Mechanical Engineering - BEng (Hons)

This is an archived course for 2021 entry
2023 courses

Engineering has shaped modern society and personal lives in a way that no other discipline has ever done. Studying Mechanical Engineering at Kent will allow you to be part of this revolution, and to gain the knowledge and skills to make your own mark in this exciting field.

Overview

Mechanical Engineering is a fundamental discipline that is responsible for the design and the development of mechanical systems and it is vital in many tech industries. At the University of Kent, we focus in the modern applications of Mechanical Engineering, e.g. robotics, assistive technology, smart materials and autonomous vehicles.

Our research led degrees mean our graduates can work at the forefront of the major areas of mechanical engineering, combining theory with practical and project work, turning ideas into real systems.

We have strong links with the Royal Academy of Engineering and with institutions that provide accreditation to university degrees (Institution of Engineering and Technology and Institution of Mechanical Engineers). Our engineering students' work has won international prizes and our visiting industrial professors contribute to a strong industrial relevance of our courses.

Our degree programme

This programme covers all aspects of mechanical engineering, from robotics to manufacturing, from fluid dynamics to materials. This will allow you to enter any branch of mechanical engineering following graduation.

The first year of our course lays the foundation for the rest of your studies and includes modules on mechanics, CAD, introduction to mechatronics, engineering analysis and mathematics. In the first year project you will engineer a system to solve a problem using mechanics, sensors and actuators.

In the second year, you further develop your understanding of the field, gaining advanced practical experience, specifically in mechanisms, mechatronics, fluid dynamics, manufacturing and design. As your knowledge of mechanical engineering grows, you discover which areas particularly interest you, so that in your final year you can begin to specialise in preparation for your final-year project.

Foundation Year

For students (Home/EU) wishing to apply for BEng Mechancial Engineering for 2020 entry, it is possible to be considered for stage 1 entry by undertaking one of our Foundation Year courses. Please contact us for further information about this route.

Year in industry

It is possible to take this programme with a year in industry, see Mechanical Engineering with a Year in Industry.

Study resources

We provide first-class facilities to support your studies, including:

  • mechanical workshop staffed with skilled mechanical engineers
  • 120-seat engineering laboratory
  • open access to high-end computers
  • CAD and development software
  • robotics/wheelchair laboratory
  • 3D printing and laser cutting facilities.

Kent's School of Engineering has recently undergone a £3 million redevelopment and modernisation called the Jennison Design Hub, whereby you gain state-of-the-art engineering and design facilities which include:

  • a virtual reality suite
  • a production studio (including photography, video and green screen facilities)
  • a large teaching and design studio
  • engineering workshop and fabrication facilities
  • a dedicated makerspace.

Extra activities

There are many ways to get involved in School life. You could become a student representative, giving students a voice on School committees or become a student ambassador and work with us in secondary schools to promote engineering and technology.

We also host events where you can meet industry experts and former students.

In addition, you can take part in student-led societies including:

  • UKC Digital Media
  • Kent Engineering Society
  • TinkerSoc – Kent’s Maker Society.

Professional network

The School has strong links with the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). We have several visiting industrial professors who contribute to the strong industrial relevance of our programmes.

Featured video

Entry requirements

Please also see our general entry requirements.

  • medal-empty

    A level

    ABB - BBC including B in Mathematics plus one other science/technology subject (Physics, Computing or Electronics).

  • medal-empty Access to HE Diploma

    The University will not necessarily make conditional offers to all Access candidates but will continue to assess them on an individual basis. 

    If we make you an offer, you will need to obtain/pass the overall Access to Higher Education Diploma and may also be required to obtain a proportion of the total level 3 credits and/or credits in particular subjects at merit grade or above.

  • medal-empty BTEC Nationals

    DDD - DMM in an Engineering subject including Further Maths/Further Maths for Engineering Technicians. Other subjects are considered on a case-by-case basis. Please contact us for further advice on your individual circumstances.

  • medal-empty International Baccalaureate

    34 points overall or 15 points at HL including Mathematics (not Mathematics Studies) 5 at HL or 6 at SL or HL Maths: Analysis and Approaches at 5 (not Applications and Interpretations), and a science subject 5 at HL or 6 at SL.

  • medal-empty International Foundation Programme

    N/A

International students should visit our International Student website for further specific information. International fee-paying students who require a Student visa cannot study part-time due to visa restrictions.

English Language Requirements

Please see our English language entry requirements web page.

If you need to improve your English language standard as a condition of your offer, you can attend one of our pre-sessional courses in English for Academic Purposes before starting your degree programme. You attend these courses before starting your degree programme.

Course structure

Duration: 3 years full-time

The following modules are indicative of those offered on this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.   On most programmes, you study a combination of compulsory and optional modules. You may also be able to take ‘elective’ modules from other programmes so you can customise your programme and explore other subjects that interest you.

