BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering 48 months Undergraduate Programme By Heriot-Watt University |TopUniversities
Subject Ranking

# 201-250QS Subject Rankings

Programme Duration

48 monthsProgramme duration

Tuitionfee

25,808 GBPTuition Fee/year

Scholarship

6Scholarships

Programme overview

Main Subject

Engineering - Mechanical

Degree

BEng

Study Level

Undergraduate

Study Mode

On Campus

The BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering encourages you to think creatively to solve the world's biggest challenges. From energy efficiency to tools for microsurgery, there is a need for mechanical engineers across a huge range of industries.   

The undergraduate degree will equip you with a sound basis in theoretical engineering principles and methods and their application in the context of design and analysis. You’ll apply your subject knowledge and problem-solving skills to develop innovative solutions to the current and emerging problems facing society. You’ll have the opportunity to build and develop your professional network through industrial visits, and an optional industrial placement which, upon completion, will result in you being awarded a Diploma in Industrial Training (DIT). Throughout the programme, you will engage in hands on and practical work, and apply your learned theory. This will ensure you gain the practical skills demanded by industry.  

During the programme, you’ll gain a broad knowledge of the core components in Mechanical Engineering Sciences and practices, studying modules including but not limited to mechanics, fields and forces, electrical engineering, mathematics, mechanical engineering, design and manufacture, fluid mechanics, mechanics of materials, thermodynamics, and sustainable development. You’ll have the opportunity to choose a handful of specialist engineering units to tailor your studies to your personal subject interests, and career ambitions.  

In response to current industry changes and emerging trends, your learning will be built around the core concept of sustainability. You’ll learn how to engineer solutions that are environmentally, financially, and socially sustainable. Some examples include: 

  • designing turbines to generate electricity from geothermal or nuclear sources, 
  • creating heat pumps to replace gas boilers for a more efficient alternative, 
  • increasing the efficiency and performance of aircraft and transport, 
  • and improving medical engineering and nanotechnology. 

Beyond gaining the fundamental knowledge of mechanical engineering, you’ll develop key transferable skills to set you up for a successful career in industry. By working both independently and across multidisciplinary teams on projects and assignments, you’ll gain key team working, professional presentation, and technical writing skills. You’ll explore key topics in business to develop insight global issues such as product life-cycle sustainability and financial viability. 

You’ll have the opportunity to study an additional year, and progress onto the MEng Mechanical Engineering. This is the standard route toward a Chartered Engineering professional qualification. 


Our Expertise

Heriot-Watt has recently been ranked first in Scotland for General Engineering (The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2023). 


Your learning will be informed by the expertise of our research-active mechanical engineers and academics.  


96% of Heriot-Watt University’s engineering research was classed as world-leading in the REF 2021 review, which ranked us 1st in Scotland and 3rd in the UK for engineering research through a joint submission with the University of Edinburgh. 


Our BEng Mechanical Engineering is directly informed by the world class research carried out by Heriot-Watt’s Mechanical, Process and Energy Engineering (IMPEE) research institute which focuses on promoting excellence across four main research themes: 


  • Biomedical Engineering 
  • Digital Engineering 
  • Energy Harvesting and Conversion 
  • Multiphase Flow 


The research relevance of this undergraduate programme ensures your studies remain cutting-edge and industry focused. 


Your Learning Environment

The BEng Mechanical Engineering programme is taught though a combination of lectures, tutorials, and laboratory practicals, allowing you to get to know and build relationships with your teaching staff, academics, and peers. You will be assessed by coursework, exams, and your dissertation, and will receive support and feedback throughout the programme.  


During your studies, you’ll benefit from and have access to our specialist equipment, software and laboratories used by professional mechanical engineering, including machining and manufacturing facilities, an air conditioning unit, Marcet Boiler, high speed wind tunnel rig, wind tunnel for fluid mechanics and aerodynamics, 3D printer, and a uniaxial testing machine. You’ll gain experience in using the equipment, which you can use to benefit your studies, inform and develop your academic assignments, and use for extra-curriculum and personal projects. You will have the opportunity to work on real-world problems, and work across disciplines to deliver practical solutions with global impact in our state-of-the-art GRID facility.   


