MEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering

Core Units

• Academic Study Skills for Engineering and Technology: You will gain the fundamental academic and research skills required for degree level study. The unit will introduce you to a broad grounding in literature searching, literature review, data collection, methodological approach, data analysis and interpretation and ethical practice. It will also support you to begin to develop a critical and analytical approach to your work and identify areas for personal development. 
• Introduction to Computers: This unit will enable you to develop a basic knowledge and understanding of computer technology and its role in the modern world. It will also cover a range of practical computing skills and techniques you will need to be prepared for studying at degree level.
• Mathematics for Engineering and Technology: Mathematics develops analytical and problem-solving skills and provides the knowledge to solve engineering and coding problems. This unit will provide you with confidence in mathematics and enable you to perform calculations on a range of scientific data from engineering, creative technologies and computing disciplines. 
• Introduction to Engineering Science: Engineering science is a broad discipline that encompasses many different scientific principles and associated mathematics that underpins engineering. This unit will enable you to develop a basic understanding of a range of fundamental scientific principles to solve elementary engineering problems.
• Introduction to Computer-Aided Design Tools: This unit has been designed to enable you to use CAD tools to create basic 3D solid models and assemblies and to produce orthographic drawings. Computer Aided Design (CAD) tools are used in engineering to communicate ideas and share design intent and are therefore a fundamental skill for engineers.  
• Foundation Year Engineering and Technology Project: You will design, carry out and report on an engineering or technological investigation, based on an agreed topic chosen by the unit leader. You will carry out a research task for further investigation. With a focus on global context and sustainability, the student will also produce a literature review.

Core units

• Engineering Design with Practice: This unit will enable you to apply key engineering tools, methodologies and strategies that are required to identify design constraints, mechanical systems and utilise analytical methods to establish an engineering design solution.
• Engineering Principles A: You will develop the ability to apply a range of principles to the design of components, structures and machines and operation of mechanical systems.
• Engineering Principles B: This unit will develop your application of mechanical engineering principles to generate and develop reliable solutions surrounding design and engineering problems.
• Materials with Practice: This unit will provide you with the ability to identify, plan and apply skills that are necessary for the selection and specification of suitable materials and production techniques for design.
• Electrical and Electronic Principles: You will be introduced to and develop an understanding of the principles required to design electrical and electronic systems within an engineering project.
• Engineering Mathematics: This unit will enable you to extract and evaluate pertinent data and apply this to engineering analysis techniques in the solution of unfamiliar problems. You will gain a firm grounding in mathematical and statistical methods necessary within the engineering field.

Core units

• Manufacturing and Engineering Materials: In this unit you will develop not only understanding surrounding properties and uses of engineering materials but also the requirements of modern manufacturing for design and engineering applications.
• Stress and Dynamics: You will develop a further working knowledge, understanding and application of an increased range of mechanical engineering principles relevant to the design of components, structures and machines.
• Engineering Simulation: In this unit you will take part in engineering design practices and learn about new technologies for mechanical and electronic concepts. You'll become familiar with industry standard simulation technologies.
• Fluids and Thermodynamics: This unit will provide you with knowledge on the principal laws and processes of engineering thermodynamics, fluid mechanics and dynamics, and also of fluids and thermodynamics equipment and processes, in order to solve real-world problems.
• Management and Commercialisation: This unit will introduce students to key aspects of business and management that relate to the development and delivery of commercial value, and the issues facing business functions such as marketing, operations and finance.
• Engineering Mathematics for Mechanical Systems Design: You will use mathematical and statistical methods to generate engineering solutions that meet all aspects of the problem including production, operation and maintenance. Additional experience will surround gaining proficiency in the modelling, analysis and design of mechanical systems.

You will complete a minimum 30-week industrial work placement which can be carried out anywhere in the world. You'll get an opportunity to include a period of academic study during this time. The placement year offers a chance to gain experience and make contacts for the future.

