Minerals Processing (Professional)

The MSc in Minerals Processing (Professional) equips students with the specialist technical and business skills, and knowledge to succeed as a professional in the mining industry. The course structure particularly addresses major industry issues of business silos and the need for specialists in different parts of the business to develop a pipeline view of the mining business that equips them for more senior roles. It also provides professional development in Mining Engineering to cultivate the high level technical skills required in the modern technologically complex mining industry.

The programme is offered as a three year Masters (180 credit) although it is also possible to complete your studies after two year with the award of a Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits). The first year of the programme is the one year Mining Lifecycle Postgraduate Certificate Course (60 credits). These are all delivered as part-time, blended learning courses with short residential periods of one to two weeks.

Various course delivery methods and assessment types are utilized to develop well-rounded mining professionals with broad knowledge of interdisciplinary mine site problem solving, and critical industry insight.

Year one provides a robust understanding of the complete mining life-cycle, from exploration and development to extraction and processing methods to closure. Year 1 of the course is also an excellent programme for new entrants into the mining business as a fast-track career preparation.

Year two provides core minerals processing modules focussing on the principles of mineral recovery, and process design and modelling. Modules will involve extensive use of case studies, team working and problem solving which are also designed into assessments.

Year three involves an industry-based project which can be designed with current employers to address actual mine site and industry problems.

The programme is suitable for engineering and geology graduates currently employed in the minerals industry, and other mining professionals with suitable experience. The blended learning approach allows these industry staff to undertake accredited educational studies while maintaining their industry work roles.

The Camborne School of Mines is an internationally recognised centre of mining education within the University of Exeter, one of the UK's leading universities.

The modular programme aims to produce graduates who can practice effectively in the field of minerals processing. The programme provides appropriate training in applied sciences, specialist engineering and financial subjects. The latest innovative technologies and research will be presented within modules alongside traditional approaches and experts from industry will provide further insight into subject areas.

Mineral specific processes are introduced through case studies and industrial visits. Students will be able to develop their practical skills in a fully equipped mineral separation laboratory and analytical facilities and the programme will provide the opportunity to work directly in an industrial environment through workshops linked to lectures and laboratory practicals.

The importance of health and safety as well as issues associated with the mining industry in general and specific mineral process engineering aspects will be interweaved in all teaching during the programme.

Training is provided in the latest process design software which is used by both local and international consultancies. Group working is integrated into the programme and the individual research project enables the student to explore a specific area in detail either based at the Penryn campus or with an approved Company, University or Research Organisation worldwide.

Your part-time MSc Minerals Processing (Professional) programme is a 3 year programme of study at National Qualification Framework (NQF) level 7 (as confirmed against the FHEQ). This programme is divided into 3 Stages.  The programme is also divided into units of study called modules which are assigned a number of credits. The credit rating of a module is proportional to the total workload, with 1 credit being nominally equivalent to 10 hours of work.

The Programme encompasses 8 modules that range from 15 credits to 45 credits in length. Year one comprises four 15 credit modules covering the mining lifecycle, Year 2 encompasses two 30 credit modules that deliver the core technical mineral processing content, and in Year 3 there is a 45 credit extractive mineral industry business impact project supported by a 15 credit project development and business skills module.

The programme is delivered over 3 years by part time-blended learning in which students study the modules online and attend three residential courses per year in Years 1 & 2, and two residentials in Year 3 to complete group work, assessments, site visits and to enrich the online material.

The CSM Professional Mining Life Cycle Programme forms Year 1 of the 3 year CSM Professional MSc Minerals Processing (Professional) Programme. It takes students on a journey linking the different activities that are involved in the mining industry covering a wide range of topics from mineral economics to mine planning, basic mineral processing, mine closure, and the environmental, political and social impacts of mining. This will broaden knowledge and skills, which is essential for students who will come from a wide range of business and technical specialisms.

The second year is the ‘specialist’ year and comprises two comprehensive modules; ‘Principles of mineral recovery’ which covers the fundamental science which underpins mineral processing and extractive metallurgy. and ‘Process design and modelling’ which covers the design and optimisation of processing circuits for the separation of minerals. Through these modules you will learn detailed aspects of:

• the fundamental principles and forces exploited in mineral separation processes including comminution, physical separation and some aspects of hydrometallurgy and pyrometallurgy
• the importance of the relationship between mineralogical textures and associations and the intrinsic chemical and physical properties which ultimately determine the success of separation processes. This will include the effects of spatial variability across deposits on processing plants
• techniques used for the selection of equipment and the interplay of unit processes in processing circuits. This will include the test work and modelling required for the selection of comminution and physical separation equipment
• the design and optimisation of processing circuits using industry standard simulation software

For students, the second year will deepen knowledge of mineral processing to the level required by many senior management roles.

The final year project will be designed in conjunction with the student and their employer to address operational and business issues that affect the mining company’s activities. The business skills module will aid project planning & management, and implementation & dissemination of the results. Together these will demonstrate the students’ impact and contribution to the mining company or industry.

