6855 Mech Eng UG Brochure AW

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Undergraduate study in

Mechanical Engineering

‘Our mission is to educate new

generations of mechanical engineers

that are able to meet and overcome

the challenges of industry and society

by applying science to engineering.’

Professor Hongming Xu

Think. Rethink

School of Mechanical Engineering



2 School of Mechanical Engineering

Contents

About Mechanical Engineering 4

About UBRacing 5

Degrees in the School of Mechanical

Engineering 6

Programme organisation

Years 1 and 2 8

Years 3 and 4 8

Options 8

Table of modules 9

Final year projects 9

Assessment 10Teaching 10

Accreditation 10

Support and feedback 10

Admissions and Requirements

Admissions 11

Deferred entry and sponsorship 11

Scholarships 11

What we want 11

Industrial experience, chartered engineer

status and graduate progression routes

Industrial experience 12Year out placements 12

Vacation work 12

Chartered engineer status 12

Graduate progression routes 12

Graduate employment 12

Postgraduate study 12

University of Birmingham 13

City of Birmingham 14

Contact information 15



3School of Mechanical Engineering

Foreword

This brochure seeks to help you to understand

(if you are not already aware of it) that

mechanical engineering is a professional

discipline as important as medicine – for which

it supplies many solutions in terms of life savingequipment, life enhancing articial limbs, etc,

– and to help you to discover how you can

become a part of this profession of which I

feel personally proud to be a member.

As you read through the brochure you will learn

about the choice of courses we can offer you

and what we expect from you in terms of entry

qualications; be informed about our industrial

partnerships and how they can be of benet

to you; discover a little about how you can

progress after graduation into research and with

whom you should be discussing this possibleprogression route and learn how to achieve

chartered status.

Meanwhile here are a few items about our

School which may be of interest and help you to

form your own conclusions about whether you

would like to come and join us.

About us

The School of Mechanical Engineering

typically has 350 students taking a range of

degree programmes, a further 40 students

taking postgraduate degrees and 80 research

students working towards a doctorate

(PhD). Our academic staff are supported by

a full complement of dedicated technical,

administrative and secretarial staff.

Mechanical Engineering at Birmingham

combines teaching from lecturers who are

internationally renowned and respected expertsin their eld, together with leading edge teaching

facilities and laboratories which will enhance

your learning experience. These facilities include

the vehicle dynamics laboratory, the Micro

Engineering and Nanotechnology Research

Centre, the Future Engines and Fuels Laboratory

and the Machining Research Laboratory.

You could also nd yourself involved in work in

our Automotive Laboratory with the UBRacing

Team, www.ubracing.co.uk which was amongst

the rst UK groups to design, build and race a

car against established teams in the USA andEurope. All of our undergraduates are eligible

to join the racing team. Please see page 5 for

more information.

As a student here you will have access to

120 networked computer workstations, a

dedicated library, a design ofce, a production

facility and a wide variety of teaching spaces

and study rooms.

Industrial training

The School has extremely strong links with

key employers, such as BP, British Aerospace,Jaguar Land Rover, Rolls-Royce and Shell, who

provide projects and work placements for our

students and regularly recruit our graduates. You

will be actively encouraged to assert yourself

in the wider world, if you so wish, by becoming

engaged in schemes which offer 12 month

industrial placements, summer placements

and programmes that offer ‘with industrial year’

options. These will help build your condence

and prepare you for graduate employment.

To help build your practical experience, we have

a Director of Industrial Liaison who works with

our industrial partners to provide sponsorships

and gap year placements. We have extensive

industrial contact through our research and

industrial placement schemes. Please refer to

page 12 for more information about our links

with industry and how this can be of benet

to you.

Chartered status

Our MEng programmes were specically

designed to satisfy the new standards for fullyaccredited engineering degree programmes,

as outlined in the SARTOR 3* documents

published by the Engineering Council. These

four-year Masters degree programmes provide

the breadth and depth of knowledge required

by those who aim to qualify as a Chartered

Engineer (CEng) after graduation.

The development of professional and personal

skills is an integral feature of these programmes.

This has been recognised by full accreditation

by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Three

year BEng programmes are also accredited.Read more about chartered status on page 12.

Please do not hesitate to make contact with

us if you have questions. Contact details appear

at the back of the brochure and our friendly

Admissions Ofce is always willing to help

and inform.

I wish you every success in your future

examinations and look forward to welcoming

you to our School.

Professor Duc PhamHead of School

*SARTOR 3 Standards and Routes to Registration,

3rd ed., Parts 1 and 2, the Engineering Council, 10

Maltravers Street, London WC2R 3ER.

I am pleased that you are showing an interest in mechanicalengineering, it is one of the oldest and most broad based of theengineering disciplines and is of immense importance to society.




‘I have always had

a massive interest

in car design and

engineering. Thecombination of

form and function

is something I’ve

always wanted to

experience in my career, so Mechanical

Engineering forms a great basis to gain

knowledge on the underlying principles

behind designing a car.

‘Birmingham was my rst choice university

for many reasons. Firstly, the department

is exceptional and has fantastic links with

industry that I knew would be incrediblyuseful for establishing contacts and work

after my degree. I love the setting, the leafy

campus and the friendliness of the staff

and students. The course is very relevant to

my interests and the Formula Student team

provides a great incentive to get involved.’

Tom Dawes,

First Year, Mechanical Engineering

(Automotive)

About Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical Engineers make things move. Mechanical Engineersdesign and develop all machines with moving parts – anything fromvehicles like satellites, cars, trains and aircraft to plant for generatingclean power, medical equipment like pacemakers and micro-scalepumps, and machines, such as robots, that make other products.

