Mechanical and Electrical Engineering

Mechanical and electrical engineering together cover the physical and power-based foundations of nearly every manufactured system in the modern world, from motors, generators, and power distribution networks to the mechanisms, structures, and thermal systems that underpin industrial and consumer technology. Engineers who are competent in both mechanical and electrical domains are exceptionally versatile, able to work at the interface between systems in ways that specialists in one field alone cannot.

At Cardiff University this four-year full-time programme includes a year in industry as an integral part of the degree. The year in industry is a full year of professional engineering work in a company, giving you the kind of sustained, practical experience that cannot be replicated in a university setting alone. You will apply the technical skills you have developed, encounter real engineering problems and workplace dynamics, and build professional relationships that are valuable when you graduate.

The academic content covers the core of both disciplines: mechanics, thermodynamics, materials, and design from the mechanical side, alongside electrical circuits, power systems, electronics, and control from the electrical side. You will develop the mathematical rigour, problem-solving approach, and design methodology that employers in engineering expect. Cardiff's engineering faculty has strong industry links and research activity across both mechanical and electrical fields.

Graduates go on to careers in power generation and distribution, manufacturing, aerospace, automotive engineering, defence, building services, and systems integration. The breadth of the degree, combined with the year in industry, means you graduate with both technical competence and professional experience across a range of sectors. Many continue to charteredship routes or postgraduate study in engineering or engineering management.