Course overview

Mechanical engineers see their profession as the most diverse and exciting of all the engineering disciplines because it involves design, development, installation, operation and maintenance of just about anything that has moveable parts. All products must be manufactured so manufacturing engineering skills are essential during their design, development and manufacture.

Engineers are the people who turn plans into products by applying the scientific and numerical principles to practical ends. They are continually working to find solutions to problems that affect our day-to-day life using the latest technologies and are involved with the planning and designing of new production processes. Engineers are characterised by their ability to use new technology creatively and innovatively. They maintain, manage and undertake projects in design, development, manufacture, construction and operation. Our courses are designed around these skills and principles, building a solid foundation for a successful career as a chartered engineer (CEng) or an incorporated engineer (IEng) within the varied disciplines of the engineering industry.

Accreditation

Registration by the Engineering Council as an incorporated engineer establishes an engineer’s knowledge, understanding and competence. The BEng (Hons) Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering meets the full academic requirements and has been accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) for academic exemption leading to IEng status.

The one-year top-up BSc Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering has been approved by the IET as further learning for a Foundation degree or Higher National Diploma, which has been accredited as meeting partial academic requirements. We are also planning accreditation for BEng (Hons) Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering (third year top up distance learning).

Course content

You will be taught a range of topics within engineering science and engineering design, including computer aided engineering (CAE). As you progress through the course you will become involved in project work with other students.

Year one

You will learn the foundations of engineering science and engineering design through courses on materials and manufacture, communication and business, and computer aided design. You will have around 20 hours of timetabled activity per week to be supplemented by personal study in your own time. You will also study a handson engineering technology appreciation unit covering the relationship between materials and manufacturing. There is also an introduction to design where you manufacture a product to your own concept.

Year two

You will build on knowledge gained in the first year by studying further engineering materials, manufacture and design, mechanical engineering science, engineering programming, CAE and business units. Your understanding of real systems will be developed in instrumentation and control and you will integrate your design, CAE and manufacturing knowledge by studying product modelling for manufacture. You will then have the opportunity to take an optional sandwich placement year.

Sandwich year (optional year in industry)

The sandwich year involves at least 36 weeks paid work for an organisation. We will assist you in arranging a placement, subject to interview. We will also monitor your progress throughout the year. Placements can also be arranged abroad if you want the opportunity to travel. Students have recently worked for the University of Hamburg in Germany and the University of Saint Etienne in France.

A placement year is not compulsory, but is strongly recommended because they often make a substantial difference to what you get out of the course and what you can offer employers after you graduate. Almost 60 per cent of our students who complete a sandwich year either receive sponsorship for their final year of study, a job offer on graduation or both.

Final year

Study subjects include materials, manufacturing systems and CAE (product realisation). You will also be able to choose subjects like CAE (numerical analysis), project management, engineering systems and design, and you will undertake an individual project, working on your own design, make and test activity. You will also participate in a group engineering business project involving students from other disciplines.

Teaching and assessment

At Portsmouth you will experience a lively and modern learning environment with lectures, seminars, tutorials (personal and academic), laboratory and project work, CAE system activity and open access study. We have a distinguished record and pride ourselves on working at the leading-edge of technology and learning practices.

These courses offer many individual subject choices allowing you to tailor the programme to your individual strengths and interests. Practical experience is emphasised throughout the courses and you will be encouraged to put your ideas into practice, experience application software relating to the area of study and generate computer simulations to detect and solve engineering problems.

Assessment is carried out through a mix of formal examinations, coursework, tests and presentations. It is geared towards the subject matter in a way that encourages a deeper understanding and allows you to develop your skills.

Career prospects

It is generally accepted that there is a current shortage of engineers and these courses are aimed at educating engineers for a multitude of different careers in engineering and technology. You could work for a large company, in the Armed Forces or in one of the many small companies within this sector. There are also opportunities to start your own specialist company.

These courses develop your analytical skills and there is a whole range of careers which rely on numerate graduates that you could consider. Many engineering graduates are employed in a wide range of careers which utilise team working, analytical abilities and numeracy skills developed during the course.

Facilities and features

You will have easy access to a wide range of powerful multimedia computers equipped with the latest software and associated hardware, as well as contact with knowledgeable, enthusiastic and highly motivated staff. Academic staff maintain close links with industry, both in Portsmouth and further afield, in particular the Royal Navy. This ensures that our courses reflect the current and future needs of industry.

The School of Engineering has laboratories and a manufacturing workshop which can be used for project work. There is also a drawing office and four teaching computer rooms available as open access rooms, two purely open access rooms, plus networked PCs available in the laboratories. There is also an open access design studio room and a design-and-make workroom.

The School includes a Regional Centre for Manufacturing Industry and was recently assessed by the UK Government as having 85 per cent of research at international level or higher – an excellent result, demonstrating real originality and significance.

Maths Café

The Maths Café is a daily drop-in facility, where ANY student of the University can receive help on any maths or statistics problem they encounter in their studies. We operate in a friendly, informal location which we hope will encourage students to visit us. Handouts on key topics are available to take away. Students can be shown how to use computer aided learning packages, which can be accessed from any computer attached to the University's computer network.

Entry requirements

View all the entry requirements for BEng (Hons) Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering for the academic year 2012/13 (opens in new window).