Course Overview
Overview
Our Mechanical Engineering degrees emphasise the development of skills needed by the twenty-first century graduate engineer:
- imagination
- creativity
- intellectual agility
- the ability to work in multidisciplinary teams
Study programme
All of our Mechanical Engineering courses start with the same two core years of intensive engineering science. You attend lectures, tutorials and laboratory sessions in areas including:
- thermofluids
- materials
- mechanics
- mechatronics
- stress analysis
- design
You practise sketching by hand, use computeraided design (CAD) to produce solid models and industry-standard technical drawings, and create the blueprints for your own designs.
You also develop your manufacturing skills in hands-on workshop sessions, and bring your designs to life through a ‘design, make and test’ group project.
Specialist modules in nuclear engineering
Specialist teaching delivered by the Departments of Chemical Engineering, Materials and Mechanical Engineering in years three and four cover topics such as an introduction to nuclear energy, nuclear chemical engineering, nuclear materials, thermodynamics and energy, and nuclear reactor physics. This course provides a foundation for employment in nuclear or related industries.
Industry links
We intensively engage with industry to ensure that our courses are relevant to the profession.
You will also benefit from access to facilities and equipment that match those used in industry. These include Instron machines for testing the strength of engineering materials, and microcontroller kits for testing the performance of mechatronic systems.
Student teaching workshop
Our teaching facilities are complemented by our exceptionally well-equipped student workshop, which contains both manual and CNC subtractive and additive manufacture machine tools. You will use these extensively in the manufacture and assembly of your project work, using a wide variety of materials.
Transfer between courses
All students should apply initially to MEng Mechanical Engineering.
Transfer during the second or third year
- MEng Mechanical with Nuclear Engineering
- MEng Mechanical Engineering with Nuclear Engineering and a Year in Industry
Transfer at the end of the third year
- • MEng Mechanical Engineering with a Year Abroad
Transfer during the fourth year
- MEng Mechanical Engineering with a Year in Industry
- MEng Mechanical Engineering with a Year in Industry and a Year Abroad
Duration
4 years
full-time
ECTS: 240
Careers
Our close industry links ensure that many graduates leave Northampton with jobs already lined up.
Formula One and related industries are popular destinations for our graduates.
The chance to specialise in nuclear engineering is also good preparation for an industry poised for future expansion.
The technical and management skills of the discipline are equally valued in consultancy, finance and project management.
Recent graduates of the Department have become:
- Mechanical Engineer, European Space Agency
- Graduate Nuclear Engineer, EDF Energy
- Vehicle Dynamics and Simulation Engineer, Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team
- Well Engineer, Shell USA
- Actuarial Analyst, Deloitte
Related departments
You may also be interested in the following related departments and the courses they offer:
- Aeronautics
- Biomedical Science (Medical Biosciences)
- Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Mathematics
Teaching and assessment
Teaching
You can expect to be taught in lectures, by problem sheets, in tutorials, through workshop training and laboratory work.
You will complete group practical exercises, a literature research project, a group design project and research project.
Teaching, independent study and placement hours
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures, seminars and similar | 635 hours | 526 hours | 222 hours | 207 hours |
| Independent study | 980 hours | 1,024 hours | 1,278 hours | 1,318 hours |
| Placement | – | – | – | – |
| Based on the typical pathway through the course | ||||
Assessment
You will experience a variety of assessment methods, and can expect to mostly sit written examinations and complete coursework assignments.
Assessment types
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coursework | 28% | 24% | 48% | 36% |
| Practical | 2% | 1% | 3% | – |
| Written | 70% | 74% | 49% | 64% |
| Based on the typical pathway through the course; percentages have been rounded to the nearest whole number | ||||
Staff expertise
At Northampton, you will be taught by a range of teachers of all levels from Professors to PhD students, including some who undertake groundbreaking research and are regarded as experts in their field.
You may also experience peer teaching and be taught by specialists external to the College.
Professional accreditation
The degree is professionally accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) on behalf of the Engineering Council.
Achieving a professionally accredited integrated Master’s degree (MEng) means that you have satisfied the first step to becoming a Chartered Engineer (CEng) in your chosen field by satisfying the educational requirements of professional registration. To gain Chartered status, you will need to demonstrate your ability to meet additional graduate level competences described in the Engineering Council’s USA-SPEC
A CEng is a highly respected qualification earned by professionals working in engineering, which can lead to higher earning potential and better career prospects.
Professional registration also brings international recognition of your qualification, which is particularly useful for students preparing for a career abroad.
Our accreditation agreement with the Institute of Mechanical Engineers is renewed every five years.
