- UCAS course code
- H109
- UCAS institution code
- M20
Bachelor of Engineering / Master of Engineering (BEng/MEng)
BEng/MEng Mechanical Engineering with an Integrated Foundation Year
- Typical A-level offer: See full entry requirements
- Typical contextual A-level offer: See full entry requirements
- Refugee/care-experienced offer: See full entry requirements
- Typical International Baccalaureate offer: See full entry requirements
Overview
Course overview
On the Mechanical Engineering with an Integrated Foundation Year you are an undergraduate at The University of Manchester. The course is taught at The University, by academics from The University. Provided you achieve the specific progression criteria for your chosen degree, completion of the Integrated Foundation Year guarantees you a place on first year of your chosen degree.
A study experience that makes a difference
We place social responsibility at the heart of your learning which means you can take advantage of unique ways to make a difference while studying with us, through your course or through extra-curricular activities.
- Complete our Ethical Grand Challenges to learn how you can create a better world and become more socially responsible.
- Work with an external organisation to tackle real-world sustainability problems through our University Living Lab.
- Discover subjects that broaden your horizon with our interdisciplinary learning opportunities.
Every course at Manchester contributes towards the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, so no matter what you're studying you'll be playing an active role in the protection of people and planet.
You will explore the following goals in your course:
- Goal 7: Affordable and clean energy
- Goal 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
- Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities
- Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production
- Goal 13: Climate action
Contact details
- School/Faculty
- School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering
- Telephone
- +44 (0)161 275 8200
- ug-mace@manchester.ac.uk
- Website
- www.mace.manchester.ac.uk
- School/Faculty overview
-
See: About Us .
Related courses
- Aerospace Engineering with an Integrated Foundation Year BEng/MEng
- Civil Engineering with an Integrated Foundation Year BEng/MEng
- Electrical, Electronic & Mechatronic Engineering with an Integrated Foundation Year BEng/MEng
- Chemical Engineering with an Integrated Foundation Year BEng/MEng
- Computer Science with an Integrated Foundation Year BSc
Courses in related subject areas
Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.
Compare this course
Entry requirements
A-level
Students are accepted from a wide range of educational backgrounds and all applications are considered on their individual merits. Decisions are based on the application as a whole - including the qualifications, the personal statement, and the referee's comments. The following must therefore be viewed only as general guide.
Our entry requirements vary depending on the subjects being taken at A level. Typically, we would be looking for:
- Grades BBB where a student has 3 relevant subjects
- Grades ABB where a student has 2 relevant subjects
- Grades AAB where a student has 1 relevant subject
The subjects considered to be relevant are Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Design & Technology, Engineering. If you are unsure whether you would be considered with your qualifications/predictions, we would encourage you to contact us before making an application.
In all cases we only offer places to applicants if we are convinced that they have the academic potential and the high level of motivation that is needed to be successful on the Integrated Foundation Year and on their chosen degree programme. To help us make our decision, applicants may be asked to attend an Academic Assessment.
Duration of A-level study
a) sat your examinations early;
or
b) followed an accelerated curriculum and spent three years studying A-levels where the examinations were taken over two years.
If you are studying an advanced curriculum where the examinations are spread over three years, consideration for an offer will be at the discretion of the admissions tutor for that subject.
AS-level
AS-level qualifications are acceptable only in combination with other qualifications.
Unit grade information
GCSE
We require at least Grade C/4 in GCSE/iGCSE English Language. GCSE/iGCSE English Literature will not be accepted in lieu of GCSE/iGCSE English Language.
International Baccalaureate
33 points overall with 6,5,5 in Higher Level subjects, including Mathematics (either ‘Analysis and Approaches’ or ‘Applications and Interpretation’ are acceptable) or Physics.
If Mathematics is not studied at Higher Level, then we would require Standard Level Mathematics (either ‘Analysis and Approaches’ or ‘Applications and Interpretation’ are acceptable) with Grade 6 or higher.
Applicants studying the International Baccalaureate Career Related Programme (IBCP) should contact the academic School prior to applying so that their academic profile can be considered.
Other international entry requirements
Detailed requirements relating to this course can be found here: Country-specific information - Integrated Foundation Year .
Scottish requirements
Entry and the type of offer made will be dependent on the level and amount of Mathematics and Science taken.
Decisions are based on the application, including your qualifications, your personal statement and your academic reference.
In all cases we only offer places to applicants if we are convinced that they have the academic potential and the high level of motivation that is needed to be successful on the integrated Foundation Year and on their chosen degree programme to be undertaken after successfully completing the foundation year.
Please contact the academic Department for further information on your suitability to study on our Integrated Foundation Year.
Welsh Baccalaureate
The minimum grade required will normally be the same as the lowest grade listed in the A Level entry requirements.
European Baccalaureate
Entry and the type of offer made will be dependent on the level and amount of Mathematics and Science taken.
Decisions are based on the application, including your qualifications, your personal statement and your academic reference.
