Course summary

Our mechanical engineering degree adopts a practical approach that will develop your skills and knowledge for a career involving innovation and leadership. Mechanical engineering is concerned with anything that moves and many things that don’t. From a simple nut and bolt, through to the complex multi-physics of aerodynamics in Formula One, mechanical engineering solves the broadest range of challenges and leads to a multitude of different and exciting careers. Our approach reinforces your learning from lectures through practical activities and allows you to fully assess your assumptions while building teamwork and project management skills essential to your future career. The degree is professionally accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineering (IMechE) as meeting partial fulfilment of the educational requirements to become a Chartered Engineer. In the modern world, mechanical engineers are part of small or large teams developing complex systems, which is why our broad based common first year adds significant value to your degree. In your first year, you will study themes from within mechanical engineering, but also the fundamentals behind electrical, electronics and chemical processes, along with a solid foundation in engineering mathematics. Specialist modules in mechanical engineering will begin in the second year, where you will cover main themes of materials, statics and dynamics, fluids and thermodynamics, complemented by design and laboratory activities. You have the opportunity to undertake a business development project, to introduce you to Industry 4.0 concepts. On this programme, you will undertake a year in industry, gaining valuable experience and enhancing your employability. We have extensive links built through our leadership in research and have students undergoing placements with multinational corporate companies through to smaller specialist SMEs. Typically, this is undertaken during your third year, after you have gained a reasonable amount of engineering knowledge. Once you have completed your placement, you will write an extended reflective piece about your time spent with the company.