MEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering

Get to grips with this specialist and sought-after subject area through NMITE's unique and hands-on approach to education.

Mechanical engineering is an innovative subject area that looks at the design, analysis, and manufacturing of systems that keep our world moving forward. With our Mechanical Engineering degree, you'll develop hands-on, practical skills, learning from experienced academics and local and national employers. You'll benefit from significant involvement with commercial partners, clearly differentiating NMITE's approach from other engineering degrees within the UK.

Why? So that you're work-ready, capable of inciting real industry change, and become a specialist in your field by the time you graduate.

Our MEng(Hons) Mechanical Engineering course will see you get hands-on with NMITE's integrated approach to tackle real world mechanical engineering problems. You'll apply systems thinking methods and utilise your learned knowledge of different mechanical engineering disciplines enabling preparing you for future success as a mechanical engineer.

• You'll learn alongside local and national engineering professionals within industry and get to grips with real-world challenges.

• Develop your knowledge on mechanical engineering practices enabling you to help tackle some of the most pressing engineering challenges of the 21st Century.

• Thrive through NMITE's unique model of learning. Learn to operate in small teams reflecting the real workplace. Instead of traditional exams and lectures, you'll be continually assessed throughout your studies.

• Receive support whenever you need it – you'll have access to 1:1 support through your allocated Personal Tutor, high academic contact time throughout your studies, the Academic Skills and Knowhow Centre, and Student Services.

Level 4

• The 21st-Century Engineer - Students will build a physical and digital artefact. Along the way, they will be introduced to the different disciplines of engineering and the influential role of the engineer in society, and the responsibilities we carry as professional engineers.  This will provide a basis for students to understand the structure and philosophy of NMITE’s Integrated Engineering programme, and to initiate their own thinking about future career options.

• Thermodynamics and Fluids - This module is the first of a pair of engineering science-driven modules (the second at Level 5) that explore topics and applications associated with thermodynamics, fluid flow, energy and power. This forms an important part of students’ underpinning engineering knowledge, that they will draw on in integrated challenges later in the programme. The first opportunity to combine their different engineering skillsets will be in Creating Social Value through Engineering in Level 5. In Thermodynamics and Fluids, students will analyse and improve a fluid flow system. To fulfil this, they will apply observation and knowledge of thermodynamics and fluid dynamics, phenomena that underpin the engineer's understanding of how fluids and gases move in engineered and natural systems, and principles underpinning how energy is converted to be put to work.

• Statics and Dynamics of Simple Mechanisms - This module is the first of a pair of engineering science-driven modules (the second at Level 5) that explore topics and applications associated with static forces, dynamic behaviour, and materials. This forms an important part of students’ underpinning engineering knowledge, that they will draw on in integrated challenges later in the programme. The first opportunity to combine their different engineering skillsets will be in Creating Social Value through Engineering in Level 5. In Statics and Dynamics of Simple Mechanisms, students will design and validate a single-element mechanism, under straightforward load cases (including static and dynamic behaviour), including selection of appropriate material(s). To fulfil this, students will apply an understanding of equilibrium, rectilinear and curvilinear motions, stress and strain, rigid body kinematics, material properties, and material treatment approaches.

• Fundamentals of Analogue and Digital Circuits - This module is the first of a pair of engineering science-driven modules (the second at Level 5) that explore topics and applications associated with analogue and digital circuits, instrumentation and control. This forms an important part of students’ underpinning engineering knowledge, that they will draw on in integrated challenges later in the programme. The first opportunity to combine their different engineering skillsets will be in Creating Social Value through Engineering in Level 5. In Fundamentals of Analogue and Digital Circuits, students will specify and build an open loop control system that will meet the needs of a given application. To fulfil this, they will differentiate between analogue and digital electronics approaches, apply circuit theory, circuit laws and principles of digital logic.

Level 5

• Creating Social Value through Engineering - This synoptic module is the first of a series of structured opportunities in the programme where students address a challenge that stimulates them to draw on – and integrate – their engineering science knowledge across the engineering science and practical skills developed in Level 4. In Creating Social Value through Engineering, students will undertake a community-based project to explore, design and prototype an integrated innovation that creates social value. They will develop key mindsets of stakeholders, equity, inclusive design, prototyping, and new product development, as well as learning some basic project management tools. The next synoptic module is Manufacturing as Integrated Engineering  in Level 6.

• Energy Engineering - This module is the first of a pair of engineering science-driven modules (the first at Level 4) that explore topics and applications associated with thermodynamics, fluid flow, energy and power. This forms an important part of students’ underpinning engineering knowledge, that they will draw on in integrated challenges later in the programme. The next opportunity to combine different engineering skillsets will be in Manufacturing as Integrated Engineering in Level 6. In Energy Engineering  students will learn and apply knowledge of thermodynamics, including energy/power cycles, heat transfer, and the engineering components and systems that deliver energy. In this module students will propose and specify an energy solution for a given application.

• Statics and Dynamics of Complex Mechanisms - This module is the second of a pair of engineering science-driven modules (the first at Level 4) that explore topics and applications associated with static forces, dynamic behaviour, and materials. This forms an important part of student underpinning engineering knowledge, that they will draw on in integrated challenges later in the programme. The next opportunity to combine different engineering skillsets will be in Manufacturing as Integrated Engineering  in Level 6. In Statics and Dynamics of Complex Mechanisms, students will build on their knowledge from level 4 to design and model a more complex (multi-element) structure under differing load cases, including selection of appropriate material(s) from a wider, more specialist range. To fulfil this, students will explore more complex structures and load cases, and the advantages of multi-component materials.

