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Mechanical Engineering

BEng (Hons) or MEng

UCAS code: BEng: H300 MEng: H302

Start dates: September 2023 / September 2024

Full time: BEng: 3 years, or 4 years sandwich; MEng: 4 years, or 5 years sandwich

Part time: BEng: up to 8 years; MEng: up to 9 years

Location: Wheatley

Department(s): School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

Overview

Mechanical engineers use specialist knowledge to solve complex problems. Understand thermodynamics and you could uncover ways of improving the performance of internal combustion engines. Discover the properties of new materials and you could develop a new breakthrough in aerospace. Become an expert in stress analysis and you might save lives by making medical tech more durable and reliable.

Here at Oxford Brookes, you’ll learn to design, model and analyse systems. Figure out how they work and how you can make them better. You’ll gain new knowledge in everything from creative problem solving to design and modelling. And you’ll use advanced software and industry-standard machinery to put your ideas into practice.

Many of our graduates work towards Chartered Engineer status and go on to exciting careers in industry. Others take their design mindset and analytical skills and apply them to other areas, from commerce to starting a new business. Whatever route you choose, the skills you develop on this course will last a lifetime.

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Student working

Why Oxford Brookes University?

  • Learn by doing

    You’ll get practical experience using our workshop and lab equipment, designing systems and solutions throughout the course.

  • One seamless curriculum

    Everything you learn in year 1 will relate back to your Stirling engine project – this reflects how you’ll work in industry and gives you practical experience in a wide range of areas.

  • Help when you need it

    Our teaching staff have drop-in sessions for anyone who needs support. And our academic advisers will help you with your studies too.

  • Flexibility

    Study the BEng. Or the BEng then MEng. Or the BEng then MSc. Each route is accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and offers you a path to Incorporated or Chartered Engineer status.

  • Work experience

    A year in industry gives you valuable experience of the technical skills you’ve practised in the labs. You’ll also gain experience of recording your Continuing Professional Development (CPD) while studying.

  • Free language courses

    Free language courses are available to full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students on many of our courses, and can be taken as a credit on some courses.

  • Study abroad

    You may be able to go on a European or international study exchange while you are at Brookes. Most exchanges take place in the second year. Although we will help as much as we can with your plans, ultimately you are responsible for organising and funding this study abroad.

  • Accreditation(s)

    The BEng is accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as an Incorporated Engineer and partly meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer. The MEng is accredited by IET for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer. Both pathways are also accredited by The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).

    • Engineering Council
    • Institution of Engineering and Technology
    • Institution of Mechanical Engineers

Course details

Course structure

Your first year will prepare you for life as an engineer by bringing your key skills up to a high standard. You’ll study maths, engineering principles, design and management. You’ll spend plenty of time in the labs, familiarising yourself with equipment and understanding engineering systems. The Stirling engine project is a real highlight – every module in year 1 relates to it to give you a rounded picture of what it takes to design, develop and market a complete system.

In year 2 you’ll develop more advanced analytical skills in areas like stress analysis and dynamics. You’ll become more proficient on specialist software and you’ll work on group projects.

Your final undergraduate year is where you’ll really specialise, for example learning how to use advanced analysis tools at an advanced level and completing an engineering project with support from your tutors.

After the final year of the BEng, you can either graduate (meeting the academic requirement for Incorporated Engineer status), or progress on to the MEng (which means you’ll meet the requirements to be a Chartered Engineer). 

Student in workshop

Learning and teaching

Our teaching methods include seminars and lectures. You will have practical work in;

  • laboratories
  • computer labs
  • workshops.

You can choose to take a placement year after year 2. This is a great opportunity to develop some experience in a real industry setting, at companies like Black and Decker, Rolls-Royce or Norbar Torque Tools.

We emphasise the importance of information technology in modern engineering practice. In several modules, almost all our teaching involves computers and engineering software. 

Assessment

All your Year 1 modules involve continuous assessment.
 
In Years 2 and 3 we assess you through written examinations. However we assess some modules through coursework only.

