Expand+How and when to Apply
How to Apply
Application for admission to full-time undergraduate and sandwich courses at the University should normally be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). Full information can be obtained...

Hide-How and when to Apply
How to Apply
Application for admission to full-time undergraduate and sandwich courses at the University should normally be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). Full information can be obtained from the UCAS website at: www.ucas.com/students.

When to Apply
UCAS will start processing applications for entry in Autumn 2020 from 1 September 2019.

Advisory closing date: 15 January 2020 (18:00).

Late applications are, in practice, accepted by UCAS throughout the remainder of the application cycle, but you should understand that they are considered by institutions at their discretion, and there can be no guarantee that they will be given the same full level of consideration as applications received by the advisory closing date.

Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as is consistent with having made a careful and considered choice of institutions and courses.

The Institution code name for Queen's is QBELF and the institution code is Q75.

Expand+Entrance requirements

A level requirements
BBB including Mathematics and at least one from Physics (preferred), Biology, Chemistry, Further Mathematics, Technology and Design or Double Award Applied Science.

Irish leaving certificate requireme...

Hide-Entrance requirements

A level requirements
BBB including Mathematics and at least one from Physics (preferred), Biology, Chemistry, Further Mathematics, Technology and Design or Double Award Applied Science.

Irish leaving certificate requirements
H3H3H3H3H4H4/H3H3H3H3H3 including Higher Level grade H3 in Mathematics and Physics (preferred), Biology or Chemistry

BTEC Extended diploma
A relevant BTEC Extended Diploma with 100 credits at Distinction and 80 credits at Merit. Distinctions will be required in stipulated relevant units.

Access/Foundation Course
Successful completion of Access Course with 80% in each module.

Must be a relevant Access Course including two modules in Mathematics (Level 3) and two modules in Physics (Level 3).

BTEC Higher Diploma
Those with good grades in a relevant Higher National Diploma will be considered on their individual merits for entry to Stage 2.

Note
Applicants not offering Physics at A-level should have a minimum of a grade C in GCSE Physics or GCSE Double Award Science grades CC.

Option to transfer
Transfers between BEng and MEng may be possible at the end of Stage 2.

Selection Criteria

In addition, to the entrance requirements above, it is essential that you read our guidance notes on 'How we choose our students' prior to submitting your UCAS application.

How we choose our students

Applications are dealt with centrally by the Admissions and Access Service rather than by the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Once your application has been processed by UCAS and forwarded to Queen's, an acknowledgement is normally sent within two weeks of its receipt at the University.

Selection is on the basis of the information provided on your UCAS form, which is considered by a member of administrative staff from the Admissions and Access Service and, if appropriate, the Selector from the School. Decisions are made on an ongoing basis and will be notified to you via UCAS.

Applicants for the BEng Honours in Mechanical Engineering must be able to satisfy the University's General Entrance Requirement; in addition, it should be noted that a performance at GCSE is important. For last year's entry, applicants for this BEng programme must have had, or been able to achieve, a minimum of 5 GCSE passes at grade C or above to include Mathematics. Applicants not offering Physics at A-level require GCSE Physics at grade C /Double Award Science at grades CC or above. Selectors will also check that any specific subject and grade requirements in terms of A-level can be fulfilled (see Entry Requirements).

Offers are normally made on the basis of 3 A-levels. Two subjects at A-level plus two at AS are also considered. Applicants are not normally asked to attend for interview.

The offer for repeat candidates is normally set one grade higher than those taking A-levels for the first time. Grades may be held from the previous year.

A-level General Studies and A-level Critical Thinking are not normally considered as part of a three A-level offer and, although they may be excluded where an applicant is taking 4 A-level subjects, the grade achieved could be taken into account if necessary in August/September.

Applicants offering two A-levels and one BTEC Subsidiary Diploma/National Extended Certificate (or equivalent qualification) will also be considered. Offers will be made in terms of performance in individual BTEC units rather than the overall BTEC grade(s) awarded. Please note that a maximum of one BTEC Subsidiary Diploma/National Extended Certificate (or equivalent) will be counted as part of an applicant’s portfolio of qualifications. The normal GCSE profile will be expected.