Interim Awards

Year 1 – (60 Credits Compulsory) Certificate in The Mining Life Cycle

Year 2 – (60 Credits Compulsory) Diploma in Minerals processing

Year 3 – (60 Credits Compulsory) MSc in Minerals Processing

The following tables describes the programme and constituent modules.  Constituent modules may be udpated, deleted or replaced as a consequence of the annual programme review of this programme.  Details of the modules currently offered may be obtained from the College Web Sits:

https://intranet.exeter.ac.uk/emps

Credit
The programme consists of 180 credits with 90 credits taken at each stage where the programme is offered part time.  The pass mark for award of credit in an individual PG module is 50%.

Assessment and Awards
 

The award will normally be based on at least 180 credits of which 150 or more must be at NQF level 7 (120 for PG Dip, and 60 for PG Cert).

Progression

Condonement is the process that allows you to progress to the next stage (or, in the final stage, receive the award), where you have failed to attain the pass mark (i.e. 50%) in the required number of credits (i.e. 60 credits).

For this programme the following number of credits , can be condoned provided your overall credit weighted mean is at least 50% (including the marks for any failed modules).  You will not be allowed reassessment in the condoned credit. 

MSc Mining Engineering - up to 45 credits

PG Dip Mining Engineering – up to 30 credits

PG Cert The Mining Life Cycle – up to 15 credits

You must pass the modules marked with a 'Yes' in the 'non-condonable' column in the tables above. The pass mark for these modules is 50%.

Classification

The marking of modules and the classification of awards broadly corresponds to the following percentage marks:

Postgraduate Degrees

Distinction   70%+

Merit            60-69%

Pass            50-59%
 

Full details of  PGT programmes assessment regulations can be found in the Teaching Quality Assurance Manual (TQA) on the University of Exeter website.  Generic marking criteria are also published here.

Please see the Teaching and Quality Assurance Manual for further guidance.

Personal and Academic tutoring: It is University policy that all Colleges should have in place a system of academic and personal tutors. The role of academic tutors is to support you on individual modules; the role of personal tutors is to provide you with advice and support for the duration of the programme and extends to providing you with details of how to obtain support and guidance on personal difficulties such as accommodation, financial difficulties and sickness. You can also make an appointment to see individual teaching staff.

Students have access to good computing and library facilities at Tremough. Computer-based exercises and web-based learning materials are a feature of the programme, which can be accessed via the internet. IT Services provide a range of central services, including open and training clusters of PCs (available on a 24/7 basis) within the Centre. Network access is available from all rooms in the hall of residence on site. On the Tremough campus in Cornwall, the Learning Resource Centre contains a library of 70,000 volumes and some specialist collections. In addition, students have full access to the central University of Exeter library, including the electronic library resources.

Online Module study resources provide materials for modules that you are registered for, in addition to some useful subject and IT resources. Generic study support resources, library and research skills, past exam papers, and the 'Academic Honesty and Plagiarism' module are also available through the student portal (http://vle.exeter.ac.uk)

Student/Staff Liaison Committee enables students & staff to jointly participate in the management and review of the teaching and learning provision.

All applications are considered individually on merit. The University is committed to an equal opportunities policy with respect to gender, age, race, sexual orientation and/or disability when dealing with applications. It is also committed to widening access to higher education to students from a diverse range of backgrounds and experience.

Candidates must satisfy the general admissions requirements of the University of Exeter.

Applicant who do not have the traditional qualifications to meet the entry requirements are also encouraged to apply and will be considered through the use of an Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) scheme. This involves assessment of qualifications, accredited post education qualifications and training, inhouse training, job roles and dimensions. These are scored against a template and benchmarked roles and qualifications. The overall aim is to assess whether the applicant possess the equivalent to a QAA graduate skill set and would therefore be capable of entering and completing the Postgraduate Certificate Course.

The APEL scheme comprises a toting up system that involves separate numerical scores for job role and dimension, traditional academic qualifications, accredited vocation qualifications and in-house training. The standard entry requirement for an MSc Programme would be a degree and the APEL score for acceptance is aligned to the score achieved for a degree or international equivalent. The job role equivalent to this would be, for example, a mineral processing engineer or (equivalent) in a significantly sized mine; typically a graduate role. Different job roles have been compared against the QAA graduate skills descriptors to benchmark them with respect to the generic skills and subject specialist components. The vocational training is again benchmarked to the UK qualification framework allowing for international comparisons. In-house training is capped at a nominal very low score due to its lack of external verification. The sum of the scores for the four categories is compared to the entry level to provide an objective assessment and for a decision on acceptance for entry onto the course. The APEL scheme operates for entry requirement, not for credit or exemption from any part of the course.

Each academic programme in the University is subject to an agreed College assessment and marking strategy, underpinned by institution-wide assessment procedures.

The security of assessment and academic standards is further supported through the appointment of External Examiners for each programme. External Examiners have access to draft papers, course work and examination scripts. They are required to attend the Board of Examiners and to provide an annual report. Annual External Examiner reports are monitored at both College and University level. Their responsibilities are described in the University's code of practice.  See the University's TQA Manual for details.

Certain programmes are subject to accreditation and/or review by professional and statutory regulatory bodies (PSRBs).