Knowledge of mechanics is a fundamental tool for a mechanical engineer. This introductory module aims to investigate classical mechanics - force, motion, energy, work and momentum – from a conceptual viewpoint to understand how these are connected and how they can be applied, through formal problem solving, to real-world engineering.

Mechanical systems rely upon electrical and electronic circuits for many reasons: the delivery of drive power; sensing temperature, pressure etc.; the delivery of sensor data for condition monitoring, control and operation. This module covers how external data is acquired, conditioned and used and will equip students with an understanding of the basic theories underlying electronics.

Knowledge of thermodynamics, heat and fluid flow are important for the understanding and design of thermal and hydraulic systems involving energy conversion and transmission, such as engines and turbines, pumps and compressors, and associated pipework. This module introduces the basic concepts and applications of thermodynamics and fluid mechanics, as a foundation for further studies.

The aim of this module is to place the essential elements of design at the heart of courses for mechanical engineering students. It shows how the disparate elements of engineering science may be brought together and used to create a safe, durable and cost-effective solution to a perceived engineering need. This course theme continues in later years.

This module introduces students to a range of experimental and laboratory-related skills appropriate to mechanical engineering. This includes elements of laboratory and workshop safety, including risk assessment. Students will develop an understanding of how to conduct experiments, record data, evaluate errors and write technical reports.

This module aims to teach the basic principles of programming (focused on MATLAB) and the solution of mathematical problems with numerical techniques, and to give a basic understanding of probability theory and statistics with applications and practical examples in the MATLAB environment.

This module aims to review and extend the students' basic understanding of the concepts and applications of mathematical functions, differentiation, complex numbers, vectors, integration and matrices. Specifically: the mathematical foundations of algebra and geometry, vector algebra, further studies in complex numbers and fundamental calculus, including differentiation and integration. This topic continues into the second year of the programme.

Engineering students from non-electrical disciplines often require a working knowledge and appreciation of electrical power devices and their use. This module develops the theory underlying simple electrical circuit analysis, transformers and electrical motors, and seeks to develop an understanding of their application through example and laboratory work.

This module continues the study of fluid mechanics and thermodynamics. The behaviour of fluids is an important aspect in the performance of engineering systems: the underlying physics of fluid flow and its application to simple systems is presented. Thermodynamics is the science that is devoted to understanding energy in all its forms and how energy changes form; the aim of is to supply the necessary analytical tools to study these changes when applied in engineering situations, in particular for transportation and power production.

This module aims to develop the general approach to the solution of engineering problems and involves mathematical modelling, numerical methods and the application of computer software. A wide range of engineering topics is presented and includes problems in structures, dynamics, fluids and heat transfer to emphasise the general applicability of the solution processes. The integration of mathematical techniques and the use of the computer as an essential tool in the modelling, simulation and solution of problems in engineering is an important objective of the module.

The module aims to provide basic concepts of material science and engineering for mechanical design and materials selection. Topics include: the structure of solids, strength and stiffness of engineering materials, metals and alloys, strengthening mechanisms and heat treatment. The module also addresses non-metallic materials (ceramics, polymers and composites) and sustainability and environmental considerations in the selection of materials and the design of engineering systems.

The study of engineering design continues to develop understanding of the design process and effective design procedures. This module aims to cover two aspects of mechanical design. Firstly, to develop competency in mechanism design using the SOLIDWORKS software suite, including part creation, assembly and drawing creation competencies. Secondly, to develop competency in materials selection for engineering design, using the Ansys Granta EduPack. As part of this module, students undertake the Certified SOLIDWORKS Associate Exam (CSWA) for an externally recognised qualification.

This module aims to provide students with further mathematical tools relevant to analysis of engineering systems. This includes ordinary differential equations, partial differentiation, double integration and Laplace transforms.

This module aims to impart a practical understanding of the heat transfer and fluid mechanics processes underpinning the energy systems we depend on to service the environment we live in, and their impact on this. Systems investigated include: Energy demand characterisation and energy supply technologies to meet demands; built environmental control systems and new energy solutions developed to mitigate the wider environmental impact; and costs associated with implementation. Demand technologies and analysis methodologies investigated include active and passive Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning Systems (HVAC), heat recovery systems, heat pumps, embedded clean energy supply technologies, solar and wind, together with system performance quantification and demand-supply analysis methods.

