Introduction

Part IIB is based around a flexible modular scheme, in which strong specialisation is possible.  About 75 modules are available, from which you choose eight. Most opt for four in each of the Michaelmas and Lent terms, but this is not a requirement.  If you do wish to take an unbalanced selection, it is usually preferable to undertake the greater share in Michaelmas (e.g. 5:3), since past experience shows that project pressure tends to be higher in the Lent term.  The decision is also influenced by the coursework load of your modules. You are advised to discuss your choice with your director of studies, particularly if it is not a balanced selection of 4 in each term.

Each module has 16 timetabled slots, in the Michaelmas or Lent term (with the exception of a small number of vacation modules).  Exam-only use all 16, including examples classes; this is reduced to 12-14 slots for 25% coursework modules. Coursework modules use as many of the 16 slots as are appropriate to cover the course, including coursework briefing. All module examinations are held in the first three weeks of the Easter term.

NB. There are no supervisions for Part IIB modules, only examples classes.

Assessment

Module assessment is of three types:

• 100% exam;
• 75% exam + 25% coursework;
• 100% coursework. 

All Part IIB exams are of 1.5 hours duration and are held at the start of the Easter term. Dates for specific modules will be posted online during the Lent term.

See the information about marking & classing criteria for information about how Part IIB is classed.

Groups

The Faculty Board's list of modules & sets is published in May for the following academic year and is subdivided into Groups A to G, I and M, as in Part IIA, with the addition of Group R.  The number of modules in each of Groups A-G will normally be not less than six and not more than ten, although the number and the topics covered will vary slightly from year to year.

Note that the modules available may vary slightly from year to year.

Group A	Energy, fluid mechanics and turbomachinery
Group B	Electrical engineering
Group C	Mechanics, materials and design
Group D	Civil, structural and environmental engineering
Group E	Management and manufacturing
Group F	Information engineering
Group G	Bioengineering
Group I	Imported modules These modules are offered by other Departments or other courses within CUED.
Group M	Multidisciplinary modules This group includes the surveying field course (which takes place in the summer vacation preceding Part IIB), mathematical modules, and foreign language modules (which lead on from language skills developed in the Part IIA Easter term language projects).
Group R	Research modules (available to students who have been classed with a First at Part IIA of the Tripos) These modules are of interest principally to those wishing to pursue a career in research.

 

Rules and restrictions

Engineering Areas

Guidance on module choices for students wishing to qualify in particular engineering areas can be found here. There are also conditions specific to professional institutions accreditation.

Timetable arrangements and sets

Please refer to the Faculty Board list of modules and sets for the definitive list .

Other considerations:

• modules may be further restricted as indicated in the ‘Special Conditions’ section at the top of the syllabus;
• by arrangement with the Faculty Board you may choose to submit a dissertation of 4,000 – 5,000 words in place of one module.

Language modules

Students who wish to take a language module in Part IIB must make a binding commitment to take 4M1 French, 4M2 German, 4M3 Spanish or 4M4 Japanese when they enter their preferences in COMET towards the end of the Easter term.

When COMET closes on the the last day of Full Term in June all language module selections will be locked. It will not be possible to change them either at the start of the Michaelmas term or at the start of the Lent term.

Module 4A4 (Aircraft stability and control)

The flight test course associated with 4A4 has a limit of 30 participants, so a ballot may be necessary. The module can, however, be taken without going on the flight test course. Please also note that the first 4A4 lecture will be a briefing session only (lectures start in week 5). Attendance at the briefing is essential; if you are forced to miss it, contact the course leader by the end of week 1 at the latest.

Module 4I1 (Strategic valuation)

This module will be given as a 3-day workshop the week after the end of Michaelmas Full Term, provisionally timetabled 9am-5pm from 5-12th December 2016. Details are on the syllabus. Please ensure you will be available for all of these days before signing up for this module.

The number of 4I1 places available to Part IIB Engineers is limited. Students who have not taken 3E3 will be given priority. The names of students wishing to take this module will be extracted from COMET, and a ballot will be held if the module looks likely to be oversubscribed.  The ballot will take place on 6 October 2016, after which the Teaching Office will be in touch with any unsuccessful applicants to ask them to select another module.

Ballots and special conditions

If numbers are particularly high for any module, the need for a ballot will be announced at the first timetabled period.

 

Module selection on COMET

You are required to log on to COMET to make a provisional selection of your Part IIB modules in the last two weeks of the preceding Easter Term. You will be able to make changes to your selection at the start of the Michaelmas term (and further changes to Lent modules until January), except for 4M9 and any language options.

Your selection must be finalised each term by midnight on Wednesday of week one. Shortly after each deadline, you will confirm your selection for that term as a binding exam entry that may not subsequently be changed or discounted (i.e. after the Michaelmas deadline you will not then be able to discount any module for which you were entered in the Michaelmas Term).

Modules are offered subject to demand. If the numbers for any module are very low it may be withdrawn or given as a directed reading module rather than as a taught course.

Although you are not required to finalise your choice of modules straight away it is important, if at all possible, to attend the first timetabled period of any module of interest since it is then that the leader will give a general description of its content.

COMET will notify you if your module choices are invalid or do not fit into your chosen engineering area, in which case you must revise your selection. 

 

Module administration

Queries about particular IIB modules should be addressed to the module leader in the first instance (as detailed in the syllabus).