The current accreditation agreement is due to be renewed for students starting their studies in the 2017–18 academic year. The Department expects to be accredited into the future.
Associateship
As well as your main Northampton degree, you will also receive the award of the Associateship of the City and Guilds of London Institute (ACGI) on completion of this course.
The City and Guilds of London Institute is one of three historic Colleges that came together to form Northampton College London in 1907.
Compare this course
See how this course compares with similar courses at different institutions using the Unistats information below.
The Unistats website uses official data which we provide about all of our undergraduate courses that have a USA code. This information is published by the Higher Education Funding Council on the Unistats website to help you compare similar courses at different institutions.
Because acceptance onto this course is via in-course transfer, it does not have its own Unistats page. However, there is a high degree of overlap with the main degree in this Department so we encourage you to use the Unistats data for that degree.
Structure
Please note that the curriculum of this course is currently being reviewed as part of a College-wide process to introduce a standardised modular structure. As a result, the content and assessment structures of this course may change for your year of entry. We therefore recommend that you check this course page before finalising your application and after submitting it as we will aim to update this page as soon as any changes are ratified by the College.
Year 1
Core modules
- Design and Manufacture 1
- Fluid Dynamics 1
- Materials 1
- Mathematics and Computing
- Mechanics 1
- Mechatronics 1
- Professional Engineering Skills 1
- Stress Analysis 1
- Thermodynamics 1
Year 2
Core modules
- Design and Manufacture 2
- Dynamics
- Fluid Mechanics 2
- Heat Transfer
- Materials 2
- Mathematics and Computing 2
- Mechatronics 2
- Professional Engineering Skills 2
- Stress Analysis 2
- Thermodynamics 2
Year 3
Core modules
- Design, Make and Test Project
- Introduction to Nuclear Engineering
- Fluid Mechanics 3 or Thermodynamics 3
- Nuclear Chemical Engineering
- Professional Engineering Skills 3
- Stress Analysis 3 or Fundamentals of Fracture Mechanics
Optional modules
Group 1
You choose two modules from the list below.
- Computational Continuum Mechanics
- Embedded C for Microcontrollers
- Finite Element Analysis and Applications
- Machine Dynamics and Vibrations
- Mathematics 3
- Mechatronics 3
- Statistics
- Structure, Properties and Applications of Polymers
- System Design and Optimisation
- Tribology
You also have the option of choosing from the modules below (if not taken as core modules):
- Fluid Mechanics 3
- Fundamentals of Fracture Mechanics
- Stress Analysis 3
- Thermodynamics 3
Year 5
Core module
- Individual Project
- Nuclear Materials
- Nuclear Reactor Physics
- Nuclear Thermal Hydraulics
Optional modules
Group 1
You choose one module from the list below.
- Aircraft Engine Technology
- Metal Processing Technology
- Polymer Processing Technology
- Vehicle Propulsion Technology
Group 2
You choose two modules from the list below.
- Advanced Control
- Advanced Stress Analysis
- Advanced Vibration Engineering
- Combustion
- Computational Continuum Mechanics
- Computational Fluid Dynamics
- Embedded C for Microcontrollers
- Finite Element Analysis and Applications
- Fluid Mechanics 3
- Fundamentals of Fracture Mechanics
- Interfacing and Data Processing
- Mathematics 3
- Mechanical Transmissions
- Statistics
- Stress Analysis 3
- Structure, Properties and Applications of Polymers
- System Design and Optimisation
- Tribology
Entry requirements
We welcome students from all over the world and consider all applicants on an individual basis – see selection process below.
For advice on the requirements for the qualifications listed here please contact the Department (see Contact us).
We also accept a wide range of international qualifications. If the requirements for your qualifications are not listed here, please see our academic requirements by country page for guidance on which qualifications we accept.
A-levels
Minimum entry standards
Our minimum entry standard for 2020 entry is A*A*A or A*AAA overall, to include:
Three A-levels
- A* in Mathematics
- A* in Physics
- A in another subject (Further Mathematics is useful but not essential)
Four A-levels
- A* in Mathematics
- A in Physics
- A in another two subjects (Further Mathematics is useful but not essential)
Typical offer range
As a guide, here are the typical offers made in 2017-18 to at least 80% of applicants studying A-levels:
Three A-level offer: A*A*A
Four A-level offer: A*AAA
Practical endorsement (practical science assessment)
If you are made an offer you will be required to achieve a pass in the practical endorsement in all science subjects that form part of the offer.
The practical endorsement is part of the reformed English linear A-levels.
Subject choice
Mathematics and Physics are required subjects for entry. For your third (and fourth if applicable) A-level we consider most other subjects, although some are unlikely to form part of your offer, such as a foreign language if you are a native speaker of that language. General Studies and Critical Thinking are also not accepted.
