Everything you need to know...
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What is the fee?
Home: £9,535 per year (£1,200 for placement year)
International/EU: £17,155 per year (£1,200 for placement year) -
How long will I study?
4/5 Years
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Where will I study?
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What are the entry requirements?
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What is the UCAS code?
A029
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When do I start?
September 2025
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Placement year available?
Yes
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Course summary
- Become a professional mechanical engineer from day one.
- Apply your skills by completing industry-linked projects and placements.
- Develop the techniques to design, analyse, simulate and test mechanical systems.
- Create engineering solutions for the optimal performance of mechanical systems.
- Enhance your versatility with multidisciplinary insights into mechanical engineering.
- Prepare for the full degree with an extra foundation year at the start.
This course prepares you for diverse engineering roles – with a practice-based approach to mechanical science, design, systems, engineering practice, materials, and manufacture. You’ll emerge as a highly-skilled graduate – ready to provide optimal and sustainable solutions to future problems across the industry.
This foundation year course is for those who don't meet the entry requirements for our BEng Mechanical Engineering course or would like extra preparation before starting degree-level study.
How you learn
This course is designed for you to gain experience as a professional engineer from day one, developing technical and professional skills from the very start. The multidisciplinary nature of mechanical engineering means you’ll work collaboratively with professionals from other engineering disciplines, further enhancing your versatility in the field.
You’ll engage in a variety of learning activities as you progress through the course.The balance of these activities changes at each level of study to encourage you to become increasingly independent learners, developing the ability to take the initiative, plan, organise and complete programmes of work – as an individual, a leader and a member of a team.
You learn through:
- Diverse lectures emphasising peer collaboration.
- Tutorials to practise and apply your knowledge ahead of assessments.
- Hands-on lab experience including computational modelling and simulation.
- Q&A and discussions for self-assessment and understanding.
- Support sessions for receiving feedback and preparing for assessments.
- Teamwork activities for collaboration in an innovative environment.
- Project-based learning to apply knowledge, creativity, design, critical analysis and professional skills to real-world projects.
Course topics
The course adopts an applied problem-based and research-informed approach, and is based on core subject areas. These include mechanical engineering design, solid mechanics, dynamics, thermofluids, engineering practice, materials, manufacturing and engineering mathematics.
As you advance in the course, the modules will focus on applying mechanical engineering principles to real-world industrial challenges – emphasising the strength of mechanical systems through design and advanced computational engineering tools.
Your final-year project is your chance to demonstrate independent learning and establish a foundation for your future career.
Course support
Throughout the course, feedback is provided through various channels, enabling crucial reflection and action for your continued learning.
You’ll be supported in your learning journey towards highly skilled, graduate level employment. This includes:
- Access to specialist support services to help with your personal, academic and career development.
- Access to our Skills Centre with one to ones, webinars, and online resources, where you can get help with planning and structuring your assignments.
- The Engineering Café, a weekly drop-in session where you can ask questions and get advice from academics.
- A dedicated Maths and Stats Support drop-in session that runs twice a week
- Support sessions where you receive advice and feedback.
Course leaders and tutors
Tim Spencer
Research FellowTim's research at MERI involves the application of theory and simulation techniques for the predictive modelling of real life systems that involve fluids.
Applied learning
Work placements
You’ll have the opportunity to arrange a year-long work placement in between your second and third years. This gives you valuable work experience to prepare you for your future career – and allows you to graduate with an Applied Professional Diploma to add to your CV.
While you’re on placement you’ll develop and apply your skills – from mechanical design to manufacturing, the strength of mechanical components, and from the production to the backend design of mechanical systems.
Previous students have worked at organisations such as Rolls-Royce, Airbus UK, Bentley Motors, Lockheed Martin, BMW Manufacturing and McLaren Racing Limited.Placement years involve an application process to secure your position, which your tutors and our Careers and Employability Team will support you with.
Live projects
You’ll gain experience of live projects at every level of the course. Projects range from hands-on lab sessions run by external organisations to practical group projects where you’ll present your findings to our industrial partners.
Previous students have worked on real projects like designing a removable connecting system for poured concrete at Build-Lite UK, as well as evaluating the suitability of polystyrene for their materials recycling. They’ve also explored methods to catch and sort number plates using flowstore at Jepson & Co Ltd. And they’ve worked to solve a manufacturing challenge alongside process engineers at the McLaren Composite Technology Centre (MCTC).
Networking opportunities
Throughout the course there are numerous opportunities for you to engage with career management, career fairs and workshops, employer presentations, visits and professional advisers.
We also arrange on-campus guest lectures and seminars from local employers and relevant professional bodies – such as the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) – plus world-class researchers in mechanical engineering science.
Field trips
You’ll have chances to visit leading engineering companies and local museums, exploring real engineering settings and learning about their operations.
