Start date:
Course information
Typical offer ABB
UCAS codes H300, H301, H302
Institute code L34
Taught by School of Engineering
Accredited by IET, IMechE and InstMC
Course description
Course description
Whether you study for the BEng or the MEng, your Mechanical Engineering degree will emphasise how mechanical engineering has been transformed by the use of powerful computer-aided design, prototyping and manufacturing tools and by the use of modern materials such as composites.
Engineers are innovators who bring about change through their ingenuity, experience and curiosity to improve the quality of life for people throughout the world. Their work is central to thriving economies and competitive industries. It is equally important in developing countries where engineers provide appropriate technologies during difficult times of change.
Professional engineers have a high degree of specialist knowledge but increasingly they use a broad approach to problem-solving across a range of engineering disciplines. This is coupled with an awareness of environmental, social, legal, economic and regulatory aspects of the problem at hand.
Mechanical systems are at the core of the manufacturing, process and service industries including:
- Advanced engines, traction and braking systems for vehicles
- Aircraft, satellites and deep space probes
- Biomedical technologies such as imagers, ventilators and prosthetics
- Air and water pollution control equipment
- Transportation and mass transit systems
- Industrial plant for the processing of raw materials and for power generation
Building on a broad foundation of engineering studies in Year 1, you will develop specific expertise and skills in mechanisms and vibrations, structures, mechanical materials, fluid dynamics and thermodynamics.
Successful engineers must be able to analyse and solve complex problems in the industrial context, communicate ideas to others and work effectively in teams and exercise leadership skills. This is why all our Engineering degrees include a selection of management content or specialised modules throughout. Topics covered include business finance, project planning and management, intellectual property, health and safety, motivation theory, marketing, total quality management, ethics and professionalism.
What's the difference?
Each of our Engineering subjects is available in six forms:
- BEng (3 years), BEng with Industry (4 years), BEng with Year Abroad (4 years)
- MEng (4 years), MEng with Industry (5 years), MEng with Year Abroad (5 years)
The MEng places greater emphasis on industrially-related project work, advanced technical content and leadership, and automatically meets the academic requirements for Chartered Engineer (CEng) status. The MEng shares its first three years with the corresponding BEng.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
- A/AS-levels: ABB including Maths. Two AS-levels considered in place of one A-level.
- EPQ with A-levels: BBB + EPQ at grade B. A-level subjects to include Maths.
- GCSEs: Grade C/4 in English Language.
- BTEC Nationals: DDM in Engineering including Further Maths at Distinction.
- International Baccalaureate: Pass Diploma with 30 points, with grade 5 in Maths HL. Must include minimum of grade 4 in English A or 5 in English B if minimum of grade 4/C not held in English Language at GCSE.
- Access to HE Diploma: Pass Engineering Diploma with 45 credits at level 3, 30 of which are at Distinction. To include all level 3 Maths modules at Distinction.
- T Levels: Distinction in either: Design and Development for Engineering and Manufacturing or Engineering, Manufacturing, Processing and Control or Maintenance, Installation and Repair for Engineering and Manufacturing (plus Maths test).
Other official national and international qualifications considered from across the world. You can review some of the qualifications we accept on our countries page and English Language equivalencies.
If your qualification or country is not listed, please contact us for more information, including the name and result of the qualification you have studied.
If you do not meet the entry requirements for this course, you can apply for Engineering with Foundation Year BEng.
Second year entry may be possible with suitable qualifications.
Contextual offers
The University of Leicester is committed to providing equitable opportunities for all applicants from all backgrounds. We make contextual offers to support students who may be impacted by the area they live in, their personal circumstances or who have completed one of our progression programmes. These offers are usually one or two grades lower than the standard entry requirements. To qualify for a contextual offer, you must apply for an eligible course and meet specific criteria – check if you’re eligible.
Selection Process
When considering your application, we will look for evidence that you will be able to fulfil the objectives of the course and achieve the standards required. We will take into account a range of factors including previous exam results.
Interview and maths assessment test may be required. If you receive an offer you will be invited to visit the School.
English Language Requirements
IELTS 6.0 or equivalent. If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. If you do not yet meet our requirements, our English Language Teaching Unit (ELTU) offers a range of courses to help you to improve your English to the necessary standard.
International Qualifications
Find your country in this list to check equivalent qualifications, scholarships and additional requirements.