Outside of the classroom, you can apply your learnt knowledge and skills to a number of Mechanical Engineering related societies including: 


  • CanSat in which you can build a satellite the size of a drink can and have the opportunity to complete at the AAS CanSat Competition,  
  • HWRacing to build and compete a car at the world famous Formula Student Competition at Silverstone, 
  • Aero-Watt to build a fully autonomous plane for the IMechE UAS challenge,  
  • and IMechE Railway Challenge team where you’ll build a small scale locomotive to compete in the national challenge.  


Societies provide a great opportunity to meet likeminded people, get involved in regular social events and networking events, and gain insights into career prospects in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, and other relevant industries. 


Accreditation


This programme is accredited by IMechE.  

Students completing an IMechE accredited degree are deemed to have met part or all of the academic requirements for registration as a Chartered or Incorporated Engineer and are in a strong position to move on to achieve professional engineering status after a period of initial professional development in industry.  

Programme overview

Main Subject

Engineering - Mechanical

Degree

BEng

Study Level

Undergraduate

Study Mode

On Campus

The BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering encourages you to think creatively to solve the world's biggest challenges. From energy efficiency to tools for microsurgery, there is a need for mechanical engineers across a huge range of industries.   

The undergraduate degree will equip you with a sound basis in theoretical engineering principles and methods and their application in the context of design and analysis. You’ll apply your subject knowledge and problem-solving skills to develop innovative solutions to the current and emerging problems facing society. You’ll have the opportunity to build and develop your professional network through industrial visits, and an optional industrial placement which, upon completion, will result in you being awarded a Diploma in Industrial Training (DIT). Throughout the programme, you will engage in hands on and practical work, and apply your learned theory. This will ensure you gain the practical skills demanded by industry.  

During the programme, you’ll gain a broad knowledge of the core components in Mechanical Engineering Sciences and practices, studying modules including but not limited to mechanics, fields and forces, electrical engineering, mathematics, mechanical engineering, design and manufacture, fluid mechanics, mechanics of materials, thermodynamics, and sustainable development. You’ll have the opportunity to choose a handful of specialist engineering units to tailor your studies to your personal subject interests, and career ambitions.  

In response to current industry changes and emerging trends, your learning will be built around the core concept of sustainability. You’ll learn how to engineer solutions that are environmentally, financially, and socially sustainable. Some examples include: 

  • designing turbines to generate electricity from geothermal or nuclear sources, 
  • creating heat pumps to replace gas boilers for a more efficient alternative, 
  • increasing the efficiency and performance of aircraft and transport, 
  • and improving medical engineering and nanotechnology. 

Beyond gaining the fundamental knowledge of mechanical engineering, you’ll develop key transferable skills to set you up for a successful career in industry. By working both independently and across multidisciplinary teams on projects and assignments, you’ll gain key team working, professional presentation, and technical writing skills. You’ll explore key topics in business to develop insight global issues such as product life-cycle sustainability and financial viability. 

You’ll have the opportunity to study an additional year, and progress onto the MEng Mechanical Engineering. This is the standard route toward a Chartered Engineering professional qualification. 


Our Expertise

Heriot-Watt has recently been ranked first in Scotland for General Engineering (The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2023). 


Your learning will be informed by the expertise of our research-active mechanical engineers and academics.  


96% of Heriot-Watt University’s engineering research was classed as world-leading in the REF 2021 review, which ranked us 1st in Scotland and 3rd in the UK for engineering research through a joint submission with the University of Edinburgh. 


Our BEng Mechanical Engineering is directly informed by the world class research carried out by Heriot-Watt’s Mechanical, Process and Energy Engineering (IMPEE) research institute which focuses on promoting excellence across four main research themes: 


  • Biomedical Engineering 
  • Digital Engineering 
  • Energy Harvesting and Conversion 
  • Multiphase Flow 


The research relevance of this undergraduate programme ensures your studies remain cutting-edge and industry focused. 


Your Learning Environment

The BEng Mechanical Engineering programme is taught though a combination of lectures, tutorials, and laboratory practicals, allowing you to get to know and build relationships with your teaching staff, academics, and peers. You will be assessed by coursework, exams, and your dissertation, and will receive support and feedback throughout the programme.  


During your studies, you’ll benefit from and have access to our specialist equipment, software and laboratories used by professional mechanical engineering, including machining and manufacturing facilities, an air conditioning unit, Marcet Boiler, high speed wind tunnel rig, wind tunnel for fluid mechanics and aerodynamics, 3D printer, and a uniaxial testing machine. You’ll gain experience in using the equipment, which you can use to benefit your studies, inform and develop your academic assignments, and use for extra-curriculum and personal projects. You will have the opportunity to work on real-world problems, and work across disciplines to deliver practical solutions with global impact in our state-of-the-art GRID facility.   


