Mechanical Engineering

Meeting the needs of the industry - and you

Our Mechanical Engineering degree will give you the multi-disciplinary skills you'll need to succeed. And you'll have some amazing opportunities.

Employers are increasingly looking for skilled engineers with a broader knowledge of mechanical and electrical engineering. So we have developed our degrees to match that flexibility. 

All engineering students take the same core modules in the first year to give you an essential engineering foundation. Then, at the end of your first year, you’ll have the opportunity to switch your course.

You can choose either our BEng (Hons) Electrical and Electronic Engineering or BEng (Hons) Motorsport Engineering degree should you realise your passion falls within this area. Or you can continue on our BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering.

Specialist facilities

You’ll have access to excellent labs and facilities, including:

• Additive manufacturing lab with various 3D-print technology including fused-deposition modelling, stereolithography and polymer
• Manufacturing automation with programmable logic controllers, pneumatics and a smart factory
• Materials testing lab with a hardness testing machine and optical and digital microscopes that allow 3D image reconstruction and measurement
• Dynamic testing lab with fatigue and impact testing equipment
• Wind tunnel and thermodynamics where you’ll test the aerodynamics of objects - and control and test the performance of our very own jet engine
• Mechanical workshop with traditional lathes and milling machines, plus more modern Computerised Numerical Control (CNC) equipment
• Makerspace where you can turn your ideas into a prototype

Challenge yourself

We offer inspiring opportunities for you to take part in high-profile events such as:

• The British Model Flying Association Payload Challenge - competing against national and international teams to design, build and test a radio-controlled aircraft
• The IMechE Railway Challenge in collaboration with Alstom - in 2023 our students won five of the individual challenges, securing second place overall
• The Fantasy Wings programme - a course aimed at helping women and BAME people into the aviation industry

Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.

Assessment methods

During your studies, you will be assessed using a mixture of coursework assessment, examinations and professional presentations.

Placement opportunities

You can give yourself a real career advantage by choosing to spend a year on an optional industry placement. The industrial year takes place between the second and final stages of your degree and you will find there is a significant number of SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises), large, national and international companies looking for placement students each year.

We offer a full range of support to students who are keen to enhance their employability through internships and placements while studying. For more information, please get in touch with our Careers and Employment Service.

Your teaching team

The teaching team has a wide range of experience across a variety of sectors which they bring into their teaching and research. They include:

• Martin Sole: Martin has 30 years of experience in the aerospace and automotive sectors, having been a Service Engineer travelling throughout Europe, Mexico, India and Russia
• John Thorley: John has 25 years of experience in a variety of management and improvement roles in sectors including aerospace, food, power and automotive
• Dr Yiling Lu: Yiling carries out research in mechanical engineering with main applications in bio-engineering. He teaches on a range of modules including Computer Simulation and Engineering Design
• Dr Jianfei Xie: Jianfei teaches and has a research interest in the area of fluid dynamics, particularly in the aerodynamics and structures of aeroplanes
• Professor Zhiyin Yang: Zhiyin is a Professor of Aerospace Engineering at the University. He conducts world-leading research and has published over 100 scientific papers. His teaching covers Thermofluids advanced computational fluid dynamics

Engineering is a part of so many different industries, and completing an engineering degree will give you access to a wide range of careers. World-famous companies, including Rolls-Royce, Alstom and Toyota, are right on the University’s doorstep. Our close links with these companies offer opportunities ranging from placements to extra-curricular activities. And as a BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering graduate, you will be ideally placed to make the most of many career opportunities in the city.

This course prepares you for careers at the cutting edge of mechanical engineering design, motorsport or automotive design and the applications of advanced materials. You could move into roles in design, production or manufacturing in a variety of industries including aerospace, automotive and rail.

You could also take your studies to postgraduate level with our MSc Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering or MSc Strategic Engineering Management.

2025 entry

These are the typical qualification requirements for September 2025 entry.

Contextual offers may apply to students who meet certain criteria.

2025/26

Further information about our fees and support you may be entitled to.

Additional costs and optional extras

Additional information about your studies

Teaching hours

Like most universities, we operate extended teaching hours at the University of Derby, so contact time with your lecturers and tutors could be anytime between 9am and 9pm. Your timetable will usually be available on the website 24 hours after enrolment on to your course.

Course updates

The information provided on this page is correct at the time of publication but course content, costs and other individual course details do change from time to time and are updated as often as possible, so please do check these pages again when making your final decision to apply for a course. Any updated course details will also be confirmed to you at application, enrolment and in your offer letter.

If you are thinking about transferring onto this course (into the second year for example), you should contact the programme leader for the relevant course information as modules may vary from those shown on this page.

Other courses you might like

• Mechanical Engineering with Foundation Year BEng (Hons)
• Motorsport Engineering BEng (Hons)

Contact us

If you need any more information from us, eg on courses, accommodation, applying, car parking, fees or funding, please contact us and we will do everything we can to help you.