Mechanical Engineering
University of Northampton
UCAS Code: H308 | Bachelor of Engineering (with Honours) - BEng (Hon)
University of Northampton
UCAS Code: H308 | Bachelor of Engineering (with Honours) - BEng (Hon)
Entry requirements
A level
Accepted towards tariff/grade requirements
AQA Level 3 Technical Level (1080 glh)
Accepted towards tariff requirements
Accepted on its own at Distinction Distinction or towards tariff/grade requirements with other qualifications
Accepted towards tariff requirements
Access to HE Diploma
Access to Engineering
Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal
Accepted towards tariff/grade requirements
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
To include Mathematics H5
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
To include Mathematics at H3
Accepted towards tariff requirements
Accepted on its own at Distinction Distinction or towards tariff/grade requirements with other qualifications
Accepted towards tariff/grade requirements
OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma
Accepted towards tariff requirements
Accepted towards tariff/grade requirements
Accepted towards tariff requirements
Accepted towards tariff requirements
Accepted towards tariff requirements
Accepted on its own at Distinction Distinction or towards tariff/grade requirements with other qualifications
Pearson BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF)
Accepted towards tariff requirements
Accepted on its own at Distinction Distinction or towards tariff/grade requirements with other qualifications
Accepted towards tariff/grade requirements
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
Accepted towards tariff requirements
Accepted towards tariff/grade requirements
Scottish Advanced Higher
Individual Advanced Highers can be accepted with Scottish Highers towards tariff requirements. Must include Advanced Higher or Higher Mathematics
Scottish Higher
To include Mathematics at B
T Level
Pass (C and above)
UCAS Tariff
Accepted towards tariff/grade requirements
About this course
**Why choose this course?**
This is a flexible course, with many options to add even more value to your studies. The BEng Mechanical Engineering is available to study full-time or part-time, with teaching delivered over multiple days each week. If you would prefer day-release study, the BSc Engineering offers this option.
You can study for three years to achieve the BEng, and you can add an additional year in industrial placement between the second and third year, so that you can put your studies to practice.
If you choose to, you can then study for a further year to achieve the award of MEng, an integrated postgraduate stage, giving you a more in-depth experience of engineering principles and the opportunity to showcase all that you have learned in a substantial group research project.
One of the key features of this course is engagement with industry and this is supported by local engineering employers through the Northants Engineering Training Partnership (NETP). With regards to employment, 90% of students who study the BEn/MEng go on to work and / or study within 15 months after the course*
**By studying at the University of Northampton, you can be sure that:**
- You will experience student life at the University’s £330 million Waterside Campus. Come along to an Open Day and find out more.
- Students enrolling on this course at Northampton will be provided with their own brand new laptop** to keep at no additional cost. All sports clubs and societies are free to join at Northampton and every essential course text book is available via the library, meaning you won’t have to purchase copies. For more information on this visit our website (northampton.ac.uk/benefits).
- At UON we guarantee a room in our Halls of Residence for all new full-time, first year students who apply and accept their room offer by June 2025 - and we won't ask for a deposit for September 2025***
- Our expert academics teach in small groups supported with one to one assistance. Our academics and students form a tight bond, providing individualised support and guidance whilst challenging students academically.
- Whatever your ambitions, we’re here to help you to achieve them. We’ll support you to identify the skills you’re learning during your course, find your strengths and secure practical experience so that when it comes to applying for jobs or further study you’ll feel confident in standing out from the crowd.
**The Northampton Employment Promise**
- We’re so confident in our careers and employability support that if you achieve at least a 2:2 degree and complete either our Employability Plus Gold programme or achieve a Changemaker Gold Certificate during your time studying with us, but still haven’t secured full-time employment 12 months after graduating, we will secure a three – six month paid internship for you or support you into postgraduate study.
✱ National Student Survey (NSS) 2023
✱✱ eligibility criteria and terms and conditions apply. See northampton.ac.uk/benefits for more information
✱✱✱ eligibility criteria apply. See northampton.ac.uk/student-life/accommodation/ for more information
Modules
**Stage 1:**
• Introduction to Engineering Design (compulsory)
• Materials Science (compulsory)
• Thermo-Fluid and Mechanical Principles (compulsory)
• Electrical and Electronic Principles (compulsory)
• Mathematics for Engineers (compulsory)
• Engineering Industry Practice (compulsory)
**Stage2:**
• Engineering Design (compulsory)
• Control Systems (compulsory)
• Solid Mechanics (compulsory)
• Advanced Mathematics for Engineers (compulsory)
• Industrial Appreciation (compulsory)
• Advanced Thermo-Fluids (compulsory)
**Optional Placement Year**
• Learning Through Work (WBL) (designated)
**Stage 3:**
• Computational Fluid Mechanics (compulsory)
• Lean Manufacturing and Quality Applications (compulsory)
• Heat Transfer (compulsory)
• Mechanisms and Machines (compulsory)
• Engineering Project (compulsory)
Module information is quoted for 2024 entry. Please note that modules run subject to student numbers and staff availability, any changes will be communicated to applicants accordingly.
Assessment methods
A wide range of assessment tools are used including:
• essays
• reports
• end of stage examinations.
Tuition fees
Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:
The Uni
Waterside Campus
Faculty of Arts, Science and Technology
What students say
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
Sorry, no information to show
This is usually because there were too few respondents in the data we receive to be able to provide results about the subject at this university.
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.
£37k
£34k
£37k
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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Higher entry requirements
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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.
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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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