Mechanical
Engineering
Introduction
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Why study Mechanical Engineering?
Mechanical engineers are practical people who have studied physics and mathematics in depth, but who know how to apply the theory to real problems creatively. Mechanical engineers make an enormous contribution to society. They will have helped to design every machine you can think of; from a miniature digital camera to medical devices.
Why Bristol?
Bristol’s engineering heritage is world famous, and the city continues to be an international leader in this field. We have valuable relationships with industry, which provides a number of opportunities for our students. Engineering students benefit from a dedicated Industrial Liaison Office, which develops engineering-specific industrial links for students. Its work includes: running special
internship and mentoring schemes; managing a LinkedIn Group for engineering staff, students and industrial contacts; organising industry-specific ‘Inside Track’ lectures; and establishing industrial scholarships, prizes and projects.
Your future
In the fourth year you’ll work on a group industrial project so that you will develop the skills necessary to tackle an open-ended, industrial problem as a team. This makes our graduates very employable. They are in high demand by industry and often progress quickly into senior positions. A Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Bristol is ideal preparation for a career in the automotive, aerospace, building, energy, process, medical and marine industries, for example. Our graduates also find employment in
other areas such as accountancy and the City.
Teaching
The quality of teaching in our department is consistently ranked among the best in the UK, being graded as ‘Excellent’ by the Higher Education Funding Council. This places us in the top ten per cent of mechanical engineering departments nationally for the standard of teaching.
This course has a reputation for being fundamental, rigorous and practical, and our staff are at the forefront of their research fields which keeps our teaching materials right up-to-date.
If you enjoy physics and mathematics but also love designing and
making things then Mechanical Engineering could be the course
for you. If you like to figure out how machines work and then
improve them, Mechanical Engineering will give you the skills
to turn this into your career.
Explore
Develop
Socialise
Research
Mechanical Engineering
What will I study?
The Master of Engineering (MEng) course offers the opportunity to increase your knowledge and skills and to specialise in your final year. This course is also offered with one year in Continental Europe or a year abroad, typically in the USA. You may not yet know which course is best for you. All our courses share a common first two years, so you do not have to decide straight away. We give you all the information and advice you need to make this decision. MEng Mechanical Engineering is ideal if you want a broad based Mechanical Engineering degree. It gives an excellent grounding in the fundamentals of engineering science and then enhances this material with advanced engineering topics and management studies. If you take the MEng with Study in Continental Europe, your third
year will be spent at a European university. The requirement for this course is GCSE level standard or equivalent in a suitable language. The engineering profession is becoming increasingly international and a year abroad adds real value to your MEng. The MEng with Study Abroad is for those students who wish to study at one of our worldwide exchange partners, where the language of instruction is English.
The BEng Mechanical Engineering is offered to those students who wish to undertake a three-year course. The quality of work required is the same as the MEng and the two courses have the same entry requirements. Transfer between BEng and MEng is quite common and sometimes students follow the BEng with a taught postgraduate or research degree. In the first
two years you are introduced to the fundamentals of engineering science and their application to real problems. Design is at the heart of engineering. The first-year Design unit will provide you with an appreciation of the techniques of design – such as the conveying of ideas by graphical means. The second year Design unit involves examining engineering artefacts in more detail and getting your hands on the real issues involved in engineering. You will create your own fully engineered designs to meet a customer’s requirements. Recent design projects have included a deployable bridge for cyclists and a competitive activity where students designed a vehicle to traverse an assault course. The third year involves undertaking a major project involving varying degrees of research, design,
The Mechanical Engineering department offers
a number of courses. The Master of Engineering
(MEng) course offers you a thorough grounding in
all aspects of modern engineering.
experimentation and computing. The fourth-year project is designed to replicate the sort of open-ended task and situation which working engineers encounter. This experience acts as a bridge to your future career.
“ I enjoyed the flexibility of being
able to choose my units. Most of
the classes are small, especially
the non-core classes and the
contact time between lecturers
and students is high.”
Courses we offer Single Honours courses
BEng Mechanical Engineering, three years H305
MEng Mechanical Engineering, four years H300
MEng Mechanical Engineering with Study in Continental Europe, four years H301 MEng Mechanical Engineering with Study Abroad, four years* *entry by transfer from H300, H301 or H305
All course structure details can be found on our department website.
