THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH
DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2022/20223
Timetable information in the Course Catalogue may be subject to change

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Degree Programme Specification
MEng (Hons) in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering
 

MEng (Hons) in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering

To give you an idea of what to expect from this programme, we publish the latest available information. This information is created when new programmes are established and is only updated periodically as programmes are formally reviewed. It is therefore only accurate on the date of last revision.
References to programme learning outcomes are derived with minimal modification from the previous revision and will be updated to reflect the latest standards from the Engineering Council (Accreditation of Higher Education Programmes) in parallel with the next IMechE accreditation process.
Awarding institution: The University of Edinburgh
Teaching institution: The University of Edinburgh
Programme accredited by: The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)
Final award: MEng (Hons)
Programme title: Electrical and Mechanical Engineering
UCAS code: HHH6
Relevant QAA subject benchmarking group(s): Engineering
Postholder with overall responsibility for QA: Dr Katherine Dunn
Date of production/revision: April 2022

External summary


Engineers can – and do – change the world. Mechanical engineers develop, build and maintain machines of all shapes and sizes, using scientific and technical know-how. The subject draws on fundamental physics, complex mathematics and state-of-the art computing, coupled with creativity and invention. A degree in Mechanical Engineering can open the door to a career in any one of a diverse range of subjects including but not limited to: bioengineering, medical engineering, nanotechnology, renewable energy, aerospace, sports engineering, consultancy and management.

The Electrical & Mechanical Engineering joint honours degrees combine teaching from the Electronics & Electrical Engineering discipline with that from Mechanical Engineering, to create a joint degree covering the important area of electromechanical systems that is increasingly prevalent in today’s world.

Our degree programmes equip students with a thorough core knowledge, together with analytical, practical, design and communication skills so that they can go on to join a design, production or research team. World-class research activities strongly enhance our teaching, and undergraduate students have opportunities to carry out research projects in these areas. Critical thinking is encouraged and students also have the opportunity to engage in a variety of extracurricular engineering activities, including the development of rockets, hyperloop pods and cars.

Our main aim is to produce engineers with the knowledge and skills required to contribute to the engineering discipline of today and tomorrow.
 

Educational aims of programme


The programme aims are:
  • To produce graduates who, having high academic and professional skills, will enter and contribute to the Electromechanical, Electrical or Mechanical Engineering industries, and through appropriate professional development achieve corporate membership of either Professional Institution.
  • To produce students who are equipped to research, design, develop and implement new, or existing, devices, equipment, systems and practices for, or as used in the Electromechanical, Electrical or Mechanical Engineering industries.
  • To provide a thorough appreciation of the relationship between engineering theory and industrial practice.
  • To develop a high level of proficiency in reporting, communication and team working skills
  • To provide an awareness of the wider commercial management and legal aspects of engineering
  • To ensure that students recognise the need to operate within the code of conduct defined by the relevant professional bodies
  • To provide leading-edge specialist skills and in depth knowledge of key selected areas in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering
  • To provide first-hand experience of engineering research and/or industrial activity
  • To broaden the students’ understanding of Electrical and Mechanical engineering in the global context.
  • To develop in students a disciplined and deep approach to learning, as a foundation for future self-learning and continued professional development

Programme outcomes: Knowledge and understanding


The programme outcomes reflect the Engineering subject benchmark statement, the requirements of UK Spec, and the distinctive nature of the Edinburgh degree programmes. The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, skills, qualities and other attributes in the following areas.

A1 demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts, theories and principles of their engineering discipline, and its underpinning science and mathematics. They must have an appreciation of the wider multidisciplinary engineering context and its underlying principles. They must appreciate the social, environmental, ethical, economic and commercial considerations affecting the exercise of their engineering judgement;

A2
apply appropriate quantitative science and engineering tools to the analysis of problems. They must be able to demonstrate creative and innovative ability in the synthesis of solutions and in formulating designs. They must be able to comprehend the broad picture and thus work with an appropriate level of detail;

A3
understanding and apply mathematical principles necessary to underpin their education in their engineering discipline and to enable them to apply mathematical methods, tools and notations proficiently in the analysis and solution of engineering problems;

A4
have an awareness of the framework of relevant legal requirements governing engineering activities, including personnel, health, safety, and risk (including environmental risk) issues;

A5
understand the need for a high level of professional and ethical conduct in engineering.


Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in research and enquiry


Students should be able to:

B1
Knowledge and understanding of scientific principles and methodology necessary to underpin their education in their engineering discipline, to enable appreciation of its scientific and engineering context, and to support their understanding of historical, current, and future developments and technologies;

B2
Ability to apply and integrate knowledge and understanding of other engineering disciplines to support the study of their own engineering discipline.

B3
Ability to identify, classify and describe the performance of systems and components through the use of analytical methods and modelling techniques;

B4
Ability to work with technical uncertainty.

B5
A comprehensive knowledge and understanding of mathematical and computer models relevant to the engineering discipline, and an appreciation of their limitations

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in personal and intellectual autonomy


Students should be able to:

C1
Understanding of contexts in which engineering knowledge can be applied (eg operations and management, technology development, etc);

C2
Use creativity to establish innovative solutions;

C3
Learn independently at levels appropriate for MEng study.

C4
The ability to monitor and adjust a personal programme of work on an on-going basis, and to learn independently;

C5
The ability to develop, monitor and update a plan, to reflect a changing operating environment;

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in communication


Students should:

D1 have developed transferable skills that will be of value in a wide range of situations. These are exemplified by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority Higher Level Key Skills and include problem solving, communication, and working with others, as well as the effective use of general IT [information technology] facilities and information retrieval skills. They also include planning self-learning and improving performance, as the foundation for lifelong learning/CPD [continuing professional development].

D2
have a good understanding of appropriate codes of practice and industry standards;

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in personal effectiveness


Students should be able to:

E1
Effectively manage time and resources;

E2
Make proficient use of general IT tools including word processing, email, spreadsheets and the web;

E3
Have a good understanding of and ability to apply a systems approach to engineering problems.

E4
An understanding of different roles within a team, and the ability to exercise leadership.

E5
An understanding of concepts from a range of areas including some outside engineering, and the ability to apply them effectively in engineering projects.

Programme outcomes: Technical/practical skills


Students should:

F1
possess practical engineering skills acquired through, for example, work carried out in laboratories and workshops; in industry through supervised work experience; in individual and group project work; in design work; and in the development and use of computer software in design, analysis and control. Evidence of group working and of participation in a major project is expected. However, individual professional bodies may require particular approaches to this requirement.

F2
have effective workshop and laboratory skills

F3
be able to interpret the results of laboratory experiments and simulations and present them in written reports and oral presentations.

F4
be able to plan and carry out an individual or group experimental or design project, taking account of resource constraints and responding flexibly and effectively to unanticipated difficulties that arise

F5
be able to report on an extended project, either as an individual or as a group member contributing to a group report, meeting deadlines and presenting written and graphical material in a properly structured and literate way.

Programme structure and features

OVERVIEW, MODES OF STUDY, LEARNING OUTCOMES AND ASSESSMENT PRACTICES

NB: The School is currently undertaking an ongoing curriculum renewal, which may result in changes to this degree programme. The renewal is being carried out with:
  • our industrial partners
  • accreditation bodies
  • students
The purpose of the curriculum renewal is to ensure that students are equipped for an exciting career in the ever-changing world of engineering.

The normal duration of the programme is five years and leads to an MEng (Hons) degree at the end of year 5.  Direct entry to year 2 or 3 is possible for suitably qualified applicants.

Years 1 and 2 are referred to as ‘Non-Honours’ years and do not count towards students’ final degree classification. Years 3, 4 and 5 are referred to as ‘Honours’ years, with years 4 and 5 being ‘Senior Honours’ years. In each year students must study several courses, each being worth a specific number of credits. One year of full-time study typically equates to 120 credits.

The university provides a scheme whereby students may study abroad for year 3 of the programme.

The programme is normally offered as a full-time course. In a very small number of cases, students are permitted to move to part-time study by special application due to personal circumstances such as ill health or elite sporting commitments.

At the beginning of year 4, students who do not meet the requirements for continuation with the MEng (described below) are obliged to transfer to the BEng. Otherwise, transfers into or out of the programme are approved on a case-by-case basis; the student must be in good academic standing, meet the pre-requisites/entry requirement for the appropriate year of the receiving programme and the receiving programme must have capacity to accept the student.

Programme-level learning outcomes are described in section 11 and assessment practices are described in section 14.

