Mechanical Engineering with Foundation Year

Our Mechanical Engineering graduates can look forward to excellent future prospects. Offering high-quality teaching and plenty of practical experience – and in an ideal location with world-famous companies on our doorstep – the BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering will give you the edge in your career.

• Not sure on the type of engineering you want to study? Spend the foundation year and year one of the degree covering all aspects of engineering and gain the multi-disciplinary skills and knowledge that employers are looking for
• In year two, you have the option to switch your degree to either BEng (Hons) Electrical and Electronic Engineering or BEng (Hons) Motorsport Engineering or continue studying on BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering
• Our BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering degree is professionally accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers on behalf of the Engineering Council – this recognition means you can be sure our courses meet professional standards
• Enjoy invaluable professional insights by taking an optional placement year between stages two and three of your studies
• Develop hands-on skills in solving real-world engineering problems
• Challenge yourself with exciting extra-curricular projects such as the IMechE Design Challenge and the British Model Flying Association Payload Challenge
• Broaden your perspectives through industrial visits and guest lectures by leading professionals
• Learn from our expert team of academic staff who have extensive industrial experience in engineering

Meeting the needs of the industry and you

Engineering is such a broad discipline, and you may not fully know which area of engineering is the right choice to study when beginning your studies.

Employers are increasingly seeking engineers with a broader knowledge of mechanical and electrical engineering to meet their environmental, consumer and business needs. As a University based in an advanced engineering city, it’s vital that we offer degrees with a strong focus on sustainability, electrification and automation.

With this in mind, we have developed our degrees to match the multi-disciplinary requirements that employers are shouting for. All engineering students will take the same core modules in the first year to gain an essential foundation in all aspects of engineering, giving you the chance to settle into your studies, and allowing you time to decide which area suits you best. At the end of your first year, you’ll have the opportunity to switch to 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 BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering.

Foundation Year - helping you to achieve more

Including a foundation year as part of your four-year study programme will give you a head start in your academic and professional life. The foundation year offers the chance to strengthen your skills, knowledge and confidence – with extensive support from our expert staff – before you advance to stage one of your honours degree. It could also be beneficial if you are planning a career change and want to get to grips with aspects of subjects which are new to you.

Our degrees with a foundation year are continuous, meaning that you won’t need to apply again once you have successfully completed the first year.

In-depth understanding

From computer aided design to structural analysis, vibration and dynamics to thermofluids, the BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering covers a broad spectrum of themes to put your career plans on a firm footing.

The course features a wide range of specialist modules such as Computational Fluid Dynamics, Advanced Material Design and Analysis, and Advanced Thermodynamics. You'll gain essential skills to solve problems such as how to read technical drawings and use 3D modelling software. Your existing mathematics knowledge will be built on for practical application within a mechanical engineering context.

You'll undertake an individual project which entails real experience of solving an engineering problem in industry. Prospective employers often regard this project as an excellent way to assess the skills of potential future employees.

Industry experience to set you apart

By choosing to spend a year on an optional industry placement, you can give yourself a real career advantage. 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, 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.

Use excellent facilities

You’ll have access to excellent labs and facilities whilst studying the degree. These include:

• Additive manufacturing lab: A technician supported facility, this lab is equipped with various 3D printed technology including fused-deposition modelling, stereolithography and polymer
• Manufacturing automation: This lab is equipped with programmable logic controllers, pneumatics and a smart factory. The equipment enables teaching centred on the fundamentals of both pneumatic and electro-pneumatic circuits
• Materials testing lab: This teaching space is where you will explore material properties, testing and measuring the characteristics and behaviour of materials. Equipment includes a hardness testing machine and optical and digital microscopes which allow 3D image reconstruction and measurement
• Dynamic testing lab: This specialist space supports further research in material testing. The room is equipped with fatigue and impact testing equipment
• Wind Tunnel and Thermodynamics: A practical area which includes a wind tunnel where you’ll test the aerodynamics of objects, and a jet engine where you can control and test its performance
• Mechanical workshop: Equipped with both traditional lathes and milling machines, alongside more modern Computerised Numerical Control (CNC) equipment

You'll also have access to our Makerspace. It’s a creative space where you can work on any project and turn your ideas into a prototype. All students across the University can use this space and it is a fantastic way of sharing knowledge and skills with one another. Equipment in the Makerspace includes a laser cutter, 3D printers, soldering irons, CNC machines and more.

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

Industry focused

The future is zero carbon. As a University based in an advanced engineering city, it’s important that we offer degrees with a strong focus on sustainability, electrification and automation. With this in mind, we have developed our degrees to match the multi-disciplinary requirements businesses are shouting for.

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.

Challenge yourself

We offer inspiring opportunities for you to take part in high-profile events such as the British Model Flying Association Payload Challenge, which is supported by BAE Systems and the Royal Aeronautical Society. The aim is to design, build, test and compete a radio-controlled aircraft against other national and international teams. 

Our students have also recently taken part in the IMechE Railway Challenge in collaboration with Alstom. During the competition they won both the autostop and refuelability challenge and were delighted to secure third place overall. 

Anselm Won, student team leader stated

"What I enjoyed during the challenge was being a part of the team and the communication between the team members, the atmosphere was always bright, we were able to joke around and have fun whilst working together for the challenge, especially the celebratory reactions we had when we fixed problems on the loco."

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.

You will be assessed using a mixture of coursework assessment, examinations and professional presentations. 

2025 entry

These are the typical qualification requirements for September 2025 entry.

Contextual offers may apply to students who meet certain criteria.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.0 (with at least 5.5 in each skills area)

2025/26

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

Additional costs and optional extras

Engineering is a part of so many different industries, and completing an engineering degree will give you access to a wide range of opportunities. 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.

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.

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 and Manufacturing Engineering (Top-Up) BEng (Hons)
• Mechanical Engineering BEng (Hons)
• Manufacturing and Production Engineering (Top-Up) BEng (Hons)
• Engineering Management (Top-Up) BEng (Hons)