BEng Mechanical Engineering

Year 1

Your time will usually be divided between engineering, mathematics and option courses. You study several branches of engineering, followed by the first in-depth study of your preferred subject.

For most of our programmes you can choose an option from the sciences, arts or humanities. Chemical engineering students must take chemistry in Year 1.

Year 2

You will study your chosen branch of engineering, supported by classes in mathematics. You will extend the application of your scientific and mathematical skills to solving engineering problems, building on your experiences from Year 1.

Year 3

You will now focus on your chosen field of engineering. At the end of Year 3, you will have the option of completing one more year for a BEng (Hons) or a further two years for an MEng (Hons).

Year 4

You will concentrate on specialist study and innovative assessment that will prepare you for your professional career. Increasingly you will spend time on individual or group design projects.

Programme structure

Find out more about the compulsory and optional courses in this degree programme.

To give you an idea of what you will study on this programme, we publish the latest available information. However, please note this may not be for your year of entry, but for a different academic year.

Programme structure (2019/20)

Our facilities

Lectures take place in the George Square area during Year 1 and for all other years at the University's King's Buildings campus.

You will have access to the University's libraries and engineering and computing laboratories. Study materials are available online.

Study abroad

You will have opportunities to study abroad in Year 3 through the University's international exchange programmes, including the Erasmus programme.

What are my options for going abroad?

How will I learn?

You will be taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials, laboratory sessions, projects and group work. In your final years you will dedicate more time to private study and will receive individual supervision with projects.

How will I be assessed?

You will be assessed through course work and examinations.

Programme details

Find out more about this programme's aims, what you will learn, how you will be assessed and what skills and knowledge you will develop.

To give you an idea of what to expect from this programme, we publish the latest available information. However, please note this may not be for your year of entry, but for a different academic year.

Programme details (2019/20)

Studying engineering at the University of Edinburgh prepares you for a career as a professional engineer in the UK or abroad and all courses meet the requirements of the UK professional engineering bodies.

On graduation from any of our programmes you will leave with a thorough, core knowledge, together with analytical, practical, design and communication skills, enabling you to join a design, production or research team - or move rapidly into management and leadership roles.

Alternatively, many of our graduates have gone on to work in other areas, including the civil service, education, the armed forces and the financial sector.

Standard entry requirement

The standard entry requirement is:

• SQA Highers: AAAA - AAAB by end of S5. If you haven’t achieved this by the end of S5 we may consider your application based on a strong performance in S6. A minimum of BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6.
• A Levels: AAA - ABB in one set of exams.
• IB: 37 points with 666 at HL - 32 points with 555 at HL.

Minimum entry requirement

The minimum entry requirement for widening access applicants is:

• SQA Highers: AABB by end of S6, with a minimum of BBB achieved in one year of S4-S6.
• A Levels: ABB.
• IB: 32 points with 555 at HL.

More information for widening access applicants

Required subjects

The grades used to meet our entry requirements must include:

• SQA: Higher: Mathematics at grade A, and either Physics or Engineering Science.
• A Levels: Mathematics, plus either Physics (preferred), Engineering or Design & Technology (excluding Food Technology).
• IB: HL: Mathematics (from 2021, Mathematics: Analysis and approaches only) and one from Physics or Design & Technology.

Find out more about entry requirements

International applicants

We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.

Entry requirements by country

Mature applicants

We welcome applications from mature students and accept a range of qualifications.

Mature applicant qualifications

Academic Technology Approval Scheme

If you are not an EU, EEA or Swiss national, you may need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme clearance certificate in order to study this programme.

Academic Technology Approval Scheme

For direct entry to second year the minimum requirements must be exceeded, including the following:

• SQA Advanced Highers: AA to include Mathematics and either Physics, Engineering Science or Technological Studies, plus Highers at AB in two other subjects.
• A Levels: A*AA in one set of exams, to include Mathematics and either Physics, Engineering or Design & Technology (excluding Food Technology), or AAA in one set of exams, to include Mathematics, Further Mathematics and either Physics, Engineering or Design & Technology (excluding Food Technology).
• IB: 38 points overall and award of IB Diploma with 666 at HL to include Mathematics (from 2021, Mathematics: Analysis and approaches only) and one from Physics or Design & Technology.

Other entry pathways

Entry to many degrees in Science & Engineering is possible via other qualifications (eg HNC/D, Access, SWAP).

• Science & Engineering applications

You must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies, regardless of your nationality or country of residence.

SQA, GCSE and IB

For SQA, GCSE and IB students, unless a higher level is specified in the stated entry requirements, a pass is required in English at the following grades or higher:

• SQA National 5 Grade C

• SQA Standard Grade 3

• SQA Intermediate 1 Grade A

• SQA Intermediate 2 Grade C

• GCSE Grade C or 4

• Level 2 Certificate Grade C

• IB Standard Level Grade 5 (English ab initio is not accepted for entry)

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic module overall 6.5 with 5.5 in each component

• TOEFL-iBT 92 or above with 20 in each section

• Cambridge English: Advanced or Proficiency overall 176 with 162 in each component

• PTE Academic: Total 61 with at least 51 in each "Communicative Skills" section

• Trinity ISE: ISE II with a distinction in all four components

We also accept a wider range of international qualifications and tests.

English language qualifications must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, PTE or Trinity ISE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

English language requirements

(Revised 05/06/2019 to provide more accurate/comprehensive information.)

This information is part of a government initiative to enhance the material that higher education institutions provide about their degree programmes.

It is one of many sources of information which will enable you to make an informed decision on what and where to study.

Please note that some programmes do not have Unistats data available.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees for BEng Mechanical Engineering

Additional costs

In Year 1, you will require Personal Protective Equipment for practical work. Prices start at £40.

Funding

For more information on how much it will cost to study with us and the financial support available see our fees and funding information.

Fees and funding

• Recruitment & Admissions Officer
• Email: ugenquiries@eng.ed.ac.uk
• Phone: +44 (0)131 650 7352
• Web: Engineering website
• International enquiries