Mechanical Engineering with Foundation Year BEng Honours

Withdrawn course

This course has been withdrawn for 2024 entry. This means we're unable to accept applications for 2024.

 We are now offering Engineering with Foundation Year BEng Honours (H101).

Course overview

Our mechanical engineering degrees focus on developing your knowledge and practical skills across a broad range of engineering topics, so you graduate equipped to succeed in any engineering field.

This foundation year will help you build the base knowledge you need to progress to any of our mechanical engineering BEng degrees.

This is a full-time programme of study covering core mechanical engineering topics, including:

• foundation mathematics
• applied mechanics
• material science

Successful completion of the foundation year leads to guaranteed progression to year 1 of our three-year Mechanical Engineering BEng Honours degree (H300).

Download information about this course as a PDF

Your course and study experience - disclaimers and terms and conditions  
Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.

View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2023-24.

See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

Quality and ranking

Professional accreditation and recognition

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body.

Modules and learning

Modules

The information below is intended to provide an example of what you will study.

Most degrees are divided into stages. Each stage lasts for one academic year, and you'll complete modules totalling 120 credits by the end of each stage. 

Our teaching is informed by research. Course content may change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.

Optional module availability
Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.

Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.

To find out more please see our terms and conditions.

Our Engineering with Foundation Year programme provides a pathway to our degrees if you do not meet the entry requirements for entry into Stage 1.

On successful completion of our Mechanical Engineering with Foundation Year BEng programme, you can progress to Stage 1 of our three-year Mechanical Engineering BEng Honours degree.

During the Foundation Year, you take just over half your modules in mathematics, mechanical sciences and applied mechanics. The remainder of your modules covers a range of engineering and science topics and includes a project, as well as laboratory work related to the engineering degree you wish to study.

Modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
Basic Statistics	10
Foundation Year Project	10
Mechanical Science	20
Applied Mechanics O	10
Electrical and Electronic Engineering O	10
Materials Science 0	10
Foundation Mathematics	30

Additional compulsory module information

If you do not have 'A’ level or ‘AS’ level Chemistry (or equivalent) you take the following module, in consultation with the Foundation Year Programme Director:

 

Foundation of Chemistry (10 credits)

 

Optional Modules	Credits
Computer Applications	10
Foundation of Chemistry	10
Applications of Chemistry	10
Foundation Physics A2	10

Information about these graphs

We base these figures and graphs on the most up-to-date information available to us. They are based on the modules chosen by our students in 2022-23.

Teaching time is made up of:

• scheduled learning and teaching activities. These are timetabled activities with a member of staff present.
• structured guided learning. These are activities developed by staff to support engagement with module learning. Students or groups of students undertake these activities without direct staff participation or supervision

Teaching and assessment

Teaching methods

You'll learn from staff across various departments of our engineering and science schools.

You spend approximately 20 hours per week in taught classes. You also spend a further 20 hours attending tutorials and completing laboratory reports.

Assessment methods

You'll be assessed through a combination of:

• 

  Assessments

• 

  Examinations – practical or online

• 

  Reports

• 

  Seminar tasks/exercises

Skills and experience

Practical skills

You will have access to a wide range of facilities in the School of Engineering, including state-of-the-art CAD and CAE 3D design facilities, wind tunnels and manufacturing labs, among others.

You'll also work with local industry throughout your degree through various projects, and learn about real-world engineering through guest lectures.

Research skills

The teaching of your mechanical engineering degree is informed by the research of our expert staff based in our research institutes, which specialise in bioengineering, design, manufacture and material and fluid dynamic and thermal systems.

These research groups allow you to draw on the expertise of staff and their connections with industry as well as providing access to specialist facilities.

Facilities and environment

Facilities

As a mechanical engineering student you'll be based in the School of Engineering in the heart of our city-centre campus.