As an engineering professional you might be

responsible for product design, testing, planning

for protable and high quality production, or the

management of the business.

Engineering is key to many of the issues

affecting our quality of life today. Mechanical

Engineers are engaged in designing

mechanisms to improve vehicle performance,

reduce car emissions and improve fuel

consumption; they are working on solutions

to reduce journey distances and trafc speed

with GPS technology, as well as speeding

up railways and improving their reliability

and comfort. The newest developments in

the eld centre on the manufacture of

microscopic machines.

If you join us, you will benet from a research-

led culture which informs our teaching. There

are three research centres in the School:

Biomedical and Micro Engineering;

Manufacturing Processes, Technology

and Modelling; and Vehicle Technology.

As a student here you could be working with

staff in the Vehicle Technology Research

Centre on the use of hydrogen as a clean fuel,

the mechanics of injury in crashes, and on the

use of new materials to reduce weight.

Exciting developments in the eld of

nanotechnology at Birmingham have resulted in

the design of micro engines which carry 300

times more energy than batteries, but are a

fraction of the size. You can pursue projects to

make micron-scale sensors and engines using

silicon chip technology in our laboratories.

I have always been interested in things that

move and together with my wish to be a part

of developing the world this was what led

me to Mechanical Engineering. As well asproviding an excellent education one of my

priorities as an international (EU) student

was to study at a University that promoted

international exchanges. When I visited the

University, I fell in love with the campus and

its atmosphere and I knew that Birmingham

was the right place for me.

Jenny Freij,

First Year, Mechanical Engineering




About UBRacing

The competition combines the need for

innovative engineering, careful project

management and organised teamwork in order

to see the production of a working prototype.

UBRacing, the University of Birmingham team,

started competing in 1998. They have built

a car every year since, travelling all over the

world competing in the various different series

of Formula Student. In recent years, the team

has focused on the UK competition, supported

by the IMechE and held at Silverstone and the

German competition, held at Hockenheim.

Unlike other universities, the project is purely

an extra-curricular activity and solely managed

by the students themselves. The benets of

undertaking such a challenging task are endless.

The core challenge of Formula Student is to build a single-seater racing car in order to compete in a series of tests,against other universities, which showcases the vehicle’sperformance in different scenarios.

When applying to

the University of

Birmingham for my

degree theopportunity of being

part of the Formula

Student team was a

big deciding factor.

Considering the university’s previous

success, the longstanding history and most

importantly, the fact they allowed students to

join from early on in their university lives

made it stand out above other universities. I

joined the team during Fresher’s Week and

during my rst year I learnt all the necessary

skills to become a useful member of the team

in building the Formula Student car. Havingnot done much practical work since before

GCSEs, that rst year was great to get me

up to speed and develop my practical skills.

The highlight of the year was going to my rst

competitions at the end of the year at

Silverstone and Hockenheim.

For my 2nd and 3rd years I have taken on

larger roles in the team that have seen me

design parts for the car, lead other students

in the team, take an active role in the

administration of the team and work with

many sponsors from around the country.

Being part of UBRacing has given me a taste

of what working in industry is like; working to

budgets, schedules, design restrictions,teamwork and also long hours.

In my nal year, I hope to do my Final Year

Project on an area of the car, the reward of

seeing the work that I do for my degree come

to fruition and compete against students from

around the world is a unique thrill that only

Formula Student can offer.

Above all being part of the Formula Student

team brings you into a group of friends who

will stay with you for many years, friends not

just from the University of Birmingham butfrom teams all around the world. Whilst every

team wants to do their best, the camaraderie

between the competitors is outstanding, with

everyone willing to help those in trouble with

their cars during the competition. Formula

Student is simply the most thrilling,

exhilarating, rewarding and interesting

experience you can get as an Engineering

student at the University of Birmingham.

Andrew Mather, 3rd Year MEng Mechanical

Engineering with Automotive

I have been the

UBRacing Faculty

Advisor for over

3 years and truly

believe that being

part of the team

gives students

an invaluable

opportunity to make industry contacts

and have a literal ‘hands-on’ approach toengineering. It encourages

the students to take on tasks outside

their main discipline, such as business

plans, design and public relations. It also

teaches good time management skills as

students need to t in the running and

management of UBR alongside studying

towards their degrees.

Dr Karl Dearn

Lecturer and Director of Industrial Liaison

As Team Leader

of UBRacing, I’m

challenging myself

every day. On a

Formula Student

project like this you

get the opportunity

to put what you

learn in the

classroom into practice. The skills you learn

from being part of this dynamic team makestudents well-rounded engineers with a

greater understanding of what goes into

developing a product and managing a

project. It’s not just about building a

racecar; students have to manage all

aspects of the project themselves including

working with companies to gain sponsorship.

It gives the students a great insight into the

industry they will soon be a part of.

Amy Collin

3rd Year MEng Mechanical Engineering




Degrees in the School of Mechanical Engineering

MEng – Mechanical Engineering (H301)BEng – Mechanical Engineering (H300)MEng – Mechanical Engineering (Automotive)(H330)BEng – Mechanical Engineering (Automotive)(H302)MEng – Mechanical Engineering with Industrial Year (H303)

Style of programmes

All our programmes are accredited and reect

the strength and longevity of our industrial

partnerships, we take a practical approach

and produce graduates who are attuned tothe professional environment and are highly

procient in engineering design and

development. Our programmes are founded on

a rm basis of engineering science, but we do

not adopt an intensely theoretical attitude. For

example, the majority of our lecture courses

are linked with design projects or laboratory

experiments so that you can experience the

application of theory to real-life situations.

