Mechanical Engineering
Entry requirements
A level
112-120 points from 2 or 3 A levels, including an A level in a relevant subject.
112-122 Tariff points from the Access to HE Diploma in a relevant subject.
Cambridge Pre-U score of 54-56, to include a Principal Subject in a relevant subject.
GCSE/National 4/National 5
GCSE English and Combined Science/Physics at grade C, or equivalent/GCSE English and Combined Science/Physics at grade 4, or equivalent.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
29 points from the IB Diploma. 655/754 at Higher Level, with one relevant subject at Higher Level - 29 points from the IB Diploma. 664 at Higher Level, with one relevant subject at Higher Level.
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
H3,H3,H3,H3,H4-H3,H3,H3,H3,H3
To include a Higher Level in a relevant subject.
Acceptable when combined with other qualifications.
Acceptable when combined with other qualifications.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
Must be in a relevant subject.
112-120 Tariff points, including an Advanced Higher in a relevant subject.
T Level
Acceptable T Level Subjects: T Level in Construction: Design, Surveying and Planning, T Level in Building Services Engineering, T Level in Engineering and Manufacturing Design and Development, T Level in Maintenance, Installation and Repair for Engineering and Manufacturing, T Level in Engineering, Manufacturing, Processing and Control
UCAS Tariff
112-120 points from 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, to include a relevant subject.
112-120 points from the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate including 2 A levels one of which must be a relevant subject, plus the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate.
About this course
This course has alternative study modes. Contact the university to find out how the information below might vary.
**This is a Connected Degree**
Portsmouth is the only University in the UK with the flexibility to choose when to do an optional paid placement or self-employed year. Either take a placement in your third year, or finish your studies first and complete a placement in your fourth year. You can decide if and when to take a placement after you've started your course.
**Overview**
With huge technological advances taking place in areas of transport, energy, healthcare and robotics, studying mechanical engineering can put you in a position to influence the future of global industries.
To meet the challenges of the engineering world, you'll study the design, development, modelling and operation of engineered products and systems. To establish your expertise in engineering, you'll get to specialise in subjects such as sustainable development, computer-aided engineering and computational fluid dynamics.
**BEng or MEng?**
The 3-year Bachelor's degree (BEng) and 4-year integrated Master's degree (MEng) share many of the same modules in years 1–3. The MEng allows you to achieve a Master’s level degree with an extra year of undergraduate study, which can further enhance your career prospects.
**Course highlights**
- Learn about the underlying elements of successful engineering and manufacturing projects, including engineering analysis, optimisation and design
- Work on a project proposal sponsored by an external company – previous students have worked on a heat loss optimisation with Rolls Royce, fire alarms with Apollo Fire Detectors and wind turbine blade production with Vestas
- Get the chance to be involved in Formula Student, where you'll design, construct and test a competitive race car with fellow students to be judged and raced at Silverstone, home of the British Grand Prix
**Accreditation**
This course is accredited by European Engineering Programmes (EUR-ACE), the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). The BEng meets in part the academic requirement for registration as Chartered Engineer (CEng) and the MEng meets in full the academic requirement for registration as Chartered Engineer (CEng).
**Careers and opportunities**
This mechanical engineering degree course will give you the skills and experience you need to work in any industry that depends on mechanical systems, from transport and construction to the armed forces and energy.
And your skills will be in demand when you graduate – all mechanical engineering roles are listed in the UK Government’s 'skills shortage list'. This is backed up by the fact that 90% of our MEng graduates are in work and/or further study 15 months after they graduate, with 80% of those in highly skilled work. 5 years after graduation, students on our mechanical engineering courses are earning an average of £35,000 a year.
Graduate destinations
Our graduates have worked for national and global companies such as:
- Babcock International
- Pall Corporation
- Rolls-Royce
- Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
- Bosch Thermotechnology
- Wärtsilä
- Mercedes-AMG
What jobs can you do with a mechanical engineering degree?
Roles you could go onto include:
- mechanical engineer
- design engineer
- test engineer
- project manager
- energy storage analyst
- mechanical design engineer
Other graduates have continued their studies at postgraduate level or set up successful businesses with help and support from the University.
After you leave the University, you can get help, advice and support for up to 5 years from our Careers and Employability service as you advance in your career.
"Formula Student has given me the confidence in my ability as an engineer, as components that I have designed were built and proven to withstand their environment." Simon Hotchkiss, Mechanical Engineering Student
Modules
Year 1
Core modules in this year include:
- Electrical and Electronic Principles
- Introduction to Design
- Introduction to Materials and Manufacture
- Introduction to Solid Mechanics and Dynamics
- Introduction to Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics
- Mathematical Principles
There are no optional modules in this year.
Year 2
Core modules in this year include:
- Computer Aided Engineering and Product Manufacture
- Engineering Design
- Engineering Mathematics and Numerical Analysis
- Solid Mechanics and Dynamics
- Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics
Optional modules in this year currently include:
- Engineering Programming
- Materials and Manufacture
- Modern Foreign Language
- Robotics and Automation
Placement year (optional)
On this course, you can do an optional work placement year between your 2nd and 3rd years to get valuable experience working in industry. We’ll help you secure a work placement that fits your situation and ambitions. You’ll get mentoring and support throughout the year.
Year 3
Core modules in this year include:
- Design for Quality
- Finite Element Analysis in Solid Mechanics
- Individual Project
- Sustainable Development and Environmental Management
Optional modules in this year currently include:
- Advanced Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics
- Big Data Applications
We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.
Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry and some optional modules may not run every year. If a module doesn’t run, we’ll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.
Assessment methods
You’ll be assessed through:
- written examinations
- coursework
- practical tests
- project work
- presentations
You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark.
You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future.
The way you’re assessed may depend on the modules you select. As a guide, students on this course last year were typically assessed as follows:
- Year one students: 84% by written exams and 16% by coursework
- Year two students: 56% by written exams, 13% by practical exams and 31% by coursework
- Year three students: 60% by written exams and 40% by coursework
Tuition fees
Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:
The Uni
University of Portsmouth
Faculty of Technology
What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.
How do students rate their degree experience?
The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Mechanical engineering
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Mechanical engineering
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
We're short of engineers in a lot of areas and mechanical engineering is no exception. Mechanical engineers are in demand across multiple industries, with vehicle manufacturing most popular, with roles especially common in design and manufacturing. Other important sectors include aerospace, the oil and gas industry, consultancy and defence. Jobs are all around the country, with London, the Midlands, Scotland and the South East the most likely places for a new mechanical engineer to find work at the moment, and starting salaries are good. Although large employers are much the most likely place to get work, some of the most challenging, cutting edge jobs are with small niche engineering firms, so keep your eyes peeled if you want something a little different. Bear in mind that a lot of courses are four years long, and lead to an MEng qualification — this is necessary if you want to become a Chartered Engineer.
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Mechanical engineering
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£27k
£31k
£38k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).
This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.
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You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.
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Post-six month graduation stats:
This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.
It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.
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Graduate field commentary:
The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show
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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
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