Engineering

This course is for students currently holding a UK Level 5 Higher National Diploma (HND) or an overseas equivalent qualification in the general area of mechanical engineering, and who wish to further their educational development to degree level and possibly beyond. The course deepens your knowledge of subject areas previously studied as part of an HND, foundation degree or equivalent to help improve your career prospects. And graduates will be adequately prepared for further postgraduate study to master’s level.

The range of typical mechanical engineering graduate salaries is £20,000 - £28,000pa, increasing to £40,000 - £55,000 or higher after 10-15 years in the role (www.prospects.ac.uk, 2011). Salaries vary from company to company and some sectors attract higher salaries, according to demand.

You gain a rounded knowledge and understanding of mechanical engineering, and the skills to analyse complex mechanical engineering problems. The course embraces a broad spectrum of engineering topics and in addition includes transferable and team-working skill-sets that employers view as important.

Here is what an employer had to say recently:
'[Teesside University] has been chosen as an establishment with an excellent reputation in the engineering discipline and delivers high-quality talent in the engineering field year on year. We would welcome any applications from previous students who you believe have strong leadership and technical skills ….. The graduate role starts at a salary of £25,856 ….'

James Guyett
Executive & Communications Administrator
Cummins UK, Darlington Engine Plant

How you learn

The programme comprises a total of 120 credits accumulated from class room based modules, laboratory based modules, a Group Design Project and an Individual Engineering Project.

The course has been designed to provide a number of contact teaching and assessment hours (lectures, tutorials, laboratories, projects, examinations etc), but you are also expected to spend time on your own, called 'self-study' time, to review lecture notes, prepare course work assignments, work on projects and revise for assessments. For example, each 20 credit module typically has around 200 hours of “learning time”. In most cases, around 60 hours will be spent in lectures, tutorials and laboratories.

The remaining learning time is for you to use to gain a deeper understanding of the subject. Each year of full-time study consists of modules totalling 120 credits, hence, during one year of full-time study you can expect to have 1200 hours of learning and assessment.

How you are assessed

Modules are assessed by a variety of methods including examination and in-course assessment with some utilising other approaches such as group-work or verbal/poster presentations.

Professional accreditation

The programme has been designed to the meet the requirements of the Engineering Council for accreditation to IEng level. An application for accreditation will follow in due course.
Students successfully completing this BEng Tech course with at least 2.2 honours will be eligible to apply for a place on a related engineering postgraduate Masters programme at Teesside University.

Career opportunities

Graduates in mechanical engineering typically secure employment in engineering industries including structural engineering, automotive engineering and design, aerospace industry, manufacturing, processing and chemical industries, oil & gas, research and development, as well as management positions. But engineering graduates with developed analytical skills are also sought after by the financial institutions in the City of London.

Students successfully completing this course with at least 2.2 honours will be able to apply for further study on one of several postgraduate MSc programmes in areas which include mechanical engineering, manufacturing, engineering management and project management.

Entry requirements

Acceptable qualifications for entry include a Level 5 HND or Foundation Degree or equivalent overseas Diploma in a closely related subject. For example, if you have studied an Edexcel HND a minimum of 120 credits must be at level 5 or equivalent with at least 5 merits at level 5.

All UK students will be expected to have achieved at least a grade C in English at GCSE level, or other equivalent qualification. International students will be required to have achieved at least IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in each component (or equivalent).

More information

• Engineering
  More information and courses in Engineering