M.Eng Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineering plays a central role in a wide range of obvious industries such as aerospace, automotive, marine, renewable energy, oil and gas, and process industries to name just a few, but it may surprise you that mechanical engineering also finds applications in areas such as medicine and agriculture.
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.
How you learn
You are expected to attend a range of lectures, small-group tutorials and hands-on laboratory sessions. Part of your course also involves a substantial research-based project.
The course has been designed to provide a number of contact teaching and assessment hours (lectures, tutorials, laboratory work, projects, examinations etc), but you are also expected to spend time on your own, called ‘self-study’ time, to review lecture notes, prepare coursework assignments, work on projects and revise for assessments. Each year of full-time study consists of modules totalling 120 credits and each unit of credit corresponds to ten hours of learning and assessment (contact hours plus self-study hours). So, during one year of full-time study you can expect to have 1,200 hours of learning and assessment.
How you are assessed
Your course involves a range of types of assessment including coursework assignments 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 degree has been accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers under licence from the UK regulator, the Engineering Council. Accreditation is a mark of assurance that the degree meets the standards set by the Engineering Council in the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC).
This accredited degree will provide you with the BEng-level underpinning knowledge, understanding and skills for eventual registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng). Some employers recruit preferentially from accredited degrees, and an accredited degree is likely to be recognised by other countries that are signatories to international accords.
Career opportunities
Graduates are typically employed in technical positions in engineering, research and development, automotive, 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 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 280 tariff points including at least grade C or merit in Level 3 maths and physics-related subject.
