BEng Mechanical Engineering / Course details

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. 

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

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.