Mechanical Engineering with Foundation Year
UCAS Code: A029
Bachelor of Engineering (with Honours) - BEng (Hon)
Entry requirements
Access to HE Diploma
Access to HE Diploma with at least 45 credits at level 3 and 15 credits at level 2. At least 15 level 3 credits must be at merit grade or above from a QAA-recognised Access to HE course, or an equivalent Access to HE certificate.
GCSE/National 4/National 5
English Language at grade C or 4 Maths at grade C or 4 Science at grade C or 4
UCAS Tariff
This must include at least 32 points from one A level or equivalent BTEC qualifications. For example: CDD at A Level. MMP in BTEC Extended Diploma. A combination of qualifications, which may include a maximum of one AS level, EPQ and general studies
About this course
This course has alternative study modes. Contact the university to find out how the information below might vary.
**Course summary**
- Study your foundation year, then progress to a degree with industry accreditation from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).
- Develop skills in accordance with the Engineering Council's requirements for engineering courses
- Undertake numerous practical projects, as well as an opportunity to undertake a paid year in industry
- Attain a well-rounded education in mechanical engineering in both a theoretical and practical sense.
Prepare for an exciting career with healthy employment prospects across a wide range of industries. You will benefit from our modern and industrial-standard facilities, and gain vital commercial experience through industry focused projects and placement opportunities. You have the opportunity to progress onto the MEng version of the course (based on academic performance).
**How you learn**
The course is suitable if you don’t meet the entry requirements for our BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering course, or you want extra preparation before starting degree-level study. You share the first year with other engineering, maths and physics foundation year students, then move on to the degree.
You are supported by online learning resources and high quality laboratories and learning spaces. A structured programme of study provides you with the knowledge and skills to undertake tasks of increasing complexity. You demonstrate your learning through a range of assessment tasks matched to the learning taking place, such as technical report writing, posters, presentations, in-class assessments, multiple-choice questions and examinations.
You learn through
- lectures
- small group tutorials
- seminars
- engineering workshops and laboratories
In the foundation year, you’ll study the fundamental maths, science and engineering principles that you’ll need at undergraduate level, and apply them to a range of different topics. You’ll learn through many of the same techniques used on the degree course, and familiarise yourself with Sheffield Hallam and its facilities — ensuring that you’re ready to hit the ground running.
**Applied learning**
**Work placements**
You will be encouraged to apply for placement opportunities during your studies and will be supported in arranging a year-long work placement in between your third and fourth years by our dedicated Placements and Employability Team. This provides you with real-world experience to prepare you for your future engineering career. Previous students have taken industrial placements at companies such as McLaren Racing Limited, Bosch Thermotechnology, Rolls-Royce, BMW, EDF Energy, and Airbus UK.
**Networking opportunities**
You can get involved with a number of student engineering societies. We also encourage you to become a member of a professional body, such as the Institute of Mechanical Engineers. The IMechE can help with career planning, building of engineering knowledge, and have a wealth of resources including scholarships and awards.
**Competitions**
Throughout the course you are encouraged to take part in international engineering competitions, such as Europe's most established education engineering competition – IMechE Formula Student – and the IMechE Unmanned Aircraft Systems Challenge. Both competitions are backed by industry and see you competing against teams from all over the world.
Each year our strongest team from The Engineering for People Design Challenge goes on to compete in the Engineers without Borders national final. In 2016 our students won the whole competition and a two-week trip to Mexico City.
Modules
Module and assessment information for future years is displayed as currently validated and may be liable to change. When selecting electives, your choices will be subject to the core requirements of the course. As a result, selections may be limited to a choice between one of two or more specified electives in some instances.
You can take an optional placement in year three.
**Year 1**
Compulsory modules
Electrical And Electronic Principles 20
Foundation Mathematics 1 20
Foundation Mathematics 2 20
Fundamental Engineering Principles 20
Fundamentals Of Materials And Manufacturing 20
Elective module
Engineering Investigations 20
Mathematical Investigations 20
**Year 2**
Compulsory modules
Applied Engineering Mathematics 20
Electro-Mechanical Engineering Practice 20
Materials And Manufacturing Engineering 20
Mechanical Engineering Design And Cad 20
Principles Of Solid Mechanics And Dynamics 20
Principles Of Thermodynamics And Fluid Mechanics 20
**Year 3**
Compulsory modules
Applied Solid Mechanics And Dynamics 20
Applied Thermodynamics And Fluid Mechanics 20
Engineering Design Applications 20
Maths And Control 20
Mechatronics 20
Professional Practice 20
**Year 4**
Optional modules
Placement Year -
Final year
Compulsory modules
Design Evaluation Methodology 20
Engineering Project Management And Individual Project 40
Further Thermodynamics And Fluid Mechanics 20
Structural Mechanics And Finite Element Analysis 20
Systems Engineering 20
Assessment methods
Coursework
Exams
Tuition fees
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Extra funding
Scholarships, discounts and bursaries may be available to students who study this course.
The Uni
Sheffield Hallam University
Sheffield Hallam University
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.
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.
£28k
£31k
£34k
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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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
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