Mechanical Engineering MEng

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Why choose Brighton?

• Exciting project work including rocket cars, robots and the international Engineering Without Borders challenge.
• Learn with internationally recognised researchers who are part of our Advanced Engineering Centre. Areas of research expertise include remanufacturing, fluid mechanics and thermodynamics.
• Accredited by IMechE and IET.
• Specialist facilities include flight and car simulators, wind tunnel, prototyping labs and workshops, CNC machines, and robotics and VR labs.
• Student-led Sustainable Technology and Engineering Projects (STEP) lab – working to solve energy challenges.
• Professional engineers visit to share their experiences in guest lectures. 
• Gain a year of work experience on placement. 

Year 1

In your first year, you will be introduced to the principles of mechanical engineering and develop skills such as computer-aided design (CAD). A major design project will combine knowledge gained in conceptual design, manufacturing and testing and put it into practice.

Modules

• Engineering Mathematics

  In this module you will learn to apply mathematical concepts and software tools to solve engineering problems.

  On completion you will be able to use analytical techniques and software tools to solve simple algebraic problems, develop mathematical models of engineering systems, and apply an appropriate analytical method, or software tool to solve a mathematical model.

• Engineering Practice

  On this module you will develop your engineering skills using projects as the focus of your learning.

  You will work on group projects, applying engineering skills such as reflection, organisation, planning, design, communication and planning. Concepts across a range of engineering specialisms will be introduced as part of a problem-based approach.

• Mechanical Design

  This module introduces you to the principles of mechanical design and communicating engineering design intent. You will acquire skills in drawing and Computer Aided Design (CAD) drawing software package such as SolidWorks, and basic concepts of mechanical design and machine components.

• Energy Systems

  This module will provide you with an introduction to energy production, conversion, storage, conservation and coupling. This will be achieved utilising basic applied concepts relating to fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, heat transfer and engineering economics.

• Design Project

  In this module teams of engineers have the task of designing and manufacturing a functional product. Each team member has to apply a range of engineering skills and knowledge to realise the design. You will gain experience of working within a team, planning and managing the design project.

• Materials and Manufacture

  This module introduces you to materials and their properties, a range of manufacturing processes, and environmental considerations used to make components from various materials.

Making sure that what you learn with us is relevant, up to date and what employers are looking for is our priority, so courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis. When you have applied to us, you’ll be told about any new developments through Student View.

Year 2

Building on the knowledge and skills you develop in year one, you will explore aspects of mechanical engineering at a more in-depth level. 

Modules

• Dynamics and Control

  This module introduces concepts to describe the dynamic behaviour of practical engineering systems. You'll learn to build mathematical models for engineering systems that can be used to analyse and predict the dynamic behaviour of mechanical systems. You'll also explore design and simulation methodologies for systems to control the dynamic behaviour of engineering systems. 

• Engineering Systems

  Engineering Systems is an opportunity to work in groups with students from different disciplines to solve complex real-world engineering problems, including legal, ethical and environmental issues. Alongside developing your skills in fully integrated sub-systems, the group work will enhance your professional working practice skills.

• Mechanics of Materials

  This module covers the foundations of mechanics of materials and failure analysis including crack propagation and fatigue failure. You'll explore stress analysis under axial, torsional and flexural loading and for pressurised vessels as supported by relevant failure theories; concepts of stress concentration and stress intensity factors; deflections of beams in bending and buckling instability. 

• Thermofluids

  This module introduces the fundamentals of thermodynamics, internal flows, heat transfer and the principles of energy conversion cycles, together with the design of thermal devices, rotodynamic machines and heat exchangers. You'll test out the theories in the lab with an experimental analysis of energy and fluid devices.

• Engineering Design

  On this module you'll develop the knowledge and skills needed to undertake and apply engineering theory to design practice. You'll work in multidisciplinary groups on the design and manufacture of an engineering project, and ending with a competitive test of the product's functionality.

• Manufacturing Engineering

  This module introduces the manufacturing elements of product development at the component level, including manufacturing processes and their associated tooling systems, design for manufacture and assembly, quality control and inspection for mass-produced products. You'll learn how to choose manufacturing processes for a product, and also how to evaluate and control the quality of manufactured products.

Placement year

A placement year offers you a great opportunity to:   

• build knowledge of real-world businesses and organisations   
• develop existing skills and discover new ones   
• make contacts in industry and commerce   
• increase your confidence   
• improve your time management.   

