NMITE and the British Army have set out further details of NMITE's MEng (Hons) Integrated Engineering (Autonomous Robotics), a new undergraduate degree focused on autonomous systems and drone technologies.
The institute held an event at its Skylon Campus in Hereford with demonstrations from NMITE students and the Army's Experimentation and Trials Group. Al Carns MP, Minister for the Armed Forces, attended and delivered a speech alongside James Newby, NMITE President and CEO.
NMITE said the programme will welcome its first students in September 2026. The institute positioned the degree as part of its broader approach to engineering higher education, which emphasises hands-on learning and project work with industry partners.
Course outline
NMITE said the MEng (Hons) Integrated Engineering (Autonomous Robotics) will run over three years. NMITE compared this with four-year engineering courses at more established universities.
The institute described the course as centred on autonomous systems and drone technologies. NMITE also said the course will cover engineering fundamentals and include practical work with robotics and related systems.
Professor Alexandru Stancu, Academic Lead for the programme, said NMITE designed the curriculum "from the ground up". He linked the structure to both academic content and applied work with autonomous systems.
"The curriculum has been designed from the ground up to combine rigorous engineering fundamentals with hands-on experience in autonomous systems, ensuring students engage with the technologies and challenges facing the country today. I am incredibly excited to be involved and can't wait to start working with students on this exciting project," said Stancu.
Defence links
The Army delegation included Brigadier Mike Cornwell, Head of Future Force Development, Army Command. NMITE said members of the Army's Experimentation and Trials Group attended and provided drone demonstrations.
NMITE framed the degree around what it called "dual-use" applications of drone technologies. The institute said graduates could apply skills across civilian, commercial, humanitarian and defence settings.
Newby linked the degree to skills, defence and regional growth. He also said NMITE expected interest from local young people.
"This degree reflects the scale of the opportunity in front of us - to equip the next generation of engineers with skills that matter now, and to quickly deliver positive impacts in terms of skills, defence and a security capability and regional growth. The fact that we expect many local young people to take on the degree and build their futures with us, is incredibly exciting," said James Newby, President and CEO, NMITE.
Local companies
The event also included representation from industry. NMITE said Ollie Holt, one of its first graduates in Integrated Engineering, attended. NMITE said Holt completed his studies in 2024 and now works at a Hereford-based drones company.
NMITE also named Hereford-based Level Peaks among attending companies. It described Level Peaks as a defence and security partner. NMITE said companies of that type would interact with students on the course.
Level Peaks said it had worked with NMITE for some time and described a relationship that included financial support for students and input into course and industry understanding.
"We have a long-standing relationship with NMITE and strongly believe in the value the university brings to the local area and the industries we operate within. Our partnership is built on meaningful collaboration - from investing in students through financial support, to sharing knowledge, expertise, and direct industry insight. As NMITE enters the next stage of its journey with the introduction of the MEng degrees in Autonomous Robotics, it clearly demonstrates the institute's modern, forward-thinking, and industry-relevant academic approach. This development is particularly exciting and will prove invaluable to the industry, creating new opportunities for collaboration while significantly enhancing student futures," said a spokesperson for Level Peaks.
Institution background
NMITE operates from a purpose-built campus and said it has a team of 60 staff. The institute said more than 220 students have enrolled to date, and it has delivered more than 90 modules across its curriculum.
NMITE also said it works with more than 80 industry partners across a range of sectors. The institute has positioned those relationships as part of its approach to project-based learning and routes into employment.
NMITE received New Degree Awarding Powers from the Office for Students in 2022. NMITE also works with The Open University as its validating partner, according to the institute's background information.
The institute has expanded its offering in recent years, including an integrated engineering degree and a foundation year. The autonomous robotics course now adds a new route for students seeking specialist focus within an engineering framework, with NMITE and the Army signalling continued engagement around student exposure to defence-related technologies and scenarios.