You can also choose to follow one year of

your studies at an overseas university, either

in Europe or Japan if you have the necessary

language skills, or in the USA, Canada orAustralia with our partner institutions.

Aims and Objectives

The formal aim of these programmes is to

provide professionally accredited courses that

are of comparable standard to those being

offered by other leading European universities.

The Mechanical Engineering course is

designed to suit the needs of a high-quality

student intake and to produce graduates with

the requisite skills and knowledge to create

products that can compete successfully inglobal markets.

The Mechanical Engineering (Automotive)

course provides a thorough background in

Mechanical Engineering together with a

specialisation in automotive engineering.

It, also, is designed to suit the needs of ahigh-quality student intake and to produce

graduates with the requisite skills and

knowledge to develop and implement

new automotive technologies.

In addition, both courses aim to produce

graduates who can communicate effectively,

who possess the skills and competencies

needed for industrial management, and who

have the ability to further their professional

development by personal research or study.

Within this framework, the programmes aredesigned to meet well-dened, industrially

relevant objectives so that by the end of your

studies you will:

p Have a sound understanding of the

mathematics and physical sciences relevant

to Mechanical Engineering and be adept in

their application

p Understand the total design process; from

initial interaction with the client, through

product specication, design, analysis

and development

p Understand the theoretical and practicalaspects of specifying and designing tests

and be able to interpret results in relation

to component or system design

p Understand the technical and organisational

characteristics of the manufacturing process,

and appreciate the relationship between

manufacturing and mechanical design

p Be able to adapt, if you become one of

our Mechanical Engineering students, to

technical and organisational change by

having the ability to expand your skills

and knowledge

p Have the communication skills to promoteideas effectively in a professional environment

As a Mechanical Engineering (Automotive)

student you will have a strong theoretical and

practical understanding of automotive

technology, including the design of body

shells and powertrains.




You will attend lectures and tutorials that are

balanced by a wide variety of case studies;

this diversity of delivery is designed to stimulate

your interests and motivation. All programmes

have engineering science and design ascore elements.

In engineering science you will learn how to

adapt and apply ideas from mathematics and

physics to optimise the performance of any

type of machine.

You will also acquire techniques for analysing

the motion of mechanisms so that you can

specify the correct force and power

characteristics. You will learn methods for

determining the ow of energy in uids and

how this information can be used inengineering applications. All engineers are

designers and that is the main reason

companies employ them – and so courses

in design are key to all our programmes.

Starting from a short course in design theory,

skills are developed mainly through individual

and group project work.

The nal component of your course depends onthe programme of study. There is the opportunity

in your nal year to select four modules of study

from eight that are offered, allowing you to follow

your specic engineering interests.




Programme organisation

Our degree programmes are organised ina two-tier manner.

Years 1 and 2

All Mechanical Engineering programmes share

the rst two years, which are designed to help

students orientate themselves towards

professional engineering and focus on

developing fundamental knowledge which is

delivered in coherent modules in an integrated

manner. This brings out the relationships

between concepts and provides a framework

that facilitates deep understanding and

competence. Links are formed across modules,often by means of projects, to emphasise the

holistic nature of engineering. A wide range of

lectures, laboratories and projects consolidate

relevant areas of A Level mathematics and

physics in relation to mechanical design. The

breadth of this background will permit you to

change engineering specialism at the end of

the second year, should you wish to do so.

In the rst year your studies are linked together

through your design classes where you will

devise machines such as a small engine or a

vehicle. In your academic studies, you will beintroduced to the skills and knowledge that all

engineers require. We ensure that your skills

and abilities build progressively to allow you to

develop all the skills needed to become a

Professional Engineer.

You will work on:

p Analytical Methods where you will continue

to improve your mathematical, statistical and

computing techniques and learn how

to model real systems

p Mechanical Power where you will study

heat, power and uid ows and investigatehow heat can be used to generate

mechanical power and how liquids and

gasses can be used in machines

p Applied Mechanics where you will learnabout mechanisms and control and how

to determine how strong a component is

and how it might break, and how

mechanisms operate

p Manufacturing Technology where you study

how things are made and how production

is managed

p Design where you carry out projects

with other students to plan and design

new products

Also in your rst year you will undertake

workshop training which is sponsored by BP.

Our course design aims to avoid the

fragmentation of knowledge, which is a

drawback of the modular approach. Each

major topic is taught as an integrated ow of

learning that will provide you with a framework

into which you can place new concepts or

techniques. The goal is to ensure a smooth,

well-organised accumulation of knowledge

as each module proceeds.

Mechanical Power provides a good example

of this approach. Starting from conceptsestablished at A level, lectures are used to

present the fundamental laws governing the ow

of uids and energy. These are illustrated by

engineering applications that often link up with

laboratory experiments. For example, in the early

weeks of study, you will acquire the theoretical

tools to make a rst, rough estimate of engine

performance. Then go on to test real engines in

the laboratory, so that you can compare and

contrast results.

Building on such fundamental concepts, you

will progressively expand your knowledge toencompass more advanced topics, such as

heat transfer, combustion and uid ow. Thus,

by the end of the second year, you will have

acquired a rm understanding of the theory,design and operation of a wide range of

equipment that involves the generation,

use or transmission of power.

