mechanical, aerospace and civil engineering

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One of Europe’sleading Schools ofEngineering, locatedin the Pariser andGeorge Begg

The factsEighty teachingstaff, about 1,000undergraduates and600 postgraduates,with up to 350undergraduateplaces each year

Seventy percent ofgraduates are awardedFirst or Upper SecondClass Honoursdegrees, and about30% go on to higherdegrees

2 Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil EngineeringUndergraduate brochure 2015

Introducing Manchester

Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineeringat ManchesterCourse details

Alumni profiles

Find out more online

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Contents

The unique combination of mechanical, aerospaceand civil engineeringdisciplines in the Schoolexposes academics andstudents to a variety ofengineering approaches to problem solving.Dr Paul Chan

3Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineeringwww.manchester.ac.uk/mace

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Our cityAlways moving forward

Manchester lives on the edge of tomorrow,ever a step ahead in science, industry, media,sport and the arts. The Mancuniancharacter—exemplified by the city’s centralrole in the industrial revolution—strives forexcellence and originality in all walks of life.

This is a city of many accents, having becomea cosmopolitan magnet for students andprofessionals eager to experience its can-doattitude, independent spirit and culturalwealth.

Never content to live on past glories,Manchester has a passion for progress. Joinus at the heart of Britain’s most popularstudent city.

Discover what makes Manchester unique:www.manchester.ac.uk/cityofmanchester

Our UniversityMaking things happen

Influential, forward-thinking and down-to-earth, we’ll give you an amazing universityexperience rooted in a rich academicheritage. We turn enthusiasm intoachievement and ground-breaking theoryinto innovative practice.

We accomplish feats of global significance,from splitting the atom, to giving the worldgraphene—the two-dimensional wondermaterial that is one atom thick, but 200times stronger than steel.

With more Nobel laureates on our staff thanany other UK university, and strong links toindustry and public services, we vitalise ourundergraduate courses with pioneeringresearch.

Learn more about us:www.manchester.ac.uk

Introducing

Manchester

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Your experienceMore than just a degree

With resources from the hi-tech 24/7 learningenvironment of our Alan Gilbert LearningCommons, to the countless personaldevelopment opportunities and specialist supportservices we offer, we will empower you to beyour best.

Outstanding sport facilities, nearly 300 studentsocieties, supported community volunteering,study abroad pathways, career developmentprogrammes, mentoring and much more allenable you to grow and develop outside of thelecture hall, giving you a well-rounded universityexperience that prepares you for life aftergraduation.

The only thing you won’t experience is boredom.

Hear from some of our students:www.manchester.ac.uk/ug/profiles

Your careerOn a course to success

We are consistently one of the UK’s most targeteduniversities by employers, thanks to courses andcareers services designed with your employabilityin mind.

Our problem-based approach to learning inspiresyou to think critically, creatively and independently.Volunteering, personal development programmesand interdisciplinary learning could also give you abroader perspective and shape the sociallyresponsible leaders of tomorrow.

We have the UK’s best careers service, providing awealth of advice and skills-developmentopportunities, and connecting you with employersto put you on a path to career success.

Take control of your career:www.manchester.ac.uk/careers

Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineeringwww.manchester.ac.uk/mace

Undergraduate brochure 2015

Mechanical, Aerospaceand Civil Engineering

at Manchester

96%student satisfaction (NSS, Unistats)

You will have many jobs to choose from as anengineer. You can become a research engineer,discovering new ideas; a design engineer, withcreativity and imagination; a construction or productionengineer, making products or systems; or a projectmanager, controlling complex products andconstructions. The excitement is that you don’t dothe same thing day in and day out.

Nine reasons we should be your numberone choice1. Quality of courses

Our courses are recognised by both employers andthe engineering institutions as being of outstandingquality, which leads to the high employment rate ofour graduates. The courses are taught by world-recognised specialists in their fields and the quality isconstantly monitored to ensure that the standardremains consistent and the material is relevant andup to date.

