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Undergraduate prospectus 2021

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Engineering (Mechanical) MEng

This MEng equips you with the fundamental skills necessary for employment as a professional engineer in many sectors of industry and commerce. Applying for the MEng rather than the BEng allows students to fulfil the educational requirements for Chartered Engineer status, with a single qualification.

Covid-19 programme updates

Due to COVID-19, there may have been updates to this programme for the 2020 academic year. Where there has been an update, these are indicated with a red alert and a link which will provide further information.

Key Information

Programme starts

September 2020
UCAS code
H301
Duration
Full-time: 4 years
Accreditation
Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE)
Application deadline
15 January 2020
Location
London, Bloomsbury

Entry requirements

A Levels

Grades
A*AA
Subjects
Mathematics and Physics required. A* must be in one of the required subjects. Further Mathematics, Economics or Design and Technology preferred as third subject, but not essential.
GCSEs
English Language and Mathematics at grade C or 5. For UK-based students, a grade C or 5 or equivalent in a foreign language (other than Ancient Greek, Biblical Hebrew or Latin) is required. UCL provides opportunities to meet the foreign language requirement following enrolment, further details at: www.ucl.ac.uk/ug-reqs

Contextual offer

Grades
A*AB (more about contextual offers)
Subjects
Mathematics and Physics required. A* must be in one of the required subjects. Further Mathematics, Economics or Design and Technology preferred as third subject, but not essential.
GCSEs
English Language and Mathematics at grade C or 5. For UK-based students, a grade C or 5 or equivalent in a foreign language (other than Ancient Greek, Biblical Hebrew or Latin) is required. UCL provides opportunities to meet the foreign language requirement following enrolment, further details at: www.ucl.ac.uk/ug-reqs

IB Diploma

Points
39
Subjects
A score of 19 points in three higher level subjects including Mathematics and Physics, with no score lower than 5. Higher Level 7 required in Mathematics or Physics. Economics preferred as third higher level subject, but not essential.

Contextual offer

Points
38 (more about contextual offers)
Subjects
A score of 18 points in three higher level subjects including Mathematics and Physics, with no score lower than 5. Higher Level 7 required in Mathematics or Physics. Economics preferred as third higher level subject, but not essential.

UK applicants qualifications

For entry requirements with other UK qualifications accepted by UCL, choose your qualification from the list below:

Equivalent qualification

Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.

Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.

D2, D3, D3 in three Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects, including Mathematics and Physics. D2 required in either Mathematics or Physics. Economics or Further Mathematics preferred as third subject, but not essential.

A1,A,A at Advanced Highers (or A1,A at Advanced Higher and AAA at Higher), including Mathematics and Physics at Advanced Higher. A1 much be in one of the required subjects. Economics at Advanced Higher preferred as third subject, but not essential.

Successful completion of the WBQ Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate plus 2 GCE A-Levels at grades A*AA, including Mathematics and Physics. A* must be in one of the required subjects. Further Mathematics, Economics or Design and Technology preferred as third subject, but not essential.

International applications

In addition to A level and International Baccalaureate, UCL considers a wide range of international qualifications for entry to its undergraduate degree programmes.

English language requirements

If your education has not been conducted in the English language, you will be expected to demonstrate evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency. Information about the evidence required, acceptable qualifications and test providers can be found on our English language requirements page.

The English language level for this programme is: Standard

A variety of English language programmes are offered at the UCL Centre for Languages & International Education.

Degree benefits

  • Our top-quality laboratory and testing facilities include materials testing equipment, wind tunnels, two large wave tanks and an array of engine test cells.

  • You will benefit from our internationally renowned research expertise as this cutting-edge knowledge is passed on to you through our teaching.

  • The flexible programme structure enables you to transfer between the BEng and MEng degree programmes up to the end of the second year.

  • The programme is highly respected both within the UK and abroad.

Accreditation

The programmes are accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) as meeting the academic base requirements, in full, for registration as a Chartered Engineer for the 2014-2021 student cohort intakes.

Degree structure

In each year of your degree you will take a number of individual modules, normally valued at 15 or 30 credits, adding up to a total of 120 credits for the year. Modules are assessed in the academic year in which they are taken. The balance of compulsory and optional modules varies from programme to programme and year to year. A 30-credit module is considered equivalent to 15 credits in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).

The MEng programme is similar to the BEng programme for the first two years and you can transfer between them up to the end of the second year, depending on certain criteria. Applying for a MEng initially helps keep your options open, and it provides additional depth and breadth in design, engineering science, group project work and management.