Links are formed between modules so as to

emphasise the holistic nature of engineering. In

this respect, the Design related modules occupy

a central role by providing projects that draw

upon the full range of theoretical and practical

knowledge. A range of group and individual

projects is offered, many involving problems

suggested by our industrial collaborators, eg, the

deconstruction of a modern sports car (eg, AstonMartin) to learn about the materials and design.

Years 3 and 4

Depending on which degree you are taking,

in later years you will get to select a programme

which suits your interests either as a Mechanical

Engineering student, or builds upon your

personal interests in Automotive Engineering

if you take Mechanical Engineering (Automotive).

This will provide you with the opportunity to

follow your personal interests, within the context

of a broadly based programme of study. Strong

links are formed with our research programmesthrough the range of modules available to

ensure that our undergraduates benet from

developments at the leading edge of their

chosen eld.

All students also carry out a major group

design project to develop a new product,

looking at all parts of the product development

including the legal and business aspects. The

top four projects are put forward to a BP

design competition in which the winning team

are hosted for a day by BP at one of their UK

facilities. Previous winners have attended BP’sWytch Farm oil renery, the largest on-shore oil

eld in Europe and the BP Technology Centre

in Pangbourne.

We ensure that your skills and abilities build

progressively to allow you to develop all the

skills needed to become a professional

Engineer. You work on improving your

mathematical, statistical and computing

techniques; studying heat, power and uid

ows; learning about mechanisms and control;

studying Manufacturing Technology and how

production is managed; and carrying outmechanical design projects with other students.




Stage 1Year 1 Certicate Level

Stage 2Year 2 Intermediate Level

Stage 3Year 3 Higher Level

Stage 4Year 4 Masters Level

Semester 1 Semester 2 Semester 1 Semester 2 Semester 1 Semester 2 Semester 1 Semester 2

Mechanics 1 Mechanics 2 Mechanical Design B Computational

Geometry**

Advanced

Mechanics**

Thermodynamics, Fluids and Heat

Transfer

Themodynamics and Fluids Powertrain and Vehicle Engineering Biofuels and

Combustion**

Advanced

Thermal

Systems**

Mechanical Design and

Professional Skills

Mechanical Design A Design and Professional Skills 3 Advanced

Vehicle

Engineering**

R&D in

Manufacturing

Processes**

Engineering Mathematics 1 Engineering Mathematics 2 Control

Engineering

CFD and FEA Process

Modelling**

Micro Electro

mechanical

Systems**Properties and

Applications of

Materials

Electrical.

Electronic and

Computer

Systems

Industrial Skills Sustainable

Energy and the

Environment

*MEng: Turbo-

Machinery and

Compressible

Flows

Synoptic Mechanical Engineering

Experiments and Statistics

Experiments and Statistics 1 Manufacturing

Systems

Engineering

Mechatronics *MEng: Engineering Maths A+B

BEng: Individual Engineering Project

(30 credits)

Individual Engineering Project

(60 credits)

Computing for

Engineers

As well as the engineering topics you will

also learn the professional and businessskills required by modern industry. These

professional skills, such as time management,

oral and written presentation, effective team

working and prociency in IT are fostered

through individual and group projects that

are embedded in all programmes.

Industrial lectures from BP and Atkins are

provided to support this activity. In the third

year the fundamentals of engineering are

used to explore the subject areas with a more

problem solving based focus. For example you

continue with Mechanical Design where youundertake project work to design a gearbox

that might be used for an aero-engine. In

addition talks from companies such as

Rolls-Royce, Jaguar Land Rover and Aston

Martin provide an insight into industrial design

projects. MEng students continue with the

more advanced development of their

engineering mathematics, whereas BEng

students will undertake an individual

engineering project.

In addition, we help students become more

active in managing their own professionaldevelopment. Team building is an important

aspect and all students have the opportunity to

attend a three-day team-building course held at

the University’s facilities in the heart of the Lake

District. Whilst hard work, all students who

attend the course nd it invaluable both for

completing their chosen course and in their

later working lives.

Options

As a Masters level (MEng) student, in your nal

year you will be given options to study topics

reecting the School’s research interests and

also emerging engineering topics. These options

are designed to allow you to focus on your

chosen area of specialism.

If you are studying Mechanical Engineering, in

your nal year of study you will be given the

opportunity to choose from options including

Advanced Mechanics, ComputationalGeometry and R&D in Manufacturing

Processes; amongst others.

If you join Mechanical Engineering (Automotive)

as an MEng student, in your nal year the

Biofuels and Combustion, and Advanced

Vehicle Engineering modules are compulsory.

You will also have the opportunity to choose

a range of other Automotive and Mechanical

Engineering options, including Advanced

Thermal Systems, and Advanced Mechanics,

amongst others.

Final Year Projects

Your nal year project forms a signicant part of

your nal year. The projects range in type from

purely experimental laboratory based projects to

ones that solely make use of our extensive

simulation and modelling software.

They vary in topic from designing new articial

joints to the thermodynamic modelling ofengines. Many projects are dened by industry

and Formula student team members can also

undertake projects based on the racing car. The

project gives you the chance to use your own

initiative and apply the skills and knowledge

learnt during your degree programme.

To summarise, we have adopted an approach

that is designed to provide continuity and

coherency that will help you to acquire a deep

understanding of each new topic by placing it in

its wider context. We believe this strategy will

challenge and motivate you, improve your overalllearning experience and enhance your

attractiveness to employers.