2. Employability and careers

We are a dominant force in engineering and technologyand are top-rated for graduate employment. Any one ofour degrees will open up a whole range of opportunitiesto you. Our courses have a practical base to ensure youleave us with not just the theory behind mechanical,aerospace or civil engineering, but also the skills to puttheory into practice. The spectrum of jobs includesconsultancy, construction, design, manufacturing andmanagement. A degree from the School is aninternational currency; we have graduates in almostevery country in the world.

As the field of engineering is wide and diverse, so arethe career opportunities on offer. From the conceptionof new ideas, planning and maintenance, or themanaging of complex products and constructions,engineering is an exciting profession, one in which anindividual can take pride. It is a profession that canenable you to broaden your horizons and realise yourpotential.

You can find more detailed information on careerprogression and postgraduate study here by visiting ourSchool website and clicking on the specific course links.

3. Teamwork

Meet new friends, work in groups, learn from eachother and share your experiences. Teamwork plays alarge part in the life of a Mechanical, Aerospace andCivil Engineering (MACE) student.

4. Clubs and groups

We also help students to run their own engineeringsocieties. The societies organise industrial visits,lectures by guest speakers, a careers fair, sports, andsocial functions. Current societies in the Schoolinclude a Formula Student team, Flight Simulator,UAV and Robotics clubs, Civil & Construction Society,an Aerospace Society and a Mechanical Society.


As an engineer, you can enable human potential more thanany other professional, by helping to provide the complexinfrastructure for a civilised society.

5. Industrial partnership links experience opportunities

The University of Manchester has many collaborativealliances with leading businesses, meaning ourcourses and research are on the cutting edge ofengineering advances. In addition, these links canhelp students interested in either a summer vacationplacement or students who wish to spend one yearon an industrial placement to find opportunities.

6. Peer Assisted Study Scheme (PASS)

We encourage a relaxed and informal relationshipbetween staff and students. Founded on the personaltutorial system, our established students organisePASS, a peer group support and mentoring schemefor first-year groups. PASS has proven to be a hugebenefit to students and helps resolve any worries orproblems, as it ensures our students know that helpis always at hand.

7. Excellent research rankings

In research, the School performed extremely well inthe national 2008 RAE exercise, with 70% of researchactivity ranked as “internationally excellent”. TheUniversity is ranked third in the UK in terms ofresearch power and we have a combined record ofexcellence that is among the strongest in the country.The Shanghai Jiao Tong 2013 places Manchester 41stin the world’s top 100 universities.

8. Extensive laboratory facilities

The teaching courses are supported by excellentexperimental facilities available to all programmes.

Civil Engineering students have a dedicated structuraltesting laboratory, a teaching-focused hydraulics andgeotechnics laboratory, wind tunnels and a materialsworkshop. They also have access to leading researchfacilities, including the largest university hydraulictilting flume in the world, an extensive range ofmechanical property and structural testing facilities atboth room and high temperatures, and a range offire testing facilities.

Mechanical Engineering students have access to state-of-the-art laser laboratories, explosive testinglaboratories, a large collection of wind tunnels and asuperb environmental research centre. Students

studying both Mechanical and Aerospace Engineeringget the opportunity to use one of our supersonictunnels and the School also boasts one of the veryfew hypersonic tunnels in the world, which canoperate at up to six times the speed of sound.

Aerospace students have access to the School flightsimulator which is used for teaching aircraft flightacross all years. This provides a link between theoryand practice and offers insights into aircraft handlingcharacteristics that would be different from academicwork alone. Students can experiment with a range ofaircraft types, developing and testing their ownaircraft configurations. Apart from taught courses,this facility is also available for project work and givesstudents the opportunity to enter a national flightsimulator competition. There is a strong emphasis onthe use of small unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) in theAerospace course. In the first year all students aregiven their own model glider to be used as part ofthe aircraft flight course. In the third year there are anumber of projects available on the use of autonomousfixed and rotary wing UAVs, and fourth year MEngstudents are expected to design, build and test theirown UAV system.

All students have the opportunity to join the FormulaStudent programme – this is an entirely student-runscheme, open to students in all years, in contrast tomost universities. For more information seehttp://racingteam.manchester.ac.uk.

9. We are unique

We are a combined school, which allows us to givemore cross-disciplinary input and enables students toget involved in cross-disciplinary research projects.Nevertheless, we still offer specific programmes in theseparate disciplines to give our students the specialistknowledge they need to compete in the job market.