• Engineering Project: You will develop an individual project which assesses your creative problem-solving skills in engineering design, combined with your mathematical modelling and analytical engineering skills.
• Thermofluids and Energy Conversion: In this unit you will examine the relationship of heat transfer, types and the characteristics of thermofluids and refrigeration cycles, and develop solutions to a range of complex engineering processes and problems, involving heat, fluids and energy conversion.
• Business Development: Approaches to strategic management and thinking will be examined to capitalise on your entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen.
• Advanced Stress and Vibration: This unit will provide you with comprehensive knowledge entailing analytical design methods of structural components and structures. You will then apply this in the analysis and design of complex components and structures and predict their performance.
• Computational Engineering: You will develop the ability to apply analytical methods efficiently and effectively in the analysis and design of complex components and structures, and predict their performance in service using both analytical and computer tools.

• Group Project A: This unit will develop essential management skills required to lead a professional team towards a successful solution of a technical problem. You will also develop strategies for team building and conflict resolution on a holistic approach to management.
• Project Management: This unit will provide you with knowledge and understanding of project management techniques required to achieve engineering and design objectives. There will be a focus on soft skills of people management within a project environment.
• Group Project B: This will further develop the skills of the previous unit in terms of team management. You will work on advanced problem-solving skills by applying an integrated or systems approach to a complex engineering problem within a team, while maintaining a view of commercial and industrial constraints.
• Structural Integrity: Within this unit you will be provided with an extensive understanding and application of structural integrity theories. This will facilitate you in developing professional competence and critical awareness in the selection of methods for designing and analysing structural components.
• Materials Failure and Prevention: This unit will provide a firm understanding of the more common failures that materials encounter in service or during processing. You will develop a critical understanding of how design and manufacturing influence the susceptibility of materials to fail, and learn how to tackle a forensic engineering investigation.
• Advanced Materials: In this unit you will gain expertise in a variety of analytical techniques for materials characterisation and their applications at the cutting edge of the field. You will gain knowledge around properties and performance of materials at nano level and the concept of self-healing in materials and how it can be used to increase the life of components.

Programme specifications provide definitive records of the university's taught degrees in line with Quality Assurance Agency requirements. Every taught course leading to a BU Award has a programme specification which describes its aims, structure, content and learning outcomes, plus the teaching, learning and assessment methods used.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the programme specification, the information is liable to change to take advantage of exciting new approaches to teaching and learning as well as developments in industry.

If you have been unable to locate the programme specification for the course you are interested in, it will be available as soon as the latest version is ready. Alternatively please contact us for assistance.

With practical learning being integral to your degree, we provide industry standard specialist facilities. 
 
We continue to invest in our campuses so all our students can maximise their talents today and into the future. 
 
Visit our virtual tour to find out more and get a feel for where you’ll be studying while you’re based on our Talbot Campus. 

A placement should be a highly rewarding experience for you and the employing company and we do our best to ensure that everyone involved feels that they have got the most that they can from the experience.

Placements provide a great opportunity to make your first career steps and enhance your employability while you’re completing your studies. You’ll get the opportunity to:

• Put the theory learnt throughout the course into professional practice
• Enhance your study and help you decide on subject options (where appropriate)
• Learn a wide range of skills such as time management, problem solving and team work (all of these are important to succeed in any career)
• Make contacts, as it is not uncommon for our students to be offered permanent positions to return to after graduating
• Gain a real insight into how the industry operates in roles that would be almost impossible to achieve for an outsider
• Many of our students, during their placement, are given responsibilities normally associated with graduate trainees.

You will begin your placement after completion of your second year of study and you must complete a minimum 30 weeks.

The faculty running your course will offer the support of a Placement Coordinator. 

They’ll help you plan your placement so make sure you get the right experience for you. That includes offering help and support if you need to move to another part of the UK – and even another country – to get the most out of your time.

