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Mechanical Engineering

Entry requirements


UCAS Tariff

112

From a combination of acceptable Level 3 qualifications which may include: A-level, T Level, BTEC Diplomas/Extended Diplomas, Scottish and Irish Highers, Access to HE Diplomas, or the International Baccalaureate. Find out how many points your qualifications are worth by using the UCAS Tariff calculator: www.ucas.com/ucas/tariff-calculator Northumbria University is committed to supporting all individuals to achieve their ambitions. We have a range of schemes and alternative offers to make sure as many individuals as possible are given an opportunity to study at our University regardless of personal circumstances or background. To find out more, review our Northumbria Entry Requirement Essential Information page for further details www.northumbria.ac.uk/entryrequirementsinfo Subject Requirements: A-level Mathematics and another analytical science subject (Biology, Chemistry, Computer Sciences, Physics or Technology), or recognised equivalents. GCSE Requirements: Applicants will need Maths and English Language at minimum grade 4/C, or an equivalent. Additional Requirements: There are no additional requirements for this course. International Qualifications: We welcome applicants with a range of qualifications which may not match those shown above. If you have qualifications from outside the UK, find out what you need by visiting www.northumbria.ac.uk/yourcountry English Language Requirements: International applicants should have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 5.5 with 5.5 in each component (or an approved equivalent*). *The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades in our English Language section: www.northumbria.ac.uk/englishqualifications

About this course


This course has alternative study modes. Contact the university to find out how the information below might vary.

Course option

3years

Full-time | 2024

Other options

4 years | Sandwich | 2024

Subject

Mechanical engineering

**Are you analytical and creative, interested in design technology and wanting to develop effective and sustainable solutions and products that meet the varied needs of today’s society?**

The Mechanical Engineering BEng (Hons) programme will equip you with the practical skills and expertise required for a successful career as a practicing engineer, with the full educational basis to facilitate progression to engineering management roles.

Equipped with cutting edge lab infrastructure, the programme seeks to provide exciting and practical learning experiences to apply engineering principles to real-world problems. The programme is designed to build your confidence and skills base and will equip you with an awareness of engineering in the wider social, ethical, sustainable, and economic context.

You will apply scientific principles, and mathematical and computational techniques to realise innovative solutions to a range of engineering problems, including some of a complex nature. You will be facilitated to explore many engineering options and not be limited by conventional approaches or established solutions but rather to challenge convention where appropriate.

The first year of the programme provides a foundational grounding in engineering. You’ll then study more advanced principles of mechanics, manufacturing technology, energy systems and engineering design, potentially working on projects with companies such as Nissan, BAE Systems and Rolls Royce. The programme allows you to explore contemporary mechanical engineering with an opportunity for a year in industry, a significant project at Level 6 and for the MEng programme, an interdisciplinary project at Level 7 leading to an Integrated Masters MEng qualification.

An optional placement year is embedded into the programme to offer the opportunity to gain invaluable industrial and international experience and further demonstrate compliance with professional practice competencies set by IMechE. Our students benefit from close links with industry and engagement with IMechE’s North East and Young Members Network and our graduates work in leading multi-national employers such as Exxon Mobil, Caterpillar, Nissan, Airbus, British Engines and GE.

The University are actively seeking the following Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body (PSRB) accreditation for the programme. However, these are subject to approval by the relevant accrediting body of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).

**Northumbria is ranked 3rd in the sector nationally for the sustained employment of Engineering and Technology graduates five years after graduation. (Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) 2017)**

Please note, we also run an Extended Degree option for this course, UCAS code: H314.

Modules

For a full list of the modules on your course, please access the course pages at www.northumbria.ac.uk

Assessment methods

Your tutors will use a variety of teaching methods, which may include lectures, seminars, problem-based workshops, case discussions, practical activities, group work and tutorials. Teaching is backed up by a well-designed support system that will underpin your learning journey. You will have access to a Guidance Tutor with whom you can discuss any academic issues. Extensive feedback from both tutors and peers is built into the course.

The Uni


Course location:

Northumbria University, Newcastle

Department:

Education

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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.

59%
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

53%
Staff make the subject interesting
53%
Staff are good at explaining things
60%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
60%
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

67%
Library resources
73%
IT resources
74%
Course specific equipment and facilities
37%
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?

85%
UK students
15%
International students
91%
Male students
9%
Female students
67%
2:1 or above
24%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

C
D
C

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.

£25,000
med
Average annual salary
97%
med
Employed or in further education
64%
low
Employed in a role where degree was essential or beneficial

Top job areas of graduates

44%
Engineering professionals
8%
Sales assistants and retail cashiers
7%
Senior officers in protective services

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.

£25k

£25k

£30k

£30k

£38k

£38k

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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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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