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BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering

Tackle tomorrow’s engineering challenges with this hands-on, accredited mechanical engineering degree. Develop your mathematical, physics and computational skills to launch your dream career in a choice of UK and international industrial sectors.

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2nd in the East of England for mechanical engineering (Complete University Guide, 2024)

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96% satisfaction for learning resources (NSS 2024, based on the average of Q19-22)

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Outstanding facilities in our new School of Physics, Engineering and Computer Science building

Course overview

The BEng Mechanical Engineering offers a comprehensive introduction to engineering, giving you the flexibility to work in a broad range of industries.

You’ll study engineering mathematics, materials and electrical science, mechanical science, manufacturing technology, computer-aided engineering and thermodynamics. You’ll also have the unique opportunity to collaborate with other engineering students on some incredible projects, such as designing a hovercraft, a Formula Student racing car and an unmanned aircraft.

This mechanical engineering degree is the first step towards chartered engineer status.

Why choose this course?

This mechanical engineering degree is the perfect foundation for your future: You'll graduate with a clear route to a professional career, equipped with the knowledge and skills you need to succeed in any area of engineering.

You will learn and be inspired in our brand-new School of Physics, Engineering and Computer Science: Experiential learning zones and state-of-the-art equipment will enhance your learning experience. You’ll have access to modelling, water engineering labs, heavy structures testing facilities and innovative construction materials research labs.

Our industry connections will provide you with additional expertise and career-defining opportunities: Students and graduates have secured placement and employment opportunities at top companies such as Amazon, Bosch, Tesla Motors (UK), Aston Martin, London Energy Ltd and Barclays.

You will study at one of the largest engineering schools in the UK: Ranked 2nd in the East of England of mechanical engineering (Complete University Guide, 2024), the University of Hertfordshire has a strong and proven reputation in the field of engineering.

Conceive Design Implement Operate (CDIO) Framework: Herts students benefit from our membership in the CDIO initiative, an innovative educational framework supporting the next generation of engineers to ensure they are better equipped to enter and succeed in industry.

Professional accreditations

The BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering course is accredited by IMechE as meeting the academic requirement, in part, for Chartered Engineer registration for the 2023 cohort intake, up to, and including, the 2025 cohort intake.

Your future career

Professional chartered mechanical engineers and mechanical engineering graduates are highly sought after around the world. Our graduates have an excellent employment record, with 93% employed or in further study 15 months after graduation (Graduate Outcomes, 2021/22), illustrating that this degree gives you the flexibility to work in virtually any manufacturing setting, both in the UK and abroad.

Mechanical engineering graduates typically secure employment in the following roles:

  1. Mechanical engineer
  2. Automotive/Aerospace/Civil Engineer
  3. Product design engineer
  4. Manufacturing engineer
  5. Quality/Maintenance engineer
  6. Project engineer

We will get you ready to stand out in the graduate job market. This mechanical engineering degree is specifically designed to ensure you leave with the skills and knowledge to succeed in your career. You will benefit from CV-boosting opportunities and optional modules that further enhance your employability.

See what recent graduates are up to

Data Analyst on Graduate Programme at Vodafone

Meet ambitious Abir Ahmed, who made the most of the support at Herts and is now on a graduate programme at Vodafone.

Abir is part of the Technology Discover Graduate Programme at Vodafone which helps explore different roles within Tech over a two year period. He says, ‘My current role is in data analytics with a team which works closely with crowd sourcing data. Day to day I mainly use Python, Google Cloud Platform as well as visualisation packages.'

Why I chose to study at Herts

'I grew up in an estate close to central London and it was challenging to stay motivated, and hard to meet successful individuals who were willing to mentor or support you through your career. I also come from a BAME background so at times I lacked confidence and felt demotivated, especially when reading some of the performance statistics of those who come from similar backgrounds.

I could see Herts was successful in helping students from all backgrounds attain success post studies. From high employment rates to helping students with starting their own business. It was a place full of opportunities where I could get support in any dreams or aspirations I had.'

'Amazing' course

When talking about his course Abir is full of praise, ‘The Mechanical Engineering BEng was amazing and pushed me to explore different paths. I had the opportunity to use different techniques to analyse cases when solving engineering problems. The lectures were always happy to make time for us all and give us key tips and tricks. A shout out to my fluid mechanics and thermodynamics lecturer who was able to give me advice based on her experiences in industry prior to becoming a lecturer!’

