Course Catalogue

The BEng. programme in Mechanical Engineering is designed to develop a high level of technical expertise together with the emotional intelligence to be able to practice successfully as a professional engineer in a modern interdisciplinary engineering environment. Graduate engineers are increasingly expected to take on important technical leadership and management responsibilities early in their careers and the knowledge and skills gained from this programme are designed to produce graduates who are able to make an immediate contribution to their
employers organisations.

The programme aims to:

- Deliver the educational experience in which students can develop their knowledge of engineering science, core engineering principles and fundamental underpinning subjects such as mathematics and computation.
- Develop graduates who have the confidence to analyse complex technical problems and to further develop their core engineering knowledge and skills through the investigation and development of credible and robust solutions.
- Provide students with appropriate support and encouragement to develop the necessary skills such that they can study independently and take responsibility for their own learning and subsequent professional development.
- Develop engineering graduates with a keen sense of ethical responsibility who are aware of issues of sustainability, safety and security in whatever engineering role they are performing. They will recognise the importance of equality, diversity and inclusivity in the workplace, and in the engineered solutions that they provide.
- Produce graduates with an increased depth, breadth of knowledge and understanding of mechanical engineering, management and teamwork to enable them to rapidly assume technical leadership and management roles.
- Encourage students to plan and record self learning and personal development as the foundation for lifelong learning/CPD.

Acquisition of underpinning knowledge is achieved mainly through lectures and directed student-centred learning. Student-centred learning is used where appropriate resource material is available. Understanding is reinforced through case-studies. Testing of the knowledge base is through a combination of unseen written examinations, coursework in the form of case-study reports and coursework assignment submissions. The students must appreciate the social, environmental, ethical, economic and commercial considerations affecting the exercise of their engineering judgement. Acquisition of Intellectual skills is achieved mainly through lectures and direct student-centred learning. Student-centred learning is used where appropriate resource material is available. Understanding is reinforced through case-studies. Engineering design, analysis and practical skills are taught almost exclusively by individual and group project work supported by a lecture programme appropriate to the demands of the project. Engineering design and practical skills are assessed by individual and group written design project reports, student presentations and presentations using computer graphics. The economic, Social and Environmental context of engineering operations is delivered by means of lectures and case studies. The use of appropriate case study material is an essential part of teaching in this area. Assessment is via a combination of unseen written examinations and coursework in the form of case-study reports.

Students are encouraged to undertake industrial placements when possible during their studies (for example summer placements between academic years to gain valuable industrial experience). Much assessment will be based on work related learning with the use of case studies and industry standard software where appropriate. This assessment will help develop understanding of the world of work environment suitable for the programme and increase a student's professional practical skills