MEng (Hons) Available in Clearing

Mechanical Engineering

Learn how to improve the manufacturing, design, or materials of products and systems on this combined Bachelors and Masters degree course.

Start date: September 2025; January 2026
Location: Chelmsford
Duration: 4 years
UCAS course code: H303

If you decide to start your degree in January, your first academic year will run from January until August and your second year will commence in September. Our commitment is to ensure that you gain the same level of teaching as those students who started in September when you join them in your second year.

1st

in the East of England for undergraduates employed as managers, directors or senior officials.

Source: GOS 2025

You’ll set the direction for your future career by using manufacturing, 3D printing, thermodynamics, dynamics and structural analysis to analyse, calculate, model and experience your proposed concepts. You’ll also develop valuable commercial skills in areas such as marketing, intellectual property, and engineering project management.

You’ll spend much of your course working with other engineering students, developing your teamwork, management and leadership skills and learning how to analyse and solve problems creatively. Our expert staff are experienced industry professionals and researchers who will guide and advise you throughout your studies.

What's the difference between a BEng and an MEng course?

Expert speakers, society and cutting-edge technology events

Accredited course Our MEng Mechanical Engineering course is accredited by the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) as meeting the Further Learning requirement for Chartered Engineer registration.

Discover our project-based course and some of the specialist modules available.

Why ARU?

Develop the knowledge and skills you need to resolve practical, real-world challenges, and practice the ‘art of precision guesswork’ and problem solving.
Study in our state-of-the-art facilities including 3D printing, CAD/CAM (Computer Aided Design/Manufacturing) laboratories, and CNC (Computer Numerically Controlled) machining.
Explore modules in areas including materials, design and modelling, fluid mechanics and thermodynamics, as well as project-based learning.
A diverse breadth of expert staff with a wide range of industrial and academic backgrounds make learning more real, hands-on and relevant.
Our engineering courses are in line with the new Engineering Council requirements (AHEP 4.0).

Study at an award-winning university

We were named Times Higher Education University of the Year 2023. We've also been awarded a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework – a reflection of the outstanding education we offer our students.

Careers

The average salary for UK engineering graduates after 15 months of graduating is £28,000. In comparison, ARU engineering graduates earn £30,000 on average. With experience, you could further increase your earning power by progressing to senior design or project management roles.

From the very start of your degree, you’ll meet established engineers from across the industry, learn what it’s like to work in engineering, and be encouraged to join professional bodies, building valuable contacts and knowledge to help you gain employment in your preferred area. You’ll build your CV not only by learning manufacturing and testing methods and using industry-standard equipment, but by working individually and as part of a team, solving problems and carrying out research.

Graduation doesn’t need to be the end of your time with us. You could also choose to start a research career by progressing on to our Engineering and the Built Environment PhD. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and get 20% off your fees.

What can you do with a Mechanical Engineering degree?

Where have other Mechanical Engineering graduates worked?

How can ARU help with my employability and career development?

Teaching and modules

You’ll learn the structure and properties of a range of engineering materials, about structural design and mechanical behaviour, integrity and performance. You’ll cover maths, science and coding for engineers, how to perform tests and interpret data.

You’ll design or improve mechanical products and robots, learning manufacturing processes, specialist software, electronic circuits, smart automation and mechatronics. You’ll learn why vibration can be such a problem in mechanical engineering systems, and how to classify, measure, and control it.

You’ll learn about engineering successes and the lessons learned from past failures. You’ll also gain an understanding of the concerns of engineers today, including environmental, sustainability and ethical issues, commercial and legal considerations, quality standards and safety regulation.

You’ll also conduct an independent research project on an engineering topic of your choosing.

Student experience

Forces at work: Mechanical Engineers and the world we live in. Hear from ARU Senior Lecturer Dr Shabnam Sadeghi Esfanhlani in this Springpod Subject Spotlight. Watch the full lecture on Springpod.
Mechanical Engineering graduate Theo reflects on their university journey and offers advice for future students.
Meet Mechanical Engineering student Jack Sullivan, who we caught up with to ask some questions about his experience studying at ARU.
Develop your skills - work with other engineering students and build up your teamwork, management, leadership and problem-solving skills.
Gain experience - explore all aspects and stages of the engineering process and discover where your passion and talents lie.
To experience the practical nature of the industry, you will have the opportunity to work with organisations and companies on a Life Brief. Our students have worked with BAE Systems, a multinational defence, security and aerospace company, on a brief to re-engineer a small drone to new specifications.

What will I study?

Modules are subject to change and availability, and may vary by location. If you have the choice of optional modules, these are indicated with a *.

Year 1

Manufacturing and Materials Project (30 credits)
Applied Engineering Mathematics (15 credits)
Introduction to Engineering (15 credits)
Structural Mechanics (15 credits)
Engineering Dynamics (15 credits)
Mechatronic Design Project (30 credits)
Into ARU

Year 2

Materials Science, Solid Mechanics, and Vibration Project (30 credits)
Design Project Management and Quality Engineering Project (30 credits)
Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer (15 credits)
Advanced Engineering Mathematics (15 credits)
Engineering Thermodynamics (15 credits)
Ruskin Module (15 credits)

Year 3

Engineering Simulation and Optimisation Project (60 credits)
Automation and Control (15 credits)
Research Methods and Individual Project (30 credits)
Advanced Structural Analysis and Design (15 credits)

Year 4

Engineering Major Group Project (30 credits)
Automation and Robotics (15 credits)
Advanced Materials and Structural Integrity (15 credits)
Advanced Computer Aided Engineering (15 credits)
Sustainable Environmental Design and Engineering Management Systems (15 credits)
Innovative Product Design and Manufacture (30 credits)

Module details

Who teaches Mechanical Engineering at ARU?

Read profiles of teaching and research staff on this course.

Dr Hossein Bisheh
Assistant Professor
Dr Ahad Ramezanpour
Associate Professor
Professor Hassan Shirvani
Director, Engineering and Tribology Research Group
Dr Shabnam Sadeghi Esfahlani
Associate Professor in Robotics
Dr Sufian Yousef
Associate Professor
Alireza Sanaei
Lecturer

Facilities

All our engineering students will use our specialist labs and equipment, including:

CAD/CAM and engineering computer modelling centre
industrial-scale CNC milling and lathe machines
metal and plastic rapid prototyping machines
welding equipment
electronic testing and measuring equipment
3D printers
tensile and compressive testing machines
hardness testing equipment.

You can also make full use of other facilities including our extensive library and IT resources, and get support with careers and employability, study skills, health and wellbeing, and more.

Take a guided tour and meet our students.

Speakers, societies and events

ARU works closely with local IMechE, IET, and Chelmsford Science and Engineering Society organising over 20 events on cutting-edge technologies with expert speakers from the UK and worldwide.

We also have a very active Engineering Society which runs engineering events at the university and across the UK where you can meet like passionate and like-minded peers.