BEng in Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering
Stellenbosch, South Africa
DURATION
4 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Feb 2025
TUITION FEES
ZAR 73,980 / per year
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Introduction
The Department of Mechanical Engineering was established in 1944 and contributed a solid basis to engineering training in South Africa. We are the first institution to offer a full degree programme in Mechatronics. In 2006 our name was changed to the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering. In this environment of world-class research and teaching innovation, our alumni/students are equipped for modern engineering challenges.
What is mechanical engineering?
Mechanical engineering is characterised by movement and energy transfer, such as vehicles, aeroplanes, vessels, missiles, cooling systems, power stations and engines. It includes machines used in all branches of the economy, such as process plants and manufacturing industries.
What do mechanical engineers do?
Mechanical engineers deal with the development and use of components, machines, systems, processes – anything that needs to be manufactured and anything that moves!
What is mechatronic engineering?
Mechatronic engineering is a combination of precision mechanical engineering, electronics and computer systems. A typical mechatronic system closely integrates mechanical components, electronic sensors, mechanical and electrical actuators and computer controllers, such as electronic engine control systems, robot systems and automated assembly lines.
What do mechatronic engineers do?
Practical skills in electronic design and control systems, combined with a strong understanding of mechanical design, allow a mechatronic engineer to design mechanical and electrical components that function together.
Professional accreditation and international recognition
All our BEng programmes are accredited by the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA), giving our graduates access to registration as Professional Engineers after acquiring the relevant experience in practice. In line with the Washington Accord, our BEng degrees are recognised worldwide in such countries as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America, to name a few.
Career Opportunities
In Mechanical Engineering
The multifaceted training of mechanical engineers leads to various professional careers that usually include the development, manufacturing and/or operation of products and systems. Mechanical engineers work in a whole range of companies, from large multinationals to smaller consulting partnerships.
In Mechatronics Engineering
Some mechatronic engineers work for large multinational corporations, but the diverse education of mechatronic engineers is highly sought after in smaller engineering concerns and serves as an excellent base for entrepreneurs. Mechatronic engineers are usually closely involved in the development or operation of systems that contain mechanical, electronic and/or electrical subsystems.
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Curriculum
At Stellenbosch University, many of the courses overlap, but the differences determine the focus of the two programmes. In the third year, Mechanical Engineering students will continue with the classical fields of structural mechanics, fluid dynamics and thermodynamics, culminating in a choice of specialisation in structural mechanics or fluid dynamics in the final year. Mechatronic Engineering students do not specialise in the last two years but take additional foundational courses in Electronic Engineering, including Computer Systems and Electronic Design.
Year 1
First Semester
- Applied Mathematics B
- Engineering Chemistry
- Engineering Mathematics
- Engineering Physics
- Intercultural Communication (Eng)
- Probability Theory and Statistics
- Engineering Drawings
Optional supplementary modules:
- Engineering Chemistry
- Engineering Drawings
Second Semester
- Applied Mathematics B
- Computer Programming
- Data Science
- Electrotechnique
- Engineering Mathematics
- Strength of Materials
Engineering:
- Chemistry C
- Electronic Engineering
- Engineering Physics
- Industrial Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Mechatronic Engineering
Year 2
First Semester
- Applied Mathematics B
- Electrotechnique
- Engineering Mathematics
- Strength of Materials
- Thermodynamics A
- Practical Workshop Training 211 (Elective)
Second Semester
- Engineering Mathematics
- Fluid Mechanics
- Introductory Machine Design
- Material Science A
- Numerical Methods
- Strength of Materials W
- Practical Workshop Training 241 (Elective)
Year 3
First Semester
- Complementary Studies (Eng)
- Electrical Drive Systems
- Philosophy and Ethics
- Machine Design A
- Modelling
- Strength of Materials W
- Technical Communication
Second Semester
- Control Systems
- Data Analytics (Eng)
- Machine Design B
- Thermofluid Dynamics
- Vacation Training
- Vibration and Noise
Year 4
Both Semesters
- Mechanical Project
First Semester
- Energy Systems M
- Heat Transfer A
- Mechatronics
- Project Management
- Choose one of the following elective modules:
- Finite Element Methods
- Maintenance Management
- Mechanical Engineering
- Numerical Fluid Dynamics
- Finite Element Methods
- Maintenance Management
- Mechanical Engineering
- Numerical Fluid Dynamics
Second Semester
- Environmental Engineering
- Introductory Systems Engineering
- Production Management
- Vacation Training
- Optional supplementary module:
- Finite Element Methods
- Finite Element Methods
Admissions
Program Outcome
Mechanical engineers’ most essential knowledge is built on a foundation of mathematics, physics and chemistry. Knowledge areas include heat transfer, fluid mechanics, structural mechanics, dynamics and mechanical design.
Students can choose one of three elective modules in their final year: finite element structural analysis, computational fluid dynamics or maintenance management. Students are also exposed to some of the core elements of mechatronic engineering.
Mechatronic Engineering consists of modules from the BEng (Mechanical) and BEng (Electrical and Electronic) programmes, built on a foundation of mathematics, physics and chemistry. The programme’s emphasis is on mechatronics, control systems, machine design, electronics and computer systems.