In Civil Engineering we offer a wide range of optionswith specific strengths in structures, the environment,sustainability and management.

In Mechanical Engineering we build on our historicroutes at the forefront of the Industrial Revolutionwith a world-class course that gives a broadeducation in Mechanical Engineering.

In Aerospace Engineering we cover the coreengineering science, interspersed with specialistaerospace units through the course.


Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering at Manchester

AwardsMACE students’ success in the National Final ofthe BCSA/TATA Steel Student Design Competition

In the National Final of the BCSA/TATA Steel StudentDesign Competition, Year 4 MEng students RufusFoster and Grace Richardson were awarded thirdprize at the awards ceremony at the Museum ofLondon. They were awarded their prize based ontheir design for a bridge over a high-speed rail lineand existing motorway.

Two undergraduate students from School of MACE,Deepthi Shanmugasundaram and Shaun Woo, wonawards in the Greater Manchester area heat of theInstitution of Mechanical Engineers’ (IMechE) SpeakOut for Engineering competition.

This competition was originally established in 1964 tochallenge young engineers to prove that they could‘communicate effectively’. The heat in Manchesterwas organised by the IMechE Greater ManchesterYoung Members Panel. It attracted speakers fromboth industry and academia. In a two-hourcompetition, presentations by fourth year MEngAerospace Engineering student DeepthiShanmugasundaram and second year MechanicalEngineering student Shaun Woo triumphed and wereawarded the first and second prizes respectively.

I was invited to the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) AerospaceSciences Meeting and New Horizons Forum in Orlando, Florida to present my entry to the NewHorizons challenge, in which I was a runner-up.

The challenge entailed designing a demonstration competition, and naming a prize amount,that would inspire creative thinking and groundbreaking innovation. My idea for a prize wasthe ‘Spaceplane Prize’—for $15 million. The prize would be awarded to the first group todemonstrate a single-stage-to-orbit vehicle capable of reaching an altitude of 150km andperforming one full orbit around Earth before returning to land. Also stipulated was that thevehicle must be able to take off and land on a conventional runway and have a capacity ofthree people excluding crew, and be able to conduct two flights in a month.

I had a great time visiting Orlando and was also able to attend many interesting talks at theconference. It was a great opportunity to meet academics and professionals involved in allaspects of aerospace science and listen to others’ ideas on new and future challenges foraerospace technology.

Leo Teeney Our third year MEng Aerospace Engineering student won runner-up prize of the New HorizonsChallenge, organised by AIAA.



Helen Fospero, Rufus Foster and Grace Richardson

The team of eight MACE students came first in the ITFLIES Competition in Ohio

The IT FLIES competition is a unique aircraft designand handling competition sponsored by Merlin flightsimulation group. The teams are judged on theirdesign, as well as on how well their aircraft designflies.

The team of eight MACE students who enteredconsisted of Abdullah Desai, Stuart Garthwaite,Andrew Aldridge, Thomas Koochitt, BagratRashoyan, Stefan Oltean, Aleksejs Gusevs and LukeWheadon. Their challenge was to design an aircraftfrom scratch and have its handling qualities assessedby flight test engineers from Wright-Patterson USAFAir Base. Based at the at the University of Dayton,Ohio, our students beat off stiff competition fromother US universities with their design of a Multi-roleCombat Vertical and Short Takeoff and Landingaircraft not too dissimilar to the well-known Harrierjump-jet. After a presentation about their aircraftdesign, their design was tested by two test pilots in aMerlin Flight Simulator. The team were awarded firstplace for their efforts.

While in Dayton, the team made the best use of theirtime by also visiting the Dayton Airforce Museum andWright Brothers Museum.

Visit: http://goo.gl/3XvLQo


IT FLIES winners, see left for their names

ScholarshipsThe School has a range of scholarships available – visit www.manchester.ac.uk/mace for details.

Visiting usThe University of Manchester holds open days for prospective students in June, September and October. OpenDays offer an opportunity for students contemplating Engineering to visit our School, hear about Engineeringand talk to student ambassadors. Talks and tours take place from 10am–3pm.