Applicants offering other qualifications, such as Edexcel BTEC Extended Diploma, Higher National Certificates or Diplomas in a relevant subject, will also be considered.

The same GCSE profile is usually expected of those candidates taking a BTEC Extended Diploma and must include both GCSE Mathematics grade C and GCSE Physics grade C/Double Award Science at grade CC or better. A relevant BTEC Extended Diploma in Engineering (180 credits at Level 3) is required for entry to this degree and must include Level 3 Mathematics for Technicians and Level 3 Further Mathematics for Technicians. Where offers are made, these are currently conditional on successful completion of the Extended Diploma with 100 credits at Distinction and 80 credits at Merit, with Distinctions required in four specified units, including Mathematics for Technicians and Further Mathematics for Technicians.

Applicants offering a Higher National Certificate (HNC) will require an appropriate GCSE profile, which must include grade C or better in GCSE Mathematics. A relevant HNC in Engineering is required, including Analytical Methods. Where offers are made for Stage 1 entry, these are currently conditional on successful completion of this HNC with 8 Merits, including Merits in three specified units i.e. Analytical Methods, Mechanical Principles and Engineering Science.

For those offering a Higher National Diploma (HND), some flexibility may be allowed in terms of GCSE profile, but this must include grade C or better in GCSE Mathematics. To be eligible for an offer, the grades obtained in the first year of the HND must allow the overall offer to be achievable. A relevant HND in Engineering is required for admission to this degree and offers for Stage 1 entry are currently conditional on successful completion of this HND with 9 Merits and 7 Passes overall, with Merits required in Analytical Methods, Mechanical Principles and Engineering Science. Applicants with sufficiently high grades in the first year of a relevant HND in Engineering may be considered for entry to Stage 2 and, where offers are made, these are currently conditional on successful completion of this HND with 12 Merits and 4 Passes overall, with Merits required in Analytical Methods, Further Analytical Methods, Mechanical Principles, Engineering Science, Fluid Mechanics and Engineering Thermodynamics/Heat Transfer and Combustion.

Applicants offering a suitable Access/Certificate in Foundation Studies course will be considered individually on their own merits. The Access course should have substantial Mathematics and Science (i.e. Physics and/or Chemistry) content at level 3. Where offers were made last year, these were conditional on successful completion of this Access course with 80% in each module.

Applicants offering a combination of Scottish Advanced Highers and Scottish Highers, the International Baccalaureate or Irish Leaving Certificate, will also be considered.

The information provided in the personal statement section and the academic reference together with predicted grades are noted but these are not the final deciding factors in whether or not a conditional offer can be made. However, they may be reconsidered in a tie break situation in August.

If you are made an offer then you will be invited to an Open Day, which is usually held on a Saturday in late February or early- mid March. This will allow you the opportunity to visit the University and to find out more about the degree programme of your choice; the facilities on offer. It also gives you a flavour of the academic and social life at Queen's.

If you cannot find the information you need here, please contact the University Admissions and Access Service here, giving full details of your qualifications and educational background.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

For information on international qualification equivalents, please check the specific information for your country.

English Language Requirements

An IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each test component or an equivalent acceptable qualification, details of which are available at: http://go.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs

If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.
•Academic English: an intensive English language and study skills course for successful university study at degree level
•Pre-sessional English: a short intensive academic English course for students starting a degree programme at Queen's University Belfast and who need to improve their English.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS - FOUNDATION AND INTERNATIONAL YEAR ONE PROGRAMMES

INTO Queen's offers a range of academic and English language programmes to help prepare international students for undergraduate study at Queen's University. You will learn from experienced teachers in a dedicated international study centre on campus, and will have full access to the University's world-class facilities.

These programmes are designed for international students who do not meet the required academic and English language requirements for direct entry.
•Foundation
The INTO progression course suited to this programme is
http://www.intostudy.com/en-gb/universities/queens-university-belfast/courses/international-foundation-in-engineering-and-science.

