Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical engineering is the broadest of the engineering disciplines, concerned with the design, analysis, manufacture and maintenance of systems and devices that involve forces, motion, energy and materials. It underpins almost every industry: from the turbines that generate electricity to the engines that power vehicles, from the prosthetics that restore movement to the robots that automate production lines. Mechanical engineers must combine deep analytical knowledge with creative problem-solving and practical judgment, and the degree reflects all of that.

At the University of Leicester, the BEng programme gives significant emphasis to how mechanical engineering has been transformed by computer-aided design, simulation, prototyping and manufacturing technologies, as well as by the development of advanced materials including composites. You will study engineering mechanics, thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, materials science, manufacturing processes and control systems, developing the quantitative and analytical skills that professional engineering requires. The three-year full-time degree includes a sandwich year, a year abroad and a work placement, giving you substantial professional experience and international exposure before graduation.

This combination is highly valued by employers and develops the kind of rounded professional capability that a purely academic programme cannot provide.

Leicester's engineering department has strong connections with regional and national industry, and the sandwich year provides a structured opportunity to build those relationships and develop your professional identity before you complete your degree.

Mechanical engineering graduates are employed across aerospace, automotive, energy, manufacturing, medical devices, consultancy and the public sector. Many pursue chartered engineer status through the Institution of Mechanical Engineers or other professional bodies. Postgraduate study in mechanical engineering, manufacturing, robotics, energy systems or a related field is a natural next step for those who want to specialise or move into research.