Visit: http://goo.gl/YKwI30

Our UCAS Visit Days take place from November–March and are an opportunity for offer holders to visit asubject specific event where there will be an opportunity to hear about each subject, participate in an activityand lab tour as well as meet with ambassadors and staff.

Course details

Mechanical Engineering BEng 3yrsUCAS Code H300

Mechanical Engineering withManagement BEng 3yrs UCAS Code H3N1

Mechanical Engineering MEng 4yrsUCAS Code H303

Mechanical Engineering withManagement MEng 4yrs UCAS Code H3ND

Mechanical Engineering with IndustrialExperience MEng 5yrs UCAS Code H301

Civil Engineering BEng 3yrsUCAS Code H200

Civil Engineering MEng 4yrsUCAS Code H201

Civil and Structural Engineering MEng4yrsUCAS Code H220

Civil Engineering (Enterprise) MEng 4yrsUCAS Code H204

Civil Engineering with Industrial Experience MEng 5yrs UCAS Code H207

Aerospace Engineering BEng 3yrsUCAS Code H400

Aerospace Engineering MEng 4yrsUCAS Code H402

Aerospace Engineering withManagement MEng 4yrs UCAS Code H4ND

Aerospace Engineering with IndustrialExperience MEng 5yrs UCAS Code H406

Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil EngineeringUndergraduate brochure 2015

Course details

Entry requirementsBEng programmes

GCSE or equivalentFive A-C grades, including English Language, Mathsand Physics or Dual Science

GCE A-level / Unit GradesAAB Maths (must contain some applied/mechanicselements) and preferably Physics or Further Maths

GCE AS-level acceptabilityTwo may be accepted in place of the third A-level

BTEC National DiplomaGrade A at A level Maths plus a BTEC Diplomaawarded with a minimum of 60 credits at Distinction,50 credits at Merit and 10 credits at Pass

Welsh Baccalaureate (including A-levels)Pass and AB in Maths and Physics at A-level

Scottish Advanced HighersAAB Maths and Physics

Irish Leaving CertificateAAABB including AAB in Maths, Applied Maths andPhysics at the Higher level

International BaccalaureateThirty-five points, including Maths and Physics atHigher Level

MEng programmes

GCSE or equivalentFive A-C grades, including English Language, Mathsand Physics or Dual Science

GCE A-level / Unit GradesAAA Maths (must contain some applied/mechanicselements) and preferably Physics or Further Maths

GCE AS-level AcceptabilityTwo may be accepted in place of the third A-level

BTEC National DiplomaGrade A at A level Maths plus a BTEC Diplomaawarded with a minimum of 100 credits atDistinction and 20 credits at Merit

Welsh Baccalaureate (including A-levels)Pass and AA in Maths and Physics at A-level

Scottish Advanced HighersAAA Maths and Physics

Irish Leaving CertificateAAAAB including AAA in Maths, Applied Maths andPhysics all at Higher Level

International BaccalaureateThirty-seven points including Maths and Physics atHigher Level

International qualificationsPlease visit www.manchester.ac.uk/internationalfor information on the individual countryqualifications that we accept.

Other subjectsGeneral Studies is welcomed, but will not form partof the standard offer.

English language requirementTOEFL 550/220 computer based or 80 internet based with a minimum of 20 in each component.

IELTS overall score of 6 with no component less than 5.5.

Direct entry to the second yearIf you have completed learning equivalent to our firstyear, you could be considered for direct entry to oursecond year. Each case is considered individually. Inorder to be considered for second year direct entry,please email transcripts of all coursework, examresults and pre-university qualifications (if applicable)to [email protected].


MEng or BEng?We offer a range of degree courses at both MEng(Master of Engineering) or BEng (Bachelor ofEngineering) level. The most obvious differencebetween these is duration: four or five years forMEng, and three years for BEng. Transfer betweenBEng and MEng is possible and subject to satisfactoryprogress. The first three years cover most of theengineering science whereas the fourth year looks inmore depth at particular applications. But what elsecould influence your choice?

Many students studying for a degree in engineeringaim to become Chartered Engineers, and accreditedMEng courses give you the required educational baseto achieve this. Accredited BEng courses require youto complete further study in order to achieve thesame status. This could take the form of full or part-time postgraduate study, distance learning, orwork-based learning.