Outside of the classroom, you can apply your learnt knowledge and skills to a number of Mechanical Engineering related societies including: 


  • CanSat in which you can build a satellite the size of a drink can and have the opportunity to complete at the AAS CanSat Competition,  
  • HWRacing to build and compete a car at the world famous Formula Student Competition at Silverstone, 
  • Aero-Watt to build a fully autonomous plane for the IMechE UAS challenge,  
  • and IMechE Railway Challenge team where you’ll build a small scale locomotive to compete in the national challenge.  


Societies provide a great opportunity to meet likeminded people, get involved in regular social events and networking events, and gain insights into career prospects in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, and other relevant industries. 


Accreditation


This programme is accredited by IMechE.  

Students completing an IMechE accredited degree are deemed to have met part or all of the academic requirements for registration as a Chartered or Incorporated Engineer and are in a strong position to move on to achieve professional engineering status after a period of initial professional development in industry.  

Admission Requirements

6+
29+
Standard entry requirements
  • Highers AABB (over two sittings). Must include Maths and one of Physics or Engineering Science, with one required subject achieved at A.
  • A-Levels BBC- ABB. Must include Maths and Physics, with both achieved at B.
  • International Baccalaureate 29 points. Must include Maths and Physics, with both achieved at Higher Level 5.
  • BTEC Extended Diploma DMM. Must be in a relevant Engineering subject including sufficient Maths and Physics.
  • HNC A in graded unit. Must be in a relevant Engineering subject including sufficient Maths and Physics. All HNCs must include Engineering Maths 1 and one of Engineering Maths 2 or 3.
  • HND AB / BA in graded units. Must be in a relevant Engineering subject including sufficient Maths and Physics. All HNDs must include Engineering Maths 1 and one of Engineering Maths 2 or 3.

Year 2

  • Advanced Highers AB. Must include Maths and one of Physics or Engineering Science (plus Year 1 Higher requirements).
  • A-Levels BBB to include Physics and Maths.
  • International Baccalaureate 34 points. Must include Maths and Physics, with both achieved at Higher Level 6.
  • BTEC Extended Diploma not available.
  • HNC not available.
  • HND AA (standard entry) or AB / BA (minimum offer eligible only). Must be in a relevant Engineering subject including sufficient Maths and Physics. All HNDs must include Engineering Maths 1, 2, 3 and 4.
  • Global College Successful completion of our Engineering with Accelerator Programme.

Year 3

  • Entry to Year 3 is only available via our associate student partnership college route.

4 Years
Sep

Tuition fees

International
25,808 GBP

Scholarships

IMechE Scholarships (for Mechanical Engineers)

IMechE Scholarships (for Mechanical Engineers)
Master Bachelors Open

Value

$21800

Deadline

31 Aug 2026

Application requirements

QS Event Attendance is NOT required

Entry requirements

You must be admitted to this school to be awarded

Norway Early Bird Scholarship

Norway Early Bird Scholarship
Bachelors Master Open

Value

$6000

Deadline

1 May 2026

Application requirements

QS Event Attendance is NOT required

Entry requirements

You must be admitted to this school to be awarded

International Merit Scholarship

International Merit Scholarship
Bachelors Master Open

Value

$2000

Deadline

30 Jun 2026

Application requirements

QS Event Attendance is NOT required

Entry requirements

You must be admitted to this school to be awarded

Heriot-Watt University Expenses Bursary

Heriot-Watt University Expenses Bursary
Bachelors Master Open

Value

$525

Deadline

31 Aug 2026

Application requirements

QS Event Attendance is NOT required

Entry requirements

You must be admitted to this school to be awarded

Heriot-Watt Sports Scholarships

Heriot-Watt Sports Scholarships
Master Bachelors Open

Value

25% tuition fee waiver

Deadline

31 Jul 2026

Application requirements

QS Event Attendance is NOT required

Entry requirements

You must be admitted to this school to be awarded

Americas and Europe (Non-EU) Scholarship

Americas and Europe (Non-EU) Scholarship
Bachelors Master Open

Value

$5000

Deadline

15 Jun 2026

Application requirements

QS Event Attendance is NOT required

Entry requirements

You must be admitted to this school to be awarded

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