You will undertake a substantial individual project in year three, and participate in a group design project in the final year.

This degree is part of the Integrated Engineering Programme (IEP), a teaching framework that engages students in specialist and interdisciplinary engineering activities designed to create well-rounded graduates with a strong grasp of the fundamentals of their discipline and a broad understanding of the complexity and context of engineering problems. Students register for a core discipline, but also engage in activities that span departments so the development of fundamental technical knowledge takes place alongside specialist and interdisciplinary research-based projects and professional skills. This creates degrees encouraging professional development, with an emphasis on design and challenging students to apply knowledge to complex problems.

Students may opt to take a year working in industry between the third and the fourth years of the programme. This posting needs UCL approval in advance, and students are required to write a comprehensive report on their work and what they have learnt during the year.

Covid-19 placement updates
Due to COVID-19 updates, there may need to be changes to planned placements for this programme. This will depend on social distancing measures, the availability of the relevant placements, and the relative risk of completing the placement. Your department will keep you updated if placements are able to occur and/or any alternative options available.  

Modules

An indicative guide to the structure of this programme, year by year.

Core or compulsory module(s)

  • Design and Professional Skills
  • Engineering Dynamics
  • Engineering Challenges
  • Fundamentals of Materials
  • Introduction to Mechanical Engineering
  • Introduction to Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics
  • Mathematical Modelling and Analysis I
  • Mechanical Engineering Practical Skills

All first year modules are compulsory.

Core or compulsory module(s)

  • Control and Instrumentation
  • Design and Professional Skills II (for Mechanical Engineers)
  • Engineering Materials: Failure and Design
  • Intermediate Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics
  • Manufacturing and Design
  • Mathematical Modelling and Analysis II
  • Mechanics of Solids and Structures

Optional modules

Students must take one module in their chosen minor subject from the Integrated Engineering Programme. See https://www.ucl.ac.uk/engineering/study/undergraduate/integrated-engineering-programme for further information.

Core or compulsory module(s)

  • Advanced Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics
  • Dynamics and Control
  • Elasticity and Plasticity
  • Individual Project
  • Project Management

Optional modules

You will study two modules in the minor subject chosen in year two.

Core or compulsory module(s)

  • Financial Aspects of Project Engineering and Contracting
  • Group Design Project

Optional modules

You will choose three optional modules from a list which may include:

  • Engineering in Extreme Environments
  • Health Assessment of Engineered Structures
  • Materials and Fatigue
  • Applied Thermodynamics and Turbomachinery
  • Heat Transfer and Heat Systems
  • Electrical Machines and Power Electronic Systems
  • Electrical Power Systems and Electrical Propulsion
  • New and Renewable Energy Systems
  • Applications of Biomedical Engineering
  • Medical Imaging
  • Ship Dynamics
  • Organisational Change

Covid-19 module updates
Due to COVID-19, there may be updates to the modules for your chosen programme of study this year. Some modules may not be available or may need to be moved to a later term or year of study. These updates are relevant for 2020-21 academic year only.  The full list of modules will be available in the module catalogue from late August.  From the first week of September, you will be invited to complete module selection from Portico, our student record system. There may need to be additional updates or changes to modules during the academic year to allow for new guidance from the UK Government and Public Health England. Your department shall keep you updated of these changes as they become available

Your learning

You will be taught in a variety of ways, including lectures, tutorials, laboratory classes, computer workshops and project work. Along with our computing facilities we have extensive equipment and apparatus, housed in our main laboratories, which are used for taught laboratory classes and for your project work.

Covid-19 practical component updates
Due to COVID-19, there may be changes to the availability of the practical components for your chosen programme. Any updates relate only to the 20/21 academic year and may not apply to all students across the programme depending on your year of study.  Your department will keep you updated if the practical component of your programme is able to occur and/or any alternative options available.   There may need to be additional updates or changes to the practical component during the academic year to allow for new guidance from the UK Government and/or Public Health England. Your department shall keep you updated of these changes as they become available. 
Covid-19 contact hours on campus
In Term One, while campus will be open, all the learning activity for the core content of your modules will take place online – including lectures, tutorials, seminars and assessments. By “core content” we mean everything you need to learn to complete the module successfully. In addition to these online contact hours, we will be offering some face-to-face educational activities for students on campus, and we will provide alternative online activities for those students unable to join us on campus. These activities, which will include contact with academic staff, will be relevant to your programme of study may include seminars, academic and employability skills workshops, small-group or individual tutorials, lab and practice-based teaching. UK Government safety guidelines will limit the amount of ‘in person’ activity we can offer and while it will vary from programme to programme, is likely to be no more than 1-2 hours per week. This will vary across departments, particularly if your programme includes laboratory/practical/studio/workshop sessions. You will be updated with more specific details as they are available and your timetable will indicate which sessions will be on campus and which will be available online.
Communicating further Covid-19 mitigation plans
We are continuing to follow UK Government guidance, as well as the expertise of our researchers, including specialists in health, education, human behaviour and infection prevention, to make sure UCL is as safe as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic. If it becomes necessary to make further changes to your programme as a result of new guidance/regulations, UCL and your department will communicate these as soon as this becomes clear. We will keep you up-to-date with our plans throughout term one, so you have the information you need to be able to take decisions that are right for your circumstances. Please ensure that you keep in touch with your department by regularly checking your UCL emails, Moodle courses, the Coronavirus FAQs for Students page and any UCL online groups or social media you follow.

