Mechanical Engineering

Transcription

1 Undergraduate Mechanical Engineering If you enjoy Physics and Mathematics but also love designing and making things then Mechanical Engineering could be the career for you. If you like to figure out how machines work, and then make them work better, Mechanical Engineering will give you the skills to turn this into your career. Mechanical Engineers are practical people who have studied Physics and Mathematics in depth, but who know how to apply the theory to real problems creatively. Mechanical engineers make an enormous contribution to society. They will have helped to design every machine you can think of; from a miniature digital camera to an interplanetary probe. If you study Mechanical Engineering, your career opportunities could play a part in solving the world s problems and developing the world s possibilities. Why study Mechanical Engineering at Bristol? Bristol s engineering heritage is world famous, and the city continues to be an international leader in cutting-edge engineering. and extensive research profiles in the University, concentrating in the three main research areas of Solid Mechanics, Dynamics and Control, and Design and Process Engineering. The department was ranked as one of the top six UK departments specialising in Mechanical and/or Aerospace Engineering* in the latest available Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) results. This reflects the department s research-intensive ethos, in which high quality research and teaching delivered by leading researchers in the field forms a core part. It also confirms the University of Bristol as one of the leading centres of excellence for Mechanical Engineering in both the UK and internationally. (*The Times RAE subject ratings, December 2008) The quality of the teaching in our department is graded as Excellent by the Higher Education Funding Council. This places us in the top 10% of Mechanical Engineering Departments nationally for the standard of teaching. We are consistently ranked in the top five for Mechanical Engineering by The Times Good University Guide and were ranked 7th in the Guardian 2012 Guide. The department has one of the most active

2 What will I study? The Mechanical Engineering Department offers a number of courses. The Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) course offers you a thorough grounding in all aspects of modern engineering. The Master of Engineering (MEng) courses offer the opportunity to increase your knowledge and skills and to specialise in your final year. This course is also offered with one year in Continental Europe or a year abroad, typically in the USA. The four-year courses are accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, which means they take you a good way towards the status of a Chartered Engineer. Courses BEng Mechanical Engineering, three years H305 MEng Mechanical Engineering, four years H300 MEng Mechanical Engineering with Study in Continental Europe, four years H301 MEng Mechanical Engineering with Study Abroad, four years * * entry by transfer from H300, H301 or H305 You may not yet know which course is best for you. All our courses share a common first two years, so you do not have to decide straight away. We give you all the information and advice you need to make this decision. MEng Mechanical Engineering is ideal if you want a broad based Mechanical Engineering degree. It gives an excellent grounding in the fundamentals of engineering science and then enhances this material with advanced engineering topics and management studies. If you take the MEng with Study in Continental Europe, your third year will be spent at a European university. The requirement for this programme is GCSE level standard or equivalent in a suitable language. You will receive language tuition in addition to your engineering studies in your first two years. The engineering profession is becoming increasingly international and a year abroad gives real added value to your MEng. The MEng with Study Abroad is for those students who wish to take their third year abroad outside Continental Europe, using English as the instruction medium. The third year of study is spent abroad at an institution with which the University of Bristol has a bilateral exchange agreement. The BEng Mechanical Engineering is offered to those students who wish to undertake a three-year rather than a four-year course. The quality of work required is the same as the MEng and the two courses have the same entry requirements. Transfer between BEng and MEng is quite common and sometimes students follow the BEng with a taught postgraduate or research degree. In the first two years of the course, lectures and example classes are used to introduce you to the fundamentals of engineering science and their application to real problems. Laboratory work reinforces this learning process and familiarises you with a wide range of engineering equipment and instrumentation. Design is at the heart of engineering and it is in the Design unit that the various engineering science subjects are brought together in a programme of project work. The first-year Design unit will provide you with an appreciation of the techniques of design such as the conveying of ideas by graphical means. During the unit you will have the opportunity to compete in groups against each other to design a simple structure or device.

3 The second year Design unit involves examining engineering artefacts in more detail and getting your hands on the real issues involved in engineering. You will create your own fully engineered designs to meet a customer s requirements. Recent design projects have included a deployable bridge for cyclists and a competitive activity where students design a vehicle to traverse an assault course. The use of computers runs throughout the course, starting from a first introduction using PCs to the use of advanced engineering analysis software on powerful workstations. The third year involves undertaking a major project involving varying degrees of research, design, experimentation and computing. The fourth-year project is designed to replicate the sort of openended task and situation which working engineers encounter. This experience acts as a bridge to your future career. Optional units become available in the fourth year of the programme. Alongside the requirement to undertake a major design and build team project, it is necessary for you to select six to seven units, depending on your programme, out of a possible 14 units. Assessment comprises written examinations and continuous assessment. What support is available? You will find tutors and lecturers approachable and helpful. You are encouraged to make constructive comment on the courses. This can be done through your tutor, through completion of course feedback forms and through the Student Feedback Committee. You will receive a student handbook providing all the information you need when you start in your first year. You will have a personal tutor who is there to guide you through your studies and to help you achieve your full potential. Tutors are there to help with any personal or work-related problems. As part of our support for students, we try to identify study difficulties as early as possible, and offer help. Blackboard, our online facility, is where information can be found on careers, exhibitions, placements etc. This is also where course notes and important announcements are placed. What s life like as a student? Students have access to a vibrant social scene both within the University, via the Students Union, and around the city. There are over 180 societies to choose from at the University of Bristol, listed under activities, business, campaigning, cultural, food and drink, music, performing arts, political and religious. There are also subject-specific societies, as well as 56 sports clubs. The University of Bristol Engineering Society (TUBES) is one of the largest societies in the University, and membership is open to all Engineers. It provides football, rugby, netball and basketball teams to play against other departments and societies. They also arrange talks by visiting speakers on topics of interest and organise socials. Engineers Without Borders (EWB) is a studentled charity that focuses on removing barriers to development using engineering. Their programmes provide opportunities for young engineers in the UK to learn about technology s role in development. By taking part in their activities, and with the support of the EWB-UK community, members are making a difference to people s lives around the world.