Stage 1

Compulsory modules currently include:

EL323 - Engineering Design and Mechanics (15 credits)

EL324 - Mechanics of Materials (15 credits)

EL305 - Introduction to Electronics (15 credits)

EL311 - First Year Engineering Applications Project (15 credits)

EL313 - Introduction to Programming (15 credits)

EL315 - Digital Technologies (15 credits)

EL318 - Engineering Mathematics (15 credits)

EL319 - Engineering Analysis (15 credits)

Stage 2

Compulsory modules currently include:

EL517 - Control and Mechatronics (15 credits)

EL562 - Engineering Group Project (15 credits)

EL565 - Instrumentation and Measurement Systems (15 credits)

EL518 - Dynamics of Machines (15 credits)

EL519 - Introduction to Fluid Dynamics (15 credits)

EL520 - Failure of Materials and Structures (15 credits)

EL577 - Entrepreneurship and Professional Development (15 credits)

EL522 - Design and Manufacturing Technology (15 credits)

Stage 3

Compulsory modules currently include:

EL600 - Project (45 credits)

EL646 - Robotics and Artificial Intelligence (15 credits)

EL683 - Reliability, Availability, Maintainability and Safety (RAMS) (15 credits)

EL647 - Advanced Applications of Mechanics (15 credits)

EL648 - Engineering Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer (15 credits)

Optional modules:

EL561 - Image Analysis & Applications (15 credits)

EL614 - Biomaterials (15 credits)

Fees

The 2021/22 annual tuition fees for this programme are:

  • Home full-time £9,250
  • EU full-time £15,400
  • International full-time £20,500

For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.

For students continuing on this programme, fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.* 

Your fee status

The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.

Additional costs

General additional costs

Find out more about accommodation and living costs, plus general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.

Funding

We have a range of subject-specific awards and scholarships for academic, sporting and musical achievement.

Search scholarships

University funding

Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. See our funding page for more details. 

Government funding

You may be eligible for government finance to help pay for the costs of studying. See the Government's student finance website.

Scholarships

General scholarships

Scholarships are available for excellence in academic performance, sport and music and are awarded on merit. For further information on the range of awards available and to make an application see our scholarships website.

The Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence

At Kent we recognise, encourage and reward excellence. We have created the Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence. 

The scholarship will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of A*AA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications (including BTEC and IB) as specified on our scholarships pages.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching includes practical work in conventional laboratory experiments or projects, lecture modules and examples classes, which develop your problem-solving skills, and staff hold regular ‘surgeries’ where you can discuss any questions you have. Practical work is carried out in air-conditioned laboratories, with state-of-the-art equipment and outstanding IT infrastructure.

Stage 1 modules are assessed by coursework and examination at the end of the year. Stage 2 and 3 modules, with the exception of the Stage 3 project, are assessed by a combination of coursework and examination. All years include project work to replicate industrial practice and develop skills to maximise employability.

Contact hours

For a student studying full time, each academic year of the programme will comprise 1200 learning hours which include both direct contact hours and private study hours.  The precise breakdown of hours will be subject dependent and will vary according to modules.  Please refer to the individual module details under Course Structure.

Methods of assessment will vary according to subject specialism and individual modules.  Please refer to the individual module details under Course Structure.

Programme aims

The programme aims to:

  • Educate students to become mechanical engineers who are well equipped for professional careers in development, research and production in industry and universities, and who are well adapted to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing discipline.
  • Produce professional mechanical engineers with a well-balanced knowledge of mechanics, material properties, fluid dynamics, design and mechatronics.
  • Enable students to satisfy the partial educational requirements of the IMechE for Chartered Engineer (CEng) registration.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

You gain a knowledge and understanding of:

  • Mathematical principles relevant to mechanics, material properties, fluid dynamics, and mechatronics.
  • Scientific principles and methodology relevant to mechanical engineering with an emphasis on practical applications in mechanical engineering and mechatronics.
  • Advanced concepts of mechanics, material properties, fluid dynamics, design and mechatronics, influenced by ongoing and current industrial needs and informed by internationally recognised relevant research expertise.
  • The value of intellectual property and contractual issues for professional and entrepreneurial engineers.
  • Business, management and project management techniques, seen mainly in a case study context, which may be used to achieve engineering objectives.
  • The need for a high level of professional and ethical conduct in mechanical engineering, directly applied in a case study context.
  • Current manufacturing practice with particular, example led emphasis on product safety, environmental standards and directives.
  • Characteristics of the materials, equipment, processes and products required for mechanical and mechatronic systems.
  • Appropriate codes of practice, industry standards and quality issues, directly applied in a case study context.
  • Contexts in which engineering knowledge can be applied, particularly explored in student-led project work, to solve new problems.

