Mechanical Engineering BEng (Hons)
Heriot-Watt University
Student rating
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( 4.1) View reviews

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Different course options
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Qualification

Bachelor of Engineering (with Honours) - BEng (Hon)

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Location

Edinburgh Campus

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Study mode

Full Time

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Start date

09-SEP-24

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Duration

4 Years

Course info

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Qualification

Bachelor of Engineering (with Honours) - BEng (Hon)

Location

Edinburgh Campus

Study mode

Full time

Start date

09-SEP-24

Duration

4 Years

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Subjects

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Mechanical Engineering
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Exam type

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A level
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Scottish Higher
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Scottish Advanced Higher
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GCSE/National 4/National 5
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International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
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Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
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Scottish HNC
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Scottish HND
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T Level
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Location

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England
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Scotland
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Wales
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Northern Ireland
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Channel Islands
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EU
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Rest of World
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Course info

OverviewModern challenges require new and advanced technical solutions, and mechanical engineers are vital to achieving those solutions. It is the technical development of the world that drives us forward. Programme structureThe first two years of our Mechanical Engineering degree provide a grounding in the core disciplines of the subject, giving students essential knowledge to make informed decisions on their optional courses later in the degree. In Year 1, students work alongside peers from ...Read more

Overview

Modern challenges require new and advanced technical solutions, and mechanical engineers are vital to achieving those solutions. It is the technical development of the world that drives us forward.

Programme structure

The first two years of our Mechanical Engineering degree provide a grounding in the core disciplines of the subject, giving students essential knowledge to make informed decisions on their optional courses later in the degree. In Year 1, students work alongside peers from other science and engineering disciplines and have access mechanical labs, electrical engineering labs, chemical labs and physics labs. This provides fundamental lab skills as well as multidisciplinary teamworking skills which will be crucial as the degree progresses and becomes increasingly specialised.

In Years 2 and 3, students begin practical lab and workshop sessions, learning the core principles behind the mechanical engineering subjects of dynamics, materials, fluids, thermodynamics and design and manufacture.

As a part of your progression towards becoming a career-ready mechanical engineer, Year 4 (and 5, for MEng students) includes individual and group projects, supported by research-active members of staff. Students follow their own path through a wide range of optional courses designed to develop knowledge and skills in specialist subjects.

Students can graduate at the end of Year 4 with a BEng Mechanical Engineering or progress to the MEng programme if academic grades are suitable. The 5-year MEng degree is the standard route towards Chartered Engineering professional qualification.

Our engineering degrees also develop soft skills which are highly valued by the industrial advisors and employers we work with. These important skills include teamworking alongside fellow mechanical engineers and students from other engineering disciplines, such as chemical and electrical engineering. Students gain skills for professional presentations and technical writing, and develop business awareness, covering issues such-as life-cycle sustainability and financial viability.

Careers

Mechanical Engineering offers an exciting environment where many skills are brought together to create innovative products and the infrastructure and technology for manufacture. Recent Heriot-Watt graduates have progressed to working for organisations such as Mercedes, Babcock Marine, Mclaren, Shell UK, Halliburton and QinetiQ.

As a mechanical engineer, you will deal with the design, development, optimisation, and operation of mechanical parts and systems. All industrial sectors value mechanical engineers, including manufacturing, oil and gas, aerospace, and automotive, as well as emerging areas such as energy and renewable energy, medical engineering, and nanotechnology.

Key stats

WUSCA ranking
WUSCA student ranking
These are the 2023 rankings, based on ratings given by past and current students.
67/81
CUG Subject Ranking
CUG Subject Ranking
Source: Complete University Guide 2024
27th
CUG Ranking
CUG Ranking
Source: Complete University Guide 2024
44th
Mechanical Engineering
Drop-out rate
Drop-out rate
The percentage of students who didn't finish the course.
Calculated by 100% - (% of students continuing course + % of students completed course)
100 - 90 = 10% Drop-out rate Source: UNISTATS, 2019
10%
Employment rate
Employment rate
The percentage of students in full-time work 6 months after finishing their course.
Source: UNISTATS, 2019
100%
Average salary
Average salary
Source: UNISTATS, 2019
Mechanical Engineering graduate salary at this uni
£26,000
UK Mechanical Engineering graduate salary
£26,000
What students say
F
Fearne
05 Feb 24

lots of trees and open areas, several buses straight into town, nice library and gym, lots of different clubs, suppose to be easy starting your own club or society but my friends..Read more

