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University of Sussex

UCAS Code: H32F | Bachelor of Engineering (with Honours) - BEng (Hon)

Entry requirements

A level

A,B,B

A-levels must include Mathematics, with at least grade B. You should have a broad range of GCSEs grade 9-4 (A*-C), including good grades in relevant subjects.

Pass Diploma with at least 39 level 3 credits at Merit or above including 24 credits at Distinction. You will normally need A-level Mathematics, grade B, in addition to the Access to HE Diploma. All Access applicants will be assessed on a case by case basis.

We take the EPQ into account when considering your application and it can be useful in the summer when your results are released if you have narrowly missed the conditions of your offer. We do not routinely include the EPQ in the conditions of your offer but we sometimes offer alternative conditions that include the EPQ. If you wish to discuss this further please contact Admissions at [email protected]

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

32

This score should be from the full IB Diploma. Higher Levels must include Mathematics, with a grade of 5. For entry, either Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches or Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation at Higher Level will be accepted.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

DDD

The BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma should be in Engineering and must include a Distinction in Calculus to Solve Engineering Problems or if taking the BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Engineering you must gain a Distinction in the Further Mathematics for Engineering Technicians. GCSE (or equivalent) Mathematics with at least grade 5 is essential (or grade B). You should also have a broad range of GCSEs 9-4 (A*-C), including good grades in relevant subjects.

Scottish Higher

A,A,B,B,B

Highers must include Mathematics, grade A. You should normally have an Advanced Higher in Mathematics (grade B).

UCAS Tariff

128-147

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

About this course

Course option

4years

Sandwich | 2025

Subject

Mechanical engineering

**87.9% of our research outputs in Engineering were assessed to be world leading or internationally excellent (REF 2021)**

**About the course**

This degree will enable you to lead multidisciplinary teams in the development of complex systems, including sustainable power generation, power-trains for automotive vehicles, and jet engines for aircraft propulsion. The placement year also gives you the chance to get real work experience for a year in industry, while still being supported by Sussex.

We undertake world-class research, which enriches your teaching. Our Dynamics, Control and Vehicle Research Group and the Thermo-Fluid Mechanics Research Centre, develop innovative concepts in vehicle technology and efficient aero-engines, among other things. You’ll study in our Future Technologies Labs that incorporate computer suites and new automation/robotics facilities. There is a dedicated manufacturing lab with state-of-the-art facilities such as CNC machines and 3-D printers. You'll be able to specialise in subjects such as CAD, computational fluid dynamics through optional modules and work on areas such as control, vibration, tribology, or aerodynamics through project work including Formula Student and Wind-driven car projects.

We have dedicated academic advisors to support you during you time at Sussex and a team of student mentors. You will also be welcomed into our active, student-run engineering societies.

**Accreditation**

Start your career ahead of the competition with our respected industry accreditation.

**MEng or BEng?**

We also offer this course without the industrial placement year, as a four-year MEng, or as a five-year MEng with an industrial placement year.

**Location**

Study on our beautiful, green campus on the edge of the South Downs National Park and just minutes from the vibrant seaside city of Brighton & Hove. We’re near to Gatwick airport and just over an hour from London.

**About the University of Sussex**

Our courses, research, culture and campus aim to stimulate, excite and challenge. From scientific discovery to global policy, from student welfare to career development, Sussex innovates and takes a lead. And today, in every part of society and across the world, you'll find someone from Sussex making an original and valuable contribution.

Modules

See the modules you will study by year by going to the ‘visit our course page’ link at the bottom of the page.

Tuition fees

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

Channel Islands
£9,535
per year
England
£9,535
per year
EU
£26,250
per year
International
£26,250
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,535
per year
Republic of Ireland
£9,535
per year
Scotland
£9,535
per year
Wales
£9,535
per year

The Uni

Course location:

University of Sussex

Department:

Engineering and Design

Read full university profile

What students say

We've crunched the numbers to see if the overall teaching satisfaction score here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.

81%
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

44%
Staff make the subject interesting
81%
Staff are good at explaining things
60%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
62%
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

83%
Library resources
78%
IT resources
89%
Course specific equipment and facilities
65%
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?

64%
UK students
36%
International students
88%
Male students
12%
Female students
84%
2:1 or above
7%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

B
C
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.

£31,500
med
Average annual salary
90%
med
Employed or in further education
95%
high
Employed in a role where degree was essential or beneficial

Top job areas of graduates

44%
Engineering professionals
12%
Business, finance and related associate professionals
8%
Information technology and telecommunications 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.

£24k

£24k

£32k

£32k

£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.

This is what the university has told Ucas about the criteria they expect applicants to satisfy; some may be compulsory, others may be preferable.

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This is the percentage of applicants to this course who received an offer last year, through Ucas.

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This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

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Course location and department:

This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

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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.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

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.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

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.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

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.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

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

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

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