We’ve also built close industry links over the years – so our network of employers that are keen to work with placement students is always growing. Or if you’d prefer to arrange your placement independently, we can offer advice on how to do that too.

• Jaguar Cars Ltd
• Xerox
• Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd
• Dyson Appliances Ltd
• The Gillette Company. 

AccessBU: AccessBU provides you with the opportunity to tell us about your circumstances that are not always evident in your UCAS application. This widening access initiative also considers relevant criteria such as being in care or if you live in an area with a low participation rate in Higher Education - if you are eligible, your offer could be up to 16 UCAS tariff points below the published tariff.

Apprenticeships: We recognise the transferable knowledge and skills gained through apprenticeships and welcome applications from students with a Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship recognised by the Institute for Apprenticeships. Each application will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Deferred entry: We are happy to consider eligible applicants for deferred entry. If you have already submitted your application, please submit your deferral request through our website. 

Direct entry: We welcome applications from students who have previously studied at degree level at other institutions and wish to transfer onto a BU course. Our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) procedure enables credit awarded from one institution to contribute to a BU award, subject to an application process. Please visit our RPL webpage for more information.

Mature applicants: We recognise that mature applicants may have a wealth of experience rather than formal qualifications, so we’ll consider your application on these merits if included in your application. You’ll need to apply to BU in the usual way through UCAS and you may be invited to an interview to discuss your suitability for the course based on the experience you tell us about in your application.

We select candidates for this course by looking at your application; there are usually no interviews or selection activities needed. For that reason, make sure your application really stands out from the crowd, and leave us in no doubt as to why you should be joining BU. You can find some handy hints about filling in your UCAS form on our how to apply web pages.

We look at individual applications and make a tailored offer based on your potential to succeed on the course considering a range of factors, including your academic achievements, work and other experience, reference and personal statement, and in some cases, your performance at an interview or a portfolio review. Typically, we make an offer at the bottom of the tariff range.

AccessBU gives you the chance to tell us more about you and your life experiences if you haven’t had the same educational opportunities as other applicants. If you are eligible for AccessBU, your offer could be up to 16 UCAS Tariff Points below the published tariff.

Our offer-making will typically be based on your most recent qualifications, including any required subjects where applicable. We'll consider all qualifications when assessing your application, although these may not be part of our offer.

If you do not meet the criteria of your original offer, we may still offer you a place. We will review your whole application and consider all academic qualifications (including those not in the offer) to see if you have the academic potential to succeed on the course. If we feel the answer is yes, we will confirm your place.

These courses have compulsory manufacturing elements, using machinery in workshops. Students must complete a health and safety risk assessment before using the workshops, for their safety and that of others. As part of that assessment students provide information about any conditions or disabilities that might affect their ability to undertake manufacturing fully or safely.

If you have such a condition or disability, please let us know as soon as possible. You can contact our Additional Learning Support (ALS) service about this before or after making an application. We will then work with you to identify any support or adjustments you would need. Our ALS team works with the Faculty to seek to put in place reasonable adjustments and health and safety plans.

Exceptionally, it may not be possible to arrange for a student to access these courses without either over-riding their core standards or competencies or creating unacceptable risks to health and safety. If that is the case we will help you explore alternative course choices.

• Construction project manager
• Graduate infrastructure engineer
• Sales application engineer
• Mechanic design engineer
• Design engineer
• FEA engineer
• Mechanical engineer
• Production manager.

• Engineering
• Industrial design
• Automotive
• Aerospace
• Construction.

Once you have completed an undergraduate Honours degree, you can further develop your education by studying for a postgraduate degree. Please visit our Postgraduate section for further details about our range of Master's degrees.

This course is accredited by the Institution of Engineering Designers (IED) to fully meet the exemplifying academic benchmark requirements for registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng) for 2019-2023 intake years.

This course is also accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) to fully meet the exemplifying academic benchmark requirements for registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng) for 2020-2023 intake years.

These accreditations mean that you will have all the skills you need to get started in the industry as soon as you graduate.