You'll have access to a wide range of industry-standard facilities and laboratories such as:

• labs for design-make-test projects: making and testing machines and structures
• strengths (testing) labs with machines up to 500kN and access to machines up to 8MN
• mechatronics/electronics labs for programming robots and automated devices
• bio-engineering lab for bio-materials manufacture and testing of components
• manufacturing lab with good selection of modern CNC machine tools
• composite materials lab with fire test facilities

We also provide high-quality, specialist facilities to support your studies: 

• state-of-the-art CAD and CAE 3D design facilities
• HE-Ion and other microscopes with resolutions down to 0.3nm
• wide range of rapid prototyping facilities for projects and research 
• engine test cells, wind-tunnel and water flow channels with laser flow management
• Formula Student car design, build and test facilities
• gear and drive system testing machines up to 8MW capacity
• our own 1750hp main-line diesel-electric locomotive

Support

You'll be supported by a personal tutor (an academic member of staff) throughout your degree. They can help you with academic and personal issues.

You'll also have access to a peer mentor (a fellow student) in your first year. They can help you settle in and answer any questions you have.

Your future

Graduates from our Mechanical Engineering BEng Honours course have gone on to work for a range of high-profile companies and organisations, such as:

• Jaguar Land Rover
• Rolls-Royce
• Network Rail
• Aston Martin
• Ministry of Defence
• DeepOcean Group
• National Grid
• McLaren Technology Group
• Komatsu

Prepare for diverse career paths

Your degree will prepare you for a role in a wide range of sectors, including:

• transport
• logistics
• health
• defence
• manufacturing
• automobile
• renewable energy

The excellent analytical and problem-solving skills you'll gain through studying mechanical engineering will make you an attractive proposition to employers in finance, business consultancy and public services.

Make a difference

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Careers support

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

Visit our Careers Service website

Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Additional information

Advice on maths and science requirements

If you don’t think you will have the exact mathematics and science qualifications referred to in our entry requirements by the time you need them, you may not be sure what to do.

• If you have a maths qualification but will not have it at A Level (or equivalent) when you start your degree, you should apply for the relevant degree with Foundation Year. We may give you the opportunity to take the Newcastle University Pre-Entry Maths Course* and the option to start in Year 1 if we think that this will be the best route for you.
• If you have A Level Maths (or equivalent) already but not at the required grade, you should contact us for advice. We may decide that you could be considered for Foundation Year entry, or it may be that this course is not the best option for you.
• If you will not have the equivalent of an A Level in the science subject (if any) required, you should apply for the relevant degree with Foundation Year.

If you are still not sure, don’t worry. Whatever you apply for, our Admissions Tutors will help you decide which is the best route for you. They may, therefore, make you an offer for a different course from the one you apply for (eg Foundation Year entry instead of Year 1 entry).

*The Newcastle University Pre-Entry Maths Course aims to provide the requisite mathematical skills and concepts needed on our engineering, maths and physics degree courses and to prepare students for the modes of learning they will encounter. The materials for the course are delivered electronically and include opportunities to practise your skills. You study the materials in your own time and, when you are ready, you book your exam with the Engineering School to which you have applied. A fee of £150 is payable at the time of booking the exam or shortly before the date set for examination.

Tuition fees and scholarships

Tuition fees for 2024 entry (per year)

Qualification: BEng Honours
Home students full time 4 years	Tuition fees (per year) 9250
International students full time 4 years	Tuition fees (per year) 26400

Home Fee Students

The maximum fee that we are permitted to charge for home fee-paying students is set by the UK government.

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

Read more about fees and funding

International Fee Students

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

Read more about fees and funding

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our undergraduate scholarship page for more information.

Year abroad and additional costs

For programmes where you can spend a year on a work placement or studying abroad, you will receive a significant fee reduction for that year. 

Some of our degrees involve additional costs which are not covered by your tuition fees.

Find out more about:

• different tuition fees
• additional costs

Scholarships

Find out more about:

• scholarships for UK, EU and international students
• Student Loans and Government financial support for UK and EU students

How to apply

Apply through UCAS

To apply for undergraduate study at Newcastle University, you must use the online application system managed by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). All UK schools and colleges, and a small number of EU and international establishments, are registered with UCAS. You will need:

• the UCAS name and institution codes for Newcastle University (NEWC/N21)
• the UCAS code for the course you want to apply for
• the UCAS 'buzzword' for your school or college

If you are applying independently, or are applying from a school or college which is not registered to manage applications, you will still use the Apply system. You will not need a buzzword.

Apply through UCAS

Apply through an agent

International students often apply to us through an agent. Have a look at our recommended agents and get in touch with them.

Visit our International pages