Undergraduate study
     

Engineering

MEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering

  • Length: 4 years full-time study or 5 years with work placement
  • Typical offer: 280-300 tariff points
  • Also available part-time
 

It may surprise you to know just how diverse mechanical engineering can be. It plays a central role in areas such as automotive design, robotics, manufacturing and mechatronics, but mechanical engineers have long been engaged in aerospace industries, medicine and marine engineering.

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.

Teesside University has exceptional links with local engineering companies, allowing you to enhance your experience and employability through placements and professional mentoring schemes.

Years 1, 2 and 3 of the MEng incorporate many of the modules on the BEng, but you study a wider range of modules, covering technical subject areas as well as developing management and leadership skills. There are significant practical elements, including group and individual projects.

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

What you study

Year 1 provides you with a broad foundation in the core subjects of mechanical engineering. This is developed and strengthened in Year 2. Year 3 is an optional placement year where you may choose to spend a year working in industry, gaining relevant experience which can both enhance your education and improve employment prospects. Years 4 and 5 consolidate the key concepts of the first two years of academic study and promote a deepening of understanding through advanced study and project work. In addition, they also provide for a broadening of knowledge through the provision of options. Two key themes run each year: professional skills and career development; and a group design project to foster problem-based learning and to encourage both team working and interpersonal skills. The group design projects provide an opportunity for you to become involved in the Teesside Formula Student initiative.

How you learn

You are expected to attend a range of lectures, tutorials and hands-on laboratory and practical sessions. You are also involved in group project work and, during Years 3 and 4, you undertake a substantial research-based individual project.

The course has been designed to provide a number of contact teaching and assessment hours (lectures, tutorials, laboratory work, projects, examinations etc) and you are expected to supplement this with ‘self study’, for example to review lecture notes and slides, read around the material using recommended texts, prepare coursework and assignments, work on projects and revise for assessments.

Each year of full-time study consists of modules totalling 120 credits. Each unit of credit corresponds to ten hours of learning and assessment (contact hours plus self-study hours). This means that during one year of full-time study you can expect to have 1,200 hours of learning and assessment.

How you are assessed

Forms of assessment include project work, coursework assignments, presentations, report writing and examinations.

Professional placements

If you decide to spend your third year on an industrial placement you will have the opportunity to gain relevant professional experience to enhance your technical knowledge which can improve employment prospects. In some cases graduates have gained employment with their placement company. Current sponsors include ABB, BNFL, Dupont and TATA.

Professional accreditation

This programme was first launched in 2010 and in accordance with the rules of the professional body an application will be made to the Institution of Mechanical Engineers for Chartered Engineer (CEng) level accreditation to cover students entering the programme from 2010 onwards.

Career opportunities

Graduates in mechanical engineering typically secure employment in structural engineering, research and development, automotive engineering and design, aerospace industry, manufacturing, processing and chemical industries, 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.

Entry requirements

To enter Year 1, you're expected to have GCSE English (grade C or above) and good grades in maths and physics or a related subject at Level 3 (for example A level, BTEC ND, ACCESS, IB). We consider advanced entry directly into Year 2 if you have good grades in a Level 4 or 5 qualification (for example HNC, HND) in a related subject.

You're normally invited for an interview, when you can also see our excellent facilities and meet staff and students. You then receive an individual offer. If you can't come for an interview, a typical offer might be 300 tariff points including at least grade C or merit in Level 3 maths and a physics-related subject.

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Modules

Mechanical Engineering

Year 1 core modules

Year 2 core modules

Year 3 core modules

  • Optional Placement Year

Year 4 core modules

and one optional module

Final-year core modules

and two optional modules

Non-credit bearing optional modules

  • A foreign language: German, French, Spanish, Chinese (Mandarin)
  • In-sessional Academic English (for international students)
  • Professional Mentoring

You may select one or more of these modules.

Modules offered may vary.