Modern mechanical engineering requires people who are able to combine a very broad range of technical, scientific, creative and management skills to achieve goals in sectors ranging from space exploration to energy management to surgical innovation.
At the University of Dundee, we pride ourselves in taking a modern systems-based approach to developing mechanical engineering skills of our students. We have invested heavily in important new areas of engineering including rapid prototyping, renewable energy, and embedded control technology.
You will study mechatronics (the integration of electronics and computer control with mechanical engineering), providing you with a broad range of skills for the development of modern, high-performance products.
A BEng (Hons) degree in Mechanical Engineering , as with medicine or law, is regarded as a professional qualification. This means that an external body, in this case, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) regularly checks the quality and structure of our courses. Our graduates can ultimately become Chartered Engineers.
Real-world challenges
Each year, the University of Dundee DRIVE racing team design, build, market and race a single seat, rear engine racing car as part of the global iMechE Formula Student competition at Silverstone.
We believe that students learn best in an application-led teaching environment. You will have the opportunity to get involved in numerous practical and industrial led projects.
For example, every year members of the Mechanical Engineering Industrial Advisory Board present students with a real-world industrial problem to solve by applying the knowledge gained through the course. Students will present their solution to the company in a 'Dragons' Den' type environment.
Key Facts
- Top 3 in Scotland for satisfaction with course and teaching (Guardian University Guide 2018)
- Top 10 in the UK for student satisfaction (National Student Survey 2014)
- Research top in Scotland and third in the UK (REF 2014)
Careers
Creating ways to generate enough clean new energy to meet the demands of the world as it moves well into the 21st century is a major challenge for mechanical engineers. With increasing populations placing new and massive demands on existing resources and climate issues impacting traditional fossil-based energy, the demand for novel thinking in this area has never been greater.
As a mechanical engineer you may find yourself working on projects to improve the effectiveness of traditional energy systems; increasing the efficiency of energy generated by oil or gas while at the same time working towards near zero emissions generation. Alternatively, the need for long-term, clean, renewable sources of energy is growing rapidly. Wind, wave, solar, tidal, geothermal and vegetable all require talented engineers to develop them to a stage where they can seriously compete with traditional methods and so offer a genuine clean alternative.
Our accredited BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering and BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering with Renewables degrees represent an ideal foundation for this career, giving a large number of core engineering, technology and transferable skills essential in underpinning a career in energy.
Demand for graduates in this area is immense with many of the multinational energy companies, including; BP, Shell and Exxon, recruiting significant numbers of new engineers annually to work in both traditional and emerging energy technologies.
Graduates can expect good salaries and in-house training schemes leading to Chartered (CEng) status, while the multinational nature of the energy business means that overseas travel is a major bonus for many new starts. The challenges, opportunities and rewards for energy engineers into this century are almost unrivalled.
A number of our graduates go on to study our MSc Biomedical Engineering, MSc Medical Imaging or MSc Design for Medical Technologies courses at Dundee whilst others decide to continue their studies at PhD level in the exciting area of biomedical engineering and biotechnology which is a main research strength of the department.