SQCF CREDIT POINTS AND LEVELS FOR EACH CONSTITUENT COURSE AND EACH YEAR OF THE PROGRAMME

Year 1

The following courses are compulsory. All are at SCQF level 8 and each accounts for 20 credits:

  • Engineering Mathematics 1a - Semester 1
  • Engineering Principles 1 - Semester 1
  • Engineering Mathematics 1b - Semester 2
  • Engineering Design 1 - Semester 2

Students must also select 40 credits of Level 7 and 8 courses across the School and University, with 20 credits taken in each semester. The choice of courses is determined according to the interests of the student, whether the student satisfies any conditions on prerequisite and co-requisite study, timetabling constraints, suitability of the course for Mechanical Engineering students and availability of places. Courses selected by first years include but are not limited to Physics 1A: Foundations, Physics 1B: The Stuff of the Universe, Astrobiology, Fundamentals of Innovation-Driven Entrepreneurship, languages and The History of Edinburgh: From Din Eidyn to Festival City.

Year 2

All the Year 2 courses are at SCQF level 8. The following courses are all compulsory and each accounts for 10 credits except Practical Skills in Mechanical Engineering, which does not formally carry any credits.

  • Structural Mechanics 2 - Semester 1
  • Fluid Mechanics 2 - Semester 1
  • Engineering Mathematics 2A - Semester 1
  • Programming Skills for Engineers 2 - Semester 1
  • Analogue Circuits 2 – Semester 1
  • Power Engineering 2 – Semester 1
  • Dynamics 2 - Semester 2
  • Engineering Thermodynamics 2 - Semester 2
  • Engineering Mathematics 2B - Semester 2
  • Professional Development for Engineers 2 - Semester 2
  • Digital Systems Design 2- Semester 2
  • Software and Embedded Systems 2- Semester 2
  • Practical Skills in Mechanical Engineering – Full Year

Year 3

Students must take the following courses, all of which are compulsory and at level 9:

  • Professional Issues for Mechanical Engineers 3 (10 credits) - Full Year
  • Analogue Circuits 3 (10 credits) – Semester 1
  • Structural Mechanics and Dynamics 3 (20 credits) – Semester 1
  • Sustainable Energy Group Design Project 3 (10 credits) - Semester 2
  • Thermofluids 3 (20 credits) - Semester 2
  • Control and Instrumentation Engineering 3 (10 credits)  - Semester 2
  • Power Systems, Power Electronics and Machines 3 (20 credits) – Semester 2

Students must select exactly 20 credits from the following, all of which are at level 9:

  • Engineering Software 3 (10 credits)
  • Digital System Design and Digital Systems Laboratory 3 (20 credits)
  • Digital System Design 3 (10 credits)

Year 4

Students must take the following compulsory courses:

  • Practical Skills in Power Engineering (0 credits, level 8) – full year
  • Mechanical Engineering Group Project (Engineering) (20 credits, level 11) - Semester 1
  • Power Electronics, Machines and Systems 4 (20 credits, level 10)

And two of the following courses:

  • Living Materials and their Biomaterial Replacements (10 credits, level 10) – Semester 1
  • Dynamics 4 (10 credits, level 10) - Semester 1
  • Operations Management 4 (10 credits, level 10) – Semester 1
  • Thermodynamics (Mechanical) 4 (10 credits, level 10) – Semester 1
  • Polymers and Composite Materials 4 (10 credits, level 10) – Semester 1
  • Fluid Mechanics (Mechanical) 4 (10 credits, level 10) – Semester 1
  • Finite Element Methods for Solids and Structures 4 (10 credits, level 10) – Semester 1
  • Engineering Project Management 4 (10 credits, level 10) – Semester 1

In Semester 2, students must either undertake an industrial/European placement (worth 60 credits at level 11) or they must study six of the following ten-credit courses:

  • Bio-Inspired Engineering 4 (level 10)
  • Digital Manufacture 5 (level 11)
  • Analogue Electronics (Circuits) 4 (level 10)
  • Sensors and Instrumentation 5 (level 11)
  • Wind Energy 5 (level 11)
  • Technology and Innovation Management 5 (level 11)
  • Technology Entrepreneurship 5 (level 11)
  • Surface Engineering and Coatings 5 (level 11)
  • Supply Chain Management 4 (level 10)
  • Solar Energy Conversion 5 (level 11)
  • Marine Energy 5 (level 11)
  • Digital System Design 4 (level 10)
  • Dynamics 5 (level 11)
Year 5

All students must complete a 40-credit individual research project at level 11; the project runs for the whole year. By the point of graduation, the students must have taken at least 120 credits at level 11.