Professional accreditationOur courses are accredited by the following relevantprofessional bodies:

• Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)

• IMechE

• Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE)

• Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS)

Teaching and learning What teaching methods do we use?

Course unit structures may comprise:

• Lectures

• Tutorial and/or example classes

• Laboratory work

• Studio design work

Lectures

These are fundamental to our teaching process. Weprovide course notes in both printed and electronicformat, the latter via our e-learning system. Yourlecturers deliver material using a range of teachingmedia, such as PowerPoint, black/white boards, videoand demonstrations. You will need to take notes tosupplement those provided by the lecturer and youare encouraged to ask questions during lectures.There is usually time at the end of lectures to talk tothe lecturer directly, or possibly to arrange a meetingif further discussion is needed.

Example classes

These are interspersed with the lectures atappropriate points and help you to understand keytopics. As with lectures, your entire class will bepresent as lecturers together with students, workthrough specific examples. You can have the chanceto prepare for discussion, your own solutions beforethe class. Of course, you are encouraged toparticipate; asking questions in front of a largeaudience is an important skill for you to learn andbecome confident in.

‘Clickers’ may sometimes be used: this is an in-classvoting system that enables students to respond tospecific questions. Feedback from this system is usedby lecturers to judge the level of understanding ofthe class.

Laboratory exercises

Lab classes are designed to give students hands-onexperience of practical work as well as to emphasisethe material covered in the course.

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Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil EngineeringUndergraduate brochure 2015

Personal tutorials

You will meet your personal tutor on a weekly basisin a tutor group of no more than six students. Thesesessions will cover a mixture of transferable skills,pastoral care and specific help on material covered inlectures.

Project work

This runs through all years of your course.

A substantial feature of your third year is theindividual research project, which allows you to showinnovation and application of the knowledge andtechniques you have learned.

In your fourth year, you will work on a team designproject with four or five other students and academicand industry tutors.

We also use online resources, computational labs anddemonstrations.

What ICE saysDuring your study of Civil Engineering (or a relatedtopic) you will be given information aboutprofessional qualifications of Chartered andIncorporated Engineers through ICE. ICE offersguidance and support during your academic study onhow to become professionally qualified later in yourcareer and the steps you should take during youracademic study.

The University of Manchester maintains close linkswith ICE. You should take full advantage of any talksor meetings arranged by ICE as they will help in areassuch as networking and your CV.

You should also take advantage of the free studentmembership of ICE by joining on line atwww.ice.org.uk/students. If you require moreinformation about ICE in the North West pleasecontact [email protected].

Course details


Aerospace Engineering

Aerospace engineers are involved in every part of thedesign, development, testing and operation ofaerospace vehicles and systems.

The aerospace industry offers exciting careeropportunities at the forefront of new technologies. Itis the largest industry in the UK manufacturing sectorand serves the global economy. Major aerospaceprojects are massive in scale and involve internationalpartnerships across a range of products from largecommercial airliners, next-generation military aircraft,satellites, launch vehicles and interplanetary probes.There is also an emerging market for smaller UAVsdeveloped by smaller, agile start-up companies.

What will you study?

We offer a range of innovative degree courses inaerospace engineering that are supported byexcellent computational and experimental facilities.All courses have been developed in consultation withindustry. This ensures that they cover the fundamentals,as well as the key aerospace disciplines that arerelevant to graduate careers and cutting-edgeresearch.

Particular strengths of a Manchester aerospaceengineer are team working, creativity andadaptability. This stems from the breadth ofeducation and the range of enquiry-based learningthat you receive.

Core degrees are the three-year BEng and the four-year MEng in Aerospace Engineering. There areMEng courses for students who wish to gainindustrial experience or study more management.

The first year of study establishes a strategic overviewof the main areas of aerospace engineering andintroduces you to underlying science andmathematics. The second and third years develop thekey technical knowledge and understanding that youneed for entry into industry or postgraduate study.For MEng students, the fourth year providesspecialisation in advanced engineering andconsolidates practical experience via an advancedaerospace design project.

