Mechanical Engineering BEng(Hons)

Course in brief

Gain the knowledge and skills to become a mechanical engineer. The course provides you with a strong foundation in engineering and a mix of theory and practice with industrial and commercial insight.

You will benefit from access to our specialist facilities in our new advanced engineering building, the Sir Harry Ricardo Laboratories, manufacturing workshops, rapid prototyping equipment, vehicle simulators, and hydraulics, thermodynamics and materials laboratories. You will also have the option to take a year’s paid placement.

The course is designed with input from industry and accrediting bodies to provide you with the most up-to-date and relevant programme of theory, practice and work experience.

If you achieve the required standard in year 2, you can choose to progress directly to the third year of the Mechanical Engineering MEng and study towards a masters-level qualification.

Key facts

Location Brighton: Moulsecoomb

UCAS code H300

Full-time 3 years
With placement year 4 years

Accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)

Book your open day place

Applying for 2018: read our guide

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

A-levels or BTEC
Entry requirements are in the range of A-level BBC–CCC (112–96 UCAS Tariff points), or BTEC Extended Diploma DMM–MMM. Our conditional offers typically fall within this range.

A-levels must include maths and a physical science.

We will generally make you an offer if your predicted grades are at the top of this range. If your predicted grades are towards the lower end of this range we may still make you an offer if you have a good GCSE (or equivalent) profile or relevant non-academic achievements.

International Baccalaureate
28 points, with three subjects at Higher level which must include maths and physics at grade 5.

Access to HE Diploma
Pass with 60 credits overall. Level 3 units in maths and a physical science required. At least 45 credits at level 3, with 24 credits at merit or above.

GCSE (minimum grade C or grade 4)
At least five GCSEs, subjects must include English language, maths and a science.

Foundation degree/HND
May enable you to start the course in year 2.

Foundation course
Foundation course containing maths and a physical science, with an average of at least 55%.

We also offer this degree with an integrated foundation year for applicants who do not meet the standard entry requirements.

Studied before or got relevant experience?
A qualification, HE credits or relevant experience may count towards your course at Brighton, and could mean that you do not have to take some elements of the course or can start in year 2 or 3. Ask our enquiries team for more information. Contact them through the Find out more tab below.

For non-native speakers of English
IELTS 6.0 overall, with 6.0 in writing and a minimum of 5.5 in the other elements.

International equivalencies

International equivalencies by country

Albania
Algeria
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belgium
Bermuda
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burma (Myanmar)
Cameroon
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Ecuador
Egypt
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Guyana
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kosovo
Kuwait
Latvia
Lebanon
Liechtenstein
Libya
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malaysia
Malawi
Malta
Mexico
Moldova
Montenegro
Morocco
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palestinian National Authority
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russian Federation
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Syria
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tanzania
Thailand
Tunisia
Turkey
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

Visit our language institute

For English language preparation courses.

Visit our International College

For academic preparation courses.

Course in detail

Course structure

In your first year, conceptual design, manufacturing and testing are combined in a design project. The university specialises in design and product innovation.

In your second year, you will explore various aspects of mechanical engineering in more depth.

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

In your final year, you are taught business and management skills essential for the modern professional engineer.

This degree is also offered with an integrated foundation year (UCAS code: H301), offering access for applicants who do not meet standard entry requirements.

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 our applicant portal.

Year 1

First year modules will provide you with a broad introduction to mechanical engineering.

You will study the engineering behind aircraft and automotive systems.

Modules

Design and Applications Project (EA1)
Aircraft and Automotive Systems
Computer-aided Engineering and Design
Materials and Manufacture 1
Mathematics
Engineering Concepts

Year 2

In your second year, you will explore various aspects of mechanical engineering in more depth.

You will also gain skills in computer-aided design.

Modules

Materials
Manufacturing Engineering
Computer-aided Engineering
Dynamics
Mechanical and Manufacturing Instrumentation and Testing
Fluid Dynamics
Thermodynamics
Mathematics and Control
Engineering Design and Management

Second year students put learning into practice with the Robot Wars project.

Placement year

You have the option to spend a year in industry on a placement year we will help you to arrange.

On placement, you will learn important engineering skills on the job.

The placement year will significantly enhance your CV and boost your employability. You may even secure a job offer which you will be able to accept upon graduation.

Final year

In your final year, you will consolidate your existing knowledge and embark on an individual project.

The individual project gives you the chance to explore the areas of the course that interest you the most.