Students must take a further 80 credits of optional courses. If they take the 20-credit level 11 course Advanced Composite Materials they must take 30 additional credits in semester 1 and 30 additional credits in semester 2. Otherwise, they must take 40 additional credits in each semester.

The available optional courses are as follows.

Semester 1:

  • Living Materials and their Biomaterial Replacements 4 (10 credit, level 10)
  • Fire Safety Engineering 4 (10 credit, level 10)
  • Finite Element Methods for Solids and Structures 4 (10 credit, level 10)
  • Engineering Project Management 4 (10 credit, level 10)
  • Dynamics 4 (10 credit, level 10)
  • Distributed Energy Resources and Smart Grids 4 (20 credits, level 10)
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics 5 (20 credit, level 11)
  • Thermodynamics (Mechanical) 4 (10 credits, level 10) – Semester 1
  • Steel Structures 4 (10 credit, level 10)
  • Polymers and Composite Materials 4 (10 credit, level 10)
  • Operations Management 4 (10 credit, level 10)
  • Introduction to Bioelectronics 4 (20 credit, level 11)
  • Fire Science and Fire Dynamics 4 (10 credit, level 10)
  • Fluid Mechanics (Mechanical) 4 (10 credits, level 10)

Semester 2

Students must take at least 20 credits from the following:

  • Advanced Power Electronics and Machines 5 (20 credits, level 11)
  • Power Systems Engineering (20 credits, level 11)
  • Sensors and Instrumentation 5 (10 credits, level 11)
  • Analogue Electronics (Circuits) 4 (10 credits, level 11)
  • Digital System Design 4 (10 credits, level 10)
  • Solar Energy Conversion 5 (10 credits, level 11)

And they can take one or two of the following:

  • Bio-Inspired Engineering 4 (10 credit, level 11)
  • Models for Fire Safety 5 (10 credit, level 11)
  • Digital Manufacture 5 (10 credit, level 11)
  • Design of Surgical Tools and Implanted Medical Devices 4 (10 credit, level 10)
  • Advanced Process Safety 5 (10 credit, level 11)
  • Particle Technology Fundamentals and Industrial Applications 5 (10 credit, level 11)
  • Wind Energy 5 (10 credit, level 11)
  • The Finite Element Method 5 (10 credit, level 11)
  • Technology and Innovation Management 5 (10 credit, level 11)
  • Technology Entrepreneurship 5 (10 credit, level 11)
  • Surface Engineering and Coatings 5 (10 credit, level 11)
  • Supply Chain Management 4 (10 credit, level 10)
  • Oil and Gas Systems Engineering 5 (10 credit, level 11)
  • Marine Energy 5 (10 credit, level 11)
  • Dynamics 5 (10 credit, level 11)

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

The standard entry requirement is:
    SQA Highers: AAAA - AAAB (achievement by end of S5 preferred). BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6.
    A Levels: AAA - ABB.
    IB: 37 points with 666 at HL - 32 points with 555 at HL.

The minimum entry requirement for widening access applicants is:

    SQA Highers: AABB by end of S6. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6.
    A Levels: ABB.
    IB: 32 points with 555 at HL.

The grades used to meet our entry requirements must include:
    SQA: Highers: Mathematics at A and one of Physics (preferred), Biology, Chemistry, Computing Science or Engineering Science at B. Applicants with Physics are preferred. Higher Applications of Mathematics is not accepted in place of Higher Mathematics. National 5s: Physics or Engineering Science at B and English at C.

    A Levels: Mathematics and one of Physics (preferred), Biology, Chemistry, Computing Science/Computing, Design & Technology (excluding Food Technology) or Engineering at B. GCSEs: Physics or Science at B or 6 and English at C or 4.

    IB: HL: Mathematics (Analysis and approaches only) and one of Physics (preferred), Biology, Chemistry, Computing Science or Design & Technology at 5. SL: Physics at 5 (if not at HL) and English at 5.

Equivalent entry requirements apply for international applicants.

