical offer | |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate degree | 2:2 or equivalent in Computer Science, Computer Science/Mathematics joint honours, Electronic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or another relevant subject. We are willing to consider applications from students with lower qualifications, particularly if you have high marks in relevant modules or appropriate industrial experience. |
| International pre-masters programme | Pre-masters from our International Pathway College |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| Minimum requirement | |
|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic and Indicator) | 6.0, minimum 5.5 in each component |
| Cambridge CEFR | B2 First: 169, with no less than 162 in each component |
| Oxford ELLT | 6, minimum of 5 in each component |
| Duolingo | 105, minimum 95 in all other components |
| LanguageCert SELT | B2 with 33/50 in each component |
| LanguageCert Academic | 65 with a minimum of 60 in each component |
| Kaplan Test of English Language | 426-458, with 396-425 in all other components |
| Skills for English | B2: Pass with Merit overall, with Pass in each component |
| PTE Academic | 55, minimum 51 in each component |
| TOEFL | 79, minimum 17 in Listening, 18 in Reading, 20 in Speaking and 17 in Writing |
| Trinity ISE III | Pass in all components |
For more information see our postgraduate English language requirements.
You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.
After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.
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