Mechanical Engineering including an Industrial Year

Mechanical engineering is one of the broadest and most enduring engineering disciplines, concerned with the design, analysis, manufacture and maintenance of mechanical systems. From gas turbines, robotics and renewable energy equipment to vehicles, biomedical devices and the production machinery that makes modern manufacturing possible, mechanical engineering principles are applied wherever something moves, generates power or transfers heat. At the University of Nottingham, this four-year full-time degree includes both a foundation year option and an industrial year embedded in the structure, providing additional scientific preparation before the main degree and substantial professional experience during it, within one of the UK's leading engineering universities.

You will build a rigorous grounding in the core pillars of mechanical engineering, including statics and dynamics, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, materials science, solid mechanics, manufacturing processes and design methodology. Nottingham's programme is informed by an active engineering research environment, and you will engage with the frontiers of the discipline across areas including sustainable energy, advanced manufacturing, computational modelling and bioengineering. The industrial year, typically spent in an engineering company, gives you professional experience and the practical judgement that can only come from working as an engineer in a real organisation.

The foundation year provides the mathematical and physical science preparation for students who need it before engaging with the full degree. A typical tariff of around 136 points is expected.

Mechanical engineers work across aerospace, automotive, energy, manufacturing, construction, oil and gas, medical devices, defence and consultancy. Graduate roles include design engineer, project engineer, stress analyst, manufacturing engineer and technical consultant, and the profession offers strong routes to chartered engineer status through the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Postgraduate study is a well-trodden path for those seeking to specialise or move into research and development.