However, Abir is particularly proud of getting through his degree during the pandemic. 'The pandemic was only just starting in my third and final year, I got very anxious. The University was very supportive and at times when I thought I wouldn’t be able to push through, I was able to benefit from extensions and support online from our lecturers and tutors. It was a proud moment for me getting my job offer as well as completing my dissertation!’

Career support

Abir realised during his studies that it was important to take advantage of all the resources made available to him at Herts. He particularly made sure he used the Careers Team.

‘I spoke to the careers advisers who were an amazing help in supporting me during my job application process. I was given key guidance on how to perform during assessment centres which came in handy, and I was also able to get CV help too.

I made use of the careers website which was regularly updated with job opportunities.

The organised careers fairs were great in being able to branch out and make contacts with working professionals.’

Herts memories

Abir looks back at his time at Herts with great fondness and says, ‘I really enjoyed making use of the communal prayer space on the College Lane Campus. It was a place I could reflect and pray as well as meet fantastic friends.

Charity events were always fun to attend, bake sales, football tournaments and more. I really liked the maths support in the LRC which helped me with those difficult equations and exam and coursework prep too.’

What the future holds

Abir has his sights firmly set on the future in both the short and long term, ‘My short-term ambitions are to complete my grad programme and find a permanent role which challenges me but also gives me time to learn and develop new skills.’

My long-term ambitions and aspirations are to dive further into the world of tech. I mainly enjoy data analytics and visualisation, but have interests in data engineering and data science as well as UX and UI. I’ve also been working on my own projects some of which include developing an AI bot for my local machine!’

CEO at Xtrac

Meet Adrian Moore, who combined his passion for motorsport and mechanics for his career. He is currently the CEO of Xtrac, a company that designs and manufactures transmission systems for motorsport and high performance vehicles.

University life and experience

Adrian decided to study at the University of Hertfordshire as, from an early age, had always been interested in automotive and aerospace technology. The University (known then as Hatfield Polytechnic College) had a strong reputation and extremely close links to those industries. Adrian even made use of those connections and was sponsored by Rolls-Royce for his entire degree!

He enjoyed his time studying at the University as it gave him a broad understanding of mechanical engineering, with a particular emphasis on mechanical design ad materials technology. This knowledge has proved invaluable throughout his career and has enabled him to specialise in these areas. However, he believes the key to his success is the enthusiastic and supportive teaching staff.

Future aspirations

Adrian has enjoyed a successful and varied career having previously working on two F1 teams. He is currently the CEO of Xtrac who design and man design and manufacture innovative transmission systems for motorsport and high-performance automotive applications. In the future, he hopes to lead Xtrac into major growth with considerable investment in new facilities, machinery and staff.

From his experience as an undergraduate, he is determined to invest in the future of the industry by hiring a large number of appetencies and undergraduates. He states that, 'The high performance automotive industry is going through a huge period of rapid change with the introduction of new technologies for the electrification of road vehicles. With that uncertainty comes opportunity. It is a fast changing industry for hard working, dedicated and innovative thinkers and it is shaping the future of our world.'

What you'll study

This mechanical engineering degree will provide you with the flexibility to be employed in any engineering company, irrespective of their product range.  Mechanical engineers are involved in producing innovative designs, using the latest materials and Computer Aided Engineering systems to meet ever-increasing expectations in 21st century living.  With our excellent teaching standards and facilities, the University has a strong track record of providing industry with these highly skilled professionals.

In your first year, you will study the fundamental skills and knowledge required by a modern engineer, including principles of design and manufacture. You’ll be introduced to computer packages commonly used in engineering.

The core themes from Year 1 are further developed in your second year, so that they can be applied to solve engineering problems encountered in industrial and commercial environments. You will learn about the design process, through both group design and detail design work, and will have the opportunity to work on extra-curricular projects, such as our Formula Student car, Unmanned Air Vehicle and rocket systems.

In the third year, you have the chance to work for an engineering company on placement or to study at one of our overseas partners.

In the final year, whilst adding to your knowledge of materials and structures, vibration and noise, and control systems, you have the option of covering either manufacturing or the rapidly growing field of micro-electrical-mechanical systems (MEMS). Project work, both in teams on design and individually on a topic of special interest, encourages you to develop valuable practical, interpersonal and communication skills.

What if I need support?

You’ll have a personal tutor to guide you through your course, all the way to graduation.

