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Mechanical Engineering

Entry requirements


A level

A,A,B

Including Mathematics, and Physics or Chemistry Excluded subjects - General Studies and Critical Thinking. Please note: You will also be expected to achieve a Pass grade in the practical endorsement for any of the following A levels - Biology, Chemistry, Physics - if taken with one of the Awarding Bodies in England.

Access to HE Diploma

D:33,M:12

We consider applications from students with the Access to Higher Education Diploma in a Physics and Mathematics based discipline. Entry will normally be to the BEng or BSc. The minimum academic requirement is to achieve 60 credits overall, with 45 credits at Level 3, of which 33 credits must be at Distinction and 12 credits at Merit or higher. Applications are considered on a case by case basis.

We consider applications from students offering an EPQ and may make an alternative offer to include three A levels, one grade lower than our usual requirement, along with a specific grade in the EPQ.

GCSE/National 4/National 5

A minimum of five GCSE passes to include English at grade C or 4 or an acceptable equivalent will be required.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

34

6,6,5 at HL including Mathematics, and either Physics or Chemistry

Queen Mary University of London welcomes applications from students currently studying Level 3 BTEC qualifications and will consider you for entry to the majority of our undergraduate courses. The typical entry requirements will vary according to the course you are applying for. Some of our courses require specific subject knowledge which you may not be able to cover as part of a Level 3 BTEC qualification and we may therefore require additional Level 3 qualifications to ensure that you are suitably prepared for relevant courses. A small number of our courses do not accept BTEC qualifications for entry, either as a standalone qualification, or in combination with other qualifications at Level 3. Information on our typical entry requirements and guidance for applying can be found at http://www.qmul.ac.uk/undergraduate/entry/btec/ If you are at all unsure about the acceptability of your BTEC qualification for entry, please contact the Admissions team for individual advice ([email protected]).

UCAS Tariff

136

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

About this course


Course option

3years

Full-time | 2024

Subject

Mechanical engineering

Mechanical engineering looks at how parts, machines and systems work, and how to design and analyse them.

The vital role of mechanical engineers is becoming increasingly important as society attempts to meet the great challenges facing it in the future. From addressing the demands of a growing and ageing population, to seeking new sustainable energy approaches and preserving our environment, mechanical engineers will be at the heart of delivering solutions to future global issues.

The focus of mechanical engineering on energy and design and its widespread applications within society, provides our graduates with opportunities to pursue a variety of interesting careers. Because it’s so broad, it makes an ideal undergraduate degree – providing an opportunity to learn about the full range of exciting engineering pathways without specialising too early.

In Years 1 and 2 you’ll build a strong foundation in fundamental engineering concepts such as fluid mechanics, design, materials and mathematical modelling, whilst being introduced to Mechanical Engineering through our ‘Explore Mechanical Engineering’ module. Modules in design and experimental practice, will help you to develop the practical workshop and laboratory-based skills necessary for all engineers, and put core programme material into perspective and to practical use.

In Year 3, you’ll be able to choose modules that fit with your own interests and skill set. This includes Designing for a Circular Economy, Robotics, Failure of Materials, Network Engineering, Heat Exchange and Recovery and Process Safety and Loss Prevention. The third-year design project will provide an opportunity for you to concentrate on your specific interests, whilst working on an industry-focused area in collaboration with the School’s world-leading researchers.

Students who choose to take the MEng degree will learn advanced modules and carry out an industry or research-linked project that focuses on solving real engineering research and design problems. Recent projects have included assessing Britain’s Olympic bobsleigh and testing a combustor from a Rolls-Royce micro-gas turbine.

We place strong emphasis not only on the technical content of our modules, such as mechanics, thermodynamics and design, but also on the cross discipline skills vital for an engineer to function in the work place. We have mapped the modules in our programmes to a range of attributes that we would like our students to attain, within the areas of creativity, resilience, communication and professional practice in order to produce well-rounded, interested and highly employable graduates. This not only ensures that the students develop technical knowledge and understanding as they progress through their degree, but it also gives us the confidence that students will graduate with skills they can apply to a range of future careers or higher-level study.

We've recently undertaken a review of our programmes to ensure that they will prepare you for life beyond 2030 and ensure they reflect the global challenges facing both our society and your future as engineers. We have developed the modules we offer in consultation with our students, staff and industry to enhance your student experience and graduate employability.

Modules

Year 1
You'll study a range of core engineering principles including:

Engineering Design
Experimental Design and Practice 1
Computational and Mathematical Modelling 1
Materials Engineering
Exploring Mechanical Engineering
Experimental Design and Practice 2
Computational and Mathematical Modelling 2
Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics
Skills for Engineers

Please note that all modules are subject to change.

Assessment methods

Assessment typically includes a combination of coursework, written reports, projects, presentations, group work and exams at the end of each semester.

Tuition fees

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

England
£9,250
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,250
per year
Scotland
£9,250
per year
Wales
£9,250
per year

The Uni


Course location:

Queen Mary University of London

Department:

Engineering and Materials Science

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.

64%
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

59%
Staff make the subject interesting
61%
Staff are good at explaining things
68%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
53%
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

75%
Library resources
63%
IT resources
73%
Course specific equipment and facilities
46%
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?

86%
UK students
14%
International students
87%
Male students
13%
Female students
91%
2:1 or above
8%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

A
B
B

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
88%
low
Employed or in further education
74%
low
Employed in a role where degree was essential or beneficial

Top job areas of graduates

39%
Engineering professionals
12%
Sales assistants and retail cashiers
6%
Sales, marketing and related associate 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.

£25k

£25k

£33k

£33k

£36k

£36k

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?

Have a question about this info? Learn more here