Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) -Mechanical Engineering

Modern challenges require new and advanced technical solutions, and mechanical engineers are vital to achieving those solutions. It is the technical development of the world that drives humanity forward. The first two years of this Mechanical Engineering degree provide a grounding in the core disciplines of the subject, giving students essential knowledge to make informed decisions on their optional courses later in the degree. In Year 1, students work alongside peers from other science and engineering disciplines and have access to mechanical labs, electrical engineering labs, chemical labs and physics labs. This provides fundamental lab skills as well as multidisciplinary teamworking skills which will be crucial as the degree progresses and becomes increasingly specialised. In Years 2 and 3, students begin practical lab and workshop sessions, learning the core principles behind the mechanical engineering subjects of dynamics, materials, fluids, thermodynamics and design and manufacture. As a part of the progression towards becoming a career-ready mechanical engineer, Year 4 includes individual and group projects, supported by research-active members of staff. Students follow their own path through a wide range of optional courses designed to develop knowledge and skills in specialist subjects. Heriot-Watt's engineering degrees also develop soft skills which are highly valued by the industrial advisors and employers. These important skills include teamworking alongside fellow mechanical engineers and students from other engineering disciplines, such as chemical and electrical engineering. Students gain skills for professional presentations and technical writing, and develop business awareness, covering issues such-as life-cycle sustainability and financial viability. This Mechanical Engineering course offers an exciting environment where many skills are brought together to create innovative products and the infrastructure and technology for manufacture. Recent Heriot-Watt graduates have progressed to working for organisations such as Mercedes, Babcock Marine, McLaren, Shell UK, Halliburton and QinetiQ.