Mechanical Engineering BEng

Whether you study for the BEng or the MEng, your Mechanical Engineering degree will emphasise how mechanical engineering has been transformed by the use of powerful computer-aided design, prototyping and manufacturing tools and by the use of modern materials such as composites.

Engineers are innovators who bring about change through their ingenuity, experience and curiosity to improve the quality of life for people throughout the world. Their work is central to thriving economies and competitive industries. It is equally important in developing countries where engineers provide appropriate technologies during difficult times of change.

Professional engineers have a high degree of specialist knowledge but increasingly they use a broad approach to problem-solving across a range of engineering disciplines. This is coupled with an awareness of environmental, social, legal, economic and regulatory aspects of the problem at hand.

Mechanical systems are at the core of the manufacturing, process and service industries including:

• Advanced engines, traction and braking systems for vehicles
• Aircraft, satellites and deep space probes
• Biomedical technologies such as imagers, ventilators and prosthetics
• Air and water pollution control equipment
• Transportation and mass transit systems
• Industrial plant for the processing of raw materials and for power generation

Building on a broad foundation of engineering studies in Year 1, you will develop specific expertise and skills in mechanisms and vibrations, structures, mechanical materials, fluid dynamics and thermodynamics.

Successful engineers must be able to analyse and solve complex problems in the industrial context, communicate ideas to others and work effectively in teams and exercise leadership skills. This is why all our Engineering degrees include a selection of management content or specialised modules throughout. Topics covered include business finance, project planning and management, intellectual property, health and safety, motivation theory, marketing, total quality management, ethics and professionalism.

What's the difference?

Each of our Engineering subjects is available in six forms:

• BEng (3 years), BEng with Industry (4 years), BEng with Year Abroad (4 years)
• MEng (4 years), MEng with Industry (5 years), MEng with Year Abroad (5 years)

The MEng places greater emphasis on industrially-related project work, advanced technical content and leadership, and automatically meets the academic requirements for Chartered Engineer (CEng) status. The MEng shares its first three years with the corresponding BEng.

Careers and employability