Mechanical Engineering BEng/BEng (Hons)



Work with the latest technology, learning to create engineering solutions and systems that have implications throughout modern society

Overview

Study mechanical engineering at Edinburgh Napier University and gain the opportunity to enter an exciting and varied field of engineering, allowing you to design and develop machinery we use every day including vehicles, building, healthcare and even space technology.

We will provide you with an introduction to engineering principles, ensuring you grasp the basic skills involved before progressing into more specialised areas such as thermodynamic systems and mechanics of materials.

As you advance through this course you’ll learn to apply and develop your skills to become proficient in the analysis and design of a range of engineering systems and applications, to prepare you for a professional role in the industry. You will also get the opportunity to undertake work placements that will give you essential industry experience and valuable contacts, helping to lead to future employment.

You’ll also learn about Computer Aided Engineering (CAE), which includes robotics and control, computer aided design software (CAD), computational analysis of fluid flow and heat transfer (CFD), structural analysis (FEA) and environmental impact assessments (LCA). Through this, you will graduate with a versatile degree that will allow you to embark on a career in many different industries.

As a graduate mechanical engineer, you could develop exciting new technologies that are essential for modern living, alter the way we use energy for the better, and have a profound effect on how we travel. In fact, you could have a hand in almost every aspect of people’s lives.

Today, mechanical engineers play a key role in producing the most innovative of technologies, such as the electric car, 3D printing, nanotechnology and renewable energy.

Bursary available for September 2023 entry

Scottish students who start this degree in September 2023 by direct entry to Year 2 or Year 3 of the programme, following an HNC or HND at a Scottish college, will be eligible for a bursary of £1200 in their year of entry to support their living costs in the transition to university. The bursary will be paid in two instalments of £600 in September and December 2023 following successful matriculation on the programme. This is payable in addition to any other financial support that students may be eligible for. For more information, contact studentrecruitment@napier.ac.uk.

Mechanical Engineering student Thomas working with equipment in the Sports lab.

Mode of Study:

Full-time

Duration:

4 years

Start date:

Sep

UCAS code:

H300

Placement:

Yes

Course details

The course focuses on learning engineering principles and practices, as well as computing skills and principles of design, relating to a wide range of mechanical engineering systems.

You'll also cover control and instrumentation systems, engineering applications, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and dynamics and statics. You will gain skills in a wide range of up-to-date industry standard design software and applications.

In year 1 you will learn fundamental principles underpinning both mechanical and electrical engineering sciences, and hands-on practical skills.

You will then progress on to year 2, further developing these fundamental skills while beginning to specialise in thermodynamics and mechanical engineering, while considering control and automation systems, key elements of design and engineering management skills.

In year 3, you continue to specialise in your chosen field, gaining insight in to manufacturing systems, materials properties and selection, and detailed design and innovation practices and management.

In your final year you will work on your honours project as well as gaining enhanced skills in thermodynamics, dynamics and statics.

  • calendar

    How you’ll be taught

     You will be taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials and seminars, and through practical hands on experience using up to date laboratory equipment.
  • note and pen

    Assessments

     Assessments will primarily be in the form of written coursework submissions and examinations.
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    Work placement

     You are encouraged to take an optional industrial placement in addition to taught modules. Though this is non-credited, our placements team will support you to find placement opportunities.

Popular modules

Year 1

  • Engineering Skills
  • Foundation Mathematics 
  • Mechanical Principles
  • Electrical and Electronic Principles
  • Engineering Practice
  • Mathematical Methods 1

Year 2

  • Engineering Design 1
  • Mechanics
  • Materials and Manufacture
  • Mathematical Methods 2
  • Thermofluids
  • Measurement and Instrumentation

Year 3

  • Engineering Applications (Mechanical)
  • Materials and Manufacture 2
  • Management for Engineers
  • Manufacturing Systems
  • Energy Systems Design
  • Engineering Design 2 (Honours) or Individual Project (Ordinary Degree)

Year 4

  • Adv Engineering Mechanics
  • Dynamics
  • Advanced Energy Systems 1
  • Advanced Energy Systems 2
  • Honours Project

RECOGNISED BY

Disclaimer

Study modules mentioned above are indicative only. Some changes may occur between now and the time that you study.

Full information is available in our disclaimer.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

Our entry requirements indicate both Standard and Minimum qualifications with which we normally accept students. Competition for places varies from year to year and you aren't guaranteed a place if you meet the minimum qualifications.

Minimum Year 1

SQA Higher

Standard Entry Requirement

BBBB including Maths and a Science (excluding Biology) or Technical Subject*. Please note that grade B must be achieved in at least one of these required subjects.

National 5 Grade C in English.

Minimum Offer Entry Requirement

BCCC including Maths and a Science (excluding Biology) or Technical Subject*. Please note that grade B must be achieved in at least one of these required subjects.

National 5 Grade C in English.

You may be given an adjusted offer of entry if you meet our specified minimum entry requirements within our widening participation criteria, and outlined in our Contextual Admissions Policy. Click here for further information about our entry requirements and admissions policies.

A Level

CCC including Maths and a Science (excluding Biology) or Technical Subject*

GCSE Grade C/4 in English.

Irish Leaving Certificate

H2, H3, H3, H3 at HL including Maths and a Science (excluding Biology) or Technical Subject*

OL English at O4.

BTEC (QCF) Extended Diploma Level 3

MMM (Merit, Merit, Merit) in a related subject. BTEC must include Maths but if not we would accept A Level Maths at Grade C as an alternative.

GCSE Grade C/4 in English.