For direct entry to second year the standard requirements must be exceeded, including the following:

    SQA Advanced Highers: AA to include Mathematics and either Physics, Engineering Science, or Technological Studies, plus Highers at AB in two further subjects.
    A Levels: A*AA in one set of exams to include Mathematics and either Physics, Engineering, or Design & Technology (excluding Food Technology), or AAA in one set of exams to include Mathematics, Further Mathematics and either Physics, Engineering, or Design & Technology (excluding Food Technology).
    IB: 38 points with 666 at HL to include Mathematics (Analysis and approaches only) and Physics or Design & Technology at 6.

Entry may be possible via other qualifications.

English language competency

You must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies, regardless of your nationality or country of residence.

SQA, GCSE and IB

For SQA, GCSE and IB students, unless a higher level is specified in the stated entry requirements, a pass is required in English at the following grades or higher:
  • SQA National 5 at C
  • SQA Standard Grade at 3
  • SQA Intermediate 1 at A
  • SQA Intermediate 2 at C
  • GCSE at C or 4
  • Level 2 Certificate at C
  • IB Standard Level at 5 (English ab initio is not accepted for entry)
English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:
  • IELTS Academic module overall 6.5 with 5.5 in each component
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Special Home Edition) 92 or above with 20 in each section. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
  • Cambridge English: Advanced or Proficiency overall 176 with 162 in each component
  • Trinity ISE: ISE II with a distinction in all four components
We also accept a wider range of international qualifications and tests.

English language qualifications must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the degree you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL or Trinity ISE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

PROGRESSION REQUIREMENTS AND RESITS

Definition of ‘progression’
Progression describes the transition of a student from one year of study to the next.

Resits, conditional progression and compensation

If a student fails any pre-honours courses they will be obliged to resit. They need only resit the failed element of the course (i.e. if they failed only the coursework, they need not resit the exam and vice versa). The number of resits permitted is defined in the Taught Assessment regulations and depends on the student’s immigration status and any special circumstances.

If a pre-honours student passes enough credits to progress but fails on some credits in both the main diet and resit, the student may be granted ‘conditional progression’ to the following year, obliging them to complete resit assessments for the failed course elements alongside the assessments for the new year of study. A student who does not pass sufficient credits to progress may be required to retake part of the year, depending on circumstances. In honours years, resits are only offered to individuals with special circumstances or to satisfy the requirements of the accrediting professional bodies.

If a student has failed certain courses in honours years, it may be possible for the failed courses to be compensated for as long as the student has met the progression or graduation requirements for that year of study. In this case the student is awarded ‘Credits on Aggregate’ for the failed courses. The university has an internal system for compensation but for this programme the compensation limits are also set by the professional bodies for engineering and will be more stringent for students entering years 1, 2 or 3 in or after September 2022. If a student fails courses that cannot be compensated for, the student must take resits for professional purposes (RPPs). If the student passes the RPP they will be awarded credits but the numerical mark used for calculating degree classification will remain unchanged. Once Credits on Aggregate have been awarded for any course, Resits for Professional Purposes will no longer be available for that course.

Required performance in years 1 and 2 (‘pre-honours’ years)
Progression to Year 2 normally requires passes in at least 80 credits of courses in Year 1. Progression to Year 3 normally requires passes in at least 100 credits of courses in Year 2, which must be from the list of courses given in the degree programme table.

For pre-honours courses owned by the School of Engineering, students must pass both the coursework and examination components of a course in order to obtain a pass overall for that course. The pass mark is 40%. Ultimately students must pass 240 credits of non-honours courses in order to progress to year 4, and this must include all the compulsory non-honours courses named in the degree programme.

Required performance in years 3 & 4 – for students who entered year 1, 2 or 3 before September 2022
Progression to Year 4 requires passes in at least 100 credits of year 3 courses. The remaining 20 credits must have marks of at least 30%. Resits for Professional Purposes may be required if these requirements are not met. Furthermore, to remain on the MEng programme a student must obtain an overall average of 55% or more for the 120 credits of study taken in year 3, at the first attempt.  Those not achieving an average of 55% or above in year 3 will be required to transfer to Year 4 of the BEng programme.

If a student has not achieved a pass mark in Professional Issues for Mechanical Engineers 3, they must take and pass Practical Skills in Mechanical Engineering in year 4 (if not already taken and passed in year 2). Additionally, the Interdisciplinary Group Design Project must be passed in year 4.

Progression to Year 5 requires an aggregate mark for year 4 of 40% or more and passes in 100 credits of year 4 courses. The remaining 20 credits must have marks of at least 30%. Resits for Professional Purposes may be required if these requirements are not met.

