BEng Mechanical Engineering / Course details

Year of entry: 2024

Course description

The BEng Mechanical Engineering will give you an excellent grounding in the knowledge and experience of the most fundamental of all engineering disciplines, preparing you for a variety of careers in engineering, technology, business and management. 

We use a variety of teaching styles that reflect the diversity of topics covered in modern mechanical engineering, and you will develop the range of skills and expertise that a professional engineer must possess.

In addition to core (compulsory) units,  the final year provides you with the opportunity of choosing specialist units.  Moreover, the final year also features an individual project - you will undertake a major investigative project by yourself, which will require scientific experiments and investigations. 

Aims

This course aims to provide you with an education that covers the breadth of this diverse subject, imparting the necessary knowledge, understanding and skills so that they can operate effectively in your initial appointment and develop your career:

  • Develop strong intellectual and practical skills to critically analyse, investigate and solve mechanical engineering problems
  • Develop a high degree of competence in the use and adaptation of existing methods, tools and techniques and the application of engineering principles
  • Instil creativity in addressing problems relating to engineering components and systems
  • Develop a high degree of competence in engineering design, experimentation, technologies of manufacturing and effective management of companies
  • Develop skills in the use of computers, software packages, team working, communication, time management and independent learning

Special features

A range of study options  

You can extend your degree and transfer to an integrated master's (MEng) course, or the MEng with industrial experience 

Foundation Year available

You can prepare for the full degree course if you do not have the appropriate qualifications for direct entry by undertaking our  foundation course  first. 

Teaching and learning

At Manchester you will be taught by academic staff who are leading experts in mechanical engineering, in a diverse and inclusive learning environment.

We use a combination of lectures, tutorial classes, practical laboratory sessions and computer-based sessions.

There is a design project each year, which involves teamwork in small groups, and allows you to apply and develop your problem-solving and project management skills. 

In the third year you will undertake an individual project, allowing you to pursue a particular subject or application area in greater depth.

Coursework and assessment

Most course units are assessed through an examination (at the end of the semester) and coursework which is undertaken throughout the year.  Parts of the coursework are, in many instances, associated with practical laboratory sessions, whilst others may be based on problem sheets, reports etc. A few subjects, for example Design, are assessed purely on coursework. For detailed information about how different subjects are assessed, please see the course unit specifications below.

Course unit details

Key engineering knowledge and skills are taught in the core syllabus throughout all years of the course.

We view design as an especially important activity, as it integrates the engineering topics across the degree course.  Years 1 and 2 also include compulsory workshop practice sessions.

Year 3 also offers a range of options, so that you can select subjects to suit your individual needs, interests and career aspirations. Optional units cover many theoretical and practical aspects of industrially relevant topics and include some of the latest developments in mechanical engineering.

An individual research project is carried out in Year 3.

Course content for year 1

Course units for year 1

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
Fluid Mechanics for Aerospace and Mechanical Engineers AERO10421 10 Mandatory
Tools for Engineers (Mechanical) AERO12301 10 Mandatory
Structures 1 (Mech) CIVL10031 10 Mandatory
Electrical Engineering Fundamentals EEEN10492 10 Mandatory
Mathematics 1M2 MATH19662 10 Mandatory
Workshop Practice (Mechanical) MECH10030 0 Mandatory
Design 1 (Mechanical) MECH10331 10 Mandatory
Manufacturing Engineering 1 (Mechanical) MECH11012 10 Mandatory
Mechanical Engineering Systems MECH11311 10 Mandatory
Mechanics (Mechanical) MECH11602 10 Mandatory
Materials 1 (Mechanical) MECH12002 10 Mandatory
Aerospace and Mechanical Thermodynamics MECH12012 10 Mandatory
Peer Assisted Study Scheme (Mechanical Engineering) MECH19020 0 Mandatory
Displaying 10 of 13 course units for year 1