Competitions
We encourage you to get involved in the SHU Racing Team, where you can apply your skills and knowledge to build, test and design race cars – as well as taking part in racing against other universities at Silverstone.
Future careers
This course prepares you for a career in:
- Mechanical design
- Mechanical system/structural analysis
- Energy/power
- Renewable energy systems
- Manufacturing and production
- Automotive industry
- Aerospace industry
Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work for:
- AgustaWestland
- Airbus UK
- Bentley Motors
- Bosch
- JCB
- Lockheed Martin
- Pirelli Tyres Ltd Carlisle
- Rolls-Royce
Where will I study?
You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
City Campus
City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.
City Campus map | City Campus tour
Adsetts library
Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreLearn more about your department
Engineering and Maths Facilities Tour
Take a look around the Engineering and Maths facilities at Sheffield Hallam University.
Entry requirements
All students
UCAS points
- 80
This must include at least 32 points from one A level or equivalent BTEC qualifications. For example:
- CDD at A Level.
- MMP in BTEC Extended Diploma.
- Pass overall from a T level qualification with C from core
- A combination of qualifications, which may include a maximum of one AS level, EPQ and general studies
You can find information on making sense of UCAS tariff points here and use the UCAS tariff calculator to work out your points.
GCSE
- English Language at grade C or 4
- Maths at grade C or 4
- Science at grade C or 4
*GCSE Equivalents
- Level 2 Literacy or Functional Skills Level 2 English
- Level 2 Numeracy or Functional Skills Level 2 Maths
• Access - an Access to HE Diploma with at least 45 credits at level 3 and 15 credits at level 2. At least 15 level 3 credits must be at merit grade or above from a QAA-recognised Access to HE course, or an equivalent Access to HE certificate.
We may also accept you, if you have no formal qualifications but can show evidence of ability and a genuine commitment to studying the subject.
Some applicants may be invited to attend an informal interview with the course leader to ensure that the programme is suitable for themselves and their aspirations.
UK students may be able to claim financial support for the course.
If English is not your first language, you will need an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills, or equivalent. If your English language skill is currently below IELTS 6.0 we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English score.
Additional information for EU/International students
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.
For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.
Learn more about your department
As part of SHU Racing you can design and build a car, then race against other universities at Silverstone. Team Principal Max Vollans talks about what's involved.
Equipment and facilities
You’ll have access to a wide range of hardware and equipment, including Computer-aided design (CAD) software such as SolidWorks to create accurate prototypes of product designs – plus analysis software such as Fluent, Abaqus, Ansys and Matlab.
You’ll study and develop your skills in 11,500 square feet of cutting-edge teaching space, laboratories and workshops, with facilities including:
- Industry-standard software and tools
- Finite Element Analysis software
- Computational Fluid Dynamics software
- Engineering laboratories and state-of-the-art equipment
- Additive manufacturing (3D printing)
- Wind tunnels
- Laser scanning
- A flight simulator
- Rapid prototyping equipment
- A robotics and automation laboratory
- An automotive workshop for engine testing
- A structural integrity laboratory
- A materials testing laboratory
- Manufacturing workshops
Media Gallery
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Mechanical engineering 1 -
Mechanical engineering 4 -
Mechanical engineering 2 -
Mechanical engineering 3
Modules
Important notice: The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.
You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.
Year 1
Compulsory modules
Engineering And Mathematics In Practice
Foundation Mathematics, Mechanics And Electronics 1
Foundation Mathematics, Mechanics And Electronics 2
Fundamentals Of Materials And Manufacturing
Year 2
Compulsory modules
Mechanical Engineering Design And C.A.D.
Mechanical Engineering Practice
Principles Of Dynamics And Thermodynamics, Manufacturing Processes And Mathematics
Principles Of Mechanics Of Solids And Fluids, Engineering Materials And Mathematics
Year 3
Compulsory modules
Application Of Engineering Analysis
Applied Dynamics And Thermodynamics
Applied Solid And Fluid Mechanics, And Control Systems
Machine Elements Design
Elective modules
Study Abroad - Engineering And Built Environment
Year 4
Optional modules
Placement Year
Final year
Compulsory modules
Further Engineering Science And Numerical Analysis
Project: Implementation
Project: Management And Scoping
Elective modules
Artificial Intelligence And The Internet Of Things
Computer Aided Design And Computer Aided Manufacture
Engineering Management And Entrepreneurship
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students on full-time undergraduate degree courses in 2025/26 is £9,535 per year. These fees are regulated by the UK government and therefore subject to change in future years. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.
We are currently reviewing our tuition fees for the foundation year stage of this course following the Government announcement of fee changes for some foundation year courses and will confirm fees as soon as possible.
If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
International students
Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £17,155 per year. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.
Financial support for home/EU students
How tuition fees work, student loans and other financial support available.
Additional course costs
The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
General course additional costs
Additional costs for School of Engineering and Built Environment (PDF, 142.7KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
