Mechanical engineers build the world around us. From the tiniest nanotechnology, through to cars and buildings, to airplanes and space stations, mechanical engineers are responsible for the design and development of most things.

Studying mechanical engineering is a combination of science, maths, and computing. It’s the study of machinery, and how to manufacture and maintain it at all levels. It’s a limitless subject, which plays a role in everything from vehicles to cities, energy to artificial intelligence, military to healthcare, and everything in between.

Mechanical engineering course entry requirements

Mechanical engineering is considered to be one of the most challenging undergraduate degrees on offer, so you won’t be surprised to hear that entry requirements can be steep. Generally, you’ll need to have a qualification in maths and/or physics. But, just as importantly, you’ll need to show good grades in whichever subjects you’re studying.

Other subjects that will support an application for mechanical engineering include further maths, design technology, computing, product design, and the other sciences. When it comes to your skills and extracurricular activities, universities will be looking for practicality, attention to detail, proficiency with technology, computing, and numeracy.What you will need to do

Apply by 26 January
Attend an interview
Show work experience

What you won’t need to do

Submit a portfolio
Audition for a place

Can I still apply if I don’t have good grades in maths and physics?

Each university has its own entry requirements. Maths and physics are generally the most important subjects for mechanical engineering, but many students manage to get on a course without having studied them. Showing a strong personal profile can sometimes be just as important as an academic one. Always check with the university you’re applying to.

Find out what studying engineering is like

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Why study mechanical engineering at university?

Mechanical engineering is the broadest of the engineering subjects, giving you an insight into the others, and giving you the most wide-ranging career options. When you combine this with the fact that mechanical engineers are in demand in almost every sector, play your cards right and you may end up as one of the most employable graduates around.

If you’re looking for a future-proof skill, then remember that mechanical engineers are heavily involved in automation, renewable energy, and artificial intelligence. The rapid development of technology also means that studying mechanical engineering is never going to be boring. You’ll be among the first to test emerging techniques and technologies, and much of your study will be practical and hands-on.

Some modules you may study are:

Structural materials
Engineering concepts
Solid mechanics
Thermodynamics
Thermofluids
Biomedical and bioengineering
Electromechanicals
Systems modelling

Even if you don’t decide to stay in engineering, the transferable skills you master will set you up for careers in a wide range of sectors.

What kind of work experience should I be able to show?

It’s unlikely you’ll have much experience with mechanical engineering at 17 or 18. Universities will be looking for personal or professional experience in something related – working with cars, or in maintenance, or something technical. Universities are looking for commitment to the type of skills an engineer has, not just engineering itself.

Entry requirements

A levels – Entry requirements range from CCC to A*AA, with the universities and colleges most commonly asking for AAB.

Scottish Highers – Entry requirements for Highers (the most common qualification) range from ABBB to AAAAB, with universities or colleges most frequently requiring AABBB. Occasionally, universities ask for Advanced Highers to supplement Highers. If Advanced Highers are requested, universities or colleges typically ask for AA.

Vocational courses – Other Level 3/Level 6 qualifications (e.g. Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma, or an SCQF Level 6) may be accepted as an alternative to A levels/Highers by some providers. It’s essential that you check alternative entry requirements with universities or colleges.

What can you do with a mechanical engineering degree?

Most mechanical engineering graduates will remain in engineering, as:

mechanical engineer
structural engineer
aerospace engineer
civil engineer

But some engineering graduates use their diverse skillset to move into other sectors, as:

auto electrician
transport planner
model maker
CNC machinist

What’s it like to study mechanical engineering?

Mechanical engineering is challenging, but that’s because it’s also rewarding. Don’t expect to be sitting in lectures and seminars for the entirety of your degree, which will generally last three or four years. During that time, you’ll be involved in lots of practical and demonstration sessions, as well as laboratory and workshop lessons. Engineering graduates are awarded a BEng, rather than the more common BA or BSc.

As the broadest of the engineering subjects, mechanical engineering gives you an overall grounding in the discipline, before allowing you to specialise from your third year onwards. You might decide to branch into aerospace, medical, structural, or robotic, by taking specific modules. To support this, some universities offer placement years which allow you to spend time in industry, with a company that relates to your passion or specialism.