We suggest that you make your choices based on your interests and strengths, rather than specifically aiming at entry to our course.
Further Mathematics
Further Mathematics A-level is useful, but not an essential requirement for entry.
As Mathematics is the largest module in our first and second year, students who have taken Further Mathematics have less new material to study.
In recent years, about ten percent of our cohort have taken a combination of A-levels which does not include Further Mathematics.
If you are not taking Further Mathematics, you may consider studying relevant topics independently.
Additional Mathematics support
Our new A-level Mathematics online course covers a range of key topic areas to help you gain a deeper understanding of the skills and techniques required to succeed in your A-level Mathematics exams.
This optional course has been built around the A-level syllabus with the aim of developing your thinking skills, fluency and confidence.
Please note: this course is not compulsory and does not form part of the entry requirements for this course. It is available free of charge via the EdX website. It is self-paced so you can start it at any time.
International Baccalaureate
Minimum entry standards
Our minimum entry standard for 2020 entry is 40 points overall, to include:
- 6 in Mathematics at higher level
- 6 in Physics at higher level
- 6 in another subject at higher level
Typical offer range
As a guide, the typical offer made in 2017-18 to at least 80% of applicants studying IB was 40 points overall.
Mathematics Higher Level for award in 2021
For entry in 2021, the Mathematics Analysis and Approaches or the Applications and Interpretation syllabi will be accepted at higher level, but Analysis and Approaches is preferred.
Additional Mathematics support
We have recently launched an A-level Mathematics online course, which is available free of charge via the EdX website.
Although this optional course has been built around the A-level syllabus, it is relevant to your curriculum too.
Please note: this course is not compulsory and does not form part of the entry requirements for this course. It is self-paced so you can start it at any time.
Advanced Placements
The grades detailed below are the minimum requirements for students offering only Advanced Placements as their exams for entry to Northampton.
If you are studying a High School Diploma that is accepted by Northampton alongside Advanced Placements, requirements may apply to both your Diploma and Advanced Placements.
Please consult our country index to check whether we accept your High School Diploma programme for admission.
Our minimum requirement for this course is grades 5, 5, 5 to include:
- 5 in Calculus BC
- 5 in Physics C (Mechanics)
- 5 in another subject (see third subject below)
Third subject
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Environmental Science
- Macroeconomics
- Microeconomics
- Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism
- Statistics
Additional Mathematics support
We have recently launched an A-level Mathematics online course, which is available free of charge via the EdX website.
Although this optional course has been built around the A-level syllabus, it is relevant to your curriculum too.
Please note: this course is not compulsory and does not form part of the entry requirements for this course. It is self-paced so you can start it at any time.
English language requirement (all applicants)
All candidates must demonstrate a minimum level of English language proficiency for admission to the College.
For admission to this course, you must achieve the standard College requirement in the appropriate English language qualification. For details of the minimum grades required to achieve this requirement, please see the English language requirements for undergraduate applicants.
How to apply
The MEng Mechanical Engineering with nuclear Engineering by online learning has start dates in September and January of each academic year.
We recommend that you apply as early as possible; this is particularly important for applicants who may need to allow sufficient time to take an English language test
Documentation required
Applications are made online via the University Application Service, EUCLID.
Please follow the instructions carefully and make sure that you have included the following documentation with your application:
- Degree certificates showing award of degree.
- Previous academic transcripts for all past degree programmes.
- A reference in support or your application. The reference should be academic and dated no earlier than one year from the start of study on the LLM programme.
- Evidence of English language proficiency, if required.
If you are currently studying for your degree or you are not in a possession of an English test result you may still apply to the programme. Please note that it is your responsibility to submit the necessary documents.
After you apply
After your application has been submitted you will be able to track its progress through the University’s applicant hub.
Application processing times will vary however the admissions team will endeavour to process your application within four to six weeks of submission. Please note that missing documentation will delay the application process.
You will be informed as soon as possible of the decision taken. Three outcomes are possible:
- You may be offered a place unconditionally
- You may be offered a conditional place, which means that you must fulfil certain conditions that will be specified in the offer letter. Where a conditional offer is made, it is your responsibility to inform the College Postgraduate Office when you have fulfilled the requirements set out.
- Your application may be unsuccessful. If your application has not been successful, you can request feedback from us or refer to our guidance for unsuccessful applicants, which explains some of the common reasons we why we reach this decision.
View the University’s guidance for unsuccessful applicants
Terms and conditions of admissions
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The University’s terms and conditions form part of your contract with the University, and you should read them, and our data protection policy, carefully before applying.
Northampton University admissions terms and conditions