Mechanical Engineering
University of Plymouth
UCAS Code: H300 | Bachelor of Engineering (with Honours) - BEng (Hon)
University of Plymouth
UCAS Code: H300 | Bachelor of Engineering (with Honours) - BEng (Hon)
Entry requirements
112 to 128 UCAS points, including A Level Grade C at Mathematics and Grade C at a second relevant subject: Applied ICT / Applied Science / Applied Business / Biology / Business Studies / Chemistry / Computing / Computer Science / DT (Product Design Resistant Materials) / DT (Systems & Control Technology) / Product Design / Economics / Economics & Business / Electronics / Engineering / Environmental Science / Further Maths / Use of Maths/ Pure Maths / ICT / Physics / Statistics.
Considered in combination alongside A Level Mathematics and second relevant subject.
Pass an Access to HE Diploma with at least 33 credits at Merit or Distinction to include 12 Level 3 credits in Mathematics with Distinction and 12 Level 3 credits in a second relevant subject with Merit.
Considered in combination alongside A Level Mathematics and second relevant subject.
Considered in combination.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
To include 5 in Higher Level Mathematics and 5 in a second relevant Higher Level subject. English and Maths accepted within as GCSE equivalent.
112-128 UCAS points, to include H4 in Mathematics and H4 in a second relevant subject. Maths and English accepted within as GCSE equivalent.
Considered in combination alongside A Level Mathematics and second relevant subject.
Considered in combination alongside A Level Mathematics and second relevant subject.
Considered in combination.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
From Mechanical Engineering or related subject, to include Distinction in at least one Mathematics unit, alongside A Level Mathematics or A Level Physics.
Considered in combination.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
in a Science/Engineering/Technology subject, to include Distinction in at least one relevant Mathematics unit.
Considered in combination.
Considered in combination alongside A Level Mathematics and second relevant subject.
112 to 128 UCAS points, including Grade C in Advanced Higher Maths and Grade C at a second relevant subject. Maths and English accepted within as GCSE equivalent.
Considered in combination with Advanced Highers. Maths and English accepted within as GCSE equivalent.
UCAS Tariff
Including A Level Grade C at Mathematics and Grade C at a second relevant subject: Applied ICT / Applied Science / Applied Business / Biology / Business Studies / Chemistry / Computing / Computer Science / DT (Product Design Resistant Materials) / DT (Systems & Control Technology) / Product Design / Economics / Economics & Business / Electronics / Engineering / Environmental Science / Further Maths / Use of Maths/ Pure Maths / ICT / Physics / Statistics.
Considered in combination.
About this course
This course has alternative study modes. Contact the university to find out how the information below might vary.
Are you fascinated by technology and design? Primarily problem solvers, mechanical engineers design, create and use tools and methods in every industry from atomic physics to space exploration. They play a vital role in tackling problems that affect us all such as energy security; efficient manufacturing and smart cities. Our engineering students are taught by enthusiastic staff with strong industry links who use laboratory sessions and physical demonstrations to reinforce academic learning.
Our accredited BEng Mechanical Engineering is designed to start your journey to becoming a qualified professional mechanical engineer. Our engineering programmes rely strongly on practical work and you will develop your design skills throughout the programme. We offer the opportunity to undertake a paid placement year to help consolidate and develop your engineering knowledge and many students receive job offers as a result of their time in industry.
- Optional 'with composites' pathway available. In year 4, you have the option to choose a specialist 'with composites' pathway, which allows you to study the design and manufacture of specialist materials. Should you wish to choose this route, ‘with composites’ will appear as a named specialism on your degree certificate to acknowledge your specialism in this area.
- Make use of cutting-edge facilities. Students in engineering, science and the arts have access to a range of specialist equipment and innovative laboratories in our new engineering and design facility.
- Open the door to a successful future. With starting salaries from £23,000, our graduates have gone on to work for Hoare Lea, Babcock Marine, Becton Dickinson, e2v, Edwards, the Shaw Group and the Ministry of Defence.
- Define yourself with an IMechE accredited degree. The course has been designed to fully satisfy the educational base for an Incorporated Engineer (IEng) and partially satisfy the educational base for a Chartered Engineer (CEng).
- Be flexible. Our combined first year allows you to switch to marine technology or civil engineering in line with your career ambitions.
- Be unique. Our courses are the only ones in the country to have a named 'with composites' pathway; choosing this will allow you to stand out in the job market.
- Learn hands-on. We offer the latest industry-standard software, laboratory sessions and practical classes.
- Aim higher. You may progress onto the MEng course at the end of your second year if you are doing well.
- Put learning into practice. Take a paid year in industry – many of our students receive job offers or sponsorship as a result of their placements.
- Go on to thrive. Your degree opens doors to sectors as diverse as aerospace, automotive, manufacturing and energy.
Modules
In the first year of your mechanical engineering course, you will study alongside other engineering students to learn about the fundamental principles underpinning the subjects studied throughout the course. You will develop your mathematical skills and study engineering materials, structural mechanics and fluid mechanics. You will learn about generic design processes and computer-aided design, and work in a team to undertake a real-world design challenge. Laboratory sessions will form an important part of your learning.
The second year introduces subjects like control systems engineering and quality management while further developing your thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, mathematics and design skills. These subjects are explored in lectures, in laboratory sessions and workshops. At this point, you can opt in to the 'with composites' pathway.
By taking the opportunity to spend an optional year in paid employment whilst still a student engineer, you will obtain recordable professional experience, build a network of industry contacts and often obtain offers of summer work, sponsorship or employment on graduation. Our placements team will support you in finding a placement, and we have an extensive network of employers across all sectors.
In your final year, you will deepen your understanding of computer aided engineering tools and control systems. You will also focus your specialism choosing to further your understanding of thermofluids and design methodology or choosing to study the theoretical and practical aspects of composites engineering on the 'with composites' pathway. Your dissertation project enables you to research the topics that interest you and will allow you to bring together all you have learnt so far.
The modules shown for this course or programme are those being studied by current students, or expected new modules. Modules are subject to change depending on year of entry and up to date information can be found on our website
Assessment methods
For up to date details, please refer to our website or contact the institution directly.
The Uni
University of Plymouth
School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics
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.
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
£30k
£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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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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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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