Get degree ideas using our A level explorer tool

Mechanical Engineering

Entry requirements


A level

A*,A*,A-A*,A,A,A

Must include: A* in Mathematics A*/A in Physics (A* is required if applying with three A-levels and A if applying with four relevant A-levels) A in another subject General Studies and Critical Thinking are not accepted. If you are made an offer you will be required to achieve a pass in the practical endorsement in all science subjects that form part of the offer.

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal

D2,D2,D3-D2,D3,D3,D3


Must include: D2 in Mathematics D2/D3 in Physics (*D2 required if presenting 3 Pre-U Certs) D3 in another subject

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

40

Our minimum entry standard is 40 points overall, to include: 7 in Mathematics* at higher level 7 in Physics at higher level *Mathematics Analysis and Approaches or the Applications and Interpretation syllabi will be accepted at higher level, but Analysis and Approaches is preferred.

UCAS Tariff

160-200

We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.

You may also need to…

Attend an interview

About this course


Course option

4years

Full-time | 2024

Subject

Mechanical engineering

This course will suit you if you want to develop your mathematical, physics and computational skills to tackle tomorrow's engineering issues.

Through lectures, labs and tutorials, you'll build a solid understanding of the principles of solid mechanics, thermofluids and mechatronics. You'll also learn how to use technical drawings and specialist software to produce your own blueprints.

Hands-on workshop sessions will develop your manufacturing skills, while you'll also hone your design expertise on a group project.

You can broaden your learning further by taking modules from other engineering disciplines and applying mechanical engineering principles to their key challenges.

At the end of the course, you'll complete a research project in an area of your interest.

Throughout your studies, you'll develop the skills needed to undertake more advanced research, or pursue career opportunities in industries including the automotive and commercial sectors.

All students should apply initially to MEng Mechanical Engineering. Students interested in one of the other courses within the Department should then apply to transfer at the appropriate time during the course (selection criteria may apply).

**Professional accreditation**

This degree is professionally accredited by the following organisation on behalf of the Engineering Council:

- Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) on behalf of the Engineering Council.

With an accredited and integrated Master’s degree, you’ll fully meet the educational requirements for professional registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng).

Becoming a Chartered Engineer can further enhance your career prospects and earning potential. It demonstrates your competencies and commitment to lifelong learning – providing you with recognition in your field and greater influence and opportunities.

As well as your main Imperial degree (MEng), you will also receive the award of the Associateship of the City and Guilds of London Institute (ACGI) on completion of this course.

Modules

We recommend reviewing our course page for the latest information regarding the curriculum (including core and optional modules) and course structure, as this information may be subject to periodic change.

Tuition fees

Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:

Channel Islands
£9,250
per year
England
£9,250
per year
EU
£40,940
per year
International
£40,940
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,250
per year
Republic of Ireland
£9,250
per year
Scotland
£9,250
per year
Wales
£9,250
per year

The Uni


Course location:

Imperial College London

Department:

Mechanical Engineering

Read full university profile

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.

85%
Mechanical engineering

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

77%
Staff make the subject interesting
88%
Staff are good at explaining things
84%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
90%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

89%
Library resources
86%
IT resources
96%
Course specific equipment and facilities
79%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

49%
UK students
51%
International students
78%
Male students
22%
Female students
95%
2:1 or above
7%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

A*
A*
A

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.

£28,000
high
Average annual salary
95%
med
Employed or in further education
87%
high
Employed in a role where degree was essential or beneficial

Top job areas of graduates

62%
Engineering professionals
11%
Business, finance and related associate professionals
9%
Teaching and educational professionals

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.

£32k

£32k

£40k

£40k

£46k

£46k

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.

Explore these similar courses...

Share this page

This is what the university has told Ucas about the criteria they expect applicants to satisfy; some may be compulsory, others may be preferable.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

This is the percentage of applicants to this course who received an offer last year, through Ucas.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

Course location and department:

This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):

We've received this information from the Department for Education, via Ucas. This is how the university as a whole has been rated for its quality of teaching: gold silver or bronze. Note, not all universities have taken part in the TEF.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

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.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

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.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

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.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

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

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

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?

Have a question about this info? Learn more here