Throughout all years at Manchester, there is a strongfocus on the attainment of transferable skills, such asanalysis, design, modelling, organisation andproblem-solving. This enables you to pursue careersin a range of high technology fields after graduation,as engineers, consultants, managers, or researchers.

For more information about course content see:www.manchester.ac.uk/mace. These may not bethe exact units on offer for current entry as weendeavour to ensure the content of our coursesreflects the latest research on industrialdevelopments, to ensure our graduates have themost appropriate skill-set to prepare them for theirfuture careers.

Courses in Aerospace EngineeringMEng (Hons) Aerospace Engineering

MEng (Hons) Aerospace Engineering with Management

MEng (Hons) Aerospace Engineering with Industrial Experience

BEng (Hons) Aerospace Engineering

Project work and enquiry-based learningA wide range of project-based and enquiry-basedtasks are set over the duration of our courses. These are intended to develop different aspects ofindividual learning, set on the principle that studentslearn better by ‘doing’ than by just listening orwatching. There are two main approaches, namelygroup-centric and student-centric, which address theneeds to cooperate and collaborate with others, andto exhibit self-motivation and professionalcommitment, respectively.



Students who enrol on to this course areeligible to become Student Affiliates of the Royal Aeronautical Society.

Civil EngineeringCivil engineering is about creating, improving andprotecting the environment in which we live. Civilengineers are responsible for the design, projectmanagement and construction of everything in thebuilt environment—bridges, roads, canals, hospitals,schools, airports, power stations, water supply,cleaning dirty water, railways, etc. Civil engineers arevery much concerned with environmental andsustainability issues in flooding, renewable energyand regeneration, in nuclear waste disposal, sewagetreatment and pollution generally.


A course in civil engineering is vocational andprovides the academic base for a professional careerin the planning, design, construction andmanagement of major projects. The skills learnt inour Civil Engineering courses produce an ability toanalyse and solve complex problems by a rigorousapproach and to communicate the results effectively.The degree leads to many other career opportunities;our graduates are in demand from all sectors ofindustry, professions, commerce and public services.

We aim to teach you to aspire to succeed in life notjust in work, but also as a person who cares aboutothers and the environment in which we all live.

Civil and structural engineers work on the design and construction of buildings, energy systems,bridges, transport systems, dams, tunnels, docks and harbours. They supply water and fuel andprovide the infrastructure to clean up the wasteproducts of our society.

They use scientific disciplines such as mathematics,physics, chemistry, geology, metallurgy and appliedmechanics. They communicate by calculations,quantities, specifications, drawings, letters, reportsand making technical and commercial presentations.They plan, budget, estimate and control finances,and work and interact with many people from othertrades, professions and businesses.

All our Civil and Structural Engineering courses havea compulsory field course, currently in Year 2, in theEnglish Lake District. There is an additional costassociated with the field course and you will benotified of this well in advance.

For more information about course content see:www.manchester.ac.uk/mace. These may not be the exact units offered for current entry as weendeavour to ensure the content of our coursesreflects the latest research and industrialdevelopments, to ensure our graduates have themost appropriate skill-set to prepare them for theirfuture careers.

‘Civil Engineering’ was originally the termused for engineering that did not have anymilitary applications. Today it is one of thebase disciplines of the constructionindustry.

The world can only support one billionpeople. The fact that it is supportingalmost seven billion is in part due to theresilience of nature, in part due to civilengineering.

David Bellamy


Course details

Courses in Civil EngineeringMEng (Hons) Civil Engineering

MEng (Hons) Civil and Structural Engineering

MEng (Hons) Civil Engineering (Enterprise)

MEng (Hons) Civil Engineering with IndustrialExperience

BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering

The first and second years are common with those ofthe MEng course in Civil Engineering. Subject tosatisfactory performance, it is possible to transfer toone of the MEng courses.

Mechanical EngineeringMechanical engineering is a broad discipline that has a strong impact on our everyday life. Automobiles,jet engines, trains, ships, power stations, water-supplypumps, air-conditioning equipment, home appliances,life-saving medical equipment and implants, andmachines of all conceivable shapes, sizes andcomplexity are all created by mechanical engineers.

