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Mechanical Engineering
- MEng (Hon)
- 5 Years
- Full-time
- 14/09/2026
- Undergraduate
- Edinburgh Campus
Course summary
Mechanical engineering is essential to addressing modern challenges that require advanced technical solutions and new, innovative ways of thinking. This MEng Mechanical Engineering degree is the extended version of the BEng Mechanical Engineering degree with one extra year of study.
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
In Year 1, students work alongside peers from other science and engineering disciplines and have access to 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.
You’ll progress into practical workshop sessions in the lab in your second and third year. Here, you’ll learn about fluids, design and manufacturing, dynamics, and thermodynamics – all core principles of mechanical engineering.
Fourth and fifth year in your MEng Mechanical Engineering course will include staff-supported individual and group projects, which will help you step into a career as a mechanical engineer. You’ll follow your own path through a wide range of optional courses designed to develop knowledge and skills in specialist engineering subjects.
This five-year MEng Mechanical Engineering degree is the standard route towards a Chartered Engineering professional qualification, so you can progress towards that with this degree.
Eligible applicants may be able to commence their studies from year 2 of the 5 year program. Please visit our website for further information.
Industry links
Our industrial connections are particularly strong. 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. Through this board, we ensure our curriculum is up to date and relevant to emerging needs and technological requirements. 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
With our MEng Mechanical Engineering degree, you have so many exciting career prospects ahead where you’ll be working with innovative technologies and infrastructure. Recent Heriot-Watt graduates have progressed to working for organisations such as Mercedes, Babcock Marine, McLaren, Shell UK, Halliburton, and QinetiQ.
You’ll design, develop, optimise, and operate a range of mechanical parts in your career as a mechanical engineer. 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.
How to apply
This course has limited vacancies, and is no longer accepting applications from some students. See the list below for where you normally live, to check if you're eligible to apply.
- EU has vacancies
- Wales has vacancies
- England has vacancies
- International has vacancies
- Scotland does not have vacancies
- Northern Ireland has vacancies
- Republic of Ireland has vacancies
Apply by
14 January
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application codes
- Course code:
- H301
- Institution code:
- H24
- Campus name:
- Edinburgh Campus
- Campus Code:
- -
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
- Year 2
Entry requirements
Standard Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff - Not accepted
A level - BBB
including Mathematics and Physics for entry to Year 1.
For Year 2 entry: ABB including Physics and Maths.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DDM
in Engineering (including sufficient Maths and Physics) for entry to Year 1.
Scottish Higher - AAAB
including Mathematics and Physics/Engineering Science, with one at A.
Scottish Advanced Higher - AB
in Maths and Physics/Engineering Science plus AAAB at Higher for entry to Year 2.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 30 points
including Mathematics and Physics at Higher Level 5 for entry to Year 1.
For entry to Year 2: 34 points including Mathematics and Physics at Higher Level 6.
GCSE/National 4/National 5
It is also a requirement of every applicant to have English and Mathematics at a minimum of National 5 Grade C or GCSE Grade C or 4 (or equivalent)
Scottish HNC - Pass
For entry to Year 1: HNC in relevant subject with A in graded unit to include SQA Engineering Maths 1 and one of Engineering Maths 2 or 3, and sufficient Maths & Physics content.
Scottish HND - Pass
For entry to Year 1: HND in relevant subject with AB/BA in graded units to include SQA Engineering Maths 1 and one of Engineering Maths 2 or 3, and sufficient Maths & Physics content.
For entry to Year 2: HND in relevant subject with AA in graded units to include SQA Engineering Mathematics 1, 2, 3 & 4 and sufficient Maths & Physics content.
Foundation Apprenticeship (SCQF Level 6) - Pass
We accept Foundation Apprenticeships in combination with other qualifications such as SQA Highers and Advanced Highers.
T Level
We will consider T Levels as suitable for entry to our degree programmes, however, certain subject requirements may be required for entry to specific programmes. Where this is not evident as part of the T Level studies, we may ask for additional qualifications.
We are always welcome to transfer students, including considering advanced entry to Year 3 for students with strong academic performance. Applicants interested in this route should be in touch directly with our Admissions team.
We operate contextual admissions defined by our Fair Access Policy which may mean entry requirements are flexible.
We accept a wide range of other qualifications from the UK, Europe and International countries. Please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office for further information on the entry requirements for these.
Minimum Qualification Requirements
UCAS Tariff - Not accepted
-
A level - BCC
including Physics and Maths with one at B
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DMM
in Engineering including sufficient Physics and Maths.
Scottish Higher - BBBC
must include B in Maths and B in either Physics / Engineering Science.
GCSE/National 4/National 5 - It is also a requirement of every applicant to have English and Mathematics at a minimum of National 5 Grade C or GCSE Grade C or 4 (or equivalent)
-
Scottish HNC - Pass
For entry to Year 1: HNC in relevant subject with B in graded unit to include SQA Engineering Mathematics 1 & 2 and sufficient Physics content.
Scottish HND - Pass
For entry to Year 1: HND in relevant subject with BB in graded units to include SQA Engineering Mathematics 1 & 2 and sufficient Physics content.
Foundation Apprenticeship (SCQF Level 6) - Pass
We accept Foundation Apprenticeships in combination with other qualifications such as SQA Highers and Advanced Highers.
T Level
We will consider T Levels as suitable for entry to our degree programmes, however, certain subject requirements may be required for entry to specific programmes. Where this is not evident as part of the T Level studies, we may ask for additional qualifications.
The University guarantees to make a minimum entry offer to anyone who would be considered a Home or Rest of UK (RUK) applicant and who has achieved, or can achieve, the required grades from the following categories:
Priority postcode areas – Home Scottish applicants from SIMD20 postcodes or RUK applicants from POLAR 4 quintile 1 areas – identified through Scottish and UK government targets.
Care experience – Home Scottish or RUK applicants who have had experience of care, including adoption, kinship care, foster care and home supervision orders.
English language requirements
Applicants whose native language is not English and who have not been educated previously in the English language must provide evidence of their English language ability to ensure they can cope with the demands of a Heriot-Watt programme taught and assessed in English. Further information about the English Language tests that we currently accept as proof of English Language ability including our own English Language programmes, can be viewed on our website.
HWU English Language Requirements https://www.hw.ac.uk/study/entry/english-language-requirements.htm
Contextual admissions
Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.
We realise that not everyone has an equal opportunity to evidence their full potential from school or college qualifications alone, so we use all the information you provide on your application form to assess both your current achievements and potential to thrive at university. Our minimum entry levels apply to MD20, POLAR 4 Q1 and care experienced students. Students from other widening access backgrounds may get an adjusted offer which is slightly lower than our standard entry requirements.
Historical entry grades data BETA
This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.
Not available
Historical entry grades data is not currently available for Heriot-Watt University - we are working with them to try and make it available soon - learn more.
Student Outcomes
Operated by the Office for Students
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
Go onto work and study
The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| Location | Fee | Year |
|---|---|---|
| England | £9790 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £9790 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £9790 | Year 1 |
| Channel Islands | £9790 | Year 1 |
| Republic of Ireland | £9790 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £1820 | Year 1 |
| EU | £25808 | Year 1 |
| International | £25808 | Year 1 |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.
Additional fee information
No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.
Heriot-Watt University
Riccarton
Edinburgh
EH14 4AS
Visit our website Visit our course page
Course contact details
Admissions Office
Email:studywithus@hw.ac.uk
Phone:0131 451 3376
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