Mechanical Engineering

Our Master's-level degree adopts a practical approach that will develop your skills and knowledge for a career involving innovation and leadership. The IMechE accreditation will qualify you as a Chartered Engineer, a professional title carrying considerable prestige with employers.

Mechanical engineering is concerned with anything that moves and many things that don’t. From a simple nut and bolt, through to the complex multi-physics of aerodynamics in Formula One, mechanical engineering solves the broadest range of challenges and leads to a multitude of different and exciting careers.

Our approach reinforces your learning from lectures through practical activities, and allows you to fully assess your assumptions while building teamwork and project management skills essential to your future career.

Year 1
In the modern world, Mechanical Engineers are part of small or large teams developing complex systems. Our common first year is tailored to equip you with the required broad fundamental knowledge. You will study themes from within mechanical engineering, but also the fundamentals behind electrical, electronics and chemical processes, along with a solid foundation in engineering mathematics.

Year 2
Specialist modules in mechanical engineering will begin in the second year, where you will cover main themes of materials, statics and dynamics, fluids and thermodynamics, complemented by design and laboratory activities. You have the opportunity to undertake a business development project, to introduce you to Industry 4.0 concepts.

Year 3
In year three, you will work on an engaging individual project shaped over your interests and ambitions. Your supervisor, a leading specialist in the subject area, will guide you to gain an in-depth knowledge of the topic for successful project completion.

Previous examples include:

• Wind turbine blade icing study

• Microstructural design of steels for improving strength and toughness

• Graphene-based coating systems for corrosion protection

• Lightweight pipe inspection robot

• Revolutionary flywheel energy storage (FES) solution

Year 4
In year four, our programme provides advanced skills, knowledge and experience, with a focus on leadership and management, and offers the following three distinctive pathways to support your career ambitions:

• Design

• Energy and Resources

• Materials and Manufacturing

Fourth year project
You will undertake a significant team-based project. The project is a culmination of the four years of studying at Lancaster and allows you to apply your specialist knowledge to an engineering challenge.

Successful projects include:

• Waste water energy generation with Yorkshire Water

• A novel prototype tidal turbine with WASP Cumbria Ltd in the field of renewable energy

• Performance improvement of the Sinterstation 2000 with 3D Systems Europe

• Surface finish of metallic powder bed additive manufactured in partnership with BAE Systems and Formula Student

During this programme, you will also undertake two short industry linked projects, giving you the opportunity to develop your leadership, entrepreneurial and management potential.