Countries listFees and funding
Fees and funding
UK Students
Starting in 2025
- £9,250 in your first year. Tuition fees are subject to government regulations and may change in future years
- Year Abroad: your fee will be £1,385 for that year
- Year in Industry: your fee will be £1,850 for that year
Find out more about scholarships and funding.
International Students
Starting in 2025
- £24,500 per year
- Year Abroad: £6,125 which is 25% of the full-time tuition fee
- Year in Industry: £3,675 which is 15% of the full-time tuition fee
If you are resident outside the UK and the Republic of Ireland, you will need to pay a deposit of £3,000 to secure your place. This will be subtracted from your total tuition fee.
If you are an EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU settlement scheme, you may qualify for the UK fee (subject to criteria).
Find out more about scholarships and funding.
Accreditation
Accreditation
All our Mechanical Engineering degrees are accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and the Institute of Measurement and Control. The BEng is "accredited in partial fulfilment of the academic requirements for Chartered Engineer status" which means that you can become a Chartered Engineer (CEng) by undertaking extra study later in your career.
Careers and employability
Careers and employability
Our Mechanical Engineering degrees offer excellent preparation for industrial employment. Practical lab work puts theory into practice, and design work teaches you skills in Computer Aided Design using industry standard software. Individual projects allow you to specialise in an area you find fascinating, enhancing your knowledge and exposing you to methods used widely in industry. Your project work may also include output from an industrial partner.
Graduate destinations
Oishi took the Year in Industry option and spent a year working at Rolls Royce. This helped her land a job there after she graduated - she is now a software engineer working on aircraft engines.
Careers and Employability Service
Get career-ready at Leicester with guidance from our award-winning Careers and Employability Service. We're here to give you a lifetime offer of support, even after graduation. Our team of specialist careers advisers and mentors will help you every step of the way. From supporting you with CVs and interviews, to volunteering opportunities and placements, we're here to help you reach your professional goals.
Related courses
Related courses
Sustainable Development Goals
Sustainable Development Goals
We are committed to providing skills and knowledge to help prepare you tackle global challenges. We have mapped our undergraduate degrees for learning which aligns to the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.
This degree includes learning which relates to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals:
- Goal 13: Climate action
Course structure
Year 1
Year 1
All engineers require an excellent knowledge of basic engineering principles, which is why our courses in Aerospace, General and Mechanical Engineering share the exact same first year. This means that you can switch between any of these degrees before your second year.
Modules
- Sustainable Engineering Design
- Engineering Mathematics with programming 1
- Engineering Mathematics with programming 2
- Solid Mechanics
- Fluid Mechanics
- Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer
- Principles of Electrical Engineering
- Digital Electronics and Communications
This is the same as the first year of the MEng.
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Year 2
Year 2
In your second year you will begin to specialise in the field of mechanical engineering while continuing to develop fundamental engineering principles. You will also take an integrated design project in which you will work in a team with students from other engineering disciplines – vital experience for the modern world of engineering.
Modules
- Integrated Engineering Design*
- System Dynamics and Control*
- Engineering Management and Business Simulation*
- Materials and Structures
- Fluid Dynamics and Aerodynamics
- Dynamics and Vibrations
- Materials Processing
- Applied Engineering Thermodynamics
This is the same as the second year of the MEng.
If you achieve at least 55% in your second year you can, if you wish, transfer to the MEng.
Modules marked with an * are common to all Engineering UG programmes.
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Optional Year Abroad and in Industry
Optional Year Abroad and in Industry
If you want to, you can spend the third year of the BSc studying abroad at one of our partner institutions or working in an industrial placement. Alternatively, you can opt to continue studying at the University and complete your degree in three years.
Year Abroad
We’ll make sure you have everything you need for your future career: not just by awarding you a high quality degree, but also by helping you to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence you need to make your mark in the world as a Citizen of Change. One way you can do this is by opting to take a Year Abroad between Years 2 and 3 of your degree.
Studying abroad is not just for people who are interested in travelling and meeting new people. It is about acquiring life skills that are becoming increasingly significant for a wide range of jobs in our modern globalised society. Whether you go on to a career in the private, public or third sector - or plough your own furrow as an entrepreneur – you will find the experience invaluable.
For more information, including a list of destinations, please visit our Study Abroad website.
Please note
- A year spent abroad still incurs a tuition fee, but this is much lower than for a normal year at Leicester. See the Fees and Funding tab of this page for details.
- You may be eligible for a travel grant from Student Finance England.
