Newcastle University

Mechanical Engineering BEng Honours
UCAS Code: H300 (3 Years)

• Course Overview
• Modules
• Entry Requirements
• Careers
• Finance

Mechanical engineers are responsible for the design and manufacture of the majority of products around us, from cars and televisions to chairs and hypodermic needles. Mechanical engineering also provides us with the tools, machines and new materials used to produce these products.

The increasing demand for products that are smarter, faster, cheaper and more environmentally friendly has set new challenges for the mechanical engineering world.

We work closely with industry and our research centres to prepare you to meet these challenges through degrees that offer a high level of real-world engineering experience and that use the multidisciplinary expertise of the University to the full.

Our three-year Mechanical Engineering BEng Honours degree aims to equip you with knowledge and skills across a broad range of mechanical engineering topics, allowing you to keep your career options open.

• In Stages 1 and 2, all students study core mechanical engineering topics, to provide a firm foundation in the subject. You will learn about mechanical, electrical and materials engineering sciences; engineering design and manufacturing; engineering mathematics; and management and professional skills
• In Stage 3, you take modules from across our specialisms, keeping a broad knowledge base

In practice, many engineers develop into senior managers, so the broad base of this degree prepare you for this, where it is helpful to have an overview of the full spectrum of engineering activities.

Professional accreditation

This degree is accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). This provides industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

Quality and ranking

Newcastle is ranked in the top 10 UK universities for mechanical engineering in The Guardian University Guide 2014 and The Complete University Guide 2014.

Mechanical Engineering at Newcastle also ranks in the top 200 universities in the world in the QS World University Rankings by Subject.

Teaching and assessment

Our research feeds directly into our teaching, particularly our research in design, manufacture and materials. This means that you will have the chance to learn about developments that are at the cutting edge of your subject area. The research grants that this work attracts also help us to maintain state-of-the-art facilities which you will be able to use in your studies.

Engineering degrees are amongst the most demanding – both in terms of contact hours and content – but employers appreciate the range of skills and motivation that our graduates display.

Over the first two years you will have around 20 timetabled hours per week; typically half lectures, one quarter seminars and tutorials, and one quarter practical and hands-on classes. There are also industrial visits, interviews, business games, management, and a variety of projects. In Stages 3 and 4, your timetable will allow more time for your major project work. 

Assessment is by course work and examination. Teaching and assessment methods may vary from module to module; more information can be found in our individual module listings.

Flexible degree structure

All of our Mechanical Engineering students study the same broad programme for the first two years covering:

• mechanical, electrical and materials engineering sciences (50%)
• engineering design and manufacturing (20%)
• engineering mathematics (18%) management and professional skills, such as computing and enterprise (12%)

At the end of this shared period, you have the option to transfer between our degrees should you find your interests have changed, though transfer from a BEng degree to a MEng degree is subject to you achieving the appropriate academic standard.

In Stage 3 and Stage 4 (MEng only) you balance general engineering topics with specific advanced topics relevant to your particular degree as well as undertaking a number of design projects.

Industry links

We have strong links with local and national companies, resulting in guest lecturers from industry and interview training.

Our contacts with industry can also lead to opportunities for vacation work placements or an industrial placement year.

A high percentage of our teaching staff have worked in industry and/or still have contact with industry and can bring your teaching to life with real-world examples.

You will undertake a project in your final year and a significant number of these projects are based on our industrial links.

Throughout your degree you will also have regular industrial visits to factories such as Greggs, Nestlé, Flymo, and Tyne & Wear Metro.

Facilities

Our base in the Stephenson Building houses a wide range of state-of-the-art, specialist facilities to support your studies including:

• PC cluster with 124 3D workstations with large monitors: the workstations are specifically built for tasks such as computer-aided design, and finite element analysis and computational fluid dynamics
• 3D motion capture
• artificial joint testing
• nanomeasurement
• engine testing
• robotics
• micro-electromechanical systems
• railway systems
• composite materials fire test
• gear manufacture and testing
• X-ray diffraction

School of Mechanical and Systems Engineering

Study at Newcastle and you will join a vibrant community in the School of Mechanical and Systems Engineering.

Each year, a team of our students enters the Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ Formula Student competition. This annual event challenges university teams across the globe to develop a high performance single-seat racing car, which is then put to the test at the famous Silverstone Circuit.

Places in our Formula Student team, Newcastle Racing, are available each year on a competitive basis.

Find out more about the benefits of studying Mechanical Engineering at Newcastle on the School of Mechanical and Systems Engineering's website.