Heriot-Watt University
UCAS Code: HH38 | Master of Engineering (with Honours) - MEng (Hon)
Entry requirements
A level
including Mathematics and Physics for entry to Year 1. For Year 2 entry: AAB including Physics and Maths.
Foundation Apprenticeship (SCQF Level 6)
We accept Foundation Apprenticeships in combination with other qualifications such as SQA Highers and Advanced Highers.
GCSE/National 4/National 5
It is also a requirement of every applicant to have English and Mathematics at a minimum of National 5 Grade C or GCSE Grade C or 4 (or equivalent)
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
including Mathematics and Physics at Higher Level 5 for entry to Year 1. For entry to Year 2: 34 points including Mathematics and Physics at Higher Level 6.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
in Engineering (including sufficient Maths and Physics) for entry to Year 1.
Scottish Advanced Higher
in Maths and Physics/Engineering Science plus AAAB at Higher for entry to Year 2.
Scottish HNC
For entry to Year 1: HNC in relevant subject with A in graded unit to include SQA Engineering Mathematics 1, 2 & 3 and sufficient Maths & Physics content.
Scottish HND
For entry to Year 1: HND in relevant subject with AB/BA in graded units to include SQA Engineering Mathematics 1, 2, & 3 and sufficient Maths & Physics content. For entry to Year 2: HND in relevant subject with AA in graded units to include SQA Engineering Mathematics 1, 2, 3 & 4 and sufficient Maths & Physics content.
Scottish Higher
including Mathematics and Physics/Engineering Science with one at A.
We will consider T Levels as suitable for entry to our degree programmes, however, certain subject requirements may be required for entry to specific programmes. Where this is not evident as part of the T Level studies, we may ask for additional qualifications.
UCAS Tariff
We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.
About this course
Modern challenges require new and advanced technical solutions, and mechanical engineers are vital to achieving those solutions. It is the technical development of the world that drives us forward.
By studying our five-year degree in Mechanical Engineering and Energy Engineering you can gain the skills to tackle challenging professional tasks associated with energy provision and utilisation.
You will learn to take responsibility for decision-making in areas related to energy and the environment. Building on a sound engineering foundation, you will be introduced to specialist energy topics as well as environmental impact assessment and management.
Heriot-Watt University is proud to be ranked as one of the top universities for Mechanical Engineering in the UK, including:
• Guardian University Guide 2020: 1st in Scotland and top 10 in the UK
• Complete University Guide 2021: Top 10 in the UK
• Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2021: Top 10 in the UK
• Guardian University League Tables 2021: Top 10 in the UK
**Programme structure**
In Year 1, students work alongside peers from other science and engineering disciplines and have access to mechanical labs, electrical engineering labs, chemical labs, and physics labs. This provides fundamental lab skills as well as multidisciplinary teamworking skills which will be crucial as the degree progresses and becomes increasingly specialised.
You’ll progress into practical workshop sessions in the lab in your second and third year. Here, you’ll learn about fluids, design and manufacturing, dynamics, and thermodynamics – all core principles of mechanical engineering.
Fourth and fifth year in your MEng Mechanical Engineering course will include staff-supported individual and group projects, which will help you step into a career as a mechanical engineer. You’ll follow your own path through a wide range of optional courses designed to develop knowledge and skills in specialist engineering subjects.
This five-year MEng Mechanical Engineering degree is the standard route towards a Chartered Engineering professional qualification, so you can progress towards that with this degree.
**Industry links**
Our industrial connections form the backbone of our degree. We work closely with an Industrial Advisory Board, a panel of engineers and business leaders, to ensure that our course content reflects the needs of industry and employers to provide graduates with the right blend of knowledge, practical skills, and soft skills. This collaboration allows the curriculum to be regularly updated to include emerging technological needs. A recent example being the inclusion of the optional biomedical engineering course offered in Years 4 and 5.
**Student groups**
At Heriot-Watt University you will join a thriving student community in the engineering disciplines. Many Mechanical Engineering students join groups such as The Mechanical Engineering Society, HW Racing (Formula Student), and TEAM AERO-WATT.
**Careers**
Mechanical Engineering offers an exciting environment where many skills are brought together to create innovative products and the infrastructure and technology for manufacture. Recent Heriot-Watt graduates have progressed to working for organisations such as Mercedes, Babcock Marine, Mclaren, Shell UK, Halliburton and QinetiQ.
As a mechanical engineer, you will deal with the design, development, optimisation, and operation of mechanical parts and systems. All industrial sectors value mechanical engineers, including manufacturing, oil and gas, aerospace, and automotive, as well as emerging areas such as energy and renewable energy, medical engineering, and nanotechnology.
Tuition fees
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The Uni
Edinburgh Campus
Mechanical Engineering
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.
£26k
£31k
£35k
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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