In all cases we only offer places to applicants if we are convinced that they have the academic potential and the high level of motivation that is needed to be successful on the integrated Foundation Year and on their chosen degree programme to be undertaken after successfully completing the foundation year.
Please contact the academic Department for further information on your suitability to study on our Integrated Foundation Year.
AQA Baccalaureate
In making offers, the University will focus on the three A Levels taken within the AQA Baccalaureate. Please refer to our A-level requirements.
The units of broader study, enrichment activities and the Extended Project are considered to be valuable elements of the AQA Baccalaureate and we would therefore strongly encourage students to draw upon these experiences within their personal statement.
Pearson BTEC qualifications
Entry and the type of offer made will be dependent on the level and amount of Mathematics and Science taken.
Decisions are based on the application, including your qualifications, your personal statement, and your academic reference.
In all cases we only offer places to applicants if we are convinced that they have the academic potential and the high level of motivation that is needed to be successful on the integrated Foundation Year and on their chosen degree programme to be undertaken after successfully completing the foundation year.
Please contact the academic Department for further information on your suitability to study on our Integrated Foundation Year.
OCR Cambridge Technical qualifications
Entry and the type of offer made will be dependent on the level and amount of Mathematics and Science taken.
Decisions are based on the application, including your qualifications, your personal statement and your academic reference.
In all cases we only offer places to applicants if we are convinced that they have the academic potential and the high level of motivation that is needed to be successful on the integrated Foundation Year and on their chosen degree programme to be undertaken after successfully completing the foundation year.
Please contact the academic Department for further information on your suitability to study on our Integrated Foundation Year.
Access to HE Diploma
We require a QAA-recognised Access to HE Diploma (a minimum of 60 credits overall with at least 45 at Level 3). We typically require specific subjects relevant to the course, and these will be included in an offer, at specific grades.
Cambridge Pre-U
Entry and the type of offer made will be dependent on the level and amount of Mathematics and Science taken.
Decisions are based on the application, including your qualifications, your personal statement and your academic reference.
In all cases we only offer places to applicants if we are convinced that they have the academic potential and the high level of motivation that is needed to be successful on the integrated Foundation Year and on their chosen degree programme to be undertaken after successfully completing the foundation year.
Please contact the academic Department for further information on your suitability to study on our Integrated Foundation Year.
T Level
Engineering, Manufacturing, Processing and Control
Maintenance, Installation and Repair for Engineering and Manufacturing
Design and Development for Engineering and Manufacturing
These T Levels will be considered on a case by case basis depending on the units taken, applicants presenting with these T Levels will be required to complete an academic assessment prior to receiving an offer. We strongly encourage students to contact the department before submitting an application via UCAS. Students will be expected to achieve a Distinction overall with a minimum of grade A in the core component and Distinction in the occupational specialism. GCSE Minimum grade C/4 in English and B/6 in Mathematics if not studied at A level and B/6 in one from Physics, Chemistry or Combined Science if not studied at A level.
Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)
Core Maths
Core Mathematics is not a compulsory element of post-16 study and as a result we will not normally include it in the conditions of any offer made to the student. However, if a student chooses to undertake a core mathematics qualification this may be taken into account when we consider their application, particularly for certain non-science courses with a distinct mathematical or statistical element.
We advise students to contact the academic Department, who will clarify whether their specific portfolio of qualifications is acceptable for entry on to their chosen course.
Home-schooled applicants
If you are a student who has followed a non-standard educational route, e.g. you have been educated at home; your application will be considered against the standard entry criteria of the course for which you are applying. You will be required to demonstrate that you meet the specified academic entry requirements of the course.
We will also require a reference from somebody who knows you well enough, in an official capacity, to write about you and your suitability for higher education. Please refer to UCAS for further information: UCAS reference guidelines .
If you are a home schooled student and would like further information or advice please contact the academic Department for your chosen course who will be able to help you.
Non-standard educational routes
If you require further clarification about the acceptability of the qualifications you hold please contact the Department Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering directly. Further information for mature students can be found here .
English language
Home students are required to achieve a GCSE in English Language at grade C/4, or an acceptable equivalent qualification .
Overseas students are required to evidence an IELTS for UKVI with an overall score of 6.0, with no less than 5.5 in each component.
The UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) requires that every student from outside the UK must show evidence of a minimum level of English Language in order to be granted a UK visa (Student Route visa) to study at undergraduate or postgraduate level. This level is often referred to as the 'B2 level'.
English language test validity
Fees and funding
Fees
Tuition fees for home students commencing their studies in September 2025 will be £9,535 per annum (subject to Parliamentary approval). Tuition fees for international students will be £25,000 per annum. For general information please see the undergraduate finance pages.
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
The Foundation Year Bursary is available to UK students who are registered on an undergraduate foundation year here and who has had a full financial assessment carried out by Student Finance.
Details of country-specific funding available to international students can be found within our International country profiles .
The University of Manchester is committed to attracting and supporting the very best students. We have a focus on nurturing talent and ability, therefore, we want to make sure that you have the opportunity to study here, regardless of your financial circumstances.