While studying mechanical engineering, you’ll be:

writing reports and essays
attending lectures, seminars, and laboratory lessons
going to design workshops and practical sessions
completing group and project assignments
completing design and computer-based assignments

Mechanical engineering requires a lot of study, theory, and practice. For some universities, this means up to 24 hours per week with tutors. For others, it means lots of self-study and, therefore. high levels of motivation. Whichever it is, you’ll be spending your time in many different environments: classrooms, laboratories, and workshops.

Are you considering an accelerated degree? Click here to read more about the possibility of completing your undergraduate course in two years rather than three.

Important Qualities

Creativity. Mechanical engineers design and build complex pieces of equipment and machinery. A creative mind is essential for this kind of work.

Listening skills. Mechanical engineers often work on projects with others, such as architects and computer scientists. They must listen to and analyze different approaches made by other experts to complete the task at hand.

Math skills. Mechanical engineers use the principles of calculus, statistics, and other advanced subjects in math for analysis, design, and troubleshooting in their work.

Mechanical skills. Mechanical skills allow engineers to apply basic engineering concepts and mechanical processes to the design of new devices and systems.

Problem-solving skills. Mechanical engineers need good problem-solving skills to take scientific principles and discoveries and use them to design and build useful products.

Apprenticeships

If you want to combine work and study while earning a salary, you could consider an apprenticeship. Which apprenticeships are available, and how you apply, depends on where you live.

Find out more about apprenticeships across the UK.

There are approximately 90 apprenticeships in the engineering sector available in England, with more in development.

Each apprenticeship sets out occupational standards for specific job roles, designed by employers. The standards outline the skills, knowledge, and behaviours required to demonstrate that an apprentice is fully competent in the job role.

Higher apprenticeships (Level 4)

Degree apprenticeships (Levels 5 – 7)

The Top Universities for Mechanical Engineering in Canada

By Dean McClements10 June 2021

Mechanical engineering students study the forces and thermal environment encountered by a product and its parts so they can come up with the best designs and manufacturing processes of a product. Most importantly, an in-depth understanding of objects and systems in motion are required, which makes mechanical engineering a broad and diverse discipline of engineering. While it can be difficult in the current climate to move to a new city or country in order to pursue your studies, many universities, including some of those on our list, offer distance-learning online degrees. You don’t have to leave wherever you’re holed up and, most importantly, you can stay safe!

Suggested Opportunities

PhD ProgramMechanical Engineering P.G.D., M.Eng., M.Sc., Ph.D.at University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Canada Master’s ProgramMaster of Engineering Leadershipat University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada

Mechanical engineering students in Canada are required to go through four years of a basic undergraduate education. Students learn about material properties, fluid and solid mechanics, heat transfer, thermodynamics, and even biology, if they wish to design biomedical systems. After the completion of an undergraduate degree, the student can work as an EIT (Engineer in Training) for several years before receiving their professional engineering designation (P. Eng) in Canada.

1. University of Toronto

The University of Toronto has been named as one of the top 100 universities worldwide. The school is located in downtown Toronto, one of Canada’s largest cities. Students who are interested in studying mechanical engineering at the University of Toronto have to apply to enter a bachelor of applied science (BASc) program. Once admitted, they will study objects ranging from cars to medical devices to determine the ways in which they are designed using basic mechanical engineering principles.

The engineering program can be tailored to suit a student’s needs. Specifically, students can choose to enter the program in one of three ways: Core Programs, for those who know what discipline they want to study; TrackOne, for undeclared students; and Engineering Science, for those who wish to condense their discipline-specific learning into two years. . No matter how a student enters the mechanical engineering program, they can choose to specialise in one of the five following topics after the completion of their second year: mechatronics, manufacturing, solid mechanics & design, energy & environment, and bioengineering.

2. McGill University

McGill University is another public Canadian university with high worldwide rankings. Located in the city of Montreal, the mechanical engineering department offers the students a chance to enrol in a rigorous program as well as the opportunity for mentorship with some of the best and brightest researchers around the world.

The mechanical engineering program at McGill includes three different streams, which are Stream A, which is designed for students entering after CEGEP (pre-university and technical college), Stream B, which is for students who have not attended CEGEP, and Stream C, which is for honours students. No matter which stream a student chooses to study, they will have the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities such as robotics, Formula SAE, and the Rocket Team. Additionally, specialised options such as a design concentration and the aeronautics concentration are also available for students interested in specialising in these subjects.

