BEng(Hons) Mechanical Engineering (with Foundation Year)
This course is open for applications.
Introduction
Get on track for our IMechE accredited BEng(Hons) Mechanical Engineering degree, by completing a foundation year. If you're committed to an engineering future and have a less conventional background, this is the course for you.
Accreditations and partnerships:
Why study mechanical engineering?
Engineers constantly ask questions and explore new ideas. They play an important role in developing the world around us - whether that's through the initial design and manufacture of products, or through their development, management or marketing. A degree in Mechanical Engineering will challenge you and transform the way you learn, giving you the opportunity to use your skills in any sector you wish.
Why UWE Bristol?
Develop your understanding of stress analysis, dynamics, heat transfer, mechatronics, materials and manufacture, and maths.
You'll be taught in our new state-of-the-art School of Engineering designed to revolutionise the way engineering is taught. Featuring engine test cells, dedicated collaborative learning spaces and all of the latest high-tech equipment, it's purpose-built to support a wide range of engineering disciplines.
Choose your modules in a way that allows you to specialise with your chosen career in mind. Gain an inside track on the profession through factory visits and professional briefings with industry-leading organisations across the UK.
This course is developed alongside our partner employers to make sure you're industry ready when you graduate. They also provide you with placement opportunities, as well as advice on CV-writing, interview techniques and industry issues.
You'll share modules with aerospace and automotive engineering students in your first year. This means that you can transfer onto one of these courses if your focus changes.
Depending on your second year results, you may also be able to extend your studies by a year to graduate with an MEng in Mechanical Engineering.
Join us in using the power of engineering to explore, take risks and find ways to change the world for the better.
Where can it take me?
Mechanical engineers are sought after for traditional engineering jobs and the product development process. They are also highly regarded in the world of financial business.
You'll also be in demand to help maximise usage of high capital plants and operations such as power stations, oil refineries and hospitals.
Structure
Content
The optional modules listed are those that are most likely to be available, but they may be subject to change.
Year zero (foundation year)
You'll study:
- Engineering Experimentation
- Foundation Group Project
- Foundation Mechanics
- Foundation Mathematics: Algebra and Calculus
- Introduction to Mechatronics.
You normally need to pass your foundation year before going into year one.
Year one
You'll study:
- Engineering Practice 1
- Solid Mechanics, Materials and Manufacturing
- Dynamics Modelling and Simulation
- Thermofluids
- Applied Electrical Technology.
Year two
You'll study:
- Engineering Practice 2
- Engineering Research
- Structural Mechanics
- Applied Thermofluids
- Dynamics
- Systems Design.
Placement year (if applicable)
If you study on the four year sandwich course, you'll spend a year away from the University on a work placement after year two.
You'll complete a placement learning module.
See the Placements and Fees sections for more information.
Year three (Final Year for BEng)
You'll study:
- Professionalism for Engineers*
- Engineering Project
- Group Design and Integration Project.
*You won't study this module if you have completed the placement year)
Plus, four optional modules from:
- Composite Engineering or Materials and Structures for Special Applications
- Thermofluid Systems or Advanced Heat Transfer
- Vibrational Dynamics or Vehicle Dynamics
- Control Engineering.or Integrated Electro-Mechanical Systems
- Advanced Manufacturing Technology or Mechanics of Materials
- Engineering and Society
- Emerging Automotive Technology 1.
The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved, we'll inform you.
Learning and Teaching
Learn through a mix of lectures and tutorials, experimental laboratory work, engineering fabrication, drawing and design, computing and application-based mini projects.
Make use of facilities including stress analysis, testing and materials selection, dynamics and vibration and thermofluids.
Experiment with energy conservation and control, aerodynamics (high speed and low speed wind tunnels), electronics and computing, manufacture, advanced manufacture and robotics.
Attend regular presentations from visiting professionals to give you the inside track on industry challenges and opportunities. Visit our careers fairs and engineer 'speed dating' events that help you find work as soon as you graduate.
Get involved in national competitions and initiatives to boost your skills and experience. Some students volunteer their skills to help develop infrastructure in developing countries, through initiatives like Engineers without Borders. Others have had success with UWE Bristol teams in the Formula Student competition.
Showcase your work to employers and the public at our annual degree show.
See our full glossary of learning and teaching terms.
Study time
You can study this course full-time over four (BEng) or five (MEng) years.
Assessment
You'll be assessed through a mix of examinations, assignments and group projects. An individual project is a key assessment in your final year.
Learn more about assessments.
Features
Professional accreditation
This course is accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).
The accredited BEng (Hons) will meet, in part, the exemplifying academic benchmark requirements for registration as a Chartered Engineer and Students will need to complete an approved format of further learning pursuant to the requirements of UK-SPEC.
Placements
Students who get work experience tend to graduate with better degrees. Experience also hones your skills, industry knowledge and professional network, making you a sought after graduate.
