MSc — 2024 entry Advanced Mechanical Engineering
Our Advanced Mechanical Engineering MSc degree delves into specialised areas within the broader field of mechanical engineering. Practical skills are at the heart of this course, which is designed to train you to become a professional mechanical engineer who can create solutions that are safe, efficient and sustainable.
Why choose
this course?
Please note a £7,500 Engineering Excellence fee waiver Award is available to international students joining the course in September 2024*.
Designing mechanical engineering systems to meet society’s grand challenges requires technical and creative skills. Industrially-relevant and practical skills are at the heart of this course, which is designed to train you to become a professional mechanical engineer who can create solutions that are safe, efficient and sustainable.
Engineering is about interpersonal skills as well as technical expertise, and on this course you will learn through doing. You will spend the majority of your time on group and individual projects, developing your communication, collaboration, creative and critical thinking skills – equipping you well for the demands of an applied job in industry.
The need for highly skilled professional engineers is a global challenge that’s independent of geo-political borders. This course has a strong design thread which requires you to work in groups, exposing you to multiple viewpoints and encouraging you to develop arguments which nurture your appreciation for the bigger global picture. Individual projects will further enhance your awareness of engineering ethical considerations.
What you will study
This course focuses on real-world challenges and practical project work, which reflects the type of work you’ll progress on to as a professional mechanical engineer. Alongside studying taught modules, you will spend eight months on a group project and three months on an individual project, both of which are aimed at solving real-life industrial problems.
You will get the chance to build your expertise in topics such as advanced stress analysis, advanced manufacturing, structural integrity and finite element analysis, sustainable materials, renewable energy, environmental aerodynamics and spacecraft structures. You will also develop your digital skills, learning how to use the latest industry-standard design and solid mechanic modelling software, and analysing data using machine learning models and presenting your findings.
Facilities
You’ll have access to industry-standard facilities including our:
- State-of-the-art Design Centre equipped with industry-standard design software
- Materials testing and characterisation laboratories
- Mechatronics and robotics laboratories
- Wind tunnel facilities including an environmental wind tunnel – unique within the UK – and high-quality instrumentation
- A lab-scale wind energy turbine with strain gauges and monitoring sensors.
The course begins with an eight-month group project completed in parallel with four taught modules. Of these four taught modules, two are compulsory and you will choose a further two from a portfolio of six modules, allowing you to tailor your training to suit your career aspirations. The course concludes with a three-month full-time individual project in a topic of your choice.
The structure of our programmes follows clear educational aims that are tailored to each programme. These are all outlined in the programme specifications which include further details such as the learning outcomes:
Modules
Modules listed are indicative, reflecting the information available at the time of publication. Modules are subject to teaching availability, student demand and/or class size caps.
The University operates a credit framework for all taught programmes based on a 15-credit tariff.
Course options
Year 1
Semester 1
Compulsory
As engineers it is important to avoid structure or component failure due to overloading or excessive deflection, and stress analysis is the way of assessing such conditions. This module extends the stress analysis delivered in earlier years to cover advanced topics to provide the student with a comprehensive range of skills. This includes increased complexity due to component shape (non-symmetric sections, plates) and stresses caused by loading conditions not previously considered in detail (pressure, torsion and shear forces). Many structures, components and forms of loading are too complex to obtain exact solutions for. In such cases Energy methods can often be used to provide approximate solutions, enabling the engineer to carry out structural assessment. The module shows how energy methods can be used to find the response of structural systems to static loads. A key element of the module is problem solving, thus developing students' resourcefulness. Efficient mechanical design, covering a full range of engineering materials, facilitates lightweighting, and in this way supports a sustainability agenda.
View full module detailsOptional
Nearly all flows encountered in engineering practice are turbulent, so it is critical that engineers have an understanding of the complexities of turbulence and the difficulties in modelling it for design purposes. This module therefore builds on earlier modules in aerodynamics, providing an introduction to the fundamental physics of turbulent flows and existing approximate and semi-empirical techniques for modelling turbulence in CFD. The module also provides an overview of experimental techniques for characterizing turbulence, and the importance of experimental validation.
View full module detailsThe module provides students with a theoretical and practical understanding of how business strategy can be formulated in the light of environmental and internal conditions with a particular emphasis on the international context of strategy making. The module equips students with a framework for understanding international business strategy as an interdisciplinary activity within the context of international and competitive markets, leading to corporate decision-making.
