Mechanical Engineering with Placement Year Lancaster University

Mechanical engineers use their skills in almost every industry, and you’ll find their expertise in nearly everything you see and use in everyday life. They design and develop products, systems and machinery to tackle all sorts of challenges, from renewable energy to household appliances, from robotics to manufacturing equipment, from aerospace components to healthcare solutions. As a mechanical engineer you get to use your creativity to design and develop products and systems, build prototypes, analyse and test until you find your solution.

Throughout your career you will frequently work across teams of engineers from other branches of the discipline, so it’s crucial to have a broad understanding of general engineering and its applications. At Lancaster,your first year is dedicated to exactly this, and you’ll share this experience with all our School of Engineering students, regardless of their specialisation. We think this makes you a well-rounded graduate, with excellent teamwork and communications skills, prepared for your future career.

What to expect

Our five-year MEng Hons Mechanical Engineering with Placement Year degree starts with your general engineering first year and includes core themes of design, materials, manufacturing, thermodynamics and heat transfer, along with mathematics.

In Year 2 is where you start to specialise in mechanical engineering and you will learn core themes such as the science of materials, mechanics, fluids and thermodynamics, and also machine design and control, which includes the opportunity to apply these principles to applications like mobile robotics.Working in our two new engineering buildings with state-of-the-art facilities, you’ll develop your creativity and technical skills as you design, build and test to solve real-world problems.

In the third year you will undertake a significant collaborative project. It’s a fantastic opportunity to develop professional skills such as project management, team working and research, whilst studying industrially relevant systems. Alongside your project work you will study specialist modules such as dynamic systems, computer aided engineering and product design, through which you will gain relevant real-world experience.

Take further steps towards professional engineering with management skills, project management, and industry engagement. Sustainability, safety, ethics and quality management are kept in focus too.

Your placement

In Year 4, you will undertake a year in industry that will enable you to apply the knowledge and skills learnt so far and gain invaluable experience. We have extensive links built through our leadership in research and have students undergoing placements with multinational corporate companies to smaller specialist SMEs. Once you have completed your placement, you will write an extended reflective piece about your time spent with the company.

Master’s-level training

During your final year you will undertake an extended individual project which gives you the opportunity to conduct research and pursue your interests in an engineering application of your choosing. This research will be supported by the School’s world-leading researchers whose expertise lies in energy, robotics, advanced manufacturing and more. You will also be able to tune your final year towards your career aspirations with pathways focussing on sustainable power generation, including renewable and nuclear power, or industrial system design, which includes mechatronics, control and machine learning. The fourth year also includes industry projects wherein you solve real-world problems for local companies as consultants, which is excellent experience for employment. This year will solidify your knowledge, placing you in an excellent position to launch your engineering career and progress toward achieving Chartered Engineer status.

Entry requirements

These are the typical grades that you will need to study this course. This section will tell you whether you need qualifications in specific subjects, what our English language requirements are, and if there are any extra requirements such as attending an interview or submitting a portfolio.

A levels

AAA. This should include Mathematics and a physical science subject, for example, Physics, Chemistry, Electronics, Design & Technology or Further Mathematics.

Access to HE Diploma

Considered on a case-by-case basis. Our typical entry requirement would be 45 Level 3 credits at Distinction, but you would need to meet the subject requirements.

Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales

We accept the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales in place of one A level, or equivalent qualification, as long as any subject requirements are met.

BTEC Extended Diploma

Pre-2016 specifications: DDD in an Engineering related subject to include Distinctions in Mathematics for Engineering Technicians and Further Mathematics for Engineering Technicians units.

2016 specifications: DDD in an Engineering related subject to include Distinctions in the following units - Unit 1 Engineering Principles, Unit 7 Calculus to Solve Engineering Problems. Unit 8 Further Engineering Mathematics is highly recommended.

BTEC in combination with A levels

Our typical entry requirement would be A level grade A plus BTEC(s) at DD, or A levels at grade AA plus BTEC at D. This should include sufficient content in Mathematics and a physical science.

International Baccalaureate

36 points overall with 16 points from the best 3 HL subjects including either:

1. Mathematics HL grade 6 (either pathway) plus grad 6 in a HL Physical Science

2. Mathematics HL grade 6 (either pathway) plus grade 6 in two SL Physical Sciences

3. Mathematics SL grade 7 (analysis and approaches) plus grade 6 in a HL Physical Science

Acceptable physical science subjects include Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science and Design Technology.

Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers

We are happy to admit applicants on the basis of five Highers, but where we require a specific subject at A level, we will typically require an Advanced Higher in that subject. If you do not meet the grade requirement through Highers alone, we will consider a combination of Highers and Advanced Highers in separate subjects. Please contact the Admissions team for more information.

T levels

Only accepted alongside A level Mathematics grade B. The following subjects accepted at Distinction overall, alongside A level Mathematics grade B: Design and development for engineering manufacturing; Engineering, manufacturing, processing and control; Maintenance, installation and repair for engineering and manufacturing. The following subjects considered on a case by case basis, alongside A level Mathematics grade B: Design, surveying and planning for construction; Building services engineering for construction; Onsite construction.

GCSE requirements

Mathematics grade 6/B, English Language grade 4/C.

We will also look at your overall GCSE profile when considering your application as a whole.

We do have flexibility when considering GCSE requirements. Go to our GCSE information for more details.

Additional requirements

You will typically be asked to attend an interview

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, we require an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each component for this programme. English language qualifications for undergraduate study.