If you choose the six year (sandwich) course, you'll spend a year away from the University on a work or study placement after Year two.
Past students have worked for the German Space Agency, Rolls Royce, Airbus and smaller regional consultancies. Many of these employers were so impressed with the calibre of our students that they employed them on graduation.
Get help to find your placement and support throughout from department staff and our award-winning careers service.
Fieldwork
You'll have an opportunity to see engineering in action at a range of facilities.
On factory visits, you'll receive a guided tour of the shop floor and attend a presentation from the host organisation.
Past visits have included Jaguar Land Rover, the National Composite Centre, Airbus and GKN.
Study facilities
Our new engineering building is designed to inspire the engineers of the future. Built for hands-on investigation, with engine test cells, wind tunnels and collaborative learning spaces. An ideal environment for encouraging you to explore, take risks and discover ways to change the world for the better.
Test your theories and develop engineering skills in our well-equipped laboratories.
Carry out stress analysis experimentation in our statics lab or consider moving based problems in our dynamics lab.
Experiment with industry-ready electro-mechanical machines and investigate heat transfer and engine performance using specialist equipment.
Develop practical skills in our rapid prototyping facility and machine shop.
Learn how to undertake finite element analysis (FEA), computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and computer-aided design (CAD) on our workstations equipped with industry standard software.
A mix of traditional and hands-on learning environments helps you quickly take onessential knowledge and skills, standing you in good stead for your professional career.
Learn more about UWE Bristol's facilities and resources.
Take a personalised virtual tour of the Engineering facilities and experience what a typical day could look like here for you.
Take a look at the Engineering building
Step inside our new School of Engineering building at UWE Bristol.
Life
Accommodation
An excellent range of options for all of the Bristol campuses and the city centre.
Bristol
A stunning city for student living with all the qualities to make you want to stay.
Sports, societies and activities
There is more to your experience here than study. Choose to make the most of it and try new things.
Health and Wellbeing
We provide support in the way you need it.
Campus and facilities
Discover our campuses and the wealth of facilities provided for our students.
Careers
Careers / Further study
Your combined understanding of maths, science, technology, business and management can lead to a broad range of careers all over the world.
Consulting and contracting jobs are available in the design, implementation, operation and maintenance of equipment and machinery. These are in industries such as manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, pharmaceutical, energy and water.
If you're interested in business or commerce, a mechanical engineering degree is also highly regarded in finance, IT and management.
Get inspired
Our award-winning careers service will develop your employment potential through career coaching and find you graduate jobs, placements and global opportunities.
We can also help find local volunteering and community opportunities, provide support for entrepreneurial activity and get you access to employer events.
Visit our employability pages to learn more about careers, employers and what our students are doing six months after graduating.
See also:
Fees*
Full-time; Sandwich course
Indicative Additional Costs
Supplementary fee information
*The UK Government recently proposed that tuition fees for Home students will increase by 3.1% to £9,535 from 1st August 2025. This increase is subject to Parliamentary approval and the vote is expected to take place later this year.
Any tuition fee which is impacted by this change will be updated following approval.
Please see GOV.UK for further information.
Your overall entitlement to funding is based on how long the course is that you're registered on. Standard funding is allocated based on the standard number of years that your course lasts, plus one additional year.
You'll apply for funding each year that you study and Student Finance will take into account how long the course is in each year that you apply. So if you register for the six year course and then transfer to the five year course, the number of years you can apply for funding will change. Student Finance will reassess your funding based on how many years you have been in study, not just those years for which you received student finance.
Always seek advice before taking any action that may have implications for your funding.
Additional costs
Additional costs are for items you could need during your studies that aren't covered by the standard tuition fee. These could be materials, textbooks, travel, clothing, software or printing.
Entry
Typical offers
- Tariff points: 80
- Contextual tariff: See our contextual offers page.
- GCSE: Grade C/4 in English and Mathematics, or equivalent.
- English Language Requirement:
International and EU applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 with 5.5 in each component (or approved equivalent*).
*The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades you will need in our English Language section. Please visit our English language requirements page. - A-level subjects: No specific subjects required.
- EDEXCEL (BTEC) Diploma: No specific subjects required. For information on required Guided Learning Hours please see our minimum entry requirements page.
- Access: No specific subjects required.
- Baccalaureate IB: No specific subjects required.
- Irish Highers: No specific subjects required.
- T Levels: No specific subjects required.
Entry requirements
If you exceed the entry requirements you may be eligible for BEng(Hons) Mechanical Engineering.
International applicants
If you are an international student your recommended route of study for this degree is through our International College, which upon successful completion to the required level and with good attendance, guarantees entry to Year one of the degree.
Read more about entry requirements.
How to apply
Read more about undergraduate applications.
For further information
- Email:
UK applicants
Admissions@uwe.ac.ukInternational/EU applicants
International@uwe.ac.uk - Telephone:
UK applicants
+44 (0)117 32 83333International/EU applicants
+44 (0)117 32 86644