Course content for year 2

Course units for year 2

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
Modelling & Simulation (Mech) AERO20092 10 Mandatory
Fluid Mechanics 2 AERO20121 10 Mandatory
Project Management (Aero/Mech) ENGM22491 10 Mandatory
Mathematics 2M1 MATH29661 10 Mandatory
Workshop Practice (Mechanical) MECH20030 0 Mandatory
Numerical Methods & Computing (Mechanical MECH20042 10 Mandatory
Manufacturing Engineering 2 MECH20051 10 Mandatory
Design 2 (Mechanical) MECH20071 10 Mandatory
Applied Thermodynamics (Mechanical) MECH20422 10 Mandatory
Dynamics MECH20442 10 Mandatory
Structures 2 (Mechanical) MECH21021 10 Mandatory
Data Acquisition & Experimental Methods (Mech) MECH21342 10 Mandatory
Materials 2 MECH22202 10 Mandatory
Displaying 10 of 13 course units for year 2

Course content for year 3

Course units for year 3

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
Control Engineering (Mechanical) AERO30021 10 Mandatory
Vibrations & Aeroelasticity (Mechanical) AERO30441 10 Mandatory
Operations Management ENGM30461 10 Mandatory
Manufacturing Engineering 3 MECH30121 10 Mandatory
Heat Transfer MECH30432 10 Mandatory
Individual Project (Mechanical) MECH31030 30 Mandatory
Design 3 (Mechanical) MECH31041 10 Mandatory
Structures 3 (Mechanical) MECH32002 10 Mandatory
Modelling & Simulation 3 AERO30052 10 Optional
Nuclear Systems MECH30632 10 Optional
Fluid Mechanics MECH31422 10 Optional
Renewable Energy Systems MECH31532 10 Optional
Engineering Thermodynamics MECH32102 10 Optional
Displaying 10 of 13 course units for year 3

Scholarships and bursaries

The University of Manchester is committed to attracting and supporting the very best students. We have a focus on nurturing talent and ability and we want to make sure that you have the opportunity to study here, regardless of your financial circumstances.

For information about scholarships and bursaries please see our  undergraduate fees pages  and check the  Department's funding pages

What our students say

Edward Rawcliffe, first-year student

My time at Manchester began in September with the first week of induction lectures. These were designed to provide a flavour of the course and to give everybody a chance to meet the other students studying for the same degree.

The first semester is a transition period from the teaching styles at A-level to the teaching or lecturing styles at University. The first few weeks are daunting, but as students become more familiar with the structure the material begins to click into place.

Welcome week is when all the societies advertise their credentials. There are many different and exciting societies to join. I joined the Saint Vincent de Paul Society, because I wanted to take an active part in charity work, and the badminton society. I also play football for my hall team.

In the first semester I was asked to attend an interview for a Shell Technical Scholarship, based on my A-level results and personal statement. The interview lasted about 15 minutes and included both scientific and personal questions. Shortly afterwards, I was awarded the Scholarship.

The Scholarship provides students with financial support through their studies and, later, chances to work within the company on internships and possibly after as a full-time employee. Scholars were invited down to Shell Centre, London, for a celebratory dinner to receive certificates and talk to Shell employees about the company.

The Scholarship is definitely worth putting the time and effort into and provides high rewards for those lucky enough to receive it.

Facilities

The University of Manchester also offers extensive  library and online services  to help you get the most out of your studies.

You will have access to excellent facilities throughout the course, including:

  • Extensive workshop facilities (for workshop practice and manufacture of parts for individual and group projects)
  • Excellent laboratory facilities, including wind tunnels, laser processing laboratories, robotics 
  • Extensive computer cluster equipped with state-of-the-art technical, engineering and design software.

Manchester's Engineering Campus Development, MECD.

Get ready to collaborate, create and innovate in a brand-new £400m purpose-built building which will allow you, our future engineers and material scientists, to come together and make your mark on the world. The Manchester Engineering Campus Development (MECD) will officially open from September 2022 and will include hundreds of flexible teaching and learning spaces with unrivalled world-class research facilities - whatever your inspiration, with MECD the possibilities are endless.

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