Mechanical Design Engineering

This programme treats design and manufacture as the basis for mechanical engineering and integrates courses with project activity, thereby enhancing the design aptitude and analytical skills required to develop innovative products.

Programme structure

You will study the same courses in the first three years whether you are on the BEng or MEng degree programme. Your selection for BEng or MEng depends on your progress record in your first three years.

Year 1

You will take courses in mathematics and study engineering fundamentals including design, dynamics, electronics, materials, manufacturing, statics, thermodynamics and engineering skills.  These courses will form a solid foundation for development later in the degree programme and are supported by individual and group project and laboratory work.

Year 2

You will study further basic engineering subjects including applicable mathematics, applied mechanics, electrical power engineering, engineering computing, materials, power electronics, thermodynamics and design and manufacture.

Year 3

You will study more advanced engineering subjects in third year such as: engineering design, dynamics, control and fluid power, heat transfer, design and manufacture, materials and manufacture, mathematical modelling and simulation, and mechanics of materials and structures.

Years 4 and 5

The main route to becoming a fully chartered engineer is through the MEng degree, which usually takes five years. The BEng degree remains popular and can normally be completed in four years. To become a fully chartered engineer with a BEng degree requires further study after graduation, which can be done part-time from work.

In your fourth year of the BEng you will undertake an individual design project carried out under the personal supervision of a member of staff, and a multidisciplinary product design group project. The fourth year also includes compulsory and optional engineering science subjects including robotics, advanced materials, vibration, microelectronics, mechanics of solids and thermal engineering.The fifth year of the MEng programme includes the final design project, which could run for two years (4 and 5) in collaboration with industry. It also provides additional design management skills and in-depth options of engineering subjects including mechanics of solids, lasers, dynamics and advanced manufacture.

Special features

An extensive design project, including studio work, helps to integrate the various engineering skills and to understand the business and social context within which design takes place. You will also take part in a multidisciplinary integrated system design project, working in teams with students of other engineering disciplines.

Partner and industry links

The degree programme has very close links with industry, with industrialists contributing to courses, as well as vacation and year-out employment opportunities for students.

Our international links

You can apply to spend one year of your academic studies abroad at an accredited partner university. In year 5 MEng students can work on their project at overseas institutions.

Career prospects

In years 3 and 4, industrial experience during the summer vacations can be very useful. You will know enough by then to contribute usefully to the firm’s activities; it enables both you and the company to sound each other out about the prospect of full-time employment after graduation, and it may provide ideas for your final-year project, which can benefit both yourself and the company.

Accreditation

Our BEng and MEng degrees are accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and the Institution of Engineering Designers.

Glasgow International College

For international students entry to this programme is supported by courses from GIC.

BEng

  • Mechanical Design Engineering: HH37

MEng

  • Mechanical Design Engineering: HHJ7

Academic entry requirements
for entry in 2014

MEng

Highers: AAAAA by end of S5 including Mathematics and Physics.

A-levels: A*AA including Mathematics and Physics.

IB: 36 points including Mathematics HL6 and Physics HL6.

BEng

Highers: Entry from S5 – AAAA or AAABB including Mathematics and Physics at grades A/B or B/A.

Entry from S6 – applicants who achieved a minimum of ABBB including Mathematics and Physics at grades A/B or B/A in S5, may receive an offer based on them attaining AAAAAB by the end of S6. Applicants receiving these offers may be required to study Advanced Highers in relevant subjects.

A-levels: AAB including Mathematics and Physics.

IB: 34 points including Mathematics HL5 and Physics HL5.

BEng students who perform well may transfer to the MEng programme upon completion of years 1, 2 or 3.

Advanced entry

If you have exceptional A-level or Advanced Higher grades it's possible to gain exemption from Year 1 study and enter directly into Year 2 or follow a faster route advanced entry programme, both of which allow you to complete your degree in one year less than usual. See: Advanced entry

English language requirements

For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training):

  • overall score 6.5
  • no sub-test less than 6.0
  • or equivalent scores in another recognised qualification (see below)
     

Common equivalent English language qualifications:

  • ibTOEFL: 92; no sub-test less than 20
  • CAE (Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English): B minimum
  • CPE (Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English): C minimum
  • PTE Academic (Person Test of English, Academic test): 60; no sub-test less than 59

Pre-sessional courses
The University of Glasgow accepts evidence of the required language level from the Language Centre Pre-sessional courses. We also consider other BALEAP accredited pre-sessional courses:

FAQs

What do I do if...

my language qualifications are below the requirements?

The University's Language Centre offers a range of Pre-Sessional Courses to bring you up to entry level. The course is accredited by BALEAP, the UK professional association for academic English teaching; see Links.

my language qualifications are not listed here?

Please contact the Recruitment and International Office: Elaine.Shortt@glasgow.ac.uk

If you require a Tier 4 student visa, your qualification must be one of the secure English language tests accepted by UK Border Agency:

my academic qualifications are below the requirements?

Glasgow International College offers Foundation courses to upgrade your academic qualifications.

Visa requirements and proof of English language level

It is a visa requirement to provide information on your level of English based on an internationally recognised and secure English language test. All test reports must be no more than 2 years old. A list of these can be found on the UK Border Agency website. If you have never taken one of these tests before, you can get an initial idea of your level by using the Common European Framework self-assessment grid which gives you a level for each skill (e.g. listening B1/writing B2 etc.) However, please note that this is not a secure English language test and it is not sufficient evidence of your level of English for visa requirements.

For further information about English language, please contact the Language Centre.

Tuition fees

How and when you pay tuition fees depends on where you’re from: see Tuition fees for details. If you’re from outside the EU, please see International students for more information.

Scholarships

We offer a wide range of scholarships to our undergraduates, including both home/EU and international students. The University is committed to supporting students and rewarding academic excellence. That’s why we’ve invested more than £1m in additional scholarship funding over the last year.
 
For a full list of scholarships including eligibility criteria and how to apply, please see:

How to apply ...