The economic impact of mechanical engineering isenormous and there is no major economy that doesnot have a dynamic and vibrant mechanicalengineering industry. It is a highly challenging topicto study that stretches students of the highestintellect. A professional mechanical engineer needs asound understanding of the engineering science,strong analytical skills, practical judgement, creativityand the ability to work with and manage people.


Our Mechanical Engineering courses aim to producegraduates that are highly valued by employers. Thecourses are delivered in a variety of teaching styles thatreflect the diversity of topics covered in modernmechanical engineering and also the range of skills andexpertise that a professional engineer must develop.

In addition to the main mechanical engineeringdegree courses, the School offers courses inmechanical engineering combined withmanagement, and mechanical engineering with ayear’s industrial experience,. There is commonalityacross these courses, especially in years one and two,so transfer between courses is possible.

For more information about course content pleasesee: www.manchester.ac.uk/mace. These may notbe the exact units offered for current entry, as weendeavour to ensure the content of our coursesreflects the latest research and industrydevelopments, to ensure our graduates have themost appropriate skill-set to prepare them for futurecareers.

Degree courses in Mechanical EngineeringMEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering

MEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering with Management

MEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering with Industrial Experience

BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering /Mechanical Engineering with Management



What is your current role?

I am currently a design engineer on CameronInternational’s rotational engineering programme.The programme is split into five placements based inour Leeds plant, each lasting three months, workingin different product groups, from engineering toproduction, followed by two overseas placements inGermany and the US to meet key personnel and geta feel of the global Cameron products and brand.

Day-to-day roles include creating 3D models and 2Ddetail drawings, engineering procedures, bills ofmaterials, design files, new engineering initiativesand product development. I have gained contacts inmost areas of the business, including Engineering,Quality, Purchasing, Aftermarket, ProjectManagement and Production.

How has your career progressed sincegraduation? What was your first role and howdid you secure that position?

Straight after graduation I took up a four-monthproject internship at a small engineering firm justoutside Manchester. After coming across my CV ona job website, they invited me to interview andoffered me the position a few days later. Eventhough this wasn’t my chosen career path, I realisedI would get an opportunity to work in anengineering environment where I could develop andapply the knowledge gained during my study atManchester.

I first heard of my current employer, CameronInternational, at a graduate recruitment fair inManchester. Their graduate rotational developmentprogramme sounded like a great opportunity, withthe chance to develop in different areas and learn a variety of skills. First I submitted my CV andanswered a few competency questions online.

How has your qualification helped you in your career?

My degree gave me a great insight into thedevelopment and enactment of creative ideas, and the theoretical and practical knowledge whichforms the foundation of what I do in my current job. The presentation and influencing skills I gainedare developing into effective management skills. In addition my roles as a peer mentor and studentambassador at the University have contributed to my teamwork, interpersonal, organisation andcommunication skills.

What advice would you give to someonethinking of pursuing a similar career route?What skills/experience are necessary?

It’s beneficial to gain some industrial experienceduring study to help you choose the right careerpath, gain insight into what engineering involves in the real world and improve your chances ofgetting a job right after study. Experience anddetermination play a significant role when applyingfor any job so always try to identify your keycompetencies in areas such as engineeringknowledge, teamwork, problem awareness andsolving, presentations, and communication. These skills and competencies form the basicgroundwork to a successful engineer.

What did you most enjoy about your time at Manchester?

University life proved to be rewarding as well aschallenging. I had the opportunity to work andinteract with students from different backgrounds.This helped me to improve my teamwork andinterpersonal relations. I also enjoyed working as a student ambassador; this role gave me the chance to develop myself as an individual and a community member.


Alumni profiles

Akinola Afolabi

MEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering Graduate Design Engineer at Cameron International


Alumni profiles

Please summarise your career progressionsince graduation and detail your first relevantrole in the area in which you work now andhow you secured that position.

After graduating from the University, I worked asan architect and took part in a projectmanagement team on several prominent projectsin Bahrain for a year. I worked in a small firm,which guaranteed a greater responsibility onprojects I took part in. Securing the position, in myopinion, was greatly influenced by havingconfidence in what I do, especially with working inproject teams of much more experiencedcolleagues than myself.

How has your degree helped you in your career?