What’s included in your tuition fee?

Your tuition fee covers expenses associated with your course, including tuition materials, access to facilities, mandatory field trips and the following:

• Materials for laboratory and mandatory field-based teaching activity.
• Support for finding placements (UK or abroad) and fieldwork, and non-financial support whilst on placement if this is part of your course of study.
• A range of student services – advisors, help desks, counsellors, placement support and careers service.
• The Library – access to a wide range of electronic resources (databases, e-journals and e-books), print and multimedia collections, subject librarians and study spaces.
• Access to Brightspace, our virtual learning environment, which offers a responsive and personalised learning experience with powerful learning analytics capabilities, integrated social media and advanced video features.
• IT labs (some open 24/7), wireless network, AV equipment to borrow.
• Free software download to your personal device of Microsoft Office 365 ProPlus while you are studying, as well as access to applications provided on AppsAnywhere, subject to licensing and compatibility restrictions.
• Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) scheme.
• Disability and additional learning support, according to individual circumstances.
• The BU Language Centre to help you develop/improve foreign or English language skills.
• 24 hours a day, 365 days a year security team.
• A2-A0 Plots for CAD coursework.
• Loan of lab coats and safety glasses.

Additional costs

We are committed to offering you value for money and ensuring there are no hidden costs while you are studying with us, therefore we have listed below any additional costs you may incur that are not covered by your tuition fee:

For September 2023 entry:

• Laptops, tablets and mobile devices and any software used on personal devices. Access to a personal computer is strongly recommended for your study. If you are experiencing financial difficulty, visit our website for information regarding hardship funds.
• Textbooks, general stationery and other supplies. Our award-winning library is stocked with a large range of textbooks and online resources, free of charge. The Students’ Union shop stocks a wide range of stationery supplies.
• Accommodation and living costs. Please visit our website for more information.
• Travel costs for optional field trips, outdoor wear and footwear for mandatory and optional field trips (if applicable).
• Travel costs to and from the University campus. An annual bus pass can be purchased alongside your rent if you are living in halls of residence/Unilet accommodation or may be purchased separately.
• Travel costs to and from your placement (both in the UK and overseas) if this is part of your course of study. Information about funding your placement year can be found on our website.
• Clothing or equipment costs required for your placement if this is part of your course of study.
• SportBU membership.

For September 2024 entry:

• Laptops, tablets and mobile devices and any software used on personal devices. Access to a personal computer is strongly recommended for your study. If you are experiencing financial difficulty, visit our website for information regarding hardship funds.
• Textbooks, general stationery and other supplies. Our award-winning library is stocked with a large range of textbooks and online resources, free of charge. The Students’ Union shop stocks a wide range of stationery supplies.
• Accommodation and living costs. Please visit our website for more information.
• Travel costs for optional field trips, outdoor wear and footwear for mandatory and optional field trips (if applicable).
• Travel costs to and from the University campus. An annual bus pass can be purchased alongside your rent if you are living in halls of residence/Unilet accommodation or may be purchased separately.
• Travel costs to and from your placement (both in the UK and overseas) if this is part of your course of study. Information about funding your placement year can be found on our website.
• You will need to meet the cost of any Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check if required by your placement setting, including any Post Office verification charges.
• Clothing or equipment costs required for your placement if this is part of your course of study.
• SportBU membership.

While all aspects of the programme, including required field trips, are included in the fee, additional, optional or extra curricula activities may be available for which a student contribution is required.

If you need to repeat one or more units during your studies (with or without attendance) the pricing will be pro-rata of the full-time fee.

During his time here at BU as a PhD student, Ben worked with the RNLI to investigate friction and wear problems on the slipway when launching lifeboats.

Ben has continued to be active in sustainable design research and recent research work includes collaboration with SKF, Longitude Consulting Engineers Ltd., the Balmain trust and ongoing research collaboration with the RNLI and other colleagues within the Department of Design & Engineering.