Mechanical Engineering with Foundation Year - BEng (Hons)

Bucks New University

This module introduces the scientific principles behind the structures, machines and systems engineers design and construct. From forces and motions to the physical laws that shape how systems work, you’ll use these principles to work out what will happen, why it happens and what could be done differently. 

Engineering needs more than a good idea. It needs the maths to back it up. This module covers the mathematical principles and methods that sit behind engineering, from mathematical techniques and statistics to computational maths. You’ll learn how to use these skills to analyse engineering problems, work with data and find solutions. 

This module introduces you to the full Computer Aided Design (CAD) process, from creating initial designs to building detailed digital models. You’ll work with CAD software used across engineering, including ECAD and MCAD, and learn how to create models that can be refined further in engineering design and manufacturing.

This module introduces you to the planning, organisation and decision-making involved in managing a project from start to finish. You’ll consider the impact engineering has on society and what it means to work as a responsible professional. You’ll also look at the standards, responsibilities and behaviours expected of engineers.

Power up your skills and delve into the electrical and electronic systems behind modern engineering, from basic circuits and electromagnetism to electrical machines, transformers, semiconductor devices and digital systems. You’ll learn how to analyse circuits and systems; understand how different components work together and apply these principles to electrical and electronic tasks, building a solid foundation you can use across commercial and industrial engineering.

Engineering systems rarely work in isolation. This module looks at how electrical, mechanical, fluid and thermal systems connect, interact and respond to one another. You’ll build mathematical models of electromechanical systems and use simulation software such as MATLAB Simulink to see how they behave in different conditions, from their static response to how they change over time.

What happens after the lightbulb moment? This module follows the journey from an initial brief through to functional product. You’ll work through the process of identifying an engineering need, proposing possible solutions and deciding which approach makes the most sense.

This module introduces the mechanical principles behind engineering, from how forces affect materials to how structures respond under different conditions. You’ll learn how to plan and carry out experiments systematically, using evidence and results to understand what’s happening and assess how materials and mechanical systems behave.

This module puts thermodynamics and fluid mechanics into context, using realistic scenarios to investigate how heat, energy and fluids behave in industrial systems. You’ll work through challenges such as improving steam plant efficiency and assessing fluid flow capacity, learning to apply these principles to practical problems.

Behind every automated response is a sensor, an actuator or both. This module looks at how they allow engineering systems to make decisions and respond to their surroundings. You’ll learn how different sensors and actuators work, from their configuration and operating characteristics to how accurately they measure changes. You’ll also discover how to connect them to control systems. 

Engineering isn’t a solo job. This module looks at what it takes to lead and manage people, projects and operations effectively. Through case studies, you’ll examine different approaches to team leadership and management, whilst learning to take greater responsibility for your own work. You’ll also consider what good decision-making, accountability and autonomy look like when you’re working in an engineering environment.

Fluid doesn’t always go where you expect it to. This module takes fluid dynamics further, looking at the more complex behaviour that engineers need to understand, including turbulence and multiphase flows. You’ll use commercial CFD software to model what’s happening inside a system, test different scenarios and apply your findings to sector-specific challenges.

Sustainability requires thinking beyond the blueprint. This module looks at emerging sustainable technologies and how they can support the transition to net zero across energy, transport, water and waste. You’ll assess the environmental, social and economic aspects of sustainability, considering how these factors shape the planning, design and evaluation of sustainable infrastructure, products and systems. You’ll consider solutions that meet the needs of society while evaluating their wider impact.

This module looks at what is required to take a project from initial planning through to completion, combining analysis and innovation with clear communication and organisation. You’ll use a range of planning and research tools to shape your project, manage your time and make informed decisions along the way.