If you need additional support during your time with us, rest assured that we’ve got you covered. For help with study skills, including referencing, essay writing and presentations, you’ll have access to our academic support services. You can attend workshops, 1-to-1 sessions and online tutorials. Both of our Learning Resource Centres run drop-in study skills sessions.

Optional sandwich year

Graduate with invaluable work experience alongside your degree and stand out from the crowd. This course offers you the opportunity to enhance your study and CV with a year in industry, typically between your second and third years of study. It’s a chance to explore career possibilities, make valuable contacts and gain sought after professional skills.

Research shows that over 70% of employers prefer students with work experience, which is why we believe work placements are career gold. Our Careers and Employment service is here to support you explore your options and make valuable contacts for your future career. Students have previously undertaken placements in organisations such as:

  • Rolls Royce Cars
  • United Glass
  • ATT
  • Turner Powertrain Systems
  • Xerox

You’ll pay no tuition fee for this year and won’t need to worry about the details of your placement until your second year of study.

Study Abroad offers the opportunity for an amazing experience, which will help make you stand out from the crowd. With more and more companies working internationally, experience of living in another country can make a great impression on future employers.

This course offers you the opportunity to enhance your study and CV with a sandwich year abroad. The University has partnerships with over 150 universities around the world, including the USA, Canada, Asia, Africa, Australia, South America and closer to home in Europe.

If you study abroad between your second and third year of study, you’ll pay no tuition fee to the partner university and no tuition fee to us either. We’ll ask you to make your decision in your second year, so there is plenty of time to think about it.

Graduate with invaluable work experience alongside your degree and stand out from the crowd. This course offers you the opportunity to enhance your study and CV with a year in industry, typically between your second and third years of study. It’s a chance to explore career possibilities, make valuable contacts and gain sought after professional skills.

Research shows that over 70% of employers prefer students with work experience, which is why we believe work placements are career gold. Our Careers and Employment service is here to support you explore your options and make valuable contacts for your future career. Students have previously undertaken placements in organisations such as:

  • Rolls Royce Cars
  • United Glass
  • ATT
  • Turner Powertrain Systems
  • Xerox

You’ll pay no tuition fee for this year and won’t need to worry about the details of your placement until your second year of study.

Find out more about work placements

Study Abroad offers the opportunity for an amazing experience, which will help make you stand out from the crowd. With more and more companies working internationally, experience of living in another country can make a great impression on future employers.

This course offers you the opportunity to enhance your study and CV with a sandwich year abroad. The University has partnerships with over 150 universities around the world, including the USA, Canada, Asia, Africa, Australia, South America and closer to home in Europe.

If you study abroad between your second and third year of study, you’ll pay no tuition fee to the partner university and no tuition fee to us either. We’ll ask you to make your decision in your second year, so there is plenty of time to think about it.

Find out more about study abroad options

Where you'll study

Your main campus is College Lane. This is where the creative arts, science and health-related subjects are based.

You’ll learn in our new state-of-the-art building called Spectra, where you’ll experience a range of experiential learning zones. You will have access to modelling, simulation and research labs, our Merlin Flight Simulator and automotive workshop (complete with electric vehicle facility), wind tunnel, welding bay and controls testing suite.

You will also benefit from our Academic Support Hub, which is aimed at helping you build your employability and academic skills. Plus, have access to industry mentors who will provide you with pastoral support, vocational guidance, and career progression opportunities.

Spectra also provides space to collaborate, with plenty of workshops, social and meeting spaces available. Even better, the building has been designed with the University’s net zero carbon target in mind, and forms part of our plan to replace or upgrade older sites that are energy inefficient.

Who you'll learn from

You will learn from friendly, motivated, and highly qualified faculty members with vast research expertise and industry experience in a variety of fields including, but not limited to advanced materials, innovative manufacturing technologies, sustainable energy, nanomaterials, microfluidics, biomaterials, and generative design.

You will also benefit from being taught by faculty from across the engineering department whose broad expertise ranges from energy, manufacturing, materials, product design and more.

Our faculty members are leaders in the UK for the Conceive Design Implement and Operate (CDIO) initiative, which aims to provide students with hands on experience to create systems and products in a modern team-based engineering environment.

Our exceptionally talented technical team is committed to providing you with hands-on experience with state-of-the-art equipment while ensuring the highest health and safety standards.

You will also learn from your student peers through working on activities such as Formula Student and more.

How we support our students

At the University of Hertfordshire, we want to make sure your time studying with us is as stress-free and rewarding as possible.

