Best Mechanical Engineering Universities in the UK

As long as their production and design of machines remain consistent, mechanical engineers will always have a place in technological advancement.

Many schools offer degrees in mechanical engineering, but only a few standout. We will see some of the Best Mechanical Engineering Universities in the U.K.

According to Ravindra Jadhav, mechanical engineering is the mother of all engineering.

Be it electrical engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, without mechanical engineering, these branches of engineering are useless.

Our daily life is almost impossible without components that comprise a mechanical parts. The pencil we use is been operated with the help of a simple mechanical design.

So, in this article, we will outline the best mechanical engineering universities in the U.K, why you should study mechanical engineering, and much more.

The table of content clearly outlines all you’ll learn from this article.

Who is a Mechanical Engineer?

Mechanical engineers play a vital role in the automotive, aerospace, biotechnology, computer and electronics, automation, and manufacturing industries.

These professionals design, develop, create, and test all technical devices, tools, engines, and machines.

Mechanical engineers can design