4 What are my career prospects? Bristol s excellent reputation means that our students are sought after by leading engineering companies. Our graduates are therefore in high demand and leave to join a variety of different companies in engineering, information technology, management consultancy etc. Our fully IMechE (Institution of Mechanical Engineers) accredited degree provides a sound foundation for further study and many of our graduates go on to study for a higher degree. Based on statistics from the last few years, on average around 75-85% of graduates are in work or further study six months after graduation. As well as the support offered from The University Careers Service, Faculty of Engineering students benefit from a dedicated Industrial Liaison Office, which develops engineering-specific industrial links for students. Its work includes: running special internship and mentoring schemes for engineering students; managing a LinkedIn Group for engineering staff, students and industrial contacts; organising industry-specific Inside Track lectures; and creating industrial scholarships, prizes and projects. Is there any advice you can give me on making my application? Apart from academic excellence, the admissions tutor will be looking at the applicant s personal profile. It is important to specify why you want to study Mechanical Engineering, and why you want to study at a university such as Bristol. The department encourages work experience as part of an engineer s training and so any relevant experience gained during vacation periods is considered to be an advantage. The reviewer will also be interested to hear about any hobbies or leisure pursuits. Some of our students take a gap year with the Year in Industry scheme before starting their degree, but this is not considered as essential. Are there any specific scholarships or bursaries? The Matthew Prowse Travel Bursary is available to undergraduate Mechanical Engineering students who contribute to a worthy cause during their studies. The bursary aims to provide students with a one-off travel grant of up to 300. The Benevolent Fund of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers can offer financial ( one-off cash grants of up to 1000) and practical support in times of need for financially disadvantaged or disabled students, studying Mechanical Engineering on an IMechE accredited first degree course. The Department of Mechanical Engineering offers scholarships of 1,000 to international students who achieve grades A*AA at A-level or equivalent (excluding General Studies) and who enrol on either our BEng or MEng degree courses. You may also receive notification about various awards/sponsorship schemes from engineering companies during your studies. Further information regarding funding opportunities can be found on the Student Funding Office website at bristol.ac.uk/ studentfunding.

5 Entry data Typical offer for BEng/MEng Mechanical Engineering Please visit bristol.ac.uk/ug13-mecheng for study abroad and other qualifications A-levels Typical offer A*AA (contextual offer AAB ) to include Mathematics, Physics and Further Mathematics or a third subject AS-levels No specific subjects required IB Diploma 38 points overall (contextual offer 35 ) including 6, 6 in Mathematics and Physics at Higher Level Access Treated individually; minimum is to pass Access to HE Diploma with at least 21 credits at Distinction in relevant subjects and 18 credits at Merit IELTS 6.5 with minimum 6.0 in each part GCSE For H301: good GCSE in chosen language Selection UCAS application Part-time study No Deferred applications Welcomed We also welcome applicants offering the Indian Year XII qualification. A typical offer would be 85% overall with 85% in Mathematics and Physics and 70% in English. Please note that General Studies is not accepted. The University assesses applications on their individual merit and in accordance with a set of clearly defined principles as described at bristol.ac.uk/ug-admissions-principles. Admissions statements for all courses are available from bristol.ac.uk/ug-admissions-statements. A contextual offer (UK only) might be given when the educational context of the applicant is taken into account. The University is committed to ensuring that it attracts highly motivated students from a wide range of backgrounds. Our definition of educational disadvantage is reviewed annually and each case is considered on an individual basis. Top: The Queens School of Engineering Middle: Students with models made in practical classes Bottom: Quiet study

6 Contacts Department information For more information about the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Queens School of Engineering, please visit: bristol.ac.uk/mecheng bristol.ac.uk/engineering/schools/quen Useful contact information Admissions Undergraduate Admissions Office Tel: +44 (0) Fax: +44 (0) Accommodation Accommodation Office Tel: +44 (0) bristol.ac.uk/accommodation Disability Services Tel: +44 (0) Fax: +44 (0) bristol.ac.uk/disability-services University guide to the city of Bristol bristol.ac.uk/citybristol International Advice and Support Advice and Support for International Students Tel: +44 (0) bristol.ac.uk/international/studentsupport If you need all or part of this publication in an accessible format (eg in Braille, in larger print or on CD), please contact Widening Participation and Undergraduate Recruitment Tel: +44 (0) Student Funding Office Tel: +44 (0) bristol.ac.uk/studentfunding Photographic credit: Nick Smith, William King, Destination Bristol; other photographs University of Bristol. The information contained in this leaflet is correct at the time of printing (June 2012). Courses and facilities are liable to alter or be withdrawn at the University s discretion.