*BEng – two modules dropped to enable students to take a 30 credit project.**optional modules (shaded modules are compulsory for the automotive programme)

Mechanical testing of hip resurfacing implant

Sam Aghayan, Final Year Mechanical

Engineering Student




Programme organisationContinued

Assessment

Our assessment procedures provide a useful

reection of our teaching style. We award credit

under three headings:

p Examinations for lecture courses

p Continuous assessment for various kinds

of project work

p Laboratories for hardware and computer-

based courses

Early years are dominated by examination as youconcentrate on the underpinning engineering

principles. As you move into later years the

increased emphasis on project work shifts the

balance towards continuous assessment.

Teaching

The breadth of topics is matched by a diversity

of teaching methods. For example, all the

engineering science courses rest on a foundation

of three teaching methods: lectures to deliver the

main concepts and techniques; laboratories that

link with lectures to foster practical skills and

demonstrate standard equipment andprocedures; and computer labs to illustrate the

way in which computer-based methods are used

to facilitate design, analysis and manufacture and

to develop the corresponding skills.

Changes in the business and workingenvironment have also inuenced our teaching

style. It has become clear that graduates

cannot rely on formal education to provide

all the skills and knowledge needed to carry

them through their careers. Instead, they must

acquire information on an on-going basis if they

are to maintain the exibility and timeliness

required by an increasingly uid labour market.

Thus, ‘learning how to learn’ has become an

integral part of our programmes. Time,

resources and support are allocated so that

students can develop their learning abilities

to the point where they can formulate theirown private research or study needs.

Our teaching benets from strong links with

our research programmes. Research has long

been recognised as the ‘engine of change’

that keeps degree programmes alive with new

ideas and expertise. In recent years, research

has also become a major source of leading-

edge laboratory and computing equipment,

which are quickly fed into our teaching

programmes. The breadth of our activities

brings benets in terms of the nancial and

physical resources that we have at ourdisposal. For example, we are able to nance

a rolling cycle of computer equipment upgrades

and regular refurbishments to our laboratories.

Support and feedback

A number of mechanisms have been developed

for providing you with academic and personal

support. Equally, feedback channels have

been established so that you can comment

on the organisation, content and quality of

your programmes.

Several types of personal support are provided.Approximately one-third of the lecture courses

are reserved for tutorial sessions in which you

will be encouraged to assess your progress by

reference to a graduated set of exercises. Thecourse lecturer and other academic staff are on

hand to deal with problems on an individual

basis. In addition, a dedicated support team is

available during specied hours to give support

to the key subject of mathematics.

You will be assigned a personal tutor whose

role is to provide advice and guidance via

regular, informal meetings. The tutor-tutee

relationship is maintained over the duration of

the programme to ensure continuity of support.

Each year group has a member of staff who

acts as the programme director. Their role is toliaise between students and staff to resolve any

academic issues that affect the group rather

than individuals.

A Staff-Student Liaison Committee, which you

might like to get involved with, meets every four

to six weeks to discuss issues relating to

teaching and general organisation. It operates

on a formal basis: two representatives are

elected to serve on the committee from each

year of students. Two student representatives

are also elected onto the Teaching committee,

which oversees the development of syllabi andmakes formal recommendations about course

changes, stafng and other resource issues.

Finally, the student body elects representatives

to serve on the School Staff-Student Committee.

Design of a surgical instrument for the

removal of bladder tumours.

‘A nal year project allows students to

immerse themselves completely into a

year’s worth of research of their own

particular interest where they can express

their depth of engineering knowledge. I

learnt a great deal from my design project

ranging from the design process for

biomedical products to the current issues

with the removal of bladder cancer and

possible ways of improving the instruments

and method for surgery. I also witnessed

the current method of surgery rst hand

at QEH Birmingham.’

Spencer Barnes

Final Year Mechanical Engineering Student

Accreditation

The Mechanical Engineering programme is

fully accredited to both MEng and BEng level

by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

Note that, under the IMechE’s revised

regulations, those reading for a three-yearBEng must take an additional year of

education (a so-called Matching Section)

before qualifying for CEng status.

Following its accreditation inspection, the

IMechE review panel commented on: the

programme’s high academic standards; the

clear links with research; the high quality of

the student body; the investment in support

facilities (especially in IT); the approach to

teaching professional skills; the provision of

small-group tutorials; and various aspects of

the personal support given to students.




Admissions, scholarships andrequirements

Please use the appropriate entry below on yourUCAS application form.

BIRM B32 H301 MEng/ME

BIRM B32 H300 BEng/ME

BIRM B32 H330 MEng/MEA

BIRM B32 H302 BEng/MEA

BIRM B32 H303 MEng/MechEng

BIRM B32 HJ53 MEng/MMEng*

BIRM B32 HJ35 BEng/MME*

(*We teach programmes HJ35 and HJ53 jointly

with the School of Metallurgy and Materials who

administer the programmes.)

Admissions

If you are offered the BEng programme at

the point of entry, there is an opportunity to

upgrade to the MEng if you meet the relevant

progression requirements at the end of your

second year of study.

The entry on the UCAS application does not

nally commit you to a specic programme within

the School of Mechanical Engineering. Instead,

we invite you to discuss your needs and interests

with our staff to ensure that you have chosen theoption that is most appropriate for you.

We run a Mechanical and Materials Engineering

course (HJ53 and HJ35 above), jointly, with

the School of Metallurgy and Materials which

allows you to study half of the Mechanical topics

and half of the Materials Engineering modules.

