Mechanical Engineering 2012
"I feel the course has strengthened my presentation and computer skills."
Maria Rae
Our degrees are designed to be relevant to the real world of industry and the needs of today’s engineers. They are designed to give you a thorough grounding followed by opportunities to specialise, in particular in the areas of structures and materials, and robotics and control, with Formula Student used as a uniting theme.
Teaching is underpinned by up-to-date laboratory and computing facilities. We enhance your learning experience by ensuring that our programmes are fully up-to-date and offer a wide range of expertise, along with extensive research interests and collaboration with industry and commerce.
Factfile
| Minimum Entry Requirements | MEng: A level grades AAA BEng: A level grades AAB If you are an international student and you don’t meet the entry requirements to this degree, we offer the International Foundation Year. All applicants should also adhere to the University's General Entrance Requirements. |
|---|---|
| Required Subjects | Mathematics A level (or equivalent) is required for all programmes. Physics A level (or equivalent) is also normally required. |
| English Language Requirements | An IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent for non-native-English-speaking applicants. If you are an international student and you are concerned that your English is not to the required standard, you may benefit from our International Foundation Year. Please note that the University of Surrey offers English language programmes and is also an IELTS Test Centre. |
| Other Suitable Qualifications | Higher grades refer to MEng programme. BTEC National Diploma - DDD (in an appropriate subject with an appropriate Level 3 qualification in Mathematics) A wide range of other qualifications will be considered on an individual basis. International students studying for an overseas qualification that does not meet the standard required for first-year entry will be referred to the International Foundation Year run by the University of Surrey. |
| Selection Process | Offers are normally made in terms of grades. We do not include General Studies in our offers. Suitable candidates will be invited to an Open Day. During the visit to the University the candidate can find out more about the programme and meet staff and students. Candidates unable to visit the University will be considered based on their UCAS application. |
| Professional Recognition | Fully accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) as fastest route to Chartered Engineer status (CEng). |
Degrees
Degree Programmes
BEng (Hons) Degrees
| Degree | UCAS code | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| * Programme includes a professional training year | ||
| BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering | H300 | 3 years |
| BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering | H301 | 4* years |
MEng Degrees
| Degree | UCAS code | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| * Programme includes a professional training year | ||
| MEng Mechanical Engineering | H309 | 4 years |
| MEng Mechanical Engineering | H303 | 5* years |
Degrees
Degree Programmes
BEng (Hons) Degrees
| Degree | UCAS code | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| * Programme includes a professional training year | ||
| BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering | H300 | 3 years |
| BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering | H301 | 4* years |
MEng Degrees
| Degree | UCAS code | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| * Programme includes a professional training year | ||
| MEng Mechanical Engineering | H309 | 4 years |
| MEng Mechanical Engineering | H303 | 5* years |
Our Degrees
Almost everything that we associate with daily life in this technological age involves the work of professional mechanical engineers. They are involved in the design, supply, operation and performance of complex technologies for applications including aircraft, satellites, engines, robots, automobiles, production lines, construction machinery and medical equipment.
Their work is creative, varied, challenging and responsible. It is also respected, well rewarded and offers enormous potential for outstanding career success. Mechanical engineers frequently occupy key positions in senior management and are sought after for their highly developed analytical, computing and managerial abilities.
Our degrees offer you choices for broad-based or specialist study, geared to the realities of industry and commerce today. Designed to equip you with the knowledge and experience required of professional engineers, teaching is delivered through lectures, tutorials and seminars, supported by laboratory classes where you can test out the theory.
An advantage of our Mechanical Engineering and related programmes in Aerospace Engineering and Medical Engineering is a common first year. This introduces you to the broad basis of mechanical engineering and ensures that you can communicate with engineers of different specialisations. It also allows you to confirm or change your degree choice.
Our programmes are fully accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and so provide you with the best route to Chartered Engineer status.
Other degrees you may be interested in:
Aerospace Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Civil Engineering
Medical Engineering
Programme
Programme Overview
At Level 1, not only will you study the technical topics like mechanics, design and thermodynamics, but you will also develop the key broader transferable skills of communication and teamwork. You will have the opportunity to work in a team in the ‘design-make-evaluate’ project, which pulls together knowledge from across the programme.
Level 2 provides you with a comprehensive range of mechanical engineering subjects, supported by extensive laboratory work, which will prepare you for your professional training year.
At Level 3, if you are a BEng student, you will study four core modules including an extensive group design project, individual project and management modules, plus five optional modules. Recent examples of projects include ‘Formula Student engine development’, ‘Robot Martian Rovers’ and ‘Sailing yacht keel design’. If you are an MEng student, emphasis is placed on further development of your selected technical specialisation and managerial expertise.
At Level M (MEng only), you will study theory and application to a greater depth and breadth, including an extensive individual research project in collaboration with industry. You will also benefit from multidisciplinary design work with students from other engineering departments to simulate an industrial engineering context.
