Mechanical Engineering with Industrial Year BEng

Year 1

Our first year has been designed to provide a contemporary and flexible educational model that builds upon essential engineering fundamentals to develop your broader understanding of behaviour, policy, entrepreneurship, and global perspectives and kindles the passion necessary to address the societal challenge agenda. The first year is shared across the disciplines of Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering.

• Electrical Engineering 1 - 20 credits
  In this module, the fundamentals of electronic and electrical engineering are covered. It will begin with analogue circuits describing the fundamentals of circuit analysis and the design of analogue devices. The fundamentals of digital systems will then be covered using Boolean algebra and related techniques to analyse digital circuits up to an introduction to flip flops. Finally electrical power and machinery systems will be introduced.
  
• Engineering Materials - 10 credits
  The aim of the module is to introduce the range of materials and their key properties used in engineering in order to allow them to select the appropriate materials for a given application. The module also introduces fundamental science that determines the electrical or mechanical properties of materials, such as atomic / molecular structures. In addition students will also be introduced to software which will allow them to model the properties and behaviour of engineering materials and analyse the results of experiments.
• Engineering Mathematics 1 - 20 credits
  The module aims to enhance student knowledge and understanding of the mathematics used in engineering and to develop the skills of its use.
• Fluid Mechanics and Energy Transfer - 20 credits
  In this module, the fundamentals of fluid mechanics and energy conservation, and introduce associated engineering applications.
• Integrated Design Project 1A - 10 credits
  The aim of the module is to introduce students to the design process and the skills employed therein, within an engineering context.
• Integrated Design Project 1B - 10 credits
  The aim of the module is for students to continue the design process and the skills employed therein, within an engineering context.
• Introduction to Computing for Engineers - 10 credits
  The aim of this module is to introduce engineers to computers and computer programming using an important modern programming language which has applications from small embedded systems to supercomputers.
• Mechanics 1 - 20 credits
  In this module, the mathematics and scientific principles related to mechanics in the context and application in engineering. The module covers: general principles, the mechanical properties of material and the basic principles of analysis, all underpinned with essential mathematics. Where relevant, historical examples are embedded into the module in order to provide context for the taught material.

You will build on the knowledge gained in Year 1 and begin to specialise your study, covering core Mechanical Engineering subjects designed to develop your learning progressively.

You work on improving your mathematical, statistical and computing techniques; studying heat, power and fluid flows, learning about mechanisms and control, studying manufacturing technology and how production is managed, as well as taking on a group project with other students. You will consider the movement of mechanisms, the strength of individual parts, the efficiency and environmental impact of your designs, and the methods that can be employed to make products profitable.

You will carry out a major group design project to develop a new product, looking at all parts of the product development including the legal and business aspects.

• Integrated Design Project 2 (20 credits)
• Engineering Mathematics 2 (20 credits)
• Mechanics 2 (20 credits)
• Mechanical Design A (20 credits)
• Thermodynamics and Fluids (20 credits)
• Mechatronics and Control Engineering (20 credits)

The aim of this activity is not simply to provide paid work but to ensure that its nature and quality are commensurate with your professional development. A key element is to ensure that students and companies are well matched, maximising both parties’ experience.

Typically you will have to pass the interview process run by the company with which you are seeking a placement. The industrial placement gives you experience of working in the mechanical engineering field which will enhance your CV and allow you to acquire further knowledge and employability skills. Our industrial liaison tutor and dedicated internships officer will be able to advise you about the application procedures and a series of industrial lectures, given by a range of employers throughout the year will provide networking opportunities.

As well as benefitting from a period of approved and paid employment with all the usual entitlements of the job such as paid leave, networking, etc, your degree programme will change to have the additional words ‘with industrial year’ added to the title, in recognition of your efforts. This type of placement qualifies you towards one year of your graduate training period towards Chartership.

Taking a placement can speed up the process of achieving chartered status. During the industrial year, you will retain your undergraduate status with us, even though you are in employment, and will continue to benefit from being a member of this University at a reduced student fee level.

It should be noted that it is your responsibility to find a placement. If you cannot find a placement or are unsuccessful during the recruitment process then you will revert to the BEng Mechanical Engineering programme.

There is a reduced tuition fee for the academic year spent in industry or whilst studying abroad (where available). Fee information and further clarification is available on the University fees and funding page.

You will develop your specialisation further, with an increased problem-solving-based focus. You continue with Mechanical Design where you undertake project work and have the opportunity to attend lectures from companies such as Rolls-Royce, Aston Martin and Jaguar Land Rover to gain an insight into industrial design projects.
You will undertake an individual design project in your third and final year.

• Integrated Design Project 3 (BEng) (20 credits)
• Powertrain and Vehicle Engineering (20 credits)
• Mechanical Design B (20 credits)
• Computational Fluid Dynamics and Finite Element Analysis (20 credits)
• Sustainable Energy and the Environment (10 credits)
• Individual Project (30 credits)

Please note: The modules listed on the website for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods. Unless indicated otherwise, the modules listed for this programme are for students starting in 2020. On rare occasions, we may need to make unexpected changes to core modules; in this event we will contact offer holders as soon as possible to inform or consult them as appropriate.