Mechanical Engineering
Entry requirements
A level
Must include A Level Mathematics Grade C minimum. A maximum of 3 subjects are considered. These can be other A-levels or level 3 equivalents.
112 UCAS points Must include A-level mathematics at grade C or above A maximum of two AS-level subjects can be considered along with two A-levels or a combination of equivalent level 3 qualifications
60 credits overall. Minimum of 45 credits at level 3. Including 12 credits at Merit or Distinction with 9 in Mathematics and 3 in Science. The Access course must be in Engineering
112 UCAS points Only in combination with two A-levels or equivalent level 3 qualification(s) You must obtain EITHER a minimum of Distinction in Mathematics for Technicians unit or Merit in Further Mathematics for Technicians unit from a suitable level 3 qualification OR A Level mathematics must be achieved at grade C or above
Must be in a topic related to the degree subject being applied for Considered with two A-levels or equivalent level 3 qualification(s) to achieve a total of 112 UCAS tariff points obtain EITHER a minimum of Distinction in Mathematics for Technicians unit or Merit in Further Mathematics for Technicians unit from a suitable level 3 qualification OR A Level mathematics must be achieved at grade C or above
GCSE/National 4/National 5
GCSE English Language or English Literature and GCSE Maths at grade C/4 or above. If you do not have these or are not undertaking them, we accept other Level 2 equivalents, or we may ask you to pass BCU's GCSE equivalency tests.
HNC (BTEC)
Pass with 120 credits at level 4 May be considered for advanced entry subject to satisfactory comparability of modular content of Level 4. A transcript will be required. Must be in an Engineering related subject
HND (BTEC)
Pass with 120 credits at level 4 and 120 credits at Level 5 May be considered for advanced entry subject to satisfactory comparability of modular content of Level 4. A transcript will be required. Must be in an Engineering related subject
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
Obtain a minimum of 28 points overall with grade 5 in Mathematics (Higher level) and pass one of the following subjects from Group 4 at Higher Level (Computer Science, Chemistry, Design Technology, Physics) For students who do not already hold a GCSE in English Language at Grade C/4 or above Standard Level English Language (not literature) English A - Grade 4 or above or English B - Grade 5 from the IB will be accepted.
Pass the Irish Leaving Certificate with a minimum of 112 tariff points, achieved in four Higher level subjects. Mathematics must be at Higher Level. This must include English Language taken at either Ordinary level (minimum grade O1-O4 (or A-C/A1-C3)) or Higher level (minimum grade H5/D1).
See Level 3 Entry under Irish Leaving Certificate for full details.
112 UCAS points Considered with two A-level or an equivalent level 3 qualification You must obtain EITHER a minimum of Distinction in Mathematics for Technicians unit or Merit in Further Mathematics for Technicians unit from a suitable level 3 qualification OR A Level mathematics must be achieved at grade C or above
112 UCAS points Considered with one A-level or an equivalent level 3 qualification You must obtain EITHER a minimum of Distinction in Mathematics for Technicians unit or Merit in Further Mathematics for Technicians unit from a suitable level 3 qualification OR A Level mathematics must be achieved at grade C or above
OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma
Must be in Engineering A minimum of Distinction in Mathematics for Technicians unit or Merit in Further Mathematics for Technicians unit is required
112 UCAS points Considered with two A-level or an equivalent level 3 qualification You must obtain EITHER a minimum of Distinction in Mathematics for Technicians unit or Merit in Further Mathematics for Technicians unit from a suitable level 3 qualification OR A Level mathematics must be achieved at grade C or above
112 UCAS points Considered with one A-level or an equivalent level 3 qualification You must obtain EITHER a minimum of Distinction in Mathematics for Technicians unit or Merit in Further Mathematics for Technicians unit from a suitable level 3 qualification OR A Level mathematics must be achieved at grade C or above
112 UCAS points Considered with one A-level or an equivalent level 3 qualification You must obtain EITHER a minimum of Distinction in Mathematics for Technicians unit or Merit in Further Mathematics for Technicians or Calculus unit from a suitable level 3 qualification OR A Level mathematics must be achieved at grade C or above
112 UCAS points Considered with one A-level or an equivalent level 3 qualification You must obtain EITHER a minimum of Distinction in Mathematics for Technicians unit or Merit in Further Mathematics for Technicians or Calculus unit from a suitable level 3 qualification OR A Level mathematics must be achieved at grade C or above
Pearson BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF)
Must be in Engineering A minimum of Distinction in Mathematics for Technicians unit or Merit in Further Mathematics for Technicians or Calculus unit is required
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
Considered with one A-level or an equivalent level 3 qualification You must obtain EITHER a minimum of Distinction in Mathematics for Technicians unit or Merit in Further Mathematics for Technicians or Calculus unit from a suitable level 3 qualification OR A Level mathematics must be achieved at grade C or above
112 UCAS points Considered with two A-level or an equivalent level 3 qualification You must obtain EITHER a minimum of Distinction in Mathematics for Technicians unit or Merit in Further Mathematics for Technicians or Calculus unit from a suitable level 3 qualification OR A Level mathematics must be achieved at grade C or above
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
Must be in Engineering A minimum of Distinction in Mathematics for Technicians unit or Merit in Further Mathematics for Technicians or Calculus unit is required
112 UCAS points Considered with one A-level or an equivalent level 3 qualification You must obtain EITHER a minimum of Distinction in Mathematics for Technicians unit or Merit in Further Mathematics for Technicians or Calculus unit from a suitable level 3 qualification OR A Level mathematics must be achieved at grade C or above
112 UCAS points Considered with two A-level or an equivalent level 3 qualification You must obtain EITHER a minimum of Distinction in Mathematics for Technicians unit or Merit in Further Mathematics for Technicians or Calculus unit from a suitable level 3 qualification OR A Level mathematics must be achieved at grade C or above
Achieve a minimum of 112 tariff points achieved in either three Advanced Highers including mathematics or from a combination of two Advanced Highers including mathematics plus two Highers. Where three Advanced Highers have been taken achieve a minimum of grades CCD. Where a combination of Highers and Advanced Highers have been taken you must achieve (grades of CD in two Advanced Highers plus grades of CC in two Highers).