View full module detailsSemester 2
Compulsory
The module covers the principles of linear elastic and elastic plastic fracture mechanics and their application to predicting the performance of different materials and associated structural components under short-term and long term loading. Further the concepts and principles underlying finite element stress analysis and its application are presented. Students digital capabilities are developed throughout this module including some basic data handling and programming skills, specifically using mathematical formulae and functions, including: variables, assignments, operators, built-in functions and plotting, Matlab scripts, and functions. A key element of the module is problem solving, thus developing students' resourcefulness. Efficient mechanical design, covering a full range of engineering materials, facilitates lightweighting, and in this way supports a sustainability agenda.
View full module detailsThe design of mechanical systems requires technical and creative skills to deliver engineering solutions for society’s grand challenges. Within this context, engineers must operate in a responsible and ethical manner, recognise the importance of diversity, and help ensure that the benefits of innovation and progress are shared equitably and do not compromise the natural environment or deplete natural resources to the detriment of future generations. In this module students will work to tackle an engineering challenge, drawing on relevant technical skills, and present a final technical outcome.
View full module detailsOptional
The human race is transiting from an era of material plenty where material supply and disposal has not been an issue. With the global population now exceeding 7.7 billion, and with rising global affluence and increased environmental awareness, it is evident that this era is now coming to an end. Sustainable use of materials means living in this altered environment, where our society is reliant on water, energy and materials in order to maintain quality of life, without compromising that of future generations. This module will build on earlier modules to provide a deeper understanding of materials extraction and processing, product design, manufacturing and materials recovery in the context of sustainability. Alongside this it will equip participants with tools to quantifiably evaluate the materials, manufacturing and design choices made with respect to their environmental and sustainability impact.
View full module detailsThis module offers an introduction to industrial aerodynamics and wind engineering, covering applications of aerodynamics to areas beyond the classical aerospace ones. Particular focus is given to the main characteristics of natural winds, concentrating on four aspects: Meteorology and the atmospheric boundary layer Wind power aerodynamics Pollutant dispersion in the atmosphere Building aerodynamics The above applications are designed to introduce students to wider applications of aerodynamics not covered elsewhere in the aerospace and mechanical engineering programmes.
View full module detailsExpected prior learning: N/A Module purpose: Spacecraft can range from small unmanned microsatellites through to large complex manned craft such as the international space station. Structure is the physical platform that supports and integrates sub-systems and payloads. As such, it is of fundamental importance for any spacecraft. Through a series of lectures and exercises, this module gives the students an understanding of the issues that must be addressed in the design and analysis of spacecraft structures and mechanisms.
View full module detailsAn introduction to the technology and concepts that underpin the design of intelligent vehicles. The module begins with an introduction to intelligent vehicle technologies and their subsystems, such as sensors, perception, and localisation. It then proceeds to cover the design of intelligent vehicle decision-making systems, which includes mission planning, behavioral planning, and motion planning. The latter part of the course delves into the design and implementation of control and prediction systems for intelligent vehicles. The final lecture introduces advanced topics in intelligent vehicle design.
View full module detailsSemester 1 & 2
Compulsory
The design of mechanical systems requires technical and creative skills to deliver engineering solutions for society’s grand challenges. Within this context, engineers must operate in a responsible and ethical manner, recognise the importance of diversity, and help ensure that the benefits of innovation and progress are shared equitably and do not compromise the natural environment or deplete natural resources to the detriment of future generations. In this module students will work collaboratively in small groups to tackle an engineering design challenge, drawing on relevant technical skills, and present their final design concept.
View full module detailsGeneral course information
Contact hours
Contact hours can vary across our modules. Full details of the contact hours for each module are available from the University of Surrey's module catalogue. See the modules section for more information.
Timetable
New students will receive their personalised timetable in Welcome Week. In later semesters, two weeks before the start of semester.
Scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week (Monday – Friday), with part-time classes normally scheduled on one or two days. Wednesday afternoons tend to be for sports and cultural activities.
View our code of practice for the scheduling of teaching and assessment (PDF) for more information.
Location
Stag Hill is the University's main campus and where the majority of our courses are taught.
We offer careers information, advice and guidance to all students whilst studying with us, which is extended to our alumni for three years after leaving the University.
