School of Mechanical and Design Engineering
Find out more about the teaching and research activities taking place within our School of Mechanical and Design Engineering
The everyday tools you use – the phone in your pocket, the train on your morning commute, the car you drive – each relies on ambitious and innovative engineers. At the School of Mechanical and Design Engineering, we're helping solve societal problems through creative and practical engineering solutions, combined with technical academic knowledge.
Our engineers make a positive difference locally and globally through their work and research – from using artificial intelligence to improve powered wheelchairs, to creating more efficient solar panels and lightweight manufacturing materials.
We have an open and welcoming culture, with experienced and supportive lecturers and experts, and a focus on practical skills and employability. We've got a proven track record of producing sought after graduates – 95% of our previous students are in work or further study 15 months after graduation (HESA Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019/20).
Discover Mechanical and Design Engineering
Discover more about the School of Mechanical and Design Engineering, home to creative engineering solutions that make a difference to society.
Video showing highlights of studying in the School of Mechanical and Design Engineering at the University of Portsmouth: design, create and test engineering solutions to societal problems, with access to CNC and moulding machines. (No dialogue)
Teaching
We run undergraduate and postgraduate courses in mechanical engineering, manufacturing, product design, industrial design and innovation engineering.
Many of our courses are accredited by professional bodies allowing our students to progress to become Chartered or Incorporated Engineers. Through our close ties with local industries, national organisations and international businesses, our students get the chance to work in industry through placements and industrial projects. We have a £2,000 fund to support small businesses taking on our placement students.
We support our students to achieve their goals through weekly drop-in sessions with academic staff, support workshops, the Maths Cafe, the Manufacturing Club and student-led software classes. Many of our students also take part in the Formula Student Team where they build a car that's raced competitively against other universities.
To browse all of our undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, visit our engineering subject area page.
Partnerships
Our partnerships with organisations around the world benefit from our teaching and research. Organisations we've working with include Cartier, the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital (RNOH), Queen Alexandra Hospital, Diamond Light Source, Glaxo Smith Klein, and the Lung Institute.
We offer an Estée Lauder Companies - Whitman Scholarship, which offers a bursary and a work experience placement to local undergraduates.
Research
We're driven to make the world a better place through smarter thinking and design. Our leading experts and postgraduate researchers produce innovative, results-driven research to improve technology. Our REF 2021 results prove we're moving in the right direction — 75% of our engineering research outputs were judged to be world-leading or internationally excellent.
We take part in collaborative, cross-disciplinary research. We're part of a team working on a project called FLOWER, funded by the European Regional Development fund to use plant fibres to produce more sustainable plastics that can be recycled.
We've also received funding from Innovate UK, the Leverhulme Trust, the Royal Academy of Engineering, Interreg, and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
Our areas of expertise
Explore the work we're doing across our areas of expertise in Mechanical Engineering research.
Our research groups
Much of our exceptional research takes place within the following cross-disciplinary research centres – find out more below.
Advanced Polymers and Composites Research Group
We're creating new materials to improve manufacturing and sustainability.
Biomedical Engineering Research Group
We're researching how to better understand the body through imaging and biomechanics.
Materials Design and Characterisation Research Group
Research and analysis into the development of new alloys and other advanced materials
Systems Engineering Research Group
Research into energy and energy management
Our facilities
Additive Manufacturing and X-ray Microscopy Laboratories
In our Additive Manufacturing and X-ray Microscopy labs, materials engineering researchers can inspect objects in microscopic detail and create physical three-dimensional models based on their findings.
Future Technology Centre
The Future Technology Centre offers students, researchers and partners a collaborative, hands-on learning environment with open spaces to run experiments, debate and explore ideas.
Our staff
Explore our faculty
Explore the other Schools and Departments that make up the Faculty of Technology.
School of Civil Engineering and Surveying
Explore the School of Civil Engineering and Surveying at the University of Portsmouth, and learn more about the teaching and research activities taking place within the School.
School of Computing
Learn more about the School of Computing at the University of Portsmouth, and explore the teaching and research activities taking place within the School.
School of Energy and Electronic Engineering
Find out more about the School of Energy and Electronic Engineering at the University of Portsmouth, and explore the teaching and research activities taking place within the School
School of Mathematics and Physics
Explore the School of Mathematics and Physics at the University of Portsmouth, and find out more about the teaching and research activities taking place within the School.
Faculty of Technology
Find out more about the Faculty of Technology at the University of Portsmouth, and explore the teaching and research activities that place within the Faculty's various schools and institutes.
Contact us
To get in touch, please contact our Faculty office.