- Places are offered on a competitive basis, and eligibility is dependent on your academic performance in Years 1 and 2.
- Language courses, at beginners or advanced level, are available through our Languages at Leicester scheme.
Year in Industry
If you choose a 'With Industry’ degree you will spend a year on an industrial placement with a sponsoring company between your second and third years at Leicester. You will undertake a programme of training and practical experience that is agreed between the sponsoring company and the University. Recent placements have included: Rolls-Royce, Force India F1 Team, Ford Motors, Intel UK, Network Rail, Porsche Engineering Services, Aero Engine Controls, Babcock International, Auto Electrical Services and Jaguar Land Rover.
A member of staff will be individually assigned to you as your industrial placement tutor, who will be in contact with you throughout your placement and will visit the sponsoring company. During the year you will return to Leicester to present details of your placement to other students studying for 'With industry' degrees.
A year in industry is a great opportunity which can give you first-hand experience of working in an engineering-related career while also enhancing your employability skills and allowing you to network with people in industry.
A year in industry still incurs a tuition fee, but this is much lower than for a normal year at Leicester. See the Fees and Funding tab of this page for details.
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Final Year
Final Year
In your third year (or fourth year if you take a year out) you have the opportunity to specialise in different aspects of mechanical engineering through a number of optional modules. Your individual project is a significant part of this year, giving you the opportunity to investigate a specific mechanical engineering concept or challenge.
Modules
- Finite Element Analysis and Design
- Heat Transfer and Energy Systems
- State Variable Control
- Tribology in Engineering Design
- Rigid Body and Structural Dynamics
Plus one option module from:
Plus your Individual Project
This is the same as the third year of the MEng.
Examples of recent Third Year Projects include:
- Analysis of valve spring surges in a racing engine
- Design, construction and commissioning of aerodynamic corner vanes
- Design of a test facility to evaluate the use of novel materials for motorcycle protective clothing
- Development of a fluid damping system to reduce vibrations from a high-speed rotating shaft
- Mathematical modelling of a metal matrix composite
- Modelling of the lubrication system of a diesel engine to aid fault diagnosis
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Why Leicester?
Our 'Management and Leadership' modules will help you achieve your professional goals.
The School of Engineering operates an Open Door policy meaning you can access support when you need it. We also keep our teaching groups small so you won't be a face in the crowd at Leicester.
All our Engineering degrees are accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and the Institute of Measurement and Control.
A shared first year allows you to swap between degrees in General Engineering, Aerospace Engineering and Mechanical Engineering at the start of Year 2.
Teaching and learning
You will be assigned a personal tutor who will be on hand throughout your course to offer advice and support on personal matters, provide guidance on course choices and help you appraise your own work.
For the practical aspects of the course you will work, with a partner or as part of a small team, in our well-equipped engineering labs. On your third year project you will work individually with an academic member of staff.
Continuous assessment of your experimentation, computing, design and project work will contribute about 30-50% of your overall mark, with the rest based on your performance in exams for each module. You will also be expected to give presentations about your work.
Independent learning
When not attending lectures, seminars or other timetabled sessions you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking research in the library, preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for exams. To help with your independent learning, you can access the Library and our social study spaces in halls of residence.
Your contact hours will depend on the option modules you select. You can see details of the contact hours on individual module pages.
Academic support
Our Centre for Academic Achievement provides help in the following areas:
- study and exam skills
- academic writing
- presentations
- dissertations
- numerical data skills
- referencing sources
Our AccessAbility Centre offers support and practical help for students with dyslexia or other specific learning difficulties, including physical, mental health or mobility difficulties, deafness, or visual impairment.
Teaching staff
You will be taught by an experienced teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course. PhD research students who have undertaken teacher training may also contribute to the teaching of seminars under the supervision of the module leader. Our teaching is informed by the research we do. You can learn more about our staff by visiting our staff profiles.
Apply now
Course | Qualification | Duration | UCAS Code | Availability |
---|---|---|---|---|
Course Mechanical Engineering | Qualification BEng | Duration 3 years full-time | UCAS Code H300 | Availability How to apply |
Course Mechanical Engineering with Year Abroad | Qualification BEng | Duration 4 years full-time | UCAS Code H301 | Availability How to apply |
Course Mechanical Engineering with Year in Industry | Qualification BEng | Duration 4 years full-time | UCAS Code H302 | Availability How to apply |
Data about this course
The Department’s close links with industry mean I can do projects relevant to the research happening in industry today.