Mechanical Engineering
Course structure
This degree has been accredited by the Institution of
Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) under licence from the UK
regulator, the Engineering Council. Some employers recruit
preferentially from accredited degrees, and an accredited
degree is likely to be recognised by other countries.
MEng Mechanical Engineering (H300)
Year one
Design and Manufacture Dynamics
Dynamics of Rigid Bodies Dynamics of Machines Materials Mechanics of Materials Properties of Materials Fluids Thermodynamics Computer-based Modelling Applications of Electronics Engineering Mathematics Year two
Design and Manufacture 2 Machine Elements Mechatronics
Professional Studies B Vibrations 3
Multiphase Flow
Individual Research Project
Year four
Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Enterprise
Group Industrial Project
Option choices
Advanced Dynamics Biomechanics
Composites, Design and Manufacturing
Engineering Design for Wind and Marine Power
Engineering for the Built Environment 4
Environmental Thermalhydraulics and Systems
Non-Linear Behaviour of Materials
Power Generation for the 22nd Century Process Engineering Residual Stress Robotic Systems Smart Structures Sustainable Systems 4
Systems and Control Engineering 4 Ultrasonics and Acoustics Virtual Product Development
Robotics
We’re a member of the Bristol
Robotics Laboratory, the largest
robotics laboratory of its kind
in the UK.
£24,500
Average salary six months
after graduation.
Dynamics and Control 2
Systems and Control Engineering 2 Vibrations 2 Materials 2 Mechanics of Materials 2 Properties of Materials 2 Thermofluids 2 Mechanics of Fluids 2 Thermodynamics 2 Computer-based Modelling 2 Professional Studies A Engineering Mathematics 2 Year three
Design and Manufacture 3 Systems and Control Engineering 3 Finite Element Analysis
Heat Transfer Failure of Materials
Mechanical Engineering
Teaching
Tutors are there to help with any personal or work-related problems. As part of our support for students, we try to identify study difficulties as early as possible, and offer assistance. You will receive a student handbook providing all the information you need when you start in your first year.
The first three years include lectures, problem-solving seminars, laboratory experiments and project work with presentations. A major component of the third year is an individual research project. In the final year your studies will be divided between optional courses and the group industrial project. Project work allows you to integrate and apply the various elements of the course and to study challenges in engineering in depth. You’ll become familiar with the organisation and communication
skills necessary to deal with the more open problems of engineering practice. Your project could be to tackle engineering problems across one or more technical disciplines and may relate to one of many applications from aerospace to medicine, and will be industrially relevant in the fourth year. Assessment comprises written examinations and continuous assessment. The department is one of the leading centres of excellence for mechanical engineering in both the UK and internationally. High quality research and teaching are delivered by leading academics, and during your degree you’ll have the opportunity to work with them in their key areas of research.
Starting university is a big step, so
you will have a personal tutor who
will be there to guide you through your
studies and ensure that you achieve
your full potential.
Mechanical Engineering
Student profile
Application of digital image correlation to focused ion bean images
“Our project was closely linked to a PhD student’s work within the Solid Mechanics research group. It involved working with academics from the Departments of Physics and Aerospace Engineering, and Airbus. The project involved measuring residual stress on the micro-scale using a focused ion beam (FIB) and digital image correlation (DIC) software. Residual stresses are stresses present within a material with no external loads; they are often created during manufacturing and can lead to component failure. A focused ion beam is similar to a scanning electron microscope, but uses gallium ions instead of electrons and can both image and micro-
machine a specimen. Digital image correlation compares two images and can calculate sub-pixel displacement. Following the success of the project, we submitted an abstract to the International Conference on Residual Stresses. To our amazement, the abstract was accepted. We received funding for the trip from the IMechE, the conference organisers and the department. Our paper was also accepted into the conference proceedings.
The third-year project is a fantastic opportunity to research a subject at the forefront of the field and can bring unexpected benefits!”