Required performance in years 3 & 4 – for students entering year 1, 2 or 3 in or after September 2022
In order to remain on the MEng programme, students must obtain an overall average of 55% or more for the 120 credits of study taken in year 3. Those not achieving an average of 55% or above in year 3 will be required to transfer to Year 4 of the BEng programme.

In order to meet the requirements of the Engineering Council, progression requires accumulated full passes in 350 (for year 3) or 460 (for year 4) credits of courses, with the remaining credits having marks in the range 30 to 39%. Students NOT achieving full passes in the requisite number of credits AND/OR whose remaining credits have results less than 30% will be required to take 'Resits for Professional Purposes' (RPPs, see above). Compensation of any course or group of courses containing unique AHEP learning outcomes is not permitted. If a student has not achieved a pass mark in Professional Issues for Mechanical Engineers 3, they must take and pass Practical Skills in Mechanical Engineering in year 4 (if not already taken and passed in year 2). Additionally, the Interdisciplinary Group Design Project must be passed in year 4.

Students taking RPPs will only be permitted to progress once they have achieved the equivalent of full passes in at least 350 (end of year 3)/460 (end of year 4) credits of courses plus a result of 30% or above in the remaining 10 credits. However, the mark obtained at the first attempt will be used to calculate the final year average and degree award.

EXIT AWARDS
A student who successfully completes all five years of the programme will be awarded an MEng (Hons) degree. The final degree classification is based on the honours years, with a weighting of 20%, 40%, 40% for years 3, 4 and 5 respectively. In the case where a student has studied abroad during year 3, the final mark will be based on years 4 and 5 only, equally weighted. It is only possible for an honours degree to be awarded if the Individual Honours Project has been passed. For students who entered years 1, 2 or 3 prior to September 2022, there is also a requirement that at least 100 credits of courses have been passed in year 5, with results of 30% and over in the remaining credits and an overall average of 40% or more over the 120 credits taken that year. For students who entered years 1, 2 or 3 in or after September 2022, there is a requirement that at least 570 credits of courses must have been passed throughout the degree with any failed credits having marks of 30% to 39%.

Students who meet the University requirements for graduation, but who fail to meet The Engineering Council requirements will be eligible for the award of the unaccredited MEng Honours in Engineering Technology.

A student who, at the end of year 3, does not meet the requirements to continue on the MEng, will not be permitted to continue on this programme and will be obliged to transfer to the BEng programme.

A student who, at the end of year 3, is unable to progress to year 4 may be eligible for the award of Bachelor of Science (BSc) Ordinary in Mechanical Engineering. Students may be permitted to resit some 3rd year courses to obtain this degree.

It is also possible for a student to exit with an Undergraduate Diploma of Higher Education after attaining a minimum of 240 credits. At least 120 of those credits must be gained from passes in University of Edinburgh courses which count towards graduation and at least 90 of these 120 credits must be in courses at level 8 or above.

REFERENCE TO UNIVERSITY’S STRATEGY 2030

Factors such as social and civic responsibility, sustainability, equality and diversity are embedded in the curriculum. For example, two relevant courses are ‘Professional Development for Engineers 2’ and ‘Professional Issues for Mechanical Engineers 3’, which cover a range of topics including engineering ethics, professional development, professional codes of practice, integrity, health and safety, sustainability and strategic management. Sustainability is covered in more depth in the compulsory third year group design project, which provides students with first-hand experience of tackling an engineering design problem in the area of renewable / sustainable energy, with all the uncertainties of the real world, personal interactions and time management.

Teaching and learning methods and strategies


Teaching methods include lectures, workshops, tutorial classes, laboratory classes, computing classes, design project classes, ‘hybrid’ seminars, office hours, instructional videos and self-study projects.

A1
is acquired across the programme through the compulsory courses taken. Social, environmental, ethical, economic and commercial considerations are covered explicitly in several courses including Professional Development for Engineers 2 and Professional Issues for Mechanical Engineers 3, Engineering Project Management 4 and Sustainable Energy Group Design Project 3.

A2
Intellectual ability is applied and assessed in all courses across all years.

A3
is primarily acquired through the Mathematics courses in Year 1 and 2. 

A4
is introduced in Professional Issues for Mechanical Engineers 3, Engineering Project Management 4 and Bio-Inspired Engineering.

