MSc Mechanical Engineering Design

Year of entry: 2024

Overview

Degree awarded
MSc
Duration
12 months full time
Entry requirements

The standard academic entry requirement for this Master's course is an Upper Second Class UK Honours degree or international equivalent in a relevant science or engineering discipline.  Please note that we consider grades achieved in key relevant modules in your undergraduate degree as well as the overall degree result.    

Full entry requirements

How to apply

Apply online

As there is high demand for this course we operate a  staged admissions process  with selection deadlines throughout the year. Please find more information in our  Application and Selection section .

Course options

Full-time Part-time Full-time distance learning Part-time distance learning
MSc Y N N N

Course overview

  • Pioneering innovation since 1824, Manchester was the first English university to offer an engineering degree
  • Extensive industrial links with companies such as Jaguar Land Rover and Siemens
  • Excellent resources, computation and experimental laboratory facilities, including laser laboratories and wind tunnels
  • Our course is accredited by IMechE , the Institution of Mechanical Engineers

Open days

Please take a look at the information and recordings from our most recent Virtual Open Week  to find out more about The University and our courses.

We would also encourage you to have a look at our department's virtual tour or to get in touch with us if you have questions about our MSc courses.

Fees

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2024, the tuition fees are as follows:

  • MSc (full-time)
    UK students (per annum): £15,500
    International, including EU, students (per annum): £35,000

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

Policy on additional costs

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

Scholarships/sponsorships

Across our institution, we offer a number of postgraduate taught scholarships and awards to outstanding UK and international students each year.

The University of Manchester is committed to widening participation in master's study, and allocates £300,000 in funding each year. Our Manchester Masters Bursaries are aimed at widening access to master's courses by removing barriers to postgraduate education for students from underrepresented groups.

For more information, see the Fees and funding page or visit the University of Manchester funding for masters courses website for more information.

Contact details

Department
Department of Mechanical, Aerospace & Civil Engineering
Contact name
Postgraduate Admissions Team
Telephone
+44 (0)161 543 4016
Email
Website
https://www.mace.manchester.ac.uk/
School/Faculty

The School of Engineering creates a world of possibilities for students pursuing skills and understanding. Through dynamic research and teaching we develop engineering solutions that make a difference to society in an ethical and sustainable way.  Science-based engineering is at the heart of what we do, and through collaboration we support the engineers and scientists of tomorrow to become technically strong, analytically innovative and creative. Find out more about Science and Engineering at Manchester .

Courses in related subject areas

Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.

Entry requirements

Academic entry qualification overview

The standard academic entry requirement for this Master's course is an Upper Second Class UK Honours degree or international equivalent in a relevant science or engineering discipline.  Please note that we consider grades achieved in key relevant modules in your undergraduate degree as well as the overall degree result.    

English language

All applicants to the University (from the UK and Overseas) are required to show evidence of English Language proficiency. The minimum English Language requirement for this course is:

• IELTS: overall score of 7.0 with no sub-test below 6.5.

• TOEFL iBT: at least 100 overall with no sub-test less than 22. We do not accept 'MyBestScore'. We do not accept TOEFL iBT Home Edition.

• Pearson PTE: at least 76 overall with no sub-test below 70.

• Pre-sessional English run by the University Centre for Academic English

• An acceptable equivalent English Language qualification.

English language test validity

Some English Language test results are only valid for two years. Your English Language test report must be valid on the start date of the course.

Application and selection

How to apply

Apply online

As there is high demand for this course we operate a  staged admissions process  with selection deadlines throughout the year. Please find more information in our  Application and Selection section .

Staged admissions

Applications to this course are considered through a staged admissions process with selection deadlines throughout the year. Due to the competition for places, we give preference to applicants with grades above our minimum entry requirements. If we make you an offer, you will have 6 weeks in which to accept. Offers that are not accepted within the 6 week period will be withdrawn so that an offer can be made to another candidate in the next application stage.

Stage 1: Application deadline 15 December 2023. Decision by 16 February 2024.

Stage 2: Application deadline 1 March 2024. Decision by 26 April 2024.

Stage 3: Application deadline 3 May 2024. Decision by 21 June 2024.

We aim to give you a decision on your application in the decision period for your application stage. However, in some instances it may be necessary to roll your application forward to the next stage due to the competition for places and the volume of applications received. 

All places are subject to availability and some courses may close before the later stages. We therefore recommend that you apply early. Applications received after the final deadline may be considered at our discretion if places are still available.

Applicants who are made a conditional offer of a place must meet all the conditions of their offer by 31 July 2024.

Advice to applicants

We require the following documents before we can consider your application:
  • Transcript of your studies to date including credit weighting and grades achieved. If your academic documents are in languages other than English, please provide them in their original version and official translations. 2+2 and 3+1 applicants must provide official transcripts and certificates from both institutions.
  • An official document from your university verifying your current weighted average mark (not arithmetic average) if this information is not included in your transcript of study.  Please note : where grades are given as a percentage, the weighted average mark must also be recorded as a percentage, not as a GPA grade. 
  • If still studying, please provide an official list of all the modules you are taking in your final year.
  • Degree certificate if you have already graduated.
  • A CV if you graduated more than three years ago.
References and personal statements are not required for your application for this programme.

How your application is considered

We consider your full academic history including which course units you have taken and the marks obtained. Even if you have met our minimum entry requirements, we will take into account your marks in relevant course units in our final decision making.

If you graduated more than three years ago, we will also consider the information contained on your CV and any relevant work experience you have to assess if you are still able to fulfil the entry criteria.

Interview requirements

No interview is required for this course.