You are trained to exploit the properties of

new strong materials to design products like:

ultralight brake disks, carbon-bre sports

equipment and bio-compatible replacement

hip joints. Application to this course is made

through the Admissions Ofce of the Schoolof Metallurgy and Materials and their contact

details appear at the back of this brochure.

Deferred entry and sponsorshipWe value the experiences gained by students

who wish to take an industrial or gap year

before entering university. Students who obtain

industrial sponsorship may need to defer their

entry for a year. If you wish to do this, simply

continue with the standard UCAS admissions

procedure but write to the Undergraduate

Admissions Tutor once you are sure that

deferment is required.

We will contact UCAS and the university

administration on your behalf and make all

the necessary arrangements. A place on thefollowing year’s course will be reserved for

you, so you need take no further action.

Scholarships

The School of Mechanical Engineering is

offering 10 First Class scholarships which

are awarded for academic excellence. These

are to reward the highest achieving students

entering the School in autumn 2013. There are

nine scholarships worth £2500 and a tenth

scholarship for the highest achieving student

worth £5000. These are one-off payments.

There is no special application process forthe scholarships – awards will be made by

the decision of a scholarship panel held in the

School of Mechanical Engineering after the start

of the autumn semester 2013. Full terms and

conditions of the 2013 rst class scholarship

scheme will be available on the School website

from September 2012 along with details of

other scholarships. Please go to:

www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/mechanical-

engineering/undergraduate/scholarships/

index.aspx

Students following programmes in Metallurgyand Materials are offered alternative

scholarships by that School.

The College of Engineering and PhysicalSciences offers Excellence Scholarships worth

£5000 and these are paid each year for the

life of the degree as long as excellence in your

work is maintained. These scholarships are

competitive and to gain one you must provide

A*AA grades or above and be nominated by

your course tutor.

The University offers other scholarships which

you might be eligible to receive. Please go

to www.birmingham.ac.uk/students/fees/

undergraduate/funding/index.aspx

What we want

Number of A levels required: 3

Typical offers: AAA (4 year MEng course –

360 tariff points). AAB (3 year BEng course

340 tariff points).

For Mechanical and Materials Engineering:

Requirements as for the courses mentioned

above.

Required subjects and grades: A level

Mathematics (which must include mechanics

elements 1 and 2 – if not, Physics must be

offered) and a science (Physics preferred butChemistry, Design and Technology or Further

Mathematics are acceptable); other science A

levels may be considered.

General Studies: Not considered.

Students who just miss the grade requirements

for MEng study will be automatically considered

for a place on the BEng programme

International Baccalaureate Diploma: IB BEng

35–36 MEng 36–38 points, must include

Mathematics at HL grade 6 (students with

Mathematics SL grade 7 will be considered onan individual basis for BEng entry) and Physics

at HL grade 6.

We assess all UCAS applications individually

to determine your eligibility, and so qualications

under other examination systems may also

be acceptable.

The possibility exists for Home/EU students

who do not have the appropriate qualications

for direct entry into one of the accredited

degree programmes to qualify to study on the

Foundation Year, H391. However, please notethat the University is making changes to the

way these courses are currently organised, and

applicants for 2013 onwards should contact the

School for advice.




Industrial experience, Chartered Engineerstatus and graduate progression routes

Industrial experience

We believe that industrial training and

experience are a vital component of every

student’s professional development. As part

of our continuing commitment to providing a

balanced education, we will help you to gain

experience or sponsorship with an industrial

company as either an industrial year or summer

placement student during the course, if this is

what you are looking for.

We offer the services of a Director of Industrial

Liaison, whose role is to help you and yourfellow students to forge links with industry

by providing opportunities for vacation work,

year-out placements, sponsorships, etc, and

to act as a ‘match-maker’ to bring together

nal year students and recruitment staff from

suitable companies.

These companies include Jaguar, Cadbury’s,

the BBC, Unilever, Rolls-Royce, JCB, Kodak,

Siemens, Mercedes High Performance

Engines, Delcam and Airbus. BP are also

one of our key industrial links and provide

sponsorship of our workshop training modules,a BP design challenge competition and also

guest lecturers in industrial professional skills.

We also invite companies to enrich our

teaching by contributing to seminars, live

projects and case studies.

Opportunities for both year out and vacation

placements are advertised openly on the

School’s industrial liaison notice board, and

are available to all qualifying students.

Year out placementsA number of our students opt to take a year out

with an engineering company. You may take a

year out either between years 2 and 3 or years

3 and 4 of your degree programme. As well as

benetting from a period of approved and paid

employment, with all the usual entitlements of

the job such as paid leave, networking, etc,

(the exception being a pension plan) your

degree programme will change to have the

additional words ‘with industrial year’ added to

the title, in recognition of your efforts. This type

of placement qualies you towards one year

of your graduate training period. Without therelevant industrial experience during your time

as a student, you will be required to take the

full two year’s training in industry on graduation

in order to achieve chartered status.

During the industrial year you will retain yourundergraduate status with us, even though you

are in employment, and will continue to benet

from being a member of this University at a

reduced level of student fees.

The aim of this activity is not simply to provide

paid work but to ensure that its nature

and quality are commensurate with your

professional development. A key element is to

ensure that students and companies are well

matched, maximising both parties’ experience.

Vacation work It is possible for you to work for the same

employer each vacation if you prefer, and if

the jobs are available there. However, vacation

work has the potential to offer a variety of paid

work experiences because it opens up the

opportunity for you to work for more than one

company over the lifespan of your degree.

