Mechanical Engineering (with Integrated Foundation Year)

Start your journey towards a career in engineering with the University of Cumbria's BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering with Integrated Foundation Year, with the potential to gain competitive edge via our scholarship award.

If you don’t meet the standard entry requirements or want extra preparation before starting degree-level study, our integrated foundation year offers the perfect stepping stone. This supportive first year helps you build academic confidence, strengthen your subject knowledge, and develop essential skills for success.

You will explore key scientific and mathematical principles, enhance your problem-solving abilities, and get to grips with university-level learning in a nurturing environment designed to ease your transition into higher education. Upon successful completion of the foundation year, you will automatically progress onto the BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering programme, ready to thrive in your studies and future career.

In your foundation year you will develop essential academic skills such as independent study, essay writing, communication and problem-solving. You will grow in confidence and have time to explore Engineering more broadly.

In your first year of your degree, you will focus on becoming an independent learner while building a strong foundation in engineering principles, mathematics, and design. You’ll learn to create and test engineering artefacts, explore materials and manufacturing processes, and gain essential knowledge of electrical and mechanical mechatronic principles.

In your second year, you’ll tackle more broadly defined challenges that require integrating knowledge from across your studies. You’ll deepen your understanding of applied mechatronics, materials and manufacturing, and digital manufacturing, while developing advanced modelling and simulation skills. Team-based projects will give you the opportunity to solve real-world engineering problems in a simulated professional environment.

Your third year, you will master complex engineering problems and explore advanced topics such as manufacturing systems, instrumentation and control, and cutting-edge materials technologies. You’ll also undertake a substantial independent engineering project, applying your skills creatively to deliver solutions with real-world impact.

On this course you will...

• Study in a brand-new purpose built facility that has been designed to include all of the modern equipment and resources you need to make a success of your course.

• Benefit from engaging with stakeholders from local and national employers.

• Study a degree that was designed in collaboration with BAE so that you can be equipped with all of the knowledge and skills that employers really need.

• Scholarships are available for this course; The Future Talent Award and the Defence STEM Undergraduate Scheme (DSUS) for eligible full-time Mechanical Engineering undergraduate programmes. Students must prove UK Nationality and meet required security clearance assessment. Both scholarships provide funding, paid work experience and clear progression pathways into careers.

Year One (Foundation Year):

• Introduction to Mechanical Engineering
• Essential Study Skills for Engineering
• Foundation Engineering Principles
• Digital Skills and Technologies for Engineering
• Foundation Engineering Mathematics and Problem Solving
• Foundation Engineering Design

Year Two:
In your second year, the emphasis is on helping you become independent in your learning. You will design engineering artefacts through standardised engineering science and mathematics application. You will be introduced to the fundamental principles of engineering science and solve well-defined problems.

• Engineering Design
• Integrated Engineering
• Mathematics and Computing
• Principles of Materials and Manufacturing
• Mechatronic Principles – Electrical
• Mechatronic Principles – Mechanical

Year Three:
In your third year, the emphasis is on building your confidence. Problems become more broadly defined and can involve various factors and constraints. In performing your analysis, and developing your designs, you will draw on your new knowledge from across your first three years of study.

• Applied Materials and Manufacturing
• Applied Mechatronics – Electrical
• Applied Mechatronics – Mechanical
• Digital Manufacture
• Integrated Engineering 2
• Mathematics and Modelling
• Year in Industry (Optional)

Year Four:
In your fourth year, engineering problems become complex. You will be creative and resourceful in applying engineering science and new technologies to resolve wide-ranging problems and conflicting requirements and constraints. You will work on real-world projects, and your solutions will have immediate commercial value.

• Advanced Manufacturing Systems
• Advanced Materials and Manufacturing
• Advanced Instrumentation and Control
• Integrated Engineering Project
• Operations Management

In this program, assessments come in two forms: formative and summative.

• Formative assessments are ongoing, giving you feedback on your progress as you work through the course, helping you improve along the way.
• Summative assessments happen at the end of a project or module and count towards your grade.

To suit different learning styles, assessments use various formats like coursework, presentations, and exams, and deadlines are spread throughout the year to help manage your workload.

• Coursework could be writing reports, creating presentations, or completing computer-based assignments that reflect real-world tasks.
• Exams are usually unseen, done in a timed setting, and can include multiple-choice, problem-solving, or essay questions.

Your tutor will explain how each assessment works and provide a marking guide so you know what to aim for. Generally, plan to spend about 20% of your time on assessment prep.