Modules

Dynamics and Control
Advanced Fluid Mechanics and Applications in Mechanical Engineering
Product Innovation and Management
Project

Options*

Manufacturing Systems
Advanced Materials Engineering
Renewable Technologies (PV and Biomass)

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

Course statistics

Unistats and key information sets

Unistats enable you to compare information when choosing a UK university course. All UK universities publish Unistats data on their website.

Programme specification

The programme specification is the approved description of each course. They are updated following course changes, and give a detailed breakdown of the content and structure of the course.

Programme specification

These charts give an indication of how much time you will spend on different activities at each level of the course, and an indication of the balance of assessment by coursework, and written and practical exams. For courses with option modules, actual proportions will depend on the modules you choose.

Find out more about how the academic year and degree courses are organised, and about learning and assessment activities you might get to grips with at Brighton. More specific information about this course is detailed in the programme specification (linked above). You can find out also about the range of support we offer to help you adjust to university life.

Overall workload

Assessments

Careers and employability

Recent graduates are working in industries from aerospace to manufacturing and at companies including Visteon, Jaguar Land Rover and Bosch.

Some students choose to go on to further study and research at masters or PhD level.

Fees and funding

Your fees

UK/EU (full-time) 9,250 GBP

International (full-time) 13,920 GBP

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 £1,000 for home students and £2,000 for international students. This fee may be subject to small increases, in line with inflation.

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2017–18.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK/EU students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full- or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

What's included in the fee?

When costs such as health or DBS checks, or use of specialist materials are incurred as a mandatory requirement of the course they are included in your tuition fee.

You may incur additional costs depending on the optional modules or activities you choose. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. Before you apply check with the school that provides your course using the contact details in the Find out more tab (at the end of this page) for advice about what is included and what optional costs you could face so you can budget accordingly.

See our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as further information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Location and living here

Location

About Brighton

Forward-thinking and welcoming, the city of Brighton & Hove is a community of creative and diverse people who share values like sustainability and inclusivity – just like its university.

Miles of pebble beaches, hundreds of bars, restaurants and clubs, a packed calendar of culture, music and sport and great independent and high street shopping attract visitors from all over the world. By the end of your course you’ll still be finding new things to enjoy about the city.

The Brighton Festival, England’s largest arts festival, takes place every May – as does the Great Escape Europe’s leading industry showcase for new music, 300 bands perform over three days at venues across the city. Major events celebrate Pride, digital culture, cinema, photography, food and the winter solstice. Our own Brighton Graduate show is a highlight, turning the university into the largest exhibition space in the south east as we celebrate the outstanding creativity of our students.

As a student here you’ll have a unique opportunity to experience what the city has to offer. Volunteering and placement opportunities enable you to play your part in the events, organisations and communities that make Brighton such a compelling place to be.

Campus where this course is taught

Moulsecoomb campus

Just two miles north of Brighton city centre and the seafront, Moulsecoomb is the largest of our five campuses with more than 8,000 students. A wide variety of subjects are taught here, from engineering and product design to business and law.

Students benefit from many professional-standard facilities, including a flight simulator, design and digital media suites, and specialist research laboratories. The campus library, Aldrich, offers long opening hours and a diverse collection of books and journals for students from all subject areas.

Sports enthusiasts will enjoy our basketball and badminton courts, fitness suite and climbing wall. The campus is also a few minutes walk from the South Downs National Park, providing a great place to relax during the summer months.

Accommodation

Brighton

Our Brighton halls of residence are located across the city in Grand Parade, Moulsecoomb, Varley Park and Falmer.

Grand Parade is in central Brighton and has one hall of residence, Phoenix Brewery, within walking distance.
Moulsecoomb is two miles from the city centre and also has one hall of residence, Moulsecoomb Place, on campus.
Varley Park offers the biggest choice of student accommodation with ten halls of residence.
Falmer campus has two halls of residence: Great Wilkins and Paddock Field.
Varley Park and Falmer are around four miles from Brighton centre; there are good public transport services nearby.

Aside from halls, you have the option of Unihomes, which we let out to our students on behalf of private landlords.

You can also choose to join the many students who live away from campus in private rented accommodation. We have a list of high-quality, university-endorsed private sector accommodation and can help you find housemates to move in with.

Find out more on our Brighton accommodation webpages and if you have any questions, our accommodation team will be happy to help. You can contact them by email at accommodation@brighton.ac.uk or by telephone on 01273 644100.

Paddock Field

Moulsecoomb Place

Maps

Accommodation

University building

Moulsecoomb campus map

Find out more

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