BEng Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering is the most versatile of the engineering disciplines and there exists a high and growing demand from industry for Graduate Mechanical Engineers.

Our accredited degree will place you at the heart of the modern industry, providing career opportunities in sectors such as:

• Aerospace, automotive and rail
• Energy and power generation
• Manufacturing engineering; product design, materials, production and processing.

You’ll combine mechanics, materials science, thermofluids and computational methods to design, analyse and implement complex systems which are economical, reliable, efficient and sustainable.

Professional accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

The BEng (Hons) will meet, in part, the exemplifying academic benchmark requirements for registration as a Chartered Engineer and students will need to complete an approved format of further learning pursuant to the requirements of UK-SPEC.

Throughout the degree, you’ll put theory into practice through a range of individual and group projects. For instance, year 1 will see you take part in three projects using your skills to design, build and test real mechanical devices.

You will have the opportunity to participate in the Formula Student competition, working with other students to design and build a single-seater racing car.

A 'sandwich' placement year in the industry enables you to build industry contacts while developing your skills and professional confidence.

On graduation you will be industry ready, with a grounding in engineering science and hands-on working knowledge of:

• the core analytical and advanced scientific principles and methods underpinning mechanical engineering;
• applied prototyping and analysis for efficient computer-aided design and manufacturing;
• integrated skills for complex engineered systems, including communication and project management skills, as well as advanced model-based systems analysis tools and techniques.

We encourage and support all our students towards a seamless transfer to our MEng programme at the end of either the first or second year. The MEng programme comprises an extra fourth academic year that combines in-depth study with the integrative skills expected by industry and provides the formal educational requirements for CEng registration.

Our BEng in Mechanical Engineering received 91% overall satisfaction in the National Student Survey 2021.

Programme options

We also offer a 3-year version of the BEng programme without the 'sandwich' placement year in the industry.

You may also be interested in our MEng Mechanical programmes. We offer a 4-year version of the MEng and a 5-year version with sandwich year. These programmes give you a Master's level degree on graduation, with the additional year enabling the further study of the technical and managerial aspects of mechanical engineering.

The programme is intended to produce graduates who possess the ability to apply their knowledge and understanding to be creative and competitive.

First year

Core

• Design, Build and Test (ENG4006-B)
• Mathematical Methods and Applications (ENM4004-B)
• Electronics and Mechanics (ELE4013-B)
• Engineering Materials (ENG4007-B)
• Thermofluids 1 (ENG4008-B)
• Computer-Aided Engineering (ENB4002-B)

Second year

Core

• Further Engineering Mathematics and Statistics (ENM5005-B)
• Materials and Manufacturing Technologies (ENG5059-B)
• Solid Mechanics and Vibration Analysis (MAE5013-B)
• Group Project (ENG5060-B)
• Instrumentation, Measurement and Control Systems (MHT5013-B)
• Thermofluids (MAE5012-B)

Final year

Core

• Individual Research Project (ENG6003-D)
• Integrated Design (ENG6004-B)
• Materials Failure Analysis and Reliability (MAE6018-B)

Option

• Sustainable Energy (ENG6005-B)
• Advanced Fluid Mechanics with Aerodynamics (MAE6013-B)
• Vehicle Design Analysis (MAE6017-B)
• Project Management and Six Sigma (ENB6010-B)
• Petroleum Engineering (CPE6006-B)

Sandwich year

This Mechanical Engineering programme offers you the opportunity to take up a placement year working in the industry in your third year.

The placement year is an excellent way to develop your professional experience, build industry contacts, and gain insight into the day-to-day work of a professional engineer.

During the second year, we’ll offer you all the support you need to find a placement that is aligned with your career aspirations and personal interests.

These include sessions on CVs, interviews etc. from the Careers Service at the University and presentations by both employers and previous year's students on their placements.

Once on placement, you’ll have support and guidance from a placements tutor, who will monitor your progress.

After completing your placement you’ll return to complete the final year of the programme, and apply all you’ve learnt to your final project.

Many students continue their relationship with their placement employers, working for them part-time or returning to work in graduate positions after finishing their studies.

Learning and assessment

Your learning experiences are varied – a mixture of:

• Formal lectures
• Practical lab sessions
• Tutorials and seminars
• Group work

Independent study is supported by our Virtual Learning Environment, Blackboard. Reading lists and suggested resources for independent study provide you with clear direction, while regular contact hours and informal feedback throughout the programme provide all the support you may need.

Study abroad

All of our programmes offer the opportunity to study abroad, with two semesters at an international partner institution.

Study support

Our comprehensive support services will help you to achieve your full potential – both academically and personally.

We provide all you need to make the very best of your time with us, and successfully progress through your studies and on into the world of graduate employment.

Our support services include:

• Personal tutors
• Disability services
• Counselling services
• MyBradford student support centres
• The Students’ Union
• Chaplaincy and faith advisers
• An on-campus nursery
• Halls wardens

We have well-stocked libraries and excellent IT facilities across campus. These facilities are open 24 hours a day during term time, meaning you’ll always find a place to get things done on campus.

Our Academic Skills Advice Service will work with you to develop your academic, interpersonal and transferable skills.

Research

The Faculty maintains an impressive reputation for quality in research. From blue skies to fundamental and application-oriented cutting edge research is carried out within the three Schools of the Faculty: Engineering; Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Media, Design and Technology.

Leading international academics and committed scholars to work within the dedicated research groups and centres.

Career support

The University is committed to helping students develop and enhance employability and this is an integral part of many programmes. Specialist support is available throughout the course from Career and Employability Services including help to find part-time work while studying, placements, vacation work and graduate vacancies.

Discussing options with specialist advisers helps to clarify plans by exploring options and refining skills in job-hunting. In most of our programmes, there is direct input by Career Development Advisers into the curriculum or through specially arranged workshops.

Career prospects

Mechanical Engineering is a very diverse sector and graduate engineers are in high demand around the world. The sector offers a wide range of exciting careers in positions including:

• Computer-Aided Design Engineer
• Product development Engineer
• Modelling and simulation analyst
• Manager
• Project Manager

Recent graduates from this course have gone on to work for Jaguar Land Rover, Ford Motor Company, Horiba MIRA, Cummins, Precision Casting Corporation, Denso Marston, Carnaud MetalBox.