Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical engineering is one of the broadest and most enduring of engineering disciplines, applying the principles of physics, materials science, and mathematics to the design, analysis, and manufacture of mechanical systems. From engines and turbines to robotics, medical devices, and renewable energy technologies, mechanical engineers are involved in some of the most significant challenges of the modern world. Increasingly, however, employers want engineers who can operate across both mechanical and electrical domains, reflecting the reality that most modern engineering systems integrate both.

At the University of Derby, the BEng in Mechanical Engineering is a three-year full-time programme that reflects this broader skills requirement, developing your knowledge across both mechanical and electrical engineering principles. The programme includes a foundation year, making it accessible to students who need additional preparation before degree-level engineering study. It also includes a sandwich year, a year abroad, and a work placement, providing an exceptional breadth of professional and international experience before you graduate.

You will study engineering fundamentals including mechanics, thermodynamics, materials, manufacturing, and control systems, and you will develop both analytical and practical design skills through laboratory and project work. The combination of academic rigour and structured professional experience is central to Derby's approach.

The range of structural features in this programme, foundation year, sandwich, placement, and year abroad, means you have multiple opportunities to apply your learning in real contexts and to understand what engineering employment actually involves.

Graduates work in manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, energy, defence, process engineering, and consultancy. The degree provides a strong foundation for professional engineering qualification and for postgraduate study in mechanical, manufacturing, or systems engineering.