This course has been specifically designed to meet an industry need. Around 80 per cent of UK manufacturing and production companies reported engineering shortages in 2022 (British Chambers’ Quarterly Recruitment Outlook) which means there is a huge demand for graduates with advanced skills in applied engineering.
Surrey’s employment figures have been among the best in the UK over the last decade. In the Graduate Outcomes 2023, HESA, results show that 90 per cent of our postgraduate students in mechanical engineering sciences go on to employment in graduate-level destinations or further study.
Recent graduate employers include some of the most famous names in engineering, aerospace, energy, manufacturing and research, such as:
- Lockheed Martin UK
- Jaguar Land Rover
- ExxonMobil
- JCA Engineering
- Gordon Murray Design
- Manufacturing Technology Centre.
A minimum of a 2:2 UK honours degree, or equivalent, with a strong project performance* or relevant industrial experience, in a relevant engineering discipline (mechanical, aerospace, automotive, materials, biomedical, civil, chemical, or manufacturing engineering) or a recognised equivalent international qualification.
* An example of suitable project experience includes involvement in group design, research, or laboratory projects, with a consistent track record of achieving high scores, typically exceeding 60%, in relevant assessments.
English language requirements
IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall with 6.0 in writing and 5.5 in each other component.
These are the English language qualifications and levels that we can accept.
If you do not currently meet the level required for your programme, we offer intensive pre-sessional English language courses, designed to take you to the level of English ability and skill required for your studies here.
Recognition of prior learning
We recognise that many students enter their course with valuable knowledge and skills developed through a range of ways.
If this applies to you, the recognition of prior learning process may mean you can join a course without the formal entry requirements, or at a point appropriate to your previous learning and experience.
There are restrictions for some courses and fees may be payable for certain claims. Please contact the Admissions team with any queries.
Fees per year
Explore UKCISA’s website for more information if you are unsure whether you are a UK or overseas student. View the list of fees for all postgraduate courses.
September 2024 - Full-time - 1 year
- UK
- £10,900 per year
- Overseas
- £23,900 per year
- These fees apply to students commencing study in the academic year 2024-25 only. Fees for new starters are reviewed annually
- Annual fees will increase by 4% for each subsequent year of study, rounded up to the nearest £100, subject to any overriding applicable legislative requirements.
Payment schedule
- Students with Tuition Fee Loan: the Student Loans Company pay fees in line with their schedule (students on an unstructured self-paced part-time course are not eligible for a Tuition Fee Loan).
- Students without a Tuition Fee Loan: pay their fees either in full at the beginning of the programme or in two instalments as follows:
- 50% payable 10 days after the invoice date (expected to be early October of each academic year)
- 50% in January of the same academic year.
- Students on part-time programmes where fees are paid on a modular basis: cannot pay fees by instalment.
- Sponsored students: must provide us with valid sponsorship information that covers the period of study.
The exact date(s) will be on invoices.
Funding
You may be able to borrow money to help pay your tuition fees and support you with your living costs. Find out more about postgraduate student finance.
Scholarships and bursaries
Discover what scholarships and bursaries are available to support your studies.
Apply online
To apply online first select the course you'd like to apply for then log in.
Select your course
Choose the course option you wish to apply for.
Sign in
Create an account and sign into our application portal.
Please note that we may have to close applications before the stated deadline if we receive a high volume of suitable applications. We advise you to submit your application as soon as it is ready.
ApplyAdmissions information
Once you apply, you can expect to hear back from us within 14 days. This might be with a decision on your application or with a request for further information.
Our code of practice for postgraduate admissions policy explains how the Admissions team considers applications and admits students. Read our postgraduate applicant guidance for more information on applying.
About the University of Surrey
Need more information?
Contact our Admissions team or talk to a current University of Surrey student online.
Terms and conditions
When you accept an offer to study at the University of Surrey, you are agreeing to follow our policies and procedures, student regulations, and terms and conditions.
We provide these terms and conditions in two stages:
- First when we make an offer.
- Second when students accept their offer and register to study with us (registration terms and conditions will vary depending on your course and academic year).
View our generic registration terms and conditions (PDF) for the 2023/24 academic year, as a guide on what to expect.
Disclaimer
This online prospectus has been published in advance of the academic year to which it applies.
Whilst we have done everything possible to ensure this information is accurate, some changes may happen between publishing and the start of the course.
It is important to check this website for any updates before you apply for a course with us. Read our full disclaimer.