My degree helped in terms of getting to know thearchitecture profession well, and the way our studiotime was structured was very much similar to thereal world, so I can safely say I was well equippedfor what I was about to get myself into. In terms ofpersonal skills, my degree helped me withconfidence building, proposing and sellinginnovative ideas and designs, and dealing withcriticism.

What is your greatest achievement to date?

I don't think I could name an achievement per se,but to me, last year as a whole was anachievement. Playing a prominent role in the firm,simultaneously pursuing my studies in a PGCert in

Quantity Surveying and Financial Management,and establishing with a group of friends ForBahrain, a very successful charity organisation toprovide for the less fortunate in Bahrain.

What advice would you give to someonethinking of pursuing a similar career route and what skills/experience do you consider to be necessary?

Take initiative in learning, innovating, etc. Beingthe youngest and least experienced in theworkplace doesn't mean you don't have anythingnew to bring to the table. In fact, all workplacesare looking for new, fresh ideas and employees.


The University was an experience in itself, thelibrary, the city so full of life. Manchester has somuch to offer for students; everyday is anadventure.

Why would you recommend the University as a good place to study?

Manchester is one of the most prestigiousuniversities in the UK and Europe; it gives you theultimate ‘student experience’. It has such a hugenetwork of social and professional organisations,giving students opportunities to get involved inabsolutely anything. Last but not least, theUniversity is a melting pot of so many ages, racesand cultures. Students should definitely takeadvantage.

Sara Abdulla

BA (Hons) Architecture and MSc Management of ProjectsArchitect at Salah Al Kooheji Consultancy


Alumni profiles

What is your current role and your mainresponsibilities?

I work in delivery of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR)engineered-to-order products from their Halewoodand special vehicles workshop. This involves theleadership of suppliers, designers, productionoperatives and dealer network to ensure premiumcustomer expectations are met when choosing a JLR product.

Please summarise your overall career sincegraduation, but in particular, what was your first relevant role to the area in which you work now and how did you secure that position?

I graduated, then started at JLR the followingSeptember as a paint shop production engineer. Ihave been in my current role since.

How has your qualification helped you in your career?

The mechanical engineering and process elementsof my course helped with the role in paint shop; myfluid mechanics and manufacturing dissertation gave me a good submersion in the basics ofmanufacturing projects. I also volunteered on theManchester Leadership Programme, which gave mean excellent insight into what makes a leader. Thishas been crucial to my current role within JLR as alaunch leader. The prestige of The University ofManchester also impresses employers.

What is your greatest achievement to date?

The launch of Range Rover Evoque in July 2011. Ideveloped a significant part of the product and it’sfantastic to see these vehicles on the road 12months later.

What advice would you give to someonethinking of pursuing a similar career route and what skills/experience do you consider tobe necessary?

Complete every task to the best of your ability,always look to be developing yourself and take ontasks that move you out of your comfort zone.


It’s a great city with great students, and theUniversity has some very influential lecturers.

Why would you recommend the University as a good place to study?

There is a good student network and sense ofcommunity, and a campus that encourages you to assist and coach others.

Vincent J Mulgrew

BEng(Hons) Mechanical EngineeringProcess Engineer at Jaguar Cars Ltd

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This brochure is prepared well in advance ofthe academic year to which it relates.Consequently, details of courses may varywith staff changes. The University thereforereserves the right to make such alterationsto courses as are found to be necessary. Ifthe University makes an offer of a place, it isessential that you are aware of the currentterms on which the offer is based. If you arein any doubt, please feel free to ask forconfirmation of the precise position for theyear in question, before you accept the offer.

For further information about our courses,or about qualifications, please contact us at:

AddressStudent Recruitment and Admissions Office School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil EngineeringThe University of ManchesterPariser Building Sackville Street Manchester M13 9PLUnited Kingdom

tel +44 (0)161 306 9210email [email protected]

All information is subject to change so, forthe most up-to-date course information,please visit our website: www.manchester.ac.uk/mace


Contact details

Royal Charter Number RC000797

School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil EngineeringThe University of ManchesterPariser Building Sackville Street Manchester M13 9PLUnited Kingdom

tel +44 (0)161 306 9210email [email protected]

mechanical, aerospace and civil engineering

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