You will also gain the appropriate amount of work experience to reach Engineering Technician (EngTech) status. 

Our students have been on placement with companies such as Triumph, Caterpillar, Rolls-Royce and Dando Drilling International. 

Year 3

You will undertake an individual project supported by a member of staff whose research interests lie in that area.

Other areas of study may include dynamics and control, advanced fluid mechanics, and product innovation and management.

Modules

Core modules

• Dynamics and Control

  On this module you will explore the design, simulation and analysis of control and simulation systems for engineering applications. You'll be introduced to classical and modern control theory, control system design and compensator methods that improve system performance, and look at hardware in the field and how it is implemented in an engineering enviroment. Practical work includes using digital simulation software to build models that evaluate and analyse dynamics and control applications in mechanical engineering.

• Product Design

  This module enables you to further develop the knowledge and skills needed to design engineering products and components. Through a project-based approach, you'll develop your ability to apply design techniques that underpin the generation of new products, alongside examining the management and professional techniques used when releasing new products into the marketplace.

• Manufacturing Systems

  Manufacturing Systems enables you to understand and apply the techniques needed for efficient and effective production of manufactured products and techniques. You'll develop the skills to optimise and add value in the operation and management of manufacturing systems.

• Individual Project

  In this module you'll be both technical expert and project manager of your major individual project which investigates a technical problem in significant depth. You'll work independently, with a member of academic staff acting as project adviser, building your confidence and competence in project management. The project enables you to bring together skills that you've learned during your degree, such as research, analysis and engineering application.

Options*

• Advanced Materials Engineering

  On this module you'll break complex engineering problems down to simpler problems and apply theoretical materials engineering concepts to the solutions. You'll develop the ability to assess design requirements and to formulate safety criteria, through exploring the mechanical, thermal, physical and eco properties of materials and applying 3D stress analysis principles to a variety of geometries and loadings.

• Renewable Technologies

  This module enables you to explore the engineering aspects of renewable technologies, focusing on biomass photovoltaic systems, energy networks and storage. You'll consider topics such as energy storage solutions, the renewable incentive, metering technologies, and design for reduction of energy demand.

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Final year

At this higher level you will undertake a business-focused topic and a major industry-related team project with peers from across the engineering disciplines.

Modules

• Engineering Management

  In this module, you'll develop the skills needed to assess and use management and professional techniques, taking a hands-on and practical approach. These skills are crucial for the effective introduction and management of innovative or complex engineering products and components.

• Advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics for Mechanical Applications

  Building on what you've learned in previous computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modules, you'll explore advanced CFD principles and their application to advanced engineering problems. Practical work with CFD codes includes general CFD workflow and setting up a CFD software to simulate the problem and to analyse the results. You'll explore mechanical engineering-based tutorial samples and case studies.

• Advanced Design

  On this module you'll further develop your ability to work up innovative and insightful solutions to complex design and engineering problems. Through a project-based approach, you'll use your advanced skills and knowledge to develop engineering and product concepts, from market research to product launch.

• Professional Development

  On this module you'll develop as an independent learner in the engineering profession. You'll work on a project or design subject on an engineering-related topic outside of the normal syllabus, exploring your personal professional development needs.

• Major Team Project

  Working in a small team, you'll investigate a real-world engineering problem, come up with possible solutions and choose the most appropriate in terms of technical and business viability. The major team project is an opportunity to use and develop your leadership, management, team skills, project management and technical knowledge.

Course fees

If you choose to take the professional placement (sandwich) year offered on this course you will pay a reduced fee during this year. Our fee for the professional placement year is £1,500 for UK students and £1,850 for international students. This fee may be subject to small increases, in line with inflation.

The fees listed here are for the first year of full-time study if you start your course in the academic year 2025–26.

You will pay fees for each year of your course. Some fees may increase each year.

UK undergraduate and some postgraduate fees are regulated by the UK government and increases will not be more than the maximum amount allowed. Course fees that are not regulated may increase each year by up to 5% or RPI (whichever is higher).

If you are studying part-time your fee will usually be calculated based on the number of modules that you take.

Find out more

• Brighton Boost – cost of living help for our new undergrad students. Find out about how we can help with your study, accommodation or travel costs and more...
• Fees, bursaries, scholarships and government funding info for UK and international undergraduate students
• Student finance and budgeting while studying
• Read our student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf) for more on University of Brighton tuition fees.

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