Programme Specifications

Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

This fully accredited degree programme delivers the technical and business skills that are required for a successful career as a professional mechanical engineer. The curriculum has been designed to meet the needs of industry; providing a strong academic foundation while inspiring students to be creative and communicate their ideas clearly by way of industrially based design projects. On completion of the programme, students will have acquired a broad base of engineering knowledge and experience.  They will be self-reliant and able to contribute productively in team situations. The programme provides the flexibility for students to choose a wide variety of career paths and specialisms in their final year.

Aims:

• A1.  To prepare highly skilled graduates to pursue careers in Mechanical Engineering across a range of industries and activities including design, development, and analysis of complex systems;
• A2.  To provide a high quality learning experience across a complete range of core subjects in order to give students the necessary technical skills to understand mechanical systems and solve engineering problems;
• A3.  To promote high quality engineering practice by applying appropriate knowledge, skills, tools and techniques in the analysis, diagnosis and solution of industry-related problems;
• A4.  To develop engineers capable of designing systems and managing the development process in order to deliver solutions that meet the requirements of customers;
• A5.  To impart an appreciation of the essential practical and commercial, ethical, business, sustainability and legal constraints of professional engineering;
• A6.  To support personal and professional development and foster creativity, develop design capability and teach the communication skills necessary to put ideas into practice.

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

• UK Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) – ‘Subject Benchmark Statement for Engineering’, (Oct.2019) 
• Engineering Council (UK). ‘UK-SPEC, UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence’, 3rd Edition, Jan.2014 
• Engineering Council (UK). ‘The Accreditation of Higher Education Programmes’, 3rd Edition, May 2014 

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• K1.   The underpinning scientific mathematical and engineering principles associated  with mechanical engineering;
• K2.   The characteristics of engineering material, equipment and processes and an awareness of basic mechanical workshop practices;
• K3.   Engineering principles, quantitative methods, mathematical and computer models;
• K4.   Relevant codes of Practice and regulatory framework and operational practices for sale, operation of engineering processes;
• K5.   Recognise the professional and ethical responsibilities of engineers;
• K6.   Principles of industrial design, engineering design and manufacturing design;
• K7.   Management techniques and an understanding of the commercial and economic context of the engineering business;

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

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

• C1.   Use the principles of engineering science in developing solutions to practical mechanical engineering problems;
• C2.   Create new engineering components and processes through the synthesis of ideas from a range of sources using appropriate design principles, techniques and codes of practice;
• C3.   Integrate, evaluate and make use of information from a wide variety of sources including other engineering disciplines;
• C4.   Investigate and define engineering problems within the framework of economic, social, ethical and environmental issues and show the ability to assess risk;
• C5.   Evaluate and respond to customer needs, including fitness for purpose and cost.

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

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

• P1.   Apply computer-based and mathematical methods to the modelling and analysis of engineering systems, components and products;
• P2.   Define and solve practical engineering problems;
• P3.   Use laboratory and basic workshop equipment in an appropriate and safe manner;
• P4.   Demonstrate the ability to manage the design process;
• P5.   Prepare mechanical engineering drawings, computer graphics and technical reports and give technically competent oral presentations;
• P6.   Apply relevant codes of practice and industry standards;
• P7.   Demonstrate the ability to work with technical uncertainty;
• P8.   Demonstrate basic organisational and project management skills.

c. Key transferable skills:

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

• T1.   Demonstrate a high level of numeracy;
• T2.   Search and retrieve information, ideas and data from a variety of sources;
• T3.   Select and analyse appropriate engineering techniques and tools;
• T4.   Communicate effectively by means of technical reports, papers, graphical aids, interpersonal and presentation skills;
• T5.   Design and implement basic computer based information systems;
• T6.   Develop work plans, take responsibility for its execution, organise and manage time and resources effectively;
• T7.   Plan self-learning and improve performance, as the foundation for lifelong learning/CPD.

4. Programme structure

4.1    Part A - Introductory Modules

Semester 1 and 2

Compulsory Modules (100 credits)

Semester 1

Compulsory Modules (10 credits)

 Semester 2

Compulsory Modules (10 credits)

4.2 Part B  - Degree Modules

Semester 1 and 2

Compulsory Modules (20 credits)

 Semester 1

Compulsory Modules (40 credits)

Semester 2 

Compulsory Modules (50 Credits)

4.3    Part I – Optional Placement Year

For candidates who are registered for the Diploma in Industrial Studies (DIS), Diploma in Professional Studies (DPS) or Diploma in International Studies (DintS), Part I will be followed between Parts B and C and will be in accordance with the provisions of Regulation XI and Regulation XX.

4.4 Part C - Degree Modules  

Semester 1 and 2

Compulsory Modules (40 credits)

Semester 1

Compulsory Modules (30 credits)

Optional Modules
Students MUST choose 20 credits of options in Semester One and 40 credits in Semester Two.

TWO modules (20 credits) must be selected from Group A or Group B (both from the same group), OR ONE module from Group A or B and ONE module from Group C.

THREE or FOUR modules (total 40 credits) must be selected from Group D, E, F or G.  No more than ONE module must be selected from each group. 

Semester 1

Optional modules (20 credits)

Group A 

Group B

Group C

Semester 2 

Optional modules (40 credits)

Group D

Group E

Group F

Group G

All optional module choice is subject to availability, timetabling, student number restrictions and students having taken appropriate pre-requisite modules.

5. 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.

To meet PSRB requirements students must achieve a minimum of 100 credits in each part with the remaining modules achieving a mark no lower than 10 percentage points below the usual pass mark.

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.