Programme Specifications

Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

• To provide a fully accredited honours degree course in the field of mechanical engineering which satisfies the needs of industry for high quality graduates who have a strong academic background combined with outstanding integrative skills.
• To deliver a systematic understanding of key aspects of mechanical engineering, including the acquisition of coherent and detailed knowledge.
• To provide opportunities for students to acquire vocationally relevant knowledge and understanding and to develop appropriate skills, values and attributes.
• To develop the ability to evaluate evidence, solve problems and exercise sound judgement.
• To encourage students to manage their own learning, communicate effectively and make use of primary source materials.
• To foster an appreciation of the essential practical and commercial aspects of engineering.

2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external reference points used to inform programme outcomes:

Periodic Programme Review

Framework for Higher Education Qualifications

QAA Benchmark statements for Engineering

Engineering Council-UK, UK SPEC “The Accreditation of Higher Education programmes”

Accreditation Reports

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

On completion of the programme, students will have acquired a broad base of engineering knowledge and experience.  They should be self reliant and able to contribute well in team situations.  The programme aims to provide the flexibility for students to choose a wide variety of career paths and specialisms in the final year. More specifically they will have:

• the underpinning mathematics, mechanical, electrical and thermal sciences associated with a career in mechanical engineering
• engineering principles, quantitative methods, mathematical and computer models
• codes of practice, industry standards and quality issues as applicable to a general mechanical engineering career, together with an awareness of the nature of intellectual property issues and of environmental, legal and ethical issues within the modern industrial world
• design processes and methodologies
• management techniques and an understanding of the commercial and economic context of the engineering business
• the characteristics of engineering materials, equipment and processes and an awareness of basic mechanical workshop practices.

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• use the principles of engineering science in developing solutions to practical mechanical engineering problems
• interpret and numerical data and apply mathematical methods to the analysis of engineering systems
• analyse systems, processes and components
• create new engineering components and processes through the synthesis of ideas from a range of sources
• apply appropriate knowledge of techniques and codes of practice to the design of components and systems
• integrate evaluate and make use of information from a wide variety of sources including other engineering disciplines
• demonstrate awareness of key operational constraints including health and safety, cost,  quality and sustainability issues and be able to assess risk.

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• use appropriate computer software numerical modelling methods and/or computational techniques to solve engineering problems
• use laboratory and basic workshop equipment competently and safely
• research for information
• prepare mechanical engineering drawings computer graphics and technical reports and give technically competent oral presentations
• demonstrate basic organisational and project management skills.

c. Key transferable skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to

• Demonstrate a high level of numeracy.
• Communicate effectively through written, graphical, interpersonal and presentation skills.
• Design and implement basic computer based information systems.
• Work as a member of a team.
• Organise and manage time and resources effectively.

4. Programme structure

4.1    Part A - Introductory Modules

4.1.1  Semester 1

                      COMPULSORY  MODULES (total modular weight 60)

4.1.2  Semester 2

                      COMPULSORY  MODULES (total modular weight 60)                                  

Students will be allocated to either the (a) or (b) module stream at the start of the academic year and must remain on the same stream throughout.

4.2 Part B  - Degree Modules 

4.2.1 Semester 1

                       COMPULSORY  MODULES (total modular weight 60)         

4.2.2  Semester 2

                     COMPULSORY  MODULES (total modular weight 60)

4.3    Part I – Optional Placement Year

                        COMPULSORY MODULE      

 (In order to be considered for the award of DIS or DPS students will need to complete a minimum of 45 weeks in an approved placement and meet the specified report submission for the award, for further details contact the industrial training coordinator for the School or visit https://engskills.lboro.ac.uk/mm/mmstudent.html  Students should note that consideration of this award is only on successful completion of their degree programme)

 (In order to be considered for the award if DIntS students will need to complete 45 weeks approved overseas placement.  This may be industrial or academic study or a combination of the two.  At the end of the placement students are required to submit a report and dissertation, further details are available via the School’s Exchange Coordinator)

4.4 Part C - Degree Modules                 

4.4.1 Semester 1

                        (i) COMPULSORY  MODULES (total modular weight 40)                          

                       (ii) OPTIONAL MODULES (total modular weight 20)

 TWO modules (weight 20) must be selected from groups A and B with no more than ONE module being taken from each group.

GROUP A: ONE module (weight 10) must be selected from this group.

GROUP B: ONE module (weight 10) must be selected from this group

4.4.2 Study Overseas

Students may choose to study Part C - Semester 1 at an approved Overseas Higher Education Institution.  The mix of subjects of the learning programme must be approved in advance by the programme director.  The proposed programme of learning will normally include work on an Individual Project with a semester modular weight of 10.      

4.4.3 Semester 2

                      (i) COMPULSORY MODULES (total modular weight 30)

                     (ii) OPTIONAL  MODULES (total modular weight of 30)

THREE modules (weight 30) must be selected from groups A, B and C with no more than ONE module being taken from each group.

GROUP A: ONE module (weight 10) must be selected from this group.

GROUP B: ONE module (weight 10) must be selected from this group.

GROUP C: ONE module (weight 10) must be selected from this group.

4.4.4 Mechanical Engineering B.Eng (Manufacturing Stream)

B.Eng Mechanical Engineering students may desire to follow a Manufacturing Engineering stream through Part C, after successful completion of their Part B studies.  Students who would like to be considered for this stream should contact their programme director to discuss this possibility.  Successful students would subsequently select modules from Part C of the Product Design Engineering Programme.

4.4.5 Substitute Modules

In exceptional circumstances, a student may substitute another degree level module (weight 10) from the University’s catalogue for one of those listed above, subject to the prior approval of the programme director. The student is responsible for ensuring that all aspects of any such selection can be incorporated into their individual timetable.

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

5.1. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

In order to progress from Part A to Part B and from Part B to Part C and be eligible for the award of an Honours degree, candidates must satisfy the minimum credit requirements set out in Regulation XX.

5.2 Re-assessment

Provision will be made in accordance with Regulation XX for candidates, who have the right of re-assessment in all parts. Where a candidate has achieved fewer than 60 credits in a part of the programme, reassessment in the relevant part is not available to that candidate in the Special Assessment Period.

6. Relative Weighting of Parts of the Programme for the Purposes of Final Degree Classification

Candidates' final degree classification will be determined on the basis of their performance in degree level Module Assessments in Parts B and Part C in accordance with the scheme set out in Regulation XX.  The average percentage marks for each part will be combined in the ratio Part B - 40 : Part C - 60 to determine the degree classification.