A5
is developed in several courses, including Professional Development for Engineers 2 and Professional Issues for Mechanical Engineers 3

B1
is acquired in almost all taught courses in mechanical engineering across all years.  Students also have the opportunity to study additional courses in Physics, Chemistry and other areas in Year 1.

B2
is acquired though courses shared with other engineering disciplines (especially Year 1, for which the core courses are common across all four of the School’s Engineering disciplines), courses taught by other engineering disciplines for Mechanical Engineering students (e.g. Engineering Thermodynamics 2), optional courses (e.g. Living Materials and their Biomaterial Replacements) and the Interdisciplinary Group Design Project 4.

B3
is introduced in the first year Engineering courses and developed mainly through the design teaching and the honours years projects.

B4
is introduced in Years 2 and 3 design courses and projects, and applied in the projects undertaken in honours years.

B5
Mathematical and computer modelling are covered in the mathematics courses mentioned above, Programming Skills for Engineers 2 and Finite Element Methods for Solids and Structures 4.

C1
is covered across the programme in many courses. Technology development features particularly in the design courses while management aspects are described in courses such as Engineering Project Management 4 and Operations Management 4.

C2
is introduced in the design courses, the individual and group projects, and some optional courses (e.g. Bio-Inspired Engineering 4).

C3
is encouraged by the use of coursework assignments across the Honours courses and the provision of self-study materials such as course notes and instructional videos.

C4
and C5 are developed through the individual and group projects, and (where taken) the industrial placement, but also through the programme as whole due to the management of many coursework submissions, laboratory sessions and other activities.

D1
is covered across many courses in the programme. CPD is introduced in the course Professional Issues for Mechanical Engineers 3. 

D2
is introduced in the design courses, and Professional Issues for Mechanical Engineers 3,

E1
is fostered progressively by increasing demands for the timely submission of coursework in a number of parallel subjects. Time and resource management are developed with the 4th year study and design projects.

E2
Students are introduced to general IT skills from week 1 of the 1st year course and subsequent years make increasing demands in the IT area.

E3
is developed mainly through the projects and design teaching.

E4
Team working introduced in Year 1 and enhanced through the Sustainable Energy Group Design Project, the Interdisciplinary Group Project and (where taken) the Industrial/European Placement.

E5
Understanding gained from the interdisciplinary courses mentioned in B2, any courses taken from other Schools in year 1, the design courses, the projects, and – where taken – the industrial placement.

F1
Practical and laboratory skills are developed in many courses throughout the programme, beginning with Engineering Principles 1.  

F2
Workshop skills covered in Practical Skills in Mechanical Engineering 2 and Engineering Applications section of Professional Issues for Mechanical Engineers 3.

F3
is acquired through laboratory and design teaching in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd years of the course and the projects undertaken in 3rd, 4th and 5th year.

F4
is largely associated with the design and Individual Projects in the 3rd and 4th year.

F5
figures in nearly all the practical activities across the programme. Reporting of results is required in all cases and takes the forms of group and individual written and oral reports, and poster sessions.
 

Assessment methods and strategies


Assessment of knowledge and understanding is tested through a combination of written examinations and assessed coursework. Particularly in Honours years of the programme, written papers comprise compulsory questions to test for competence in all learning outcomes. Knowledge and understanding of mechanical engineering fundamentals is also assessed with the material covered in the project work and assignments associated with design teaching. Coursework is often associated with practical work carried out in Engineering laboratories.

Coursework assignments include marked reports, dissertations, posters and oral presentations. Some coursework assignments are completed in groups, and the ability to work well as a team is emphasised.

Feedback is provided for all coursework submissions, and on oral presentations. In addition, there are opportunities for formative work in computing exercises, tutorials, workshops and project meetings across the programme.

Career opportunities


Engineering graduates have a number of excellent career options available to them. Studying Engineering at the University of Edinburgh prepares you for a career as a professional engineer in the UK or abroad and all courses meet the requirements of the UK professional engineering bodies. Typically many of our graduates move on to work in internationally leading engineering companies in technical, consultancy and managerial roles, including company directorships.

Alternatively, the skills and experience you gain through your degree will also equip you for a career outside engineering and many of our graduates have gone on to work in other areas, including the Civil Service, education, the armed forces and the financial sector. Engineers enjoy some of the highest starting salaries of any graduates.

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