Overseas (non-UK) applicants

CAS Information

Self-funded international applicants for this course will be required to pay a deposit of £1,000 towards their tuition fees before a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) is issued. This deposit will only be refunded if immigration permission is refused. We will notify you about how and when to make this payment.

Please upload a copy of your current valid passport with your application showing the photograph page with your application. For CAS purposes, this must show your full name, date of birth, nationality, passport number and the date the passport is valid until, which must be later than the date of your planned arrival in the UK, and the start date of your course.

If you have previously studied in the UK on a Tier 4 visa as an undergraduate or postgraduate student, please send a copy of your previous CAS statement to us as it will assist with the issue of your new CAS statement. This includes study in the UK on study abroad programmes and any study that you did not complete.

You cannot use your CAS to apply for a visa more than three months before the start date of your course. The Admissions Team will contact you at the appropriate time.

Your CAS number is only valid for one Tier 4 application.

Deferrals

Applications for deferred entry are not accepted for this course. If you receive an offer and wish to be considered for the following year of entry, you will need to place a new application. Please be aware there is no guarantee of receiving another offer, and offer conditions are subject to change in line with entry requirements.

Re-applications

If you applied in the previous year and your application was not successful you may apply again. Your application will be considered against the standard course entry criteria for that year of entry. In your new application you should demonstrate how your application has improved. We may draw upon all information from your previous applications or any previous registrations at the University as a student when assessing your suitability for your chosen course.

Course details

Course description

The MSc in Mechanical Engineering Design equips students to both design complex systems and to evaluate their design's performance using technical engineering skills. Students will learn about the design process including specification development, concept design, detail design and prototype production.

This MSc is unique as it also teaches the technical evaluation skills based on theory, experimentation and computer modelling to determine the feasibility and performance of new products or to assess the performance of existing equipment. This is a technical engineering course based around solid mechanics principles  which integrates advanced engineering techniques with hands-on-learning to provide a complementary blend of skills desired by employers. The Department is a vibrant environment to study, we have 200 years of expertise in teaching engineering, high calibre facilities, strong links with industry and a vision to provide a modern world-class education. 

Manchester Engineering Campus Development (MECD), the University of Manchester's  new £400m purpose built home for engineering and material science , is nearing completion. The physical move to the new development is scheduled to take place between January 2022 and December 2022. Whilst it is anticipated that access to equipment, or work on projects for which such access is required may be limited during the period of the move, plans are underway to ensure that any disruption caused is minimised, a wide selection of dissertation projects will continue to be available, and excellent student experience remains pivotal. If you have any questions about how the move may affect you, please contact  pg-mace@manchester.ac.uk   

Teaching and learning

The Mechanical Engineering Design MSc  is a full time course which is studied over 12 months and there is one start date each year in September. You will develop advanced technical skills in Mechanical Engineering Design that will enable you to pursue a career in both general and specialised engineering industries or develop an in depth knowledge for a career in research in industry or academia.

Course unit details

If you are an international student applying for ATAS clearance, please use the ATAS application guidance and course unit lists sent directly to you. If you have not yet received this, please do email us to request it before making your ATAS application.

Course unit list

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
Experimental Methods (MSc Mechanical Engineering Design) AERO64021 15 Mandatory
Research Methods MECH60041 15 Mandatory
Finite Elements MECH60561 15 Mandatory
Mechanical Engineering Group Design MECH61060 30 Mandatory
Dissertation (Mechanical Engineering Design) MECH64000 60 Mandatory
Composites and Polymers MECH60102 15 Optional
Robotics, Metrology and Bioengineering MECH61032 15 Optional
Structural Integrity MECH63002 15 Optional
Examples of our current research .

Disability support

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service. Email: dass@manchester.ac.uk

Careers

Career opportunities

The Mechanical Engineering Design MSc has a strong focus on employability to support you to take control of your future and give yourself the best chance of securing your ideal job after graduation. For example there are regular industrial guest lectures and optional short courses delivered by companies such as National Instruments and Maxon Motors.

Each year Manchester careers fairs, workshops and presentations attract more than 600 exhibitors and 20,000 visitors illustrating how Top employers target Manchester graduates.

After graduating with a Mechanical Engineering Design MSc you will be in a strong position to seek employment with companies such as: BP, Rolls Royce, GE Aviation, Airbus, Siemens, Jaguar Land Rover, Bentley Motors, Nissan Motor Company, Bombardier Transportation, DePuy International, GE Healthcare, E-ON, EDF, Sellafield, Apple.

Destination of Leavers Survey

Every year our The University of Manchester conducts a destination of leavers survey with students six months after they have graduated. A selection of these destinations since 2010 are highlighted below:

  • GE Aviation (Design Engineer)
  • GE Healthcare (Edison Engineering Development Programme)
  • SEPLAT Petroleum Development Company (Drilling Engineer)
  • BMP Europe Ltd (Design Engineer)
  • The University of Manchester (PhD Researcher)
  • Formosa Prosonic (Design Engineer)
  • Hitachi Home & Life Solutions (India) Ltd (Executive - Quality Management)
  • Indra Limited (Mechanical Design Engineer)
  • NNPC-NETCO (Mechanical Engineer)
  • Shell Petroleum Development company (SPDC) (Oil and Gas Operator)
  • Triton Valves Ltd (Senior Engineer, Design and Development)

Accrediting organisations

The  Institution of Mechanical Engineers has accredited the Mechanical Engineering Design MSc course under license from the UK regulator, the Engineering Council. This allows satisfactory completion of the Mechanical Engineering Design MSc to contribute towards the academic requirements for registration with the Institution as a Chartered Engineer.