Assessment

Most subjects are examined through a combination of end-of-year examinations and coursework, but some are solely examined through coursework, for example, computing, design and projects. To remain on the MEng programme you are required to maintain a standard equivalent to (at least) lower second-class Honours level throughout your studies.

Covid-19 assessment updates
There may be changes to the format of assessments for modules in this programme due to COVID-19. These will be summarised for each module on the module catalogue from 17 August 2020.   If any changes to assessments need to be made during the academic year due to updates in government guidance, these will be communicated to you as soon as possible from your department.    

Detailed course descriptions are available on the department website: Engineering (Mechanical) MEng.

Careers

The programme aims to equip you with the fundamental analytical and design skills necessary to become a professional mechanical engineer in your chosen field of employment, whether in industry or in a consulting/research organisation.

Your career options can be in a variety of fields including aerospace, railways, motor vehicle design, manufacturing and medical engineering. The programme also equips you with the skills to secure a job in commerce, banking, and management consultancy.

Our policy is to provide you with the opportunity to develop relationships with relevant employers, through links with industry and internships. This puts you at a considerable advantage when seeking employment after your degree.

UCL is commited to helping you get the best start after graduation. Read more about how UCL Careers and UCL Innovation and Enterprise can help you find employment or learn about entrepreneurship.

Student view
“London is probably one of the best cities to come to study in. The amount of opportunities the city offers and the number of driven people you find in this city makes it perfect if you're young and ambitious. After three years here, I still find something new and exciting about it every day.” André Stuhldreher - Engineering (Mechanical) MEng Third Year

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

The fees indicated are for undergraduate entry in the 2020/21 academic year. The UK/EU fees shown are for the first year of the programme at UCL only. Fees for future years may be subject to an inflationary increase. The Overseas fees shown are the fees that will be charged to 2020/21 entrants for each year of study on the programme, unless otherwise indicated below.

UK/EU students
£9,250 (2020/21)
Overseas students
£28,610 (2020/21)

Full details of UCL's tuition fees, tuition fee policy and potential increases to fees can be found on the UCL Students website.

Additional costs

If you are concerned by potential additional costs for books, equipment, etc. on this programme, please get in touch with the relevant departmental contact (details given on this page).

Funding

Various funding options are available, including student loans, scholarships and bursaries. UK students whose household income falls below a certain level may also be eligible for a non-repayable bursary or for certain scholarships. Please see the Fees and funding pages for more details.

Departmental scholarships

Funding opportunities relevant to the department may appear in this section when they are available. Please check carefully or confirm with the programme contact to ensure they apply to this degree programme.

The Scholarships and Funding website lists scholarships and funding schemes available to UCL students. These may be open to all students, or restricted to specific nationalities, regions or academic department.

Application and next steps

Your application

In addition to our essential academic requirements, we will expect your application to explain how you became interested in the subject, and what steps you have taken to discover more about studies and careers in engineering.

How to apply

Application for admission should be made through UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). Applicants currently at school or college will be provided with advice on the process; however, applicants who have left school or who are based outside the United Kingdom may obtain information directly from UCAS.

Application deadline: 15 January 2020



Selection

Successful UK-based applicants will be invited to an offer holder day where they can tour the department and meet with academic staff and students. Successful applicants not based in the UK will be able to access a virtual open day.

The department is happy to defer your entry, provided you are doing something constructive in your gap year. UCL supports the Year in Industry scheme, providing you with the opportunity to spend a year working in industry part way through your degree.

For further information on UCL's selection process see: Selection of students.


Page last modified on 24 February 2020


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