MEng and BEng Transfer
Direct entry to the MEng programme normally requires higher qualifications, but transfer from the BEng to the MEng is possible during the degree programme, depending on academic performance. This would normally happen after Level 2. Transfer is also possible from the MEng and BEng programmes without a professional training year to ones with (and vice versa). This transfer can be made after Level 1, giving students who were initially undecided time to consider the benefits of the professional training year.
Programme Structure
Level 1
Modules include:
- Transferable Skills
- Mathematics
- Statics and Dynamics
- Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics
- Introduction to Electronics
- Experimental Methods
- Design and Component Production
- Design-Make-Evaluate Project
Level 2
Modules include:
- Mathematics
- Design
- Control
- Mechanics of Solids
- Fluid Mechanics
- Thermodynamics
- Instrumentation
- Engineering Experiments
- Engineering Management
- Vehicle Dynamics
Level P
- Optional professional training year
Level 3
Modules include:
- Design
- Advanced Stress Analysis
- Dynamics
- Propulsion
- Business Management
- Project
- Numerical Methods
- Power Transmissions
- Control Systems Engineering
- Applied Vehicle Dynamics
- Electro-mechanical Systems
- Applied Fracture Mechanics
Level M (MEng only)
Modules include:
- Advanced Electro-mechanical Systems
- Advanced Manufacturing Systems
- Strategic Management
- Research Project
- Multidisciplinary Design Project
Professional Training
Professional placements are an important aspect of all our sandwich programmes. They allow you to gain ‘real life’ hands-on experience that you cannot learn in a lecture theatre. In addition to applying and enhancing skills as you study, you will find the professional training year invaluable towards the later stages of your studies and in your career development.
The enhanced interpersonal and management skills you will also learn during the year are highly valued by employers and will provide you with an even greater head start in the jobs market.
This optional year also provides an opportunity to earn a salary (typically £14,900 per year), as while you are on your placement you are paid by your employer but are still a member of the University.
Many students are offered subsequent employment by the firms with which they spend their placement year.
Companies that participate in the scheme include 2H Offshore Engineering, Air Products, Bentley, Vauxhall Motors, BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce plc, APPlus IDIADA (Spain) and INA Walzlager Schaeffler KG (Germany).
Why Surrey?
Key reasons to study Mechanical Engineering 2012 at Surrey
- Opportunities to apply knowledge to group and individual project work
- Home to a Rolls-Royce-funded University Technology Centre
- ‘Formula Student’ racing car projects for BEng and MEng
- Professionally accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE)
- Programmes enhanced by closely related disciplines at the University
- A flexible degree structure with both MEng and BEng degrees with a wide range of specialist options
Careers
Top for Jobs
Graduates over the last few years entered employment in roles such as:
- Mott MacDonald – Graduate Engineer
- QinetiQ – Research Engineer
- Rolls-Royce – Graduate Trainee
- Kellogg, Brown & Root (KBR) – Project Support Engineer
Career Opportunities
Our graduate employment record is truly outstanding. The University of Surrey is consistently at or very close to the top of the league table for graduate employment. This is due to the professional focus of our degrees, with accreditation by professional institutions, and the quality of our professional training scheme.
Most of our graduates proceed directly to employment in an engineering profession, with an average starting salary of £25,000. Typical careers span a wide range – professional mechanical engineering, general engineering and manufacturing.
Employers include some of the most famous names in engineering, aerospace, energy, telecommunications and research. A small but significant number of students take higher degrees at Surrey and elsewhere.
More
Teaching
We recognise that each student is an individual with a unique academic background. We attempt to meet these differences with a blend of teaching methods ranging from lectures and group tutorials to small class groups in laboratories, plus developing online teaching resources.
You will be allocated a personal tutor to guide you through the programme and advise on option and career choices, helping you get the most from your studies with us.
Your communication skills, vital to professional mechanical engineers, are developed in communications and information technology modules where you will explore the whole spectrum of communication media, from chalk-and-talk to state-of-the-art computer software presentation packages.
Facilities
Specialised facilities include:
- An engine test cell with three diverse engines
- Six wind tunnels including an environmental wind tunnel, unique within the UK, and high-quality instrumentation
- Mechatronics and robotics laboratories
- A specialist medical engineering laboratory
Assessment
Degrees are awarded on a combination of examinations and continuous assessment, in the form of coursework, projects, laboratory assessments and presentations. Our students generally find this combination helps them to plan their time more effectively.
Level 1 marks do not count towards your degree but allow us to see that you are making good progress. For BEng programmes your final degree class is based on Levels 2 and 3, plus the professional training year if taken. MEng degrees are assessed on Levels 2, 3 and M, plus the professional training year if taken.
Taster Courses
We run taster courses for Year 12 students each July. Living on-campus, you learn about what engineering is, what it has to offer, and what you need to know to be successful in the field. Please contact us for further details.