Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering

Mechanical and manufacturing engineering is a discipline at the heart of how the physical products of modern life are designed, developed, and made. Mechanical engineering applies physics and mathematics to the design and analysis of machines, mechanisms, and systems that convert energy and transmit force. Manufacturing engineering focuses on the processes and systems by which products are made at scale, efficiently and to the required quality, drawing on materials science, production planning, automation, and supply chain management.

Together, they cover the full arc from concept to finished product, and their graduates contribute to healthcare, transport, aerospace, defence, and consumer goods.

At the University of Portsmouth this three-year full-time programme places you at the forefront of designing and building products that are smarter, faster, more efficient, and more sustainable. You will study mechanics, thermodynamics, materials, manufacturing processes, computer-aided design, and engineering management, developing the technical and analytical skills that modern engineering requires. A sandwich year and a year abroad are incorporated into the degree, and a work placement is built in, giving you substantial professional experience in an engineering environment and the chance to develop your skills in a real industrial context before you complete your studies.

Graduates in mechanical and manufacturing engineering are in demand across a very wide range of sectors, including automotive, aerospace, healthcare devices, renewable energy, consumer products, and advanced manufacturing. Roles include design engineer, manufacturing engineer, project engineer, and product development manager, with strong progression opportunities and well-established routes towards chartered engineer status. The combination of design and manufacturing understanding is particularly valuable in organisations that need engineers who can see a product from concept through to production.

Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in a specialism such as robotics, advanced manufacturing, or sustainable engineering.