Previous students who have done this have

found it benecial when trying to decide which

company will suit their requirements best when

they enter the job market. It is not unusual for

our students to be in receipt of two or more

job offers on graduation and having this kind ofexperience can help with nal career choices.

Chartered Engineer status

You should aim to achieve Chartered Engineer

(CEng) status. This professional qualication

recognises the completion of a formally

recognised programme of education, a period

of structured training and the tenure of a

position of responsibility.

Graduation from the University of Birmingham

will satisfy the rst of these requirements, sinceall our degrees are accredited by the Institution

of Mechanical Engineers.

We can also help you to achieve a signicant

part of the second requirement, by providing an

appropriate year-out placement or opportunities

for high-quality vacation work (see previous

section on industrial experience). The nal

element, responsibility for a major project,

can only be accomplished after graduation.

Graduate progression routes

Graduate employment

All programmes are designed to produce

graduates who are organised, numerate, good

at problem solving and have a wide range

of professional skills to complement theirtechnical abilities. These qualities, plus the

prestige of a degree from a leading World

Class University, make our graduates attractive

to companies in nance, consultancy and

commerce, as well as those in the engineering

sector both in the UK and abroad.

The University provides an award winning

employability programme, the Personal Skills

Award (PSA) exclusively for undergraduate

students. Endorsed by a range of employers,

the award gives students the opportunity to

develop and articulate extra-curricula skills toenhance their employability opportunities.

Postgraduate Study

As long as you achieve a 2:1 or higher class of

degree, this will open up opportunities for you

to gain a doctorate by joining a research group

either in this University or elsewhere. If research

is one of your goals, you are advised to seek

out and have discussions with PhD students

who are already studying the area of research

of interest to you, and to discuss your interest

with the academic leading the research group.

If you are unsure of the research areas availableto you, you should make an appointment with

the Postgraduate Admissions Tutor via the

Postgraduate Ofce.

‘It was only when I started my placement

at Nissan that I found out how challenging

and fun it could be to use what I had

learned so far in my courses at University.

The experience was denitely the right

choice for me as it helped to shape my

vision towards what, as a mechanical

engineer, I want to do in future’

Sina Khansari 1 year placement at Nissan Technical Centre




The University

About the UniversitySituated in the heart of England, the University

of Birmingham grew out of the old Mason

College and was founded on its present

site over 100 years ago. The campus sits

within 250 acres of parkland and is largely

self-contained with lawns, trees and a lake

in the centre of the Vale where students are

accommodated in halls of residence. It has a

long tradition of discovery, invention and design

across all of the major academic subjects. The

University has strong links with industry and is

one of the top six UK universities that industry

targets when seeking new recruits.

The University’s ve colleges have an academic

population of 18,124 undergraduates, 6,101

postgraduates (taught), 2,606 postgraduates

(research), 1,500 students on short courses

and 1,674 exchange students. It has over

2,000 teaching and research staff and over

3,500 academically-related staff. Almost 70%

of our undergraduates receive a rst or upper-

second class degree every year.

The University has a turnover of approximately

$685 million per year (c.£434 million), makingit the 8th largest local employer and provider of

approximately 10,000 graduates annually.

Teaching and Research

Our students are offered teaching from

academics who are global experts in their

eld, and access to excellent study facilities

(including one of the UK’s largest academic

libraries). We invest an impressive £1 million

each week on developing the campus and

improving our students’ learning experience.

Student LivingThe student villages offer a range of

accommodation, where you can choose from

single-study bedrooms, with shared facilities, or

have your own en-suite bathroom. If you preferto cook for yourself, opt for a self-catered

at with a communal living room and kitchen.

Alternatively, choose a meal-plan room, where

your meals are provided. Around a ten-minute

walk from the main campus, the main halls of

residence site is the Vale, where the residences

are located in landscaped parkland overlooking

a lake. The Vale provides a safe and secure

environment and a focus for student life, as well

as all the amenities that you will need, including

launderettes, shops, cafes and unlimited internet

access in all rooms. First-year accommodation

is guaranteed to those applicants who make theUniversity of Birmingham their rst choice on

their UCAS application forms.

The Guild of Students

The hub of undergraduate student life is the

Guild of Students, Birmingham’s students’

union. The Guild was one of the rst students’

unions in the country and its mission is to

‘enhance the student experience’. More

than 160 student groups and societies are

supported by the Guild of Students, covering

all areas of interest from Manga to Motor

Racing and guaranteeing a packed calendarof social events to enhance your student life.

You can also get involved in our student

radio station, BURN FM, or the student

newspaper Redbrick.

The College of Engineering and

Physical Sciences

The College has nine Schools teaching

Chemical Engineering; Chemistry; Civil

Engineering; Computer Science; Electronic,

Electrical and Computer Engineering;

Mathematics; Mechanical Engineering;

Metallurgy and Materials; and Physicsand Astronomy.

Of its 4,698 students, 3,394 are undergraduates;527 postgraduate (taught) and 777 postgraduate

(research). The College has 772 staff comprised

of 263 academic teaching staff; 108 professional

and 132 support staff; and 269 research

fellows/associates.

Location

Birmingham is at the centre of the road and

rail network and the University of Birmingham

is ten minutes by train from the centre of the

city. There is a railway station on campus.

Forty per cent of our graduates choose to stay

in the region following graduation becauseBirmingham is a condent, modern commercial

centre and home to the largest nancial district

outside London and it offers them

great opportunities for advancement.

