Mechanical Engineering BEng(Hons)

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Course structure

You will explore fundamental mechanical engineering topics through a shared first year with our automotive and aeronautical engineering courses.

In your second year, you will explore various aspects of mechanical engineering such as engineering design, and dynamics and control.

After your second year, you may opt to put your studies into practice on a year-long industrial placement.

In your final year, you will learn business and management skills needed to become a professional engineer.

Making sure that what you learn with us is relevant, up to date and what employers are looking for is our priority, so courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis. When you have applied to us, you’ll be told about any new developments through Student View.

Year 1

In your first year, you will be introduced to the principles of mechanical engineering and develop skills such as Computer Aided Design (CAD). A major design project will combine knowledge gained in conceptual design, manufacturing and testing and put it into practice.

Modules

• Engineering Mathematics

  In this module you will learn to apply mathematical concepts and software tools to solve engineering problems.

  On completion you will be able to use analytical techniques and software tools to solve simple algebraic problems, develop mathematical models of engineering systems, and apply an appropriate analytical method, or software tool to solve a mathematical model.

• Engineering Practice

  On this module you will develop your engineering skills using projects as the focus of your learning.

  You will work on group projects, applying engineering skills such as reflection, organisation, planning, design, communication and planning. Concepts across a range of engineering specialisms will be introduced as part of a problem-based approach.

• Mechanical Design

  This module introduces you to the principles of mechanical design and communicating engineering design intent. You will acquire skills in drawing and Computer Aided Design (CAD) drawing software package such as SolidWorks, and basic concepts of mechanical design and machine components.

• Energy Systems

  This module will provide you with an introduction to energy production, conversion, storage, conservation and coupling. This will be achieved utilising basic applied concepts relating to fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, heat transfer and engineering economics.

• Design Project

  In this module teams of engineers have the task of designing and manufacturing a functional product. Each team member has to apply a range of engineering skills and knowledge to realise the design. You will gain experience of working within a team, planning and managing the design project.

• Materials and Manufacture

  This module introduces you to materials and their properties, a range of manufacturing processes, and environmental considerations used to make components from various materials.

Year 2

Building on the knowledge and skills you develop in year one, you will explore aspects of mechanical engineering at a more in-depth level.

Modules

• Dynamics and Control
• Engineering Systems
• Mechanics of Materials
• Thermofluids
• Engineering Design
• Manufacturing Engineering

Placement year

A placement year offers you a great opportunity to: 

• build knowledge of real-world businesses and organisations 
• develop existing skills and discover new ones 
• make contacts in industry and commerce 
• increase your confidence 
• improve your time management.

You will also gain the appropriate amount of work experience to reach Engineering Technician (EngTech) status.

Our students have been on placement with companies such as Triumph, Caterpillar, Rolls-Royce and Dando Drilling International.

Final year

You will undertake an individual project and have the flexibility to choose from option modules in areas that interest you most.

Modules

• Dynamics and Control
• Product Design
• Computational Fluid Dynamics for Mechanical Engineering Applications
• Project

Options*

• Manufacturing Systems
• Advanced Materials Engineering
• Renewable Technologies

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Course fees

If you choose to take the professional placement (sandwich) year offered on this course you will pay a reduced fee during this year. Our fee for the professional placement year is £1,410 for UK students and £2,180 for international students. This fee may be subject to small increases, in line with inflation.

The fees listed here are for the first year of full-time study if you start your course in the academic year 2023–24.

You will pay fees for each year of your course. Some fees may increase each year.

UK undergraduate and some postgraduate fees are regulated by the UK government and increases will not be more than the maximum amount allowed. Course fees that are not regulated may increase each year by up to 5% or RPI (whichever is higher).

If you are studying part-time your fee will usually be calculated based on the number of modules that you take.

Find out more

• Fees, bursaries, scholarships and government funding info for UK and international undergraduate and postgraduate students
• Student finance and budgeting while studying
• About the university’s fees by checking our student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

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