Department of Design Engineering and Mathematics

Located within the Faculty of Science and Technology, the Department of Design Engineering and Mathematics at Middlesex University, London offers a dynamic range of courses that delve into modern industry practices across diverse fields, including design, engineering, automation and manufacturing.

Our undergraduate programmes focus on developing responsible, innovative, confident and passionate graduates ready to enter the world of employment and drive change. Sustainability is at the core of our offering, and our undergraduate programmes are aligned to UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Our state-of-the-art facilities boast industry standard equipment, and are supported by partnerships with industry leaders including National Instruments; LabVIEW Academy Cisco Academy; Siemens – Connected Curriculum partner and Altium Academic Partner. Students have access to our state-of-the-art mechatronics and robotics laboratories, extensive workshop facilities, 3D printing facilities, and our Smart Factory lab jointly sponsored by Festo and Siemens.

Our teaching

Led by our expert, research-informed teaching teams and equipped with industrial engagement and collaborations, our practice-led approach offers an unparalleled environment for hands-on, practice-based learning, fostering teamwork and mirroring real-world practice. Our ‘live’ projects with industrial partners, participation in external competitions and workshops and industry speaker series provide our students with a breadth of interactive and engaging activities.

Many of our programmes are accredited by recognised bodies including the Institution of Engineering Designers (IED) and the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT), emphasising both the high quality of our teaching and the alignment of our curriculum with current industry standards and practices.

Our research

The Design Engineering and Mathematics department has a breadth of internationally recognised research and offers opportunities for Master’s by Research as well as MPhil/PhD study.  The research conducted by the Design Engineering and Mathematics department is marked by a combination of innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and practical application.

The research strengths of the department lie in several key areas: 

• Digital Twins - Contact: Prof Huan Nguyen
• Telecommunications - Contact: Dr Purav Shah
• Robotics, Mechatronics, and Automation - Contact: Prof Mehmet Karamanoglu
• Product Design - Contact: Prof Andy Bardill
• Building Information Modelling (BIM) Management - Contact: Dr. Noha Saleeb
• Sustainable Built Environment Design - Contact: Dr Homeira Shayesteh
• Mathematical Modelling and Optimisation - Contact: Dr Xin-She Yang

For general queries regarding research topics and research programmes please contact the Postgraduate Research Lead for Design Engineering and Mathematics department Dr. Ramona Trestian.  

The department collaborates with industry partners, government agencies, and academic institutions, making its research have a positive impact on various sectors. The interdisciplinary approach fosters innovation by combining product design, engineering, and mathematics, while the state-of-the-art facilities and specialized areas of research, from architectural technology to wireless communication and digital twin modelling facilitates cutting-edge research.

Our dedicated team of experts, bring extensive experience and know-how to the department, ensuring its research remains at the forefront of innovation and practical application in today's ever-evolving world. By merging theory and practice, our department fosters creativity, innovation, and sustainable solutions that impact industries and communities.

Notable research centres, groups, and projects include:

London Digital Twin Research Centre

The London Digital Twin Research Centre (LDTRC), based in Middlesex University London, focuses on the development of state-of-the-art technology in digital realisation of the physical world. The developments in this centre focus on the digital transformation of physical environments, whether it is industry, infrastructure, healthcare or transportation using concepts and technologies from the notion of a “digital twin”. The current work in the LDTRC focuses on the following core aspects: Manufacturing and Industry 4.0 (I4.0), Structure Health Monitoring (SHM), Healthcare Resilience, Heritage Restoration, Agriculture Resilience, 5G/6G Networks, Sociotechnical Twins, and Environment and Enterprise Management.

The 5G/6G and IoT Research Group

The objective of this research group is to focus on the latest research topics on 5G/6G networks and Internet of Things (IoT) and provide innovative solutions to the advanced wireless communications systems.

Our graduates

We have an extensive network of graduates in professional practice around the world in companies such as Apple, Dyson, Airbus and Lego.

Recent student/graduate successes include:

• Mohamed Shaat: Siemens Connected Curriculum Prize, Overall Winner [BEng Mechatronics graduate, 2024].
• Mikhaela Roy: World Skills UK Industry 4 National Final Competition winner, also part of Team UK for Industry 4 at WorldSkills International 2024, Lyon, France [BEng Hons Mechatronics graduate, 2023]
• Gabija Gailiunaite, CIAT Student of the Year Award 2024 [BSc Architectural Technology]
• Harry Miller-Adams: winner of the Product Design category in the Arts Thread 2023 Global Graduate Design Show in collaboration with Gucci, [BA Product Design graduate, 2023]
• Viorel Mihailuc: World Skills UK, Digital Construction 2021, Silver Medal [BSc Architectural Technology]

I wanted a buffet of Engineering Projects to try out - AtkinsRéalis gave me that buffet, but it was Middlesex University who set my appetite for it.

Andrea Pereira, Graduate Engineer at AtkinsRéalis - BEng Computer Systems Engineering alumni