This module is a continuation of the structures element of the second year module. Topics include: two-dimensional stress and strain; multi-axial elastic constitutive relations and yield criteria; general equations of elasticity leading to classic solutions for thick and thin cylindrical structures; further analysis of beams; energy methods of analysis; instability and buckling.

The first part of this module is a continuation of the dynamics element of the second year module, including principles of the kinematics of rigid bodies; equations of plane motion; angular momentum; vibration of mechanical systems with laboratory practice and demonstrations. The second part aims to introduce control theory and the modelling of linearised physical systems and design of feedback control systems.

This continuing module aims to introduce the theory and application of the two most widely used numerical methods in engineering analysis: Finite Element Analysis (Structural & stress analysis and the commercial FEA program ANSYS) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (Analysis of flow field; recirculation zones/stagnation points; boundary layers and an introduction to the commercial CFD program FLUENT).

This module builds on the students’ previous study of thermodynamics and heat transfer to cover: mixtures, psychrometry, exergy and its applications; conduction, convection and radiation in heat exchanger design. The study of the laws of conservation of mass, energy and momentum moves to a more advanced level and knowledge of fluid flow is extended to provide an appreciation of boundary layers and fluid flow in rotating machinery.

This module aims to provide students with an introduction to the concept of the conscious pursuit of competitive Advantage in business, and considerations required beyond technical merit in both project level and business level decisions and their impact on engineering decisions.

This module aims to create awareness of and develop skills expected in graduate professional engineers. These include the development of communication skills (both oral and written), societal impact, future trends, and ethics. As a significant part of a professional engineer's responsibilities involves ethics, this forms a large part of the module. The study of engineering ethics within an engineering course helps students prepare for their professional lives. A specific advantage for engineering students who learn about ethics is that they develop clarity in their understanding and thought about ethical issues and the practice in which they arise. The study of ethics helps students to develop widely applicable skills in communication, reasoning, and reflection, with an understanding of the importance and benefits of supporting equality, diversity, and inclusion. These skills enhance students’ abilities and help them engage with other aspects of the engineering programme such as group work and work placements.

This module aims to provide students with experience in applying engineering science principles in a design context. It is the aim of this module to have students experience the application of knowledge, gained primarily from previous study in mechanical and/or aero-mechanical engineering, to the initial stages of the design process including, design specification from interpretation of a design brief, concept generation and selection, performance analysis and decision support in the selection of a candidate design solution.

It is essential that students should have experience in applying engineering principles in a design context. It is the aim of this module to have students experience the application of knowledge, gained primarily from previous prerequisite modules to various stages of the design process together with new knowledge gained as part of design project completion. In this module student groups will build and test an engineering system relevant to their degree programme (Mechanical Engineering or Aero-Mechanical Engineering), based on designs developed in the first semester module.

Professional engineers need to have an awareness of the impact of engineering and technology on society. This module provides this awareness through case studies presented by senior representatives from industry, and visiting academics, from a spectrum of engineering industries to cover project management, technical sales, planning and industrial relations and more traditional topics.

This module continues from the third year Engineering Analysis module, and aims to provide an appreciation of computer aided design, analysis and simulation methods over a range of engineering problems and to provide practical experience of the use of industry standard engineering simulation and analysis software to design and investigate the behaviour and performance of specific systems or components.

Students pursue an intensive research, development or design project under the supervision of a member of academic professional staff to produce a major dissertation and technical paper.  At the end of both semesters, panels of academic professional staff conduct oral examinations to assess student performance and technical competence. The supervisor assesses the work separately.

The aims of this module are twofold:

1. to develop the students' ability to apply analytical techniques to the solution of engineering problems where dynamic behaviour is important
2. to provide practical experience in designing lightweight structures to ensure that they have sufficient strength and stiffness to prevent failure, particularly by buckling, when in service

An understanding of heat, mass and momentum transfer processes is a basic requirement for practising engineers. This module aims to build upon the students' previous three year’s exposure to the basic energy transfer mechanisms of conduction, convection and radiation so that multi-dimensional, steady state and transient problems can be recognised and analysed.

This module introduces students to the assumptions and limitations that underlie state-of-the-art modelling methods to appraise the performance of buildings, their associated environmental control plant, and renewable energy technologies suitable for deployment at the urban scale using mathematical models for the underlying heat and mass transfer processes, along with numerical methods to form an integrated simulation program.