3. University of British Columbia

The University of British Columbia is a public research university located in the western Canadian city of Vancouver, where the climate is much more temperate compared to Toronto and Montreal. To enter the mechanical engineering program, all prospective students must complete a year of general engineering studies at the University of British Columbia or at another college with a transfer program. Due to the limited number of spots available, only applicants with the top grades and personal profiles are selected to enter this program.

Once admitted, students have the opportunity to participate in a unique program called MECH 2. This program allows students to take four consecutive courses over the entire year instead of six or seven courses per term. Instead of studying each subject separately, the principles of mechanical engineering are put into a practical context and the classes are held in small sessions along with various field trips and hands-on projects.

4. University of Alberta

The University of Alberta is a public research university based in the western province of Alberta, with the main campus in the city of Edmonton. The school of engineering is home to several faculties, including the faculty of mechanical engineering.

Undergraduate students have numerous opportunities to learn and prosper here. Some extracurricular opportunities include the Undergraduate Research Initiative, which pays students to participate in research, and the Formula SAE team, which designs race cars, and Engineers Without Borders. Students can also choose between different tracks of the program, which include the traditional four-year stream, the cooperative education stream – which adds extra time to the degree and allows students the chance to participate in up to 20 months of paid work experience – and the option to specialise in biomedical engineering.

5. McMaster University

McMaster University is a public research university located in the eastern Canadian city of Hamilton, Ontario. Its engineering faculty has consistently been ranked as one of the top schools in the world, with the mechanical engineering discipline being one of the options offered to students admitted to the faculty.

Like most engineering programs, the admissions criteria are quite competitive, requiring most applicants to have an average in the high 80s to be considered. Once admitted, students can choose between enrolling in a traditional four-year program and a co-op program which gives students time off between semesters to look for paid work that can last up to 16 months.

NewEngineer Handbook - The Ultimate Guide to Success for Engineers

6. University of Waterloo

The University of Waterloo is a public research university located in Waterloo, in the eastern province of Ontario. Its mechanical engineering program is designed to give students the foundation of mechanical design, including mechanics, manufacturing, power, and control.

Students are admitted based on their grade 12 marks for selected courses such as chemistry and physics. Once admitted, students get the opportunity to participate in co-op terms where they will acquire up to two years of relevant work experience. What’s more, the average student earns $22.92 an hour, giving them enough resources to pay for more semesters of school.

7. University of Western Ontario

The University of Western Ontario is another Ontario university located in the city of London, Ontario. Its department of mechanical engineering consists of 30 faculty members working in various fields of research.

Students enter the mechanical engineering program after one year of general engineering studies. The second and third years of their studies include courses that provide a strong foundation for mechanical engineering. In their fourth year, students can choose to specialise in specific areas of mechanical engineering, including fluid and thermal systems, computer-aided design, robotics, and energy conversion.

8. University of Calgary

This is a public research university based in the western Canadian city of Calgary, in the province of Alberta. The university’s mechanical engineering program is part of the larger faculty of engineering, named the Schulich School of Engineering.

Students interested in studying mechanical engineering here must apply to enter the Schulich School of Engineering first. Once accepted, all students must go through a common first-year program consisting of ten foundational courses in engineering, such as computing, engineering principles, physics, and mathematics before applying to join the mechanical engineering program. Students can choose from several minors, including biomedical engineering, digital engineering, and mechatronics.

9. Queen’s University at Kingston

Queen’s University is a public research university located in the eastern Canadian city of Kingston, Ontario. The university’s mechanical engineering program provides students with the foundational knowledge to work in mechanical engineering. In addition, the school’s machine shop is complete with CAD workstations as well as CNC machines so students can gain hands-on experience in manufacturing.

After the completion of year two of the program, students can choose to stay in their general mechanical engineering studies program or choose to specialise in concentrations such as biomechanical engineering or energy and fluid systems.

10. Dalhousie University

Dalhousie University is located in the Maritime province of Nova Scotia, in the eastern city of Halifax. The university’s mechanical engineering program offers the opportunity for undergraduate students to experience mechanical engineering through labs and co-op experiences.

Similar to other engineering schools, all engineering students must take common first-year courses before applying to a specific discipline of their choice. Once accepted into the mechanical engineering discipline, students can choose between a traditional four-year degree or a five-year co-op program which gives students the chance to work between their studies.