This BEng Mechanical Engineering degree allows you to use your analytical and mathematical skills to solve real-life problems.
Mechanical engineers are sought-after in all types of industries, from food processing to pharmaceutical manufacture, as well as in high-profile sectors such as automobile and aerospace.
Accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), and the Engineering Council, this is a modern mechanical engineering degree that is relevant to a range of industries. You could design, analyse, research and test anything from wind turbines to turbojet engines.
It has been developed with engineering professionals and forms the educational base for Chartered Engineer status, with a period of further learning. We have strong links with industry and place considerable emphasis on student projects. We also encourage industrial placements as part of a sandwich year option. This course is also available through Network75, a combined work and study route.
The wellbeing and health and safety of our students and staff is paramount to us. We are committed to delivering all of our courses and services as safely as possible. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the methods and activities adopted for delivering our courses in the coming year may differ from those previously published and may be subject to change during the course of your study if such change is necessary due to public health concerns, health and safety guidance or in response to Government Guidelines. Whether you’re on-campus full time, part-time with online study, or full-time online, USW is committed to providing you with a fantastic student experience and a wealth of support, and you can hear how students have benefitted from this approach here: Learn more about blended learning.
This Mechanical Engineering degree includes the computing, mathematical and physical sciences required to design, develop and manufacture a range of engineering systems. You’ll study the core areas that underpin mechanical engineering, which are material science, engineering mechanics, thermofluids, manufacturing systems and engineering design. This includes extensive laboratory experience, so you can gain the skills needed to test systems that you have analysed and constructed.
You’ll also study a management, business and professional practice module. This will develop your initiative, and effective communication and interpersonal skills, to achieve the high level of technical leadership required in a modern engineering environment. Your new skills will be further tested through group and individual research and design projects.
Optional
Supervised Work Experience (year out in industry) - 120 credits
You will learn via lectures, tutorials and seminars. As well as this, you will spend time keeping up-to-date on current issues within the engineering industry. You will also learn through practical work, group projects and a final year project, plus industry visits to companies such as GE Aircraft Engine Services, The Royal Mint and local businesses.
We have excellent links with employers in Wales, the UK and beyond. Through regular consultation with practising professionals, we keep our mechanical engineering courses up-to-date with industry standards. Our strong links also mean you’ll have opportunities for site visits, industrial placements and, for students on sandwich courses, practitioner mentoring. Our lecturers are experts in their subject areas, having worked in, or with, industry, conducting research, presenting at conferences, publishing their work, and informing your studies with the latest insights. Not only will you be taught by academics who are specialists in their fields, but you will also benefit from guest speakers from the engineering world.
As part of this Mechanical Engineering degree, you also have the option to spend a year working in industry. This year will give you an inside look at the industry, boost your employability and could help your grades.
You may also have the opportunity to progress to the MEng Mechanical Engineering course which combines the undergraduate degree (BEng) with a Masters-level qualification. The additional year gives you higher technical knowledge, and allows you to apply what you’ve already learned to an individual project. You enrol on the undergraduate degree, and have the opportunity to progress to an MEng if you achieve satisfactory grades in your assessments during your first two years of study.
Find out about mechanical engineering research at USW.
The mechanical engineering degree is assessed through assignments, coursework, ongoing class tests and exams. Presentations are included as elements of assessments in some modules, in order that key communication and presentation skills can be developed.
USW’s Mechanical Engineering degree is fully accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), to gain Incorporated Engineering status. Students who progress on to the MEng will gain the academic requirements for Chartered Engineering status.
We encourage all students to complete a placement as part of their mechanical engineering qualification. On a sandwich placement, you can spend up to a year working in the industry to apply your new knowledge and learn new skills – it’s a great boost to your CV and can lead directly to employment when you graduate.
Our Mechanical Engineering facilities are excellent. They include:
"A mechanical engineer can do a bit of everything. It’s by far the most flexible of engineering subjects. It is not rare to see a mechanical engineer move out of their comfort zone and branch out in to another type of engineering, and sometimes even business. This ability to adapt to an ever-changing industry is what sets mechanical engineers apart from the competition. The world can become a better place through engineering."
At USW, we regularly review our courses in response to changing patterns of employment and skills demand to ensure we offer learning designed to reflect today’s student needs and tomorrow’s employer demands.
If during a review process course content is significantly changed, we’ll write to inform you and talk you through the changes for the coming year. But whatever the outcome, we aim to equip our students with the skillset and the mindset to succeed whatever tomorrow may bring. Your future, future-proofed.
The entry criteria below shows the qualification range within which the University will make offers. Most offers we make are at the top of the range, but we take all aspects of an application into consideration and applicants receive a personalised offer. Combinations of qualifications are acceptable and other qualifications not listed here may also be acceptable.
BBB to include Mathematics and one other Science subject.
Pass the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Diploma with Grade B in the Skills Challenge Certificate and BB at A Level to include Mathematics and one other Science subject.
BTEC Extended Diploma Distinction Distinction Merit in a relevant Maths, Science or Engineering subject which must include Maths modules.
Pass the International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum score of 29 overall including a score of 5 in Mathematics and one other Science subject at Higher Level. You will also need to obtain a score of 5 or above in English at standard level.
Pass an Access to HE Diploma in Maths/Science and obtain a minimum of 120 UCAS tariff points
Advanced Entry: Internal applicants (USW and Partner Colleges) taking the HND Mechanical Engineering who achieve a distinction profile with above 70% in mechanical science and thermo fluids are considered for 3rd year entry onto the Full time BEng Mechanical Engineering. Applicants obtaining an HND from other universities or colleges with lower grade profiles are able to join the 3rd year of the Full time BSc (Hons) Mechanical Engineering or year 5 of the Part time BSc.
The University normally requires a minimum 5 GCSEs including Mathematics/Numeracy and English at Grade C or Grade 4 or above, or their equivalent, but consideration is given to individual circumstances.
We also welcome international applications with equivalent qualifications. Please visit the country specific pages on our international website for exact details.
In general, international applicants will need to have achieved an overall IELTS grade of 6.0 with a minimum score of 5.5 in each component.
However, if you have previously studied through the medium of English IELTS might not be required, but please visit the country specific page on our international website for exact details. If your country is not featured please contact us.
Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits. Once enrolled, the fee will remain at the same rate throughout the duration of your study on this course
Students have access to a wide range of resources including textbooks, publications, and computers in the University’s library and via online resources. In most cases they are more than sufficient to complete a course of study. Where there are additional costs, either obligatory or optional, these are detailed below. Of course students may choose to purchase their own additional personal resources/tools over and above those listed to support their studies at their own expense. All stationery and printing costs are at a student’s own expense.
Apply via UCAS if you are a UK residing applicant, applying for year one of a full-time undergraduate degree, Foundation Year, Foundation Degree or HND and you have not applied through UCAS before. If you are applying to study part-time, to top up your Foundation Degree or HND, or to transfer to USW from another institution, please apply directly.
Apply directly to the University if you live outside the UK.
Our Mechanical Engineering degree has a good reputation in industry, and our graduates have carved out successful careers in areas including research and development, design, manufacturing management, technical sales, and plant engineering.
Graduates can also progress to an Engineering PhD or research degree.
The Pontypridd Campus is made up of two sites: Treforest and Glyntaff. Our students love the community atmosphere, as well as living and studying in the same place. It’s quieter than the cities, with green open spaces and views across the valley.
It’s the community and friendships you’ll build that make this place special. Outside your studies you can experience our amazing sport facilities and Students’ Union.
Living in Halls is a great way to meet new people and make friends. We have high quality accommodation in Treforest, Cardiff and Newport.