• Mechatronics and Control - This module is the second of a pair of engineering science-driven modules (the first at Level 4) that explore topics and applications associated with analogue and digital circuits, instrumentation, mechatronics and control. It allows integration of mechanical, electrical and electronics engineering to develop engineering solution. In Mechatronics and Control, students will apply understanding of mechatronics, open- and closed-loop systems, and feedback system design to enhance automation of engineering systems.

Level 6

• Integrated Design, Materials and Processes - Students will gain comprehensive and integrated understanding of materials, and manufacturing processes, in the context of developing and managing mechanical engineering projects. By exploring both traditional and emerging technologies, students will analyse and select appropriate methods, materials, and mechanical components to address contemporary engineering challenges and contribute to innovative solutions in various industries. Students will also explore the impacts of engineering design on wider society.

• Mechanics of Materials - In Levels 4 and 5 of this programme, students will have gained an understanding of the principles and behaviour of engineered systems. This module draws on that underpinning knowledge to extend the understanding of stress and strain responses of engineered products or structures subjected to different types of loadings. Students will also learn applications of hydro- and aero-elasticity and failure theories.

• Manufacturing as Integrated Engineering - This synoptic module provides an opportunity for students to draw on their learning across all the programme’s engineering domains as well as the skillsets they have gained in practical engineering, project management, and value creation. It offers manufacturing as a context in which materials, structures, dynamics, electronics, control, thermodynamics, energy and power can all be observed, and presents a challenge where students identify benefits and strategies for Industry 5.0 approaches. They will achieve this aim by drawing on an understanding of the manufacturing environment, and the key mindsets that underpin productive manufacturing (including the management of cost, quality, legal responsibilities, workforce, and wellbeing and safety). Learning in this module will be combined with that in Integrated Design, Materials, and Processes to prepare students for an individual Bachelor project. Students registered on the MEng course will also further build on Mechanics of Materials and Manufacturing as an Integrated System in the Level 7 module Lifetime Performance of Engineering Assets, which extends to full lifecycle considerations.

• Bachelor's Project - This module builds students capability to develop and deliver a self-managed innovative project that has a mechanical engineering component. It also allows students to specialise in a mechanical engineering topic of their choice. Students will work individually on a mechanical engineering based project. Typically, this project will be undertaken with an industrial or community partner in a professional engineering context, and will address an industrial or social need. In other cases, students’ project may be research-based or defined by them (subject to academic approval). In all cases, the challenge will present technical complexity, an integrated approach and a requirement to meet the needs of varied stakeholders. In completing the project, students will need to draw upon, synthesise and apply prior learning, and to acquire new knowledge in relevant areas, primarily through self-directed and independent learning. Students will also need to consider, as appropriate, ethical and commercial factors in the project.

Level 7

• Research and Modelling - In Levels 4 and 5, students will have developed an understanding of engineering capabilities as well as the principles of engineering science. In Levels 5 and 6 students will have had the opportunity to integrate this knowledge and create value in industrial and community contexts. In this module, this underpinning knowledge and skills will form the basis of a research and modelling mindset suitable for graduate employment. In Research & Modelling, students will apply computational engineering modelling tools, typically CFD (computational fluid dynamics) or FEA (finite element analysis)) to predict the performance of an engineered system involving complex phenomena, for example fluid dynamics or structural integrity. Students will explore research methodologies and develop their practical skills in research design. Students will draw on advanced mathematical approaches, use commercial software and relate their engineering expertise gained earlier in the programme to evaluate the quality of the selected system.

• Lifetime Performance of Engineering Assets - This module draws on the skillsets developed in Mechanics of Materials, and on the synoptic learning in Manufacturing as an Integrated System that provided an opportunity at Level 6 to consider an integrated, multidisciplinary engineering challenge through the contemporary lens of asset management. In this module, that skillset and integrated approach are applied to a durable engineering application, providing an opportunity to explore the management of physical assets (e.g. structures, rigs, transport, water/waste infrastructure, energy generation) with a firm eye on their lifecycle performance. Students will achieve this aim by deploying engineering asset management frameworks that carefully integrate different engineering disciplines; nuanced financial treatments; maintenance, reliability, project, and risk mindsets; and critical perspectives on sustainability.

• Master's Project - This module builds students capability to develop and deliver a self-managed innovative project that has a mechanical engineering aspect. It also allows students to specialise in a mechanical engineering topic of their choice. The primary aim of this module is for students to work individually on a demanding mechanical engineering challenge for an extended period. Typically, the project will be undertaken with an industrial or community partner in a professional engineering context and address an industrial or social need. In other cases, the project may be research-based or self-defined (subject to academic approval).  In all cases technical complexity, novelty, an integrated approach, and a requirement to meet the needs of varied stakeholders will be present. In addition, students will need to draw upon, synthesize and apply prior learning, and to acquire new, advanced knowledge in relevant areas, primarily by self- directed and interdependent learning. Wider considerations will be needed and, depending on the nature of the challenge, will include a combination of ethical and commercial considerations.

https://nmite.ac.uk/undergraduate-degrees/accelerated-mechanical-engineering-degree-meng-hons

We believe that your assessment should be as reflective of a real workplace as possible and that means no traditional exams. Instead, our assessments take the form of in-studio quizzes, presentations and debates, display of artefacts you’ve developed and built, industrial reports, development of specifications, test reports and project plans, creative media presentation and general question and answer sessions where your participation and knowledge can be assessed.