Expand+Overview

Mechanical Engineering is most often associated with large machines such as motorcycles, Formula 1 cars or aircraft, but virtually all man-made products have mechanical features that are designed and developed by mechanical engineers. It ...

Hide-Overview

Mechanical Engineering is most often associated with large machines such as motorcycles, Formula 1 cars or aircraft, but virtually all man-made products have mechanical features that are designed and developed by mechanical engineers. It is the broadest of the engineering professions as it is not linked to a specific industry, and its graduates have some of the most challenging, rewarding and diverse career opportunities of any discipline. These range from designing the latest road vehicles and developing new sustainable forms of materials, through to the search for alternative energy sources and the exploitation of nanotechnology.

Mechanical Engineering Degree highlights

We put emphasis on hands on, project based learning, and invest heavily in our state-of-the-art facilities and flexible project spaces to support this activity.

Global Opportunities
•The School offers extensive opportunities to gain valuable overseas experience, either during the summer vacation or by taking a year out from the degree programme. We participate in the IAESTE and Erasmus student exchange programmes, which enable students to obtain work experience in companies and universities throughout the world. In recent years students have worked in countries such as Brazil, Finland, USA, France, Iceland, Argentina, Uruguay, Japan, South Africa and Portugal. The Study USA Initiative offers pre-final year students the possibility of working for a year at a college in the USA, providing an excellent opportunity to gain familiarity with international business techniques. Our employability programme supports activities such as this, providing help and advice with preparation of CVs, interview skills and providing a point of contact for the duration of placements.

Professional Accreditations
•BEng and MEng degrees are accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

Industry Links
•The School has strong links with both local and international engineering employers, and has longstanding relationships with companies such as Bombardier, Caterpillar, ExxonMobil, Ford, Jaguar Land Rover, Lotus, McLaren F1, Michelin and Rolls Royce. The curriculum is heavily informed by industry representatives who sit on an advisory board within the School.

Career Development
•Students are offered an optional Engineering Leadership Programme and a range of Employability Development workshops.
http://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/SchoolofMechanicalandAerospaceEngineering/Study/CareerSupport/EngineeringLeadershipProgramme/
•Spend up to 12 months getting hands on experience of a real engineering environment with a relevant company. Students have gained work placements with organisations such as Airbus UK, Cummins Turbo Technologies, Lockheed Martin, Mercedes Benz High Performance Engines, Nacco Materials Handling Ltd, and Red Bull Technology Ltd. Students also have the opportunity to work or study outside the UK through programmes such as IAESTE, Erasmus, Study Abroad and Study USA. In recent years, students have undertaken placements in companies in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Finland, France, Japan, Malaysia and the USA.

World Class Facilities
•The School has a wide range of experimental facilities to support aerodynamics, structures, materials and manufacturing teaching. It also operates a flight simulator and runs an annual flight laboratory course.

Expand+Stage 1
Students are introduced to core mechanical engineering principles and mathematics, and they undertake a team-based project, designed to introduce them to the concept of professional engineering practice. This is supported through modules in ...

Hide-Stage 1
Students are introduced to core mechanical engineering principles and mathematics, and they undertake a team-based project, designed to introduce them to the concept of professional engineering practice. This is supported through modules in engineering design, electrical engineering and a dedicated laboratory programme. BEng students who perform well during Stage 1 may be invited to transfer to the MEng degree in Stage 2.

Stage 1 compulsory modules are as follows:

Introduction to Mechanical Engineering 1
Laboratory Programme 1
Mathematics 1
Mechanics of Materials 1
Thermo and Fluid Mechanics 1
Dynamic Systems 1
Engineering Design 1

Stage 2
Stage 2 builds on the knowledge already gained with a series of more advanced engineering science subjects including dynamics, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics and strength of materials.
Mathematics and computing focus more on their application to engineering than basic theory, while modules in manufacturing technology and engineering design provide hands-on practical experience of manufacturing processes and computer-aided design. Students are also introduced to the legal aspects of engineering practice in the professional studies module, and are given the skills required for future work placements and careers in the employability module.