We offer a range of support services, from childcare to counselling, ensuring that you make the most of your time at Herts and can focus on studying, having fun, and have the support you need.

Entry requirements

The University of Hertfordshire is committed to welcoming students with a wide range of qualifications and levels of experience. The entry requirements listed on the course pages provide a guide to the minimum level of qualifications needed to study each course. However, we have a flexible approach to admissions and each application will be considered on an individual basis.

Typical offer (UCAS points)(enter tariff range)
Typical A Level offer(enter range)
Typical IB offer(enter range)
Typical BTEC offer(enter range)
Typical T Level offer(enter range)
GCSEEG: Grade 4/C in English Language and 4/D Mathematics
Access coursesEG: An overall merit profile in 45 credits at Level 3.
Additional informationFind out more about our standard and contextual Undergraduate Entry Requirements.

English language

All students from non-majority English speaking countries require proof of English language proficiency, equivalent to an overall IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each band.

If you do not have the required IELTS or equivalent for direct entry on to your degree programme, our Pre-sessional English and International Foundation courses can help you to achieve this level.

Additional information

Find out more about International Entry Requirements.

Typical offer (UCAS points)120–128
Typical A Level offerBBB–ABB

Mandatory subjects: Mathematics and either physics or technology or engineering- based subjects, excluding General Studies/Critical Thinking
Typical IB offer120–128

Mandatory subjects: A minimum of two HL subjects at grade 4 or above, to include HL Mathematics and Physics
Typical BTEC offerDDM

Mandatory subjects: Extended Diploma in Engineering, to include distinction in Further Mathematics
Accepted T LevelsNone
GCSEGrade 4/C in English Language and Mathematics.
Access coursesEngineering diploma with 30 Level 3 credits at distinction, to include Mathematics or Science or Principles units. The remaining 15 L3 credits must be at merit
Additional informationFind out more about our standard and contextual Undergraduate Entry Requirements.

English language

All students from non-majority English speaking countries require proof of English language proficiency, equivalent to an overall IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each band.

If you do not have the required IELTS or equivalent for direct entry on to your degree programme, our Pre-sessional English and International Foundation courses can help you to achieve this level.

Additional information

Find out more about International Entry Requirements.

Ready to apply?

UK and EU applicants with pre-settled/settled status in the UK
Start date Study typeApply
September 2025 Full time Apply via UCAS
Full time with placement year Apply via UCAS
Full time with study abroad year Apply via UCAS
Part time Apply with Herts
September 2026 Full time Apply via UCAS
Full time with placement year Apply via UCAS
Full time with study abroad year Apply via UCAS
Part time Apply with Herts

International and EU applicants without pre-settled status in the UK

Apply through our international/EU application portal

Fees and funding

At Herts, we’re dedicated to providing world-class teaching supported by industry-level facilities and incredible social spaces. We believe cost shouldn’t be a barrier to higher education, and we strive to keep both our standard and additional costs as low as possible.

Study typeFees
UK studentsFull time£9,250 for the 2025/2026 academic year
Part time£1,155 per 15 credits for the 2025/2026 academic year
EU studentsFull time£15,965 for the 2025/2026 academic year
Part time£1,995 per 15 credits for the 2025/2026 academic year
International studentsFull time£15,965 for the 2025/2026 academic year
Part time£1,995 per 15 credits for the 2025/2026 academic year

Tuition fees are charged annually. The fees quoted above are for the specified year(s) only. Fees may be higher in future years, for both new and continuing students. Please see the University’s Fees and Finance Policy (and in particular the section headed “When tuition fees change”), for further information about when and by how much the University may increase its fees for future years.

Scholarships, grants  and bursaries

Depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible for a non-repayable scholarship, grant or bursary to support your studies.

Disabled Students' Allowance

The Disabled Students’ Allowance can cover any study-related costs you have because of a mental health problem, long term illness or any other disability.

Student loans

Find out about securing a student loan, from how much you could be eligible for to when you need to start making repayments.

Accommodation costs

We offer a great choice of student accommodation, on campus or nearby in the local area, to suit every student budget.

Additional course fees

Read more about additional fees in the course fact sheet.

More about the course

Course fact sheets
BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering Download PDF
BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering Download PDF
Programme specifications
BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering Download PDF
BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering Download PDF
Additional information

Applications open to international and EU students

Yes

Course length

Full Time, 3 YearsPart Time, 6 YearsSandwich, 4 Years

Not ready to apply?