Sport and the arts

Sport is central to life at the University and our

reputation for sporting excellence is reected

in our consistent top three ranking in British

inter-varsity sport. University of Birmingham

Sport brings together some of the best sports

facilities in the country, professional coaching

and imaginative programmes to offer a rangeof sporting opportunities to suit all tastes and

ability levels.

Music is also a distinctive part of Birmingham

life. The University has two symphony

orchestras, a Big Band, a number of choirs, a

symphonic wind band and a brass ensemble.

A regular programme of public performances is

staged in the concert hall at the Barber Institute

of Fine Arts. The School of Music is soon to

have its own purpose-built home in a wing of

the Aston Webb Building in Chancellor’s Court.

The Bramall building will be completed in 2012.

Birmingham is simply the best!

Birmingham is a place thatenhances your learningexperience by its up to datefacilities, helpful lecturersand staff and above all it hasa friendly environment.

Mehrnoosh Salehi KhoujinMEng Student School of Mechanical Engineering




The City of Birmingham

The City

Around £9 billion has been ploughed into the

city centre over the past 20 years and

Birmingham continues to attract signicant

investment. The landscape of the area haschanged, and stylish apartments and ofces

have replaced factories and warehouses. An

astounding £800 million and 8,000 jobs were

brought into the City of Birmingham’s economy

through the construction of the Bullring

shopping centre alone.

Entertainment, arts and culture

Famous for its industrial past, Birmingham has

also long been noted for its cultural heritage.

The Hippodrome, Alexandra and Birmingham

Repertory Theatres between them stage touring

dramas and West End shows, ballets, operas,pantomimes and stand-up comedy.

In addition to theatres, there is an excellent

choice of cafes and restaurants providing

culinary experiences from a variety of cultures,

most notably in the Balti Triangle and the

Chinese Quarter. There are museums, cinemas,

nightclubs, pubs and wine bars in abundance.

If you like live entertainment, then take your

pick from comedy clubs, local music gigs

and top shows at Birmingham’s principal

theatres. The National Exhibition Centre andthe National Indoor Arena regularly showcase

star names from the worlds of Rock, Pop and

Sport. The world famous City of Birmingham

Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) has its home

in Symphony Hall.

Sport

Birmingham is home to Premier League football

clubs Aston Villa and Birmingham City and in

recent years it has staged more sporting

championships than any other UK city. TheWarwickshire County Cricket ground, close to

the University in Edgbaston, regularly hosts test

matches and international tournaments including

the Cricket World Cup. The city also boasts

many golf courses, including The Belfry, which

has hosted the Ryder Cup four times. In the

summer of 2012 Birmingham will be the home

base and training venue for the USA and

Jamaican Olympic athletics teams.

Shopping

Bullring shopping centre is Europe’s largest

city retail development and includes the

award-winning, iconic, Selfridges building.

The Mailbox development houses a wide rangeof designer chains, including Harvey Nichols.

Birmingham hosts four major markets, as

well as all the principal chain stores. There

is also a wealth of smaller shops and retail

centres, where you can nd everything from

fresh herbs and spices for authentic international

dishes, to hand-crafted jewellery made in the

Jewellery Quarter.

The Heart of England

Located in the heart of the country, Birmingham

has so much to offer visitors. With Warwickshire,the Malvern Hills and the Ironbridge Gorge all

nearby, you are never more than a short drive

from some of the UK’s most scenic countryside.

Birmingham is at the centre of the motorway, rail

and canal network, with its own international

airport – you can get almost anywhere in the

world from here.

There are three key attractions to Birmingham; its culture andentertainment, the retail experience, and its location at the heartof some of the UK’s most beautiful countryside.




www.birmingham.ac.uk This brochure was written several months in advance of the start ofthe academic year. It is intended to provide prospective students witha general picture of the programmes and courses offered by the School.Please note that not all programmes or all courses are offered everyyear. Also, because our research is constantly exploring new areasand directions of study some courses may be dropped and newones offered in their place.

Contact information

Mechanical Engineering Programmes

Mechanical Engineering (Automotive)

Programmes

AdmissionsThe Admissions Tutor

Dr Carl Anthony


University of Birmingham

Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT

Tel: +44 (0)121 414 4230

Fax: +44 (0)121 414 3688

Email: [email protected]

Web: www.birmingham.ac.uk/mechanical

Industrial Experience

Director of Industrial LiaisonDr Karl Dearn


Tel: +44 (0)121 414 4190

Fax: +44 (0)121 414 3688


Mechanical and Materials Programmes

Admissions Tutor

Dr Mark Ward

School of Metallurgy and MaterialsUniversity of Birmingham

Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT

Tel: +44(0)121 414 5235


University of Birmingham

Tel: +44 (0)121 414 3344

Fax: +44 (0)121 414 3971

Web: www.birmingham.ac.uk/materials

Please note that this document is provided for

information only and does not form part of anycontract. We regularly update our programmes,

organisation and facilities. Please contact the

Admissions Tutor for up-to-date information.

Please contact us if we have missed any points that are ofparticular interest to you. For enquiries concerning courses, UCASprocedures, accommodation, deferment or any related issue, pleasecontact the Admissions Tutor. For further information about ourindustrial links and how to make use of them to your advantage,please contact our Director of Industrial Liaison.

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U n i v e r s i t y o f B i r m i n g h a m 2 0 1 2 . P r i n t e d o n a r e c y c l e d g r a d e p a p e r c o n t a i n i n g 1 0 0 % p o s t - c o n s u m e r w a s t e .

College of Engineeringand Physical SciencesEdgbaston, Birmingham,B15 2TT, United Kingdom

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