Nick Daynes and Graeme Horne
Third year Mechanical Engineering project
Leading research
A Dental Robotic Testing Simulator called Dento-Munch was invented at the University of Bristol to act as surrogate mouths to emulate the human neuromasticatory system. Technological improvements in computer-aided engineering technology are used to enhance the overall efficiency of manufacturing procedures of dental elements such as crown and bridge production and restoration of teeth which, in turn, improve patient care.
“ We both presented
our work at the
International
Conference on
Residual Stresses in
Denver, Colorado.”
Mechanical Engineering
Career prospects
Our graduates join a variety of different companies in engineering, information technology,
management consultancy and many more. Our fully IMechE (Institution of Mechanical Engineers) accredited degrees provide a sound foundation for further study and many of our graduates go on to study for a higher degree. 85 per cent of our graduates are in work or further study six months after graduation.
Graduate employers include Accenture, Airbus, Arup, Assystem, Atkins, BAE Systems, Bechtel, British Energy, Eon, Faber Maunsell, Fluor Ltd, GKN, Hoare Lea, JP Morgan, KPMG, Lloyds, MoD, Network Rail and London Underground, Pricewaterhousecoopers, Rolls-Royce, the Army and Towers Perrin.
Is there any advice you can give me on making my application? Apart from academic excellence,
the admissions team will be looking at your personal profile. It is important to specify why you want to study Mechanical Engineering, and why you want to study at a university such as Bristol. The department encourages work experience as part of an engineer’s training and so any relevant experience gained during vacation periods is considered to be an advantage. The reviewer will also be interested to hear about any hobbies or leisure pursuits. Some of our students take a gap year with the Year in Industry scheme before starting their degree, but this is not considered to be essential.
Are there any specific scholarships or bursaries?
The Matthew Prowse Travel Bursary is available to undergraduate Mechanical Engineering students who contribute to a worthy cause during their studies. The bursary aims to provide students with a one-off travel grant of up to £300. The Benevolent Fund of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers can offer financial and practical support in times of need for financially disadvantaged or disabled students studying Mechanical Engineering on an IMechE accredited first degree course.
Mechanical Engineering
The next steps
Bristol’s excellent reputation means that
our students are sought after by leading
engineering companies.
Entry data
Typical offer for BEng/MEng Mechanical Engineering
Please visit bristol.ac.uk/ug14-mecheng for study abroad and other qualifications A-levels Typical offer A*AA (contextual offer AAB†)
to include Mathematics and Physics or AAA to include Mathematics, Physics and Further Mathematics
AS-levels No specific subjects required
IB Diploma 38 points overall (contextual offer 35†)
including 6, 6 in Mathematics and Physics at Higher Level
Access Treated individually; minimum is to
pass Access to HE Diploma with at least 30 credits at Distinction and 15 credits at Merit
IELTS 6.5 with minimum 6.0 in each part
GCSE Grade A in Maths. For H301: a good GSCE
in your chosen language
Selection UCAS application Part-time study No
Deferred applications Welcomed
† The University assesses applications on their individual merit and
in accordance with a set of clearly defined principles as described at bristol.ac.uk/ug-admissions-principles. Admissions statements for all courses are available from bristol.ac.uk/ug-admissions-statements. A contextual offer (UK only) might be given when the educational context of the applicant is taken into account. The University is committed to ensuring that it attracts highly motivated students from a wide range of backgrounds. Our definition of educational disadvantage is reviewed annually and each case is considered on an individual basis.
Graduate profile
Mark O’Riordan
Design Engineer
After graduating, I did a work placement with Tidal Generation Ltd. I then completed a six month voluntary placement with Partners in Development which is based in South Africa. This was organised through Engineers without Borders. My work focused on the design and development of low cost and appropriate water pumping technologies and general management and expansion of our business in one of the poorest areas of South Africa. My degree gave me the core engineering skills to design and develop solutions to engineering challenges. I’m now applying these skills to develop sustainable solutions to people’s most basic needs of water and sanitation.
Contact
Department information
For more information about the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Queens School of Engineering, please visit:
bristol.ac.uk/mecheng
bristol.ac.uk/engineering/schools/quen
Useful contact information
Admissions
Undergraduate Admissions Office Tel: +44 (0)117 928 8150 Fax: +44 (0)117 331 7391