Study modules

Year 1

Compulsory modules

Engineering Mathematics and Modelling I (double)

Engineering Design and Practice I (double)

Introduction to Thermo Fluids

Basic Electrical Engineering

Introduction to Statics and Dynamics

Introduction to Stress Analysis

Year 2

Compulsory modules

Design and Practice II (double)

Stress Analysis and Dynamics (double)

Control Technology

Engineering Mathematics and Modelling II

Thermo-Fluids

Materials Engineering

Year 3 (optional placement year)

Optional modules

Work placements

You will be encouraged to undertake a work placement for one year between the second and final years of your course. Placements are highly valued by prospective employers, as they recognise the benefits of obtaining industrial experience. Our work placement programme has been commended by professional bodies as a model of excellence. We have an excellent record of students gaining full-time employment on graduation with their industrial placement-year company. Students will typically have to arrange their own accommodation during their placement year and will have to cover their own transport and living costs. Previous students have gained placements with companies such as: Bentley; Black and Decker; BMW; CTG; Cummins Ltd; Delphi Diesel Systems; EP Barrus; Norbar Torque Tools; Rolls-Royce; Wheelright Ltd.

Year 4 (or year 3 if no placement)

Compulsory modules

Engineering Project

Management, Ethics, Energy and Sustainability

Advanced CAD/CAM

Advanced Stress Analysis

Advanced Dynamics and NVH

Design of Machines

Year 5 (MEng)

Compulsory modules

Group Design Project

Advanced Mechanical Engineering Design

Engineering Business Management

Advanced Strength of Components

Engineering Reliability and Risk Management

Please note: As our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, the modules you can choose from may vary from those shown here. The structure of the course may also mean some modules are not available to you.

Careers

Many industries depend on skilled engineers, so you’ll have a wide range of career options when you graduate. Aerospace, automotive and motorsport, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals – in fact any industry with complex machinery or demanding manufacturing challenges. We’ve made sure the course prepares you for life in industry so you’ll feel prepared for any opportunity.

Previous students have found jobs at companies like:

  • Mercedes High Performance Engines,
  • Rolls Royce Aerospace Engineering,
  • Pfizer,
  • Siemens Magnet Technology,
  • British Gas,
  • Thames Water,
  • European Space Agency,
  • JCB,
  • British Airways.

You might also like to consider staying on at Oxford Brookes to study our MSc or PhD options.

Our Staff

Miguel Fernandes Ferreira

Read more about Miguel

Entry requirements

Wherever possible we make our conditional offers using the UCAS Tariff. The combination of A-level grades listed here would be just one way of achieving the UCAS Tariff points for this course.

Standard offer

UCAS Tariff Points: 112 - 120

A Level: BBB - BBC or equivalent

IB Points: 30 - 31

BTEC: DDM - DMM

Contextual offer

UCAS Tariff Points:

A Level:

IB Points:

BTEC:

Further offer details

A levels: tariff points must include A level Grade B in Maths, and Grade B in Physics, Chemistry, Electronics, Engineering or another suitable science.  

BEng contextual offer points must include C in Maths and C in Physics, Chemistry, Electronics, Engineering or another science.  MEng contextual offer points must include B in Maths and C in Physics, Chemistry, Electronics, Engineering or suitable science

IB Diploma: 31 points (BEng) or 32 points (MEng) to include minimum grade 5 in Higher Level Maths and Physics

BEng contextual offer points must include 4 in HL Maths and Physics.  MEng contextual offer points must include 5 in HL Maths and 4 in HL Physics

BTEC: tariff points must include BTEC Extended Diploma in an engineering subject, plus a distinction in the Further Mathematics module.

BEng & MEng contextual offer points must include distinction in Maths.  

We welcome applications from candidates with equivalent alternative qualifications, and from mature students

International qualifications and equivalences

Tuition fees

Please see the fees note
Home (UK) full time
£9,250

Home (UK) part time
£1,155 per single module

Home (UK) sandwich (placement)
£1,500

International full time
£15,500

International sandwich (placement)
£1,500

Home (UK) full time
£9,250

Home (UK) part time
£1,155 per single module

Home (UK) sandwich (placement)
£1,500

International full time
£16,100

International sandwich (placement)
£1,500

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

Tuition fees

2022 / 23
Home (UK) full time
£9,250

Home (UK) part time
£1,155 per single module

Home (UK) sandwich (placement)
£1,500

International full time
£15,500

International sandwich (placement)
£1,500

2023 / 24
Home (UK) full time
£9,250

Home (UK) part time
£1,155 per single module

Home (UK) sandwich (placement)
£1,500

International full time
£16,100

International sandwich (placement)
£1,500

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

+44 (0)1865 483088

financefees@brookes.ac.uk

Please note, tuition fees for Home students may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students in line with an inflationary amount determined by government. Tuition fees for International students may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students.

Oxford Brookes University intends to maintain its fees for new and returning Home students at the maximum permitted level.

Additional costs

Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course are detailed below.

Information from Discover Uni

Full-time study

Part-time study

Full-time study

Part-time study

Programme changes:
On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been published on the website. For more information, please visit our changes to programmes page.