MSc in Mechanical Engineering

Accredited by: IMechE EC

Mechanical engineers are both generalists and specialists, bringing broad expertise and specialised mastery to their roles as project managers, leaders and innovators. As a student of GCU's MSc Mechanical Engineering, you'll continue in this tradition. The programme is designed to expand your core knowledge of the discipline while enhancing your skills as a specialist in either design or manufacture.

The programme was developed according to the UK Engineering Council's benchmark requirements for professional engineering, ensuring you'll enter the workforce with the relevant capabilities that employers value. It is also accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). Furthermore, our industrial advisory board offers strong connections to industry.

GCU's mechanical engineering department contributes to important research in the discipline, investigating topics like materials and manufacturing, finite element analysis, computer-aided design and manufacture, and machine condition monitoring.

The MSc Mechanical Engineering curriculum encourages you to develop as a professional as well as an engineer.

• Build your interpersonal skills to succeed as a team member and manager
• Explore topics such as project planning and methodology, strategy and innovation, and computer-aided engineering
• Practise managing resources and meeting project objectives
• Choose from two options for specialisation: Design or Manufacture

When you study engineering at GCU, you'll join a welcoming community of learners and professionals. You'll find classmates and colleagues who are creative and entrepreneurial, committed to using their expertise to make a positive impact and advance the common good.

International student start dates

For new international students, orientation events start on 14 September 2018. This extra time is specifically designed to assist new international students in settling into the UK and GCU prior to the start of general student induction and teaching.

There will be a whole host of fun and informative activities taking place during this period, including campus and city tours, as well as welcome events where you can meet other international students.

Why choose this programme?

The MSc in Mechanical Engineering has very strong industrial links through its industry advisory board. The school participates in many research activities within the area of mechanical engineering. This includes; advanced materials and manufacturing processes, finite element analysts, computer-aided design and manufacture and machine condition monitoring.

Professional accreditation

The development of these Masters options is in direct response to the specification of benchmark requirements for professional competence by the UK's Engineering Council (UK-SPEC). This programme is accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).

HM Forces

In partnership with HM Forces, GCU has identified this programme is being particularly suited to military and ex-military men and women. Visit the HM Forces Careers Zone for more information on the services we provide.

Assessment methods

The taught modules are either assessed by coursework only or a combination of coursework and examination. In the later ca, e the final mark is determined by weighted average of the two elements. The MSc project is assessed by project reports, practical operation and an electronic presentation.

What you will study

The programme offers two specialist study options; Design and Manufacture. These options share a number of common modules that directly reflect the activities of a professional mechanical engineer. Students complete eight taught modules - four in trimester A and four in trimester B; and an MSc dissertation in trimester C.

Project Planning and Methodology

Select, develop and plan an MSc research project; to research and critically analyse the literature associated with the project; to present research findings effectively, and to be able to apply a competent process of thinking to all aspects of the project. In addition, the module provides an appreciation of the relationship between these skills and those associated with industrial project management.

Strategy and Innovation

Evaluate and explore concepts and applications of strategy and innovation relative to organisational dynamics, global markets, change management and disruptive technologies.

Advanced Computer-Aided Engineering

An insight into the complete product design and manufacture process. This will be achieved by further the students' knowledge and the ability of the application of CAD/CAM and simulation techniques to the design and manufacture of engineering components. This process will be integrated from the design stage through to manufacturing and will include a major case study.

Condition Monitoring

A comprehensive introduction to the requirements of successful condition monitoring based on popular systems commercially available. The application of Artificial Intelligence' and Neural Networks' to assist with data analysis is also introduced in some depth. Case studies examine commercial problems encountered and the benefits this technology has to offer in terms of cost savings and safety.

Project

The project acts as a vehicle for extending the knowledge and understanding of the student and the technical community in some specialist area. It serves, through its length, complexity and rigour, as a suitable vehicle for extending, in the student, a range of personal, interpersonal and communication skills. In addition, it serves to develop and extend a range of high-level thinking' skills, including analysing and synthesising skills and affords the opportunity for the student to demonstrate initiative and creativity in a major piece of technological work.

Specialist Modules (Design)

Applied Thermodynamics and Computational Fluid Dynamics: This module combines the advanced theory of fluid flow and heat transfer with numerical methods as applied in computational fluid dynamics (CFD).The uses and limitations of CFD will be examined in context and a commercially available CFD package will be used to solve engineering problems and the solutions evaluated.

Advanced Engineering Mechanics(Structures): This module will provide knowledge of advanced engineering mechanics, such as the theory of shells, fracture mechanics, creep, plasticity, buckling, composite structures and matrix structural methods.

Advanced Engineering Mechanics(Dynamics): This module will provide knowledge of advanced engineering mechanics, such as the analysis of the single and multi-degree of freedom systems for general forcing conditions, response spectra and random vibrations.

Specialist Modules (Manufacture)

Maintenance Management: This module provides a comprehensive introduction to the theory and practice of reliability centred maintenance and total productive maintenance strategies. Maintenance has to respond to the increasing pressure to achieve high plant availability and the growing awareness of its effect on product quality, safety and environmental issues. This module examines the main methods for developing a modern maintenance programme in a manufacturing and processing environment.

Manufacturing Management: The underlying philosophy of this module is to take a critical in-depth view of the techniques of Production and Operations Management. It will also examine modern manufacturing technologies such as FMS, CADCAM and CIM. It will also examine how these technologies could be implemented.

Ethics, Safety and Safety Management: This module provides the student with: a good grounding in the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work Act, and regulations made under it. Also covered is a comparison with international safety systems, an understanding of the principles applicable to the safe design and operation of plant and equipment and safe operation in the workplace environment, an understanding of the need for short-term and long-term planning to minimise damage resulting from a major plant or workplace safety failure. and an understanding of ethical working and codes of ethical conduct.

Note: These advanced modules provide the student with an exciting opportunity to gain further expertise in state-of-the-art software within the area of mechanical design and manufacture, including 3D modelling and analysis, and manufacturing simulation and management.

Graduate prospects

Our graduates are appreciated by employers for their career-focused attitudes and socially driven perspectives. With skilled engineers in high demand, you can expect excellent job prospects in the field.

Graduates of the MSc Mechanical Engineering find employment in the oil and gas industry, defence, computer-aided engineering and building. They also work in mechanical design engineering, project engineering, manufacturing engineering and engineering sales.