Intellectual skills

You gain the following intellectual skills:

  • Analysis and solution of problems in mechanical engineering using appropriate mathematical methods with a strong emphasis on engineering example based learning and assessment.
  • Ability to apply and integrate knowledge and understanding of other engineering disciplines to support study of mechanical engineering particularly through student based led practical project design.
  • Use of engineering principles and the ability to apply them to analyse key mechanical engineering processes with an emphasis on simulation and practical learning.
  • Ability to identify, classify and describe the performance of systems and components through the use of analytical methods and modelling techniques with an emphasis on simulation and practical learning. 
  • Ability to apply and understand a systems approach to mechanical engineering problems by top level analysis to consolidate learning of underpinning principles.
  • Ability to investigate and define a problem and identify constraints including cost drivers, economic, environmental, health and safety and risk assessment issues largely by undertaking individual and group projects work.
  • Ability to use creativity to establish innovative, aesthetic solutions whilst understanding customer and user needs, ensuring fitness for purpose of all aspects of the problem including production, operation, maintenance and disposal expressed through student led group project work and consolidated by individual project work. 
  • Ability to demonstrate the economic and environmental context of the engineering solution with an emphasis on sustainable, and professional and enterprise case studies. 

Subject-specific skills

You gain the following subject-specific skills:

  • Use of mathematical techniques to analyse problems relevant to mechanical engineering, material properties, fluid dynamics, design and mechatronics.
  • Ability to work in an engineering laboratory environment and to use a wide range of mechanical and mechatronic equipment, workshop equipment and CAD tools for the practical realisation of mechanical and mechatronic systems throughout the programme.
  • Ability to work with technical uncertainty or incomplete knowledge particularly through experimental learning in practical project design. 
  • Ability to apply quantitative methods and computer software relevant to mechanical engineering in order to solve engineering problems in analytical, simulation based, and practical engineering activities. 
  • Ability to design mechanical and mechatronic systems to fulfil a product specification and devise tests to appraise performance, consolidated by student-led individual and group project design.
  • Awareness of the nature of intellectual property and contractual issues and an understanding of appropriate codes of practice and industry standards, explored through case studies. 
  • Ability to use technical literature and other information sources and apply it to a design, largely through student-led practical project work.
  • Ability to apply management techniques to the planning, resource allocation and execution of a design project and evaluate outcomes, consolidated through student led projects.
  • Ability to prepare technical reports and give effective and appropriate presentations to a technical and non-technical audience’s.

Transferable skills

You gain the following transferable skills:

  • Ability to generate, analyse, present, interpret data and solve problems.
  • Use of Information and Communications Technology.
  • Personal and interpersonal skills, work as a member of a team
  • Communicate effectively to peers and professional engineers (in writing, verbally and through drawings).
  • Learn effectively for the purpose of continuing professional development.
  • Ability for critical thinking, reasoning, reflection and self-learning.
  • Ability to manage time and resources within an individual project and a group project.

Independent rankings

Electronic and Electrical Engineering at Kent scored 90% overall in The Complete University Guide 2021.

Over 94% of Electronic and Electrical Engineering graduates who responded to the most recent national survey of graduate destinations were in work or further study within six months (DLHE, 2017).

Careers

Graduate destinations

Our graduates find employment in a huge range of sectors such as aerospace and automative industries, the armed forces and the Ministry of Defence, construction and building services, energy utilities, government agencies, manufacturing industries, medical engineering, oil and gas industries, process industries, the public sector, research establishments and transport including road and railways.  

Employers include:

  • Aero Engine Controls
  • BAE Systems
  • Bentley Motors
  • Bombardier
  • British Energy
  • Delphi
  • Jaguar Land Rover
  • RDDS
  • Rolls-Royce 
  • The Royal Navy

Some graduates choose to go on to postgraduate study.

Professional recognition

For over 30 years, our BEng and MEng courses in Electronic and Communications Engineering have been accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), which enables fast-track career progression as a professional engineer.

Accreditation will be sought from the Institution of Mechanical Engineering (IMechE).

Help finding a job

The School of Engineering holds an annual Employability and Careers Day where you can meet local and national employers and discuss career opportunities. Ongoing support is provided by the School’s dedicated Employability Officer.

The University also has a friendly Careers and Employability Service which can give you advice on how to:

  • apply for jobs
  • write a good CV
  • perform well in interviews.

Career-enhancing skills

In addition to the technical skills you acquire on this programme, you also gain key transferable skills including:

  • planning and organisation
  • leadership
  • effective communication. 

You can gain extra skills by signing up for one of our Kent Extra activities, such as learning a language or volunteering.

Apply for Mechanical Engineering - BEng (Hons)

This course page is for the 2021/22 academic year. Please visit the current online prospectus for a list of undergraduate courses we offer.

Contact us

bubble-text

United Kingdom/EU enquiries

Enquire online for full-time study

T: +44 (0)1227 768896

earth

International student enquiries

Enquire online

T: +44 (0)1227 823254
E: internationalstudent@kent.ac.uk

network

School website

School of Engineering

Discover Uni information

Discover Uni is designed to support prospective students in deciding whether, where and what to study. The site replaces Unistats from September 2019.

Discover Uni is jointly owned by the Office for Students, the Department for the Economy Northern Ireland, the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales and the Scottish Funding Council.

It includes:

  • Information and guidance about higher education
  • Information about courses
  • Information about providers

Find out more about the Unistats dataset on the Higher Education Statistics Agency website.