BTEC (QCF) Diploma Level 3 plus A Level

MM (Merit, Merit) in a related subject plus A Level Grade C. BTEC must include Maths/A Level Grade C in Maths.

GCSE Grade C/4 in English.

International Baccalaureate Diploma

Award of Diploma with 28 points overall with three HL subjects at grades 6, 5, 4 including a Science (excluding Biology) or Technical Subject* with minimum grade 5.

Grade 5 in SL Maths and grade 4 in SL English.

T-Level

Grade Pass

T Level must be completed in an Engineering subject or include Science (not Biology) and Maths components. Alternatively, A Level Maths and a Science (not Biology) would be required. Please contact ugadmissions@napier.ac.uk to check if you meet the subject specific requirements.

GCSE Grade C/4 in English.

 

Technical subjects accepted

*Physics, Engineering Science, Design & Manufacture, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Graphic Communication, Computing Science, Design & Technology.

Minimum Year 2

SQA Advanced Higher

BBC including Maths and a Science (excluding Biology) or a Technical Subject*

National 5 Grade C in English.

A Level

BBB including Maths and a Science (excluding Biology) or Technical Subject*

GCSE Grade C/4 in English.

HNC

Pass HNC in a relevant subject with Grade B in the graded unit.

Must include passes in the modules Engineering Maths 1, 2 and 3, Thermofluids and Statics and Strength of Materials.

Technical subjects accepted

*Physics, Engineering Science, Design & Manufacture, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Graphic Communication, Computing Science, Design & Technology.

Minimum Year 3

HND

Pass HND in a relevant subject with Grade B at SCQF Level 8 in all graded units.

Must include passes in the modules Engineering Maths 1, 2, 3 and 4, Thermofluids and Statics and Strength of Materials.

DUT

Pass DUT in a relevant subject with overall grade 12 to include English at 11 in final year of studies.

Minimum Year 4

Irish Ordinary Degree

Pass in a relevant subject with 50% overall, with a minimum of 50% at first sitting in all final year subjects.

English language requirements

If your first language isn't English, you'll normally need to undertake an approved English language test and our minimum English language requirements will apply.

This may not apply if you have completed all your school qualifications in English. Check our country pages to find out if this applies to you.

We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.
Entry requirements by country

Please note that international students are unable to enrol onto the following courses:
  • BN Nursing/MSc Nursing (Pre-registration) (Adult, Mental Health, Child, Learning Disabilities)
  • BM Midwifery/MM Midwifery
  • All Graduate Apprenticeship courses.

See who can apply for more information on Graduate Apprenticeship courses.

We’re committed to admitting students who have the potential to succeed and benefit from our programmes of study. 

Our admissions policies will help you understand our admissions procedures, and how we use the information you provide us in your application to inform the decisions we make.

Undergraduate admissions policies
Postgraduate admissions policies

Get ahead

Mechanical engineers have creative minds, great team working skills and they love problem solving. Does this sound like you?

School subjects for a mechanical engineering course usually include Maths, English and Sciences. Other subjects that also teach you key skills required for this course are Design, Business Management, Computing and Technology.

Coming from college?

Edinburgh Napier University accept direct entry for students coming from college, so if you are already studying engineering you could gain advanced entry into second year and continue your studies to receive your honours degree in mechanical engineering.

Fees & funding

The course fees you'll pay and the funding available to you will depend on a number of factors including your nationality, location, personal circumstances and the course you are studying. We also have a number of bursaries and scholarships available to our students.

Tuition fees
Students from 2023/24 2024/25
Scotland £1,820 £tba
England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland £9,250 £tba
Overseas and EU £17,580 tba
Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland will be invoiced the tuition fees for 3 years of their 4 years of study. The University offers a range of attractive Tuition Fee bursaries to students resident in specific countries. More information on these can be found here.
Please note tuition fees are subject to an annual review and may increase from one year to the next. For more information on this and other Tuition Fee matters please see Frequently Asked Questions about Fees Click this link for Information of Bursaries and Scholarships
If additional compulsory costs other than the tuition fees are applicable, these will be detailed in the course details.
Please note that the tuition fees liable to be paid by EU nationals commencing their studies from 1 August 2021 will be the Overseas fee rate. The University offers a range of attractive Tuition Fee bursaries to students resident in specific countries. More information on these can be found here.


Careers

Person walking through Tinker studio surrounded by displays

What can you do with a Mechanical Engineering degree?

An undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering is a sought-after and skillful profession that most industries rely on. As a graduate in this field, you will be able to choose where you want to specialise.

Given the broad nature of the discipline, you may find yourself working in any one of a wide variety of fields, ranging from:

  • Manufacturing
  • Automotive
  • Robotics
  • Aerospace
  • Construction
  • Energy sector 

Our course also equips you with key transferable skills in computing, maths and project management which will allow you to pursue a career in software, finance and management roles.

Mechanical engineering offers a rewarding salary for workers in the UK and beyond. The average salary for Mechanical Engineering professionals is £42,200 in the UK.

What do Mechanical Engineers do?

Mechanical engineers make a positive impact on our daily lives and we depend on them even when we don’t know it. They are responsible for developing technologies we need to live, making a difference to the way we use energy and how we travel.

Recently, mechanical engineering has played a key role in emerging fields of technology such as renewable energy, electric vehicles, biomechanics, nanotechnology and 3D printing.

If you are creative and enjoy working with machines, then a degree in mechanical engineering would set you up for an exciting career path where you can bring your ideas to life.

 

Engineer working on a motorbike