For information about scholarships please visit our undergraduate student finance pages and the Department funding pages that you intend to progress to after successfully completing the Foundation Year.
Application and selection
How to apply
Advice to applicants
- past academic performance;
- predicted academic performance;
- enthusiasm for, and realistic grasp of, chosen degree programme;
- evidence of interpersonal skills and non-academic interests/achievements.
Further guidance on how to apply can be found on our How to Apply webpage .
Where you have mitigating circumstances these should be reported to your education provider and relevant exam board, we cannot make further allowances.
How your application is considered
All applicants should be aware that information provided in the personal statement may be used as the basis for further discussion during your interview with an academic member of staff.
Further information and advice on writing your personal statement and the UCAS application process can be found on the UCAS website .
Interview requirements
Applicants studying BTEC Extended Diplomas, Access to HE Diplomas, or applicants who have not studied mathematics or sciences at A-level (or equivalent) may be asked to complete an academic assessment as part of the application process. The assessment takes the form of an online, invigilated, multiple-choice test.
We do not suggest that applicants prepare specially for the assessment, and it's important to note that it is not an entrance exam. The assessment is designed to test an applicant's aptitude and give us a picture of their current level of understanding and knowledge in key areas of mathematics and physics.
If you are invited to complete an academic assessment, we will send you all the instructions you will need via email.
Deferrals
Deferred entry is granted on the discretion of admissions staff, and is normally granted for one year only and two years at the maximum in exceptional circumstances. Some English Language test results, such as IELTS or TOEFL, are only valid for two years from the test date. Your English Language test report must be valid on the start date of the course.
Policy for applicants who resit their qualifications
Policy for applicants who take their examinations in more than one sitting
Re-applications
Course details
Course description
Mechanical Engineering with an Integrated Foundation Year is a one year programme designed to improve your mathematical and scientific understanding and skills to a level where you will be able to start a degree in one of the following subject areas:
- Mechanical Engineering, BEng
- Mechanical Engineering, MEng
- Mechanical Engineering with Industrial Experience, MEng
- Mechanical Engineering with Management, BEng
- Mechanical Engineering with Management, MEng
On the Foundation Year you will study mathematicsandphysics. In addition, you will take modules in Academic Skills and ICT (Information and Communications Technology). You will also complete a group project, related to your intended degree programme and supervised by an academic from your future Department.
Special features
Teaching and learning
The programme embraces a variety of approaches to teaching and learning, including lectures, small group tutorials, seminars and project work. Particular strengths are the high level of staff contact and individual learning support, individual pastoral support, project work in engineering-based Departments and associated disciplines within the Faculty.
Your focus is the Foundation Studies Office, where staff provide day to day support. The dedicated Common Room offers you a place to study, prepare coursework, carry out work using the computers, or simply socialise. There is a strong sense of community within the student body and excellent tutorial support.
Mechanical Engineering with an Integrated Foundation Year is delivered on the University campus by University staff. With strong links with the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, the environment for study is essentially the same as for undergraduate study on degree programmes in engineering and associated disciplines. You will find that this assists greatly in easing your move into first year of your chosen degree programme on successful completion of the foundation year.
Coursework and assessment
Course unit details
Students take a total of 12 units (120 credits) from the list below. Students will take either Mathematics 0B1 and 0B2 or Mathematics 0C1 and 0C2, according to the outcome of a diagnostic assessment at the start of the course.
Course units for foundation year
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
---|---|---|---|
Information and Communications Technology | FOUN10011 | 10 | Mandatory |
Foundation Year Project- Chemical Engineering | FOUN10022 | 10 | Mandatory |
Academic Skills | FOUN10031 | 10 | Mandatory |
Matter and Energy Phys 1 | FOUN10061 | 10 | Mandatory |
Waves and Particles Phys 3 | FOUN10072 | 10 | Mandatory |
World of the Electron Phys 2 | FOUN10111 | 10 | Mandatory |
Foundation Year Project-Chemistry | FOUN11022 | 10 | Mandatory |
Foundation Year Project-MACE | FOUN12022 | 10 | Mandatory |
Foundation Year Project-Materials | FOUN13022 | 10 | Mandatory |
Foundation Year Project- Maths | FOUN14022 | 10 | Mandatory |
Displaying 10 of 26 course units for foundation year | |||
Display all course units for foundation year |
Disability support
Careers
Career opportunities
The University of Manchester is the most targeted university in the UK for top graduate employers. Graduate with a degree from us and you'll be in high demand, according to The Graduate Market in 2023 .
Our popular integrated foundation route has produced outstanding graduates across all of our science and engineering courses. Employers will recognise your determination to succeed, adaptability, analytical skills and independent thought. Mechanical Engineering with an Integrated Foundation Year gives you the preparation you need to proceed to degree level programmes in the subject area of Mechanical Engineering in the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering.
Careers Service
We are committed to helping you get the best start after graduation, that's why The University of Manchester's award-winning Careers Service will continue to support you two years after graduation.