T
Tomas
05 Feb 24

Some of the paths are severely damaged..Read more

Modules

Modules (Year 1)
Modules (Year 2)
Modules (Year 3)
Modules (Year 4)
IDP Connect

Entry requirements

Exam type

A level

A level:

BBC - ABB Grades / Points required

Scottish Higher:

AABB Grades / Points required

Scottish Advanced Higher:

AB Grades / Points required

GCSE/National 4/National 5:

Not currently available, please contact university for up to date information.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme:

29 Grades / Points required

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016):

DMM Grades / Points required

Scottish HNC:

Pass Grades / Points required

Scottish HND:

Pass Grades / Points required

T Level:

Not currently available, please contact university for up to date information.

including Mathematics and Physics at BB for entry to Year 1.For Year 2 entry: AAB including Mathematics and Physics with one at A.

including Mathematics and Physics/Engineering Science with one at A.

including Maths and Physics/Engineering Science plus Highers at AABB for entry to Year 2.

It is also a requirement of every applicant to have English and Mathematics at a minimum of National 5 Grade C or GCSE Grade C or 4 (or equivalent)

including Mathematics and Physics at Higher Level 5 for entry to Year 1.For entry to Year 2: 34 points including Mathematics and Physics at Higher Level 6.

in Engineering (including sufficient Maths and Physics) for entry to Year 1.

For entry to Year 1: HNC in relevant subject with A in graded unit to include SQA Engineering Mathematics 1, 2 & 3 and sufficient Physics content.

For entry to Year 1: HND in relevant subject with AB/BA in graded units to include SQA Engineering Mathematics 1, 2, & 3 and sufficient Physics content.For entry to Year 2: HND in relevant subject with AA in graded units to include SQA Engineering Mathematics 1, 2, 3 & 4 and sufficient Physics content.

We will consider T Levels as suitable for entry to our degree programmes, however, certain subject requirements may be required for entry to specific programmes. Where this is not evident as part of the T Level studies, we may ask for additional qualifications.

Popular A-level subjects

Mechanical Engineering

Top 5 A-levels taken by students who study this subject at uni.

Mathematics
98%
Physics
97%
Chemistry
27%
Biology
18%
Further Mathematics
13%
HESA

Tuition fees

Students living in

England

£9,250 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from England

This is the fee you pay if you live within England. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within England. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£1,820 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from Scotland

This is the fee you pay if you live within Scotland. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within Scotland. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£9,250 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from Wales

This is the fee you pay if you live within Wales. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within Wales. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£9,250 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from Northern Ireland

This is the fee you pay if you live within Northern Ireland. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within Northern Ireland. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£9,250 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from Channel Islands

This is the fee you pay if you live within Channel Islands. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within Channel Islands. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£24,048 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from EU

This is the fee you pay if you live within the European Union. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within the European Union. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£24,048 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from International

This is the fee you pay if you are an International student. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you are an International student. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

UCAS/IDP Connect

Latest reviews

Latest Mechanical Engineering (General) reviews

Mechanical Engineering (General)
Mechanical Engineering (General)
F
Fearne
05 Feb 24
Mechanical Engineering BEng (Hons)
lots of trees and open areas, several buses straight into town, nice library and gym, lots of different clubs, suppose to be easy starting your own club or society but my friends...
Read more
T
Tomas
05 Feb 24
Mechanical Engineering BEng (Hons)
Some of the paths are severely damaged...
Read more
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How Mechanical Engineering (General) students rated:

Student rating
( 3.9) 99 reviews
5 star
21%
4 stars
56%
3 stars
21%
2 stars
2%
1 star
0%

How all students rated:

Student rating
( 4.1) 1,319 reviews
5 star
32%
4 stars
53%
3 stars
13%
2 stars
2%
1 star
0%
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Uni info

Heriot-Watt University
Heriot-Watt University , Edinburgh

Heriot-Watt University is based in Edinburgh, Scotland’s beautiful and historic capital city....

Student rating
( 4.1) View reviews
CUG ranking
44th
Heriot-Watt University
Riccarton Edinburgh Edinburgh, City Of EH14 4AS United Kingdom
Nearest train station: Curriehill  0.4 miles away
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