Mechanical Engineering

Snapshot

Why Study at Dundee?

Modern Mechanical Engineering requires people who are able to combine a very broad range of technical, scientific, creative and management skills to achieve goals in sectors ranging from space exploration to energy management to surgical innovation. At Dundee we pride ourselves in taking a modern systems-based approach to developing these Mechanical Engineering skills within our students.

Throughout the degree, students will have an opportunity to mix traditional core engineering disciplines with emerging technologies to create truly innovative solutions to design and analyse problems. To support this, the degree has invested heavily in developing facilities in important new areas of engineering including rapid prototyping and embedded control technology. It is strongly felt that the best way to develop student skills is through practical work and students have extensive opportunities to gain hands on experience in group and individual project work.

Employability

Staff and students at the 2008 graduation party

Mechanical Engineering graduates from Dundee are highly employable and enjoy a broad range of career options. Many graduates progress directly into working in mainstream engineering sectors including the energy (oil industry and renewable energy), aerospace, automotive and defence sectors. The ability to solve practical problems is also highly attractive to employers opening opportunities in consultancy, finance, teaching and the armed forces. A number of students have also decided to continue their studies at postgraduate level and moved into the exciting area of biomedical engineering and biotechnology which is a main research strength of the department.

Teaching and Assessment

We offer both three-year BEng and four-year BEng (Hons) degrees.

The course is made up of a number of specialist modules. These modules are presented at four levels corresponding to the four years of the courses. Levels 1 and 2 modules concentrate on essential engineering principles and basic science. In general, Levels 1 and 2 modules are taken in common with students of other engineering courses. More specialised mechanical engineering modules are taught in Levels 3 and 4.

Transfer from the BEng without Honours to the BEng (Hons) degree is possible after Level 2 for students whose performance is deemed satisfactory.

The modules are conducted via a balanced arrangement of lectures, tutorials, design assignments and laboratory-based experimentation. Students are given the opportunity to design, manufacture and analyse engineering products using our extensive computer-based facilities. The syllabus includes mechatronics (the integration of electronics and computer control with mechanical engineering), giving students a broad range of skills for the development of modern high performance products. In addition to the traditional engineering subjects, students undertake projects both individually and as members of a team. There is a special feature in which teams of students each work to solve some real industrial problem posed by a company.

In the courses on Mechanical Engineering the teaching methods are traditional but with a strong emphasis on the use of computers and modern educational aids. Each module is covered by a series of lectures supported by tutorials and examples classes. Computer-based assignments are given, to be done by the students in their own time. In-class demonstrations are common.

There is considerable emphasis on team-work supported by brainstorming sessions and group discussions, all leading to the formation of new ideas and concepts.

Assessment is by a combination of formal end-of-semester examinations, coursework and assignments.

Mechanical Engineering at Dundee is extremely research active and students have the opportunity to work with staff and external industrial partners at the forefront of developing new technologies.

Programme Content

Notes on Programme Progression

Level 1

The Level 1 programme is designed to give you an understanding of many of the scientific principles which underpin Mechanical Engineering and help you develop the study skills required to make a success of your degree.

Level 2

In Level 2 you will be introduced to the key traditional and emerging engineering science technologies and start to incorporate the knowledge and the skills gained into your own designs.

Level 3

The aim of Level 3 is for students to develop their understanding of the techniques and knowledge expected of a modern professional engineer.

Level 4

Students will gain an in-depth knowledge of all the main mechanical engineering disciplines and will have the opportunity to demonstrate these within the framework of a major project.

2010 Entry Requirements

2011 Entry Requirements

Your Application

What skills, qualities and experience do I need?

• You will need to be enthusiastic about engineering, and show evidence of your enthusiasm in the personal statement. Explain why you are interested in mechanical engineering, and whether there are aspects of the subject that you would like to focus on. Have you done any relevant reading about the subject? We'll also be very interested to know about any previous engineering experience, for example, work experience in industry.
• We usually expect you to have at least BBBB at Scottish Higher level, to include Mathematics and Physics, and to have achieved good grades at GCSE, or equivalent, in Science, Mathematics, and English Language.
• You'll need to have a real grasp of some sort of activity that requires technical understanding. Do you own a car or bicycle and do you do your own maintenance. Do you make models, or do any art or craft activities?
• You should show evidence of clear thinking and understanding. You should be able to extract the essential elements of a problem and analyse possible solutions.
• You should show that you could work as part of a team. For example, maybe you have worked as part of a group in a project at school, or maybe you have collaborated with others for part of a Duke of Edinburgh award?
• You should have good written and oral communication skills. Your written skills could be shown by the clarity of your personal statement.
• You should give an account of your participation and achievement in non-academic or extracurricular activities and interests. Assessors will be interested to see that you can balance your academic and non-academic work, as you will need to be self-organised and motivated at university. What skills have you learnt? Why do you enjoy these activities?
• Is the programme appropriate to your declared interests and ambitions? Assessors will be looking to see that your choice of degree course complements your future aims.

Tips for your application

• In the first year of study it is usually easy to transfer from one engineering programme to another; therefore, you should apply for only one course. If you are unsure about which programme you would like to follow, then you are advised to apply in the first instance for the BEng in Mechanical Engineering (H300).
• We'll be looking to see that your personal statement explains your interest in the subject, how you possess the desirable skills and how the course is appropriate to your future plans.
• Referees should note that the reference would be used as a basis for the assessment of academic performance and as support for the personal statement. Assessors will want to consider the accuracy and consistency of the predicted grades in the light of previous level achievement (or reasons why this is not the case), evidence of effort and a positive attitude towards studies, and if there are any educational or special circumstances.

Advanced Entry Honours Degree

It is possible to study for most of our honours degrees in 3 years if you have the required grades and subjects as listed in the Entry Requirements section. There are definite advantages to considering this route as the time needed to study is reduced by one year which enables you to start working and earning earlier.

Contact

Diana Davidson
Admissions & Student Recruitment
University of Dundee
Nethergate
Dundee
DD1 4HN
Scotland

Telephone: 01382 384 029 (from the UK)
Telephone: +44 1382 384 029 (from outside the UK)

Email: ContactUs@dundee.ac.uk