Mechanical Engineering

Modern challenges require new and advanced technical solutions, and mechanical engineers are vital to achieving those solutions. It is the technical development of the world that drives us forward.

Heriot-Watt University is proud to be ranked as one of the top universities for Mechanical Engineering in the UK, including:
• Guardian University Guide 2020: 1st in Scotland and top 10 in the UK
• Complete University Guide 2021: Top 10 in the UK
• Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2021: Top 10 in the UK
• Guardian University League Tables 2021: Top 10 in the UK

Programme structure
The first two years of our Mechanical Engineering degree provide a grounding in the core disciplines of the subject, giving students essential knowledge to make informed decisions on their optional courses later in the degree. In Year 1, students work alongside peers from other science and engineering disciplines and have access mechanical labs, electrical engineering labs, chemical labs and physics labs. This provides fundamental lab skills as well as multidisciplinary teamworking skills which will be crucial as the degree progresses and becomes increasingly specialised.

In Years 2 and 3, students begin practical lab and workshop sessions, learning the core principles behind the mechanical engineering subjects of dynamics, materials, fluids, thermodynamics and design and manufacture.

As a part of your progression towards becoming a career-ready mechanical engineer, Year 4 (and 5, for MEng students) includes individual and group projects, supported by research-active members of staff. Students follow their own path through a wide range of optional courses designed to develop knowledge and skills in specialist subjects.

Students can graduate at the end of Year 4 with a BEng Mechanical Engineering or progress to the MEng programme if academic grades are suitable. The five-year MEng Mechanical Engineering course is the standard route towards a Chartered Engineering professional qualification.

Please visit our website for further information on our 3 year honours degrees

Industry links
Our industrial connections form the backbone of our Mechanical Engineering course. We work closely with an Industrial Advisory Board, a panel of engineers and business leaders, to ensure that our course content reflects the needs of industry and employers to provide graduates with the right blend of knowledge, practical skills, and soft skills. This collaboration allows the curriculum to be regularly updated to include emerging technological needs. A recent example is the inclusion of the optional biomedical engineering course offered in Years 4 and 5.

Student groups
At Heriot-Watt University you will join a thriving student community in the engineering disciplines. Many Mechanical Engineering students join groups such as The Mechanical Engineering Society, HW Racing (Formula Student), and TEAM AERO-WATT.

Careers
Our Mechanical Engineering course offers an exciting environment where many skills are brought together to create innovative products and the infrastructure and technology for manufacture. Recent Heriot-Watt graduates have progressed to working for organisations such as Mercedes, Babcock Marine, McLaren, Shell UK, Halliburton and QinetiQ.

As a mechanical engineer, you will deal with the design, development, optimisation, and operation of mechanical parts and systems. All industrial sectors value mechanical engineers, including manufacturing, oil and gas, aerospace, and automotive, as well as emerging areas such as energy and renewable energy, medical engineering, and nanotechnology.