Achieve a minimum of 112 tariff points achieved in either three Advanced Highers including mathematics or from a combination of two Advanced Highers including mathematics plus two Highers. Where three Advanced Highers have been taken achieve a minimum of grades CCD. Where a combination of Highers and Advanced Highers have been taken you must achieve (grades of CD in two Advanced Highers plus grades of CC in two Highers).
UCAS Tariff
Please visit: http://www.bcu.ac.uk/student-info/offer-making-strategy for more information about contextual offers.
112 UCAS points Considered with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualification(s) You must obtain EITHER a minimum of Distinction in Mathematics for Technicians unit or Merit in Further Mathematics for Technicians unit from a suitable level 3 qualification OR A Level mathematics must be achieved at grade C or above
About this course
Our BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering degree will develop you as a skilled engineer capable of undertaking mechanical engineering tasks within and across organisations. The course focuses on the importance of sustainable futures and the Government's STEM agenda, to give you the knowledge and attributes you will need to thrive in this ever-changing industry.
You will work on industry-standard analytical tools, develop your design skills, as well as exploring a wide range of facilities, such as our test cell and exhaust analysis equipment.
Our engineering courses focus on project-based activities, giving you lots of opportunity to work in teams on projects from design to implementation. This will give you practical experience of applying engineering science to real world problems, working in multidisciplinary teams to develop your interpersonal skills, and prepare you for a key aspect of modern engineering practice. Problem-solving and project management are key skills for an engineer, and our focus on practical experience will help to improve your skills in these highly sought-after areas.
During your studies, you will use the latest tools and technologies, developing new skills at an advanced level. The course will encourage your creative thinking and develop your engineering leadership skills. Building on a foundation of the generic skills required by tomorrow's engineers, you will also explore the wider context of engineering, as well as the application of advanced engineering principles to solve problems through research and development. You'll engage in independent study and systematic enquiry at an advanced level and take responsibility for the conclusions drawn from it.
You will have lots of opportunity to apply industry-standard modelling and simulation techniques to the analysis, specification and design of mechanical engineering systems so that you are able to apply your knowledge and theory to a practical situation. In this way, we make sure you are ready to step straight into employment.
**Professional Placement Year**
This course offers an optional professional placement year. This allows you to spend a whole year with an employer, following successful completion of your second year, and is a great way to find out more about your chosen career. Some students even return to the same employers after completing their studies.
If you choose to pursue a placement year, you will need to find a suitable placement to complement your chosen area of study. You will be able to draw on the University’s extensive network of local, regional, and national employers, and the support of our Careers teams. If you are able to secure a placement, you can request to be transferred to the placement version of the course.
Please note that fees are payable during your placement year, equivalent to 20% of the total full-time course fee for that year.
Tuition fees
Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:
The Uni
Millennium Point Campus
School of Engineering and the Built Environment
What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.
How do students rate their degree experience?
The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Mechanical engineering
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Mechanical engineering
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
We're short of engineers in a lot of areas and mechanical engineering is no exception. Mechanical engineers are in demand across multiple industries, with vehicle manufacturing most popular, with roles especially common in design and manufacturing. Other important sectors include aerospace, the oil and gas industry, consultancy and defence. Jobs are all around the country, with London, the Midlands, Scotland and the South East the most likely places for a new mechanical engineer to find work at the moment, and starting salaries are good. Although large employers are much the most likely place to get work, some of the most challenging, cutting edge jobs are with small niche engineering firms, so keep your eyes peeled if you want something a little different. Bear in mind that a lot of courses are four years long, and lead to an MEng qualification — this is necessary if you want to become a Chartered Engineer.
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Mechanical engineering
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£22k
£24k
£29k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
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Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):
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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).
This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.
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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.
You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.
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Post-six month graduation stats:
This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.
It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.
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Graduate field commentary:
The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show
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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
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