Mechanical Engineering BEng (Hons)

Modules

• Year 1 at Sussex

  Your modules

  Core modules

  Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.

  Autumn teaching

  • Electrical Circuits & Devices
  • Engineering Maths 1A
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Programming for Engineers

  Spring teaching

  • Engineering Maths 1B
  • Engineering Mechanics
  • Engineering Thermodynamics
  • Technical Drawing and Computer Aided Design

  Intersemester Week

  • Global Design Challenge

  Your degree

  Year 1 is shared across our Engineering degrees and gives you a strong foundation in the core principles underpinning modern engineering. The common first year helps you make an informed decision about your future specialism matching your interests, strengths and career aspirations.

  You’ll develop practical engineering and design skills, and fundamental knowledge in:

  • mathematics
  • programming
  • mechanics
  • electrical systems
  • materials
  • thermofluids.

  A highlight of the year is the strong emphasis on hands-on and cross-subject learning through laboratory activities, design challenges and project work. You’ll gain experience with industry-standard software and equipment, and also begin to develop professional engineering skills. These include teamwork, communication, problem-solving and digital literacy, while gaining experience with industry-standard software and equipment.

  Teaching

  Teaching methods typically include lectures as well as practical and laboratory sessions.

  

  55%: Lecture
  45%: Practical

  Assessment

  Assessment methods typically include unseen and computer-based examinations; laboratory, project and group reports; video submissions and practical coursework activities.

  Contact hours and workload

  This year of study includes approximately 1,200 hours of work. This breaks down into about 410 hours of contact time and about 790 hours of independent study.

  Engage and actively participate throughout your studies to get the most out of your course.

• Year 2 at Sussex

  Your modules

  Core modules

  Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.

  Autumn teaching

  • Design for Manufacture
  • Engineering Fluid Mechanics
  • Engineering Mathematics 2
  • Principles and Applications of Strength of Materials

  Spring teaching

  • Electromechanics
  • Numerical Modelling and Engineering Simulations
  • Professional and Managerial Skills
  • Systems Analysis and Control

  Your degree

  In Year 2, you’ll:

  • study applied AI in engineering – a vital skill for future engineers
  • explore more topics including electromechanics, thermofluids, and strength of materials
  • gain skills in engineering simulations and design for manufacture using industrial software
  • start to develop your professional skills.

  Teaching

  Teaching methods typically include lectures as well as practical and laboratory sessions.

  

  60%: Lecture
  40%: Practical

  Assessment

  Assessment methods typically include examinations and report (group written or practical), presentation, software exercise, project, multi-choice question and portfolio.

  Contact hours and workload

  This year of study includes approximately 1,200 hours of work. This breaks down into about 370 hours of contact time and about 830 hours of independent study.

  Engage and actively participate throughout your studies to get the most out of your course.

• Experience Year

  Study abroad (optional)

  Apply to study abroad – you’ll develop an international perspective and gain an edge when it comes to your career. Find out where your course could take you

  If your application to study abroad is successful, you’ll have to meet the academic requirements at Sussex and also at the partner university. Find out more about studying abroad as a Sussex student

  Placement (optional)

  To help you gain experience and increase your employability, you can apply for an optional placement as part of your course. You’ll be responsible for applying for and securing your placement. Our dedicated careers team can provide you with information and advice. If you’re successful in obtaining a placement, this will form part of your course.

  On placement in an engineering or technology-related organisation, you’ll have the opportunity to apply your technical knowledge and practical skills to real engineering projects. This will help you develop your confidence, professional communication and understanding of engineering practice in industry.

  During your placement, you’ll be supported by an academic mentor who will provide guidance and feedback as you reflect on your professional and technical development.

  Teaching methods typically include workplace learning, professional practice and independent reflective activities supported by your employer and academic mentor.

  Assessment methods typically include reflective reports and professional development activities based on your placement experience.

  Find out more about placements and internships

  Please note that if you’re receiving – or applying for – USA federal Direct Loan funds, you can’t transfer to the version of your course with an optional study abroad period in any country or optional placement in the USA if the number of credits for the placement/internship exceeds 25% of the total credits for your course. Find out more about American Student Loans and Federal Student Aid

• Year 3 at Sussex

  Your modules

  Core modules

  Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.

  Autumn and spring teaching

  • Individual Project

  Autumn teaching

  • Business and Project Management
  • Design of Mechanisms and Machines

  Spring teaching

  • Heat Transfer

  Options

  Alongside your core modules, you can choose options to broaden your horizons and tailor your course to your interests. This list gives you a flavour of our options, which are kept under review and may change, for example in response to student feedback or the latest research.

  While it’s our aim for students to take their preferred combinations of options, this can’t be guaranteed and will be subject to timetabling. Options may be grouped and if so, students will be able to choose a set number of options from the selection available in any particular group.

  Autumn teaching

  • Dynamics of Machines & Vehicles
  • Low Emission Vehicle Propulsion

  Spring teaching

  • Electrical Drive Systems
  • New Generation Vehicle Technology
  • Sustainability in Engineering

  Your degree

  In Year 3, you’ll:

  • explore topics such as business and project management, and sustainability in engineering
  • have the opportunity to choose modules that align with your interests – this could include design of mechanisms, heat transfer and materials, and electrical drive systems.

  Central to this year is an individual project. In your project, you’ll explore an engineering problem in depth, from conceptualising, planning and management to dissemination.

  Teaching

  Teaching methods typically include lectures, seminars as well as practical and laboratory sessions.

  

  45%: Lecture
  5%: Seminar
  50%: Practical

  Assessment

  Assessment methods typically include examinations and report; group written report; presentation; oral, media and computer-based exam. 

  Contact hours and workload

  This year of study includes approximately 1,200 hours of work. This breaks down into about 340 hours of contact time and about 860 hours of independent study.

  Engage and actively participate throughout your studies to get the most out of your course.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2026/27. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.

We’ll do our best to provide as much optional choice as we can, but timetabling constraints mean it may not be possible to take some module combinations. The structure of a small number of courses means that the order of modules or the streams you choose may determine whether modules are core or optional. This means that your core modules or options may differ from what’s shown here.