Mechanical Engineering (Extended Degree Programme) BEng (Hons)

COURSE INFORMATION (2013 ENTRY)

Full-time foundation year followed by a further 3 years full-time or 4 years sandwich

Engineering and Environment
Ellison Building, Newcastle City Campus

This Extended Degree programme provides a foundation year which acts as an introduction to a wide range of programmes, including Mechanical Engineering. The programme aims to enable students from a range of backgrounds to acquire the knowledge, understanding and skills required for entry to their chosen degree programme.

To meet this aim the teaching, learning and assessment strategy employs a broad range of techniques to support the acquisition and knowledge, but also to enable students to develop their understanding of the fundamental aspects of engineering and technology. It is recognised that in accepting students from a wide range of backgrounds, motivation and guidance will be the key to this strategy. It is for this reason that Personal Development Planning (PDP) has been incorporated within two skills-based modules.

The foundation year consists of 6 modules, appropriate to the programme, chosen by the student.

This programme has three main aims: firstly, to enable students to understand the fundamental concepts of engineering with the emphasis on those most relevant to mechanical engineering; secondly, to develop their personal and transferable skills and thirdly, to cultivate a confident, imaginative and responsible attitude to engineering problems.

Students are strongly recommended to take advantage of the industrial placement which provides the opportunity to apply the skills gained during the programme.

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LEARNING AND TEACHING METHODS

Independent learning skills are a critical aspect of the degree, enabling graduates to pick up new skills throughout their careers.  The programme is delivered through a range of lectures, seminars and practical workshops which equates to an average of 17 hours of contact time as well as guided independent study.  Throughout the programme the student’s ownership for their own learning increases, this culminates in identifying an area to study for a final year project which is the capstone of the degree and allows the development of a key area of interest which develops practical and academic skills which significantly enhance employment prospects. 

This final year project is supervised on a one to one basis and often industry based providing you the opportunity to specialise and tailor your degree to specific engineering disciplines.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The assessment strategy is carefully designed to support learning and to meet the diverse needs of students.

Assessment is via assignment, written examinations, presentations and design and project reports, with a ratio of examination to coursework of approximately 1:1. All students are required to complete a project in the final year, which may be based on their placement experience.

The project comprises a significant piece of practical work and builds on your knowledge from the earlier years of the programme.

ACCREDITATION

The programme is accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), graduates being able to become Associate Members of the Institution. To gain full educational exemption they are required to complete a course of further study, for example an appropriate MSc, then following appropriate professional experience, may apply for chartered status.

CAREERS

Graduates have a wide range of employment opportunities with past students obtaining jobs with companies including ICI, Rolls Royce, British Aerospace, BAE Systems and Shell (UK).

An annual Employer's Fair takes place in the autumn term for students from all Engineering and Environment disciplines, providing the opportunity to meet a wide range of employers and explore placement and graduate employment opportunities. This is an invaluable networking opportunity and consistently receives excellent feedback from both students and employers who are impressed with the students they meet.

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Northumbria University has taken reasonable care to ensure that the information published is accurate at the time of publication. However, the University gives no warranty or representation as to the quality, accuracy or completeness of the information.