Stage 2 compulsory modules are as follows:

Professional Studies 2
Mechanics of Materials 2
Dynamics 2
Thermodynamics & Fluid Mechanics 2
Design and Manufacturing 2
Maths and Computing 2
Manufacturing Technology 2

Stage 2 Optional Course
Employability 2

Stage 3
Placement Year

Stage 4
Optional themes in energy, materials, manufacturing and computer-aided engineering in Stage 3, give students the opportunity to tailor courses and projects to their particular interests.

Students take core courses in engineering science and professional studies along with chosen theme courses, and also complete a major individual project, which puts their engineering skills into practice in solving a technological problem.

Courses are outlined below:

Professional Studies 3
Heat Transfer & Combustion 3B
Project 3B
Mechanics of Materials 3B
Engineering Dynamics 3B
Design for Manufacture 3
Production Management 3

Expand+The way in which students are assessed will vary according to the learning objectives of each module. Most modules are assessed through a combination of coursework and end of semester examinations. Some modules [e.g. final year Honours Project module...

Hide-The way in which students are assessed will vary according to the learning objectives of each module. Most modules are assessed through a combination of coursework and end of semester examinations. Some modules [e.g. final year Honours Project module] are assessed solely through project work or written assignments. Details of how each module is assessed are shown in the Student Handbook which is provided to all students during their first year induction.

Feedback

As students progress through their course at Queen’s they will receive general and specific feedback about their work from a variety of sources including lecturers, module co-ordinators, placement supervisors, personal tutors, advisers of study and peers. University students are expected to engage with reflective practice and to use this approach to improve the quality of their work. Feedback may be provided in a variety of forms including:

Feedback provided via formal written comments and marks relating to work that you, as an individual or as part of a group, have submitted.

Face to face comment. This may include occasions when you make use of the lecturers’ advertised “office hours” to help you to address a specific query.

Placement employer comments or references.

Online or emailed comment.

General comments or question and answer opportunities at the end of a lecture, seminar or tutorial.

Pre-submission advice regarding the standards you should aim for and common pitfalls to avoid. In some instances, this may be provided in the form of model answers or exemplars which you can review in your own time.

Feedback and outcomes from practical classes.

Comment and guidance provided by staff from specialist support services such as, Careers, Employability and Skills or the Learning Development Service.

Once you have reviewed your feedback, you will be encouraged to identify and implement further improvements to the quality of your work.

Facilities

The school offers a range of state-of-the-art facilities to support student activity and project based learning:

Design Studio

Computer Based Learning

Flexible Project Environments

Teaching Laboratories

Expand+Career Prospects

Introduction
A degree in Mechanical Engineering from Queen’s will assist you in developing the core skills and employment-related experiences that are valued by employers, professional organisations and academic institutions al...

Hide-Career Prospects

Introduction
A degree in Mechanical Engineering from Queen’s will assist you in developing the core skills and employment-related experiences that are valued by employers, professional organisations and academic institutions alike. Our graduates are well regarded by many employers (local, national and international) and the versatility of Mechanical Engineering graduates makes them well suited to a future career in a wide variety of fields.

Graduates are greatly prized because of their high level of numeracy and analytical ability, their well-developed communication skills and their leadership potential.

Although the vast majority of our graduates are interested in pursuing careers in Mechanical Engineering where the average graduate starting salary is £23,993, a significant number develop careers in a wide range of other sectors. The following is a list of the major career sectors (and some starting salaries) that have attracted our graduates in recent years:

Engineering professionals - £19,665-£26,890
Information and communication technology professionals - £19,360-£26,625
Teaching professionals (secondary and primary school teachers) - £19,195-£23,000
Business and finance associated professionals - £15,030 - £28,175

Alumni Success
Many of our former graduates have risen to the top of their fields and include many famous figures; for example:

Michael McKay: Flight Operations Director for ESA Mars and Lunar Missions, European Space Agency

Michael Ryan: Vice President and General Manager, Bombardier Aerospace, Belfast

Bob Bell: Technical Director of Mercedes GP.

Air Commodore David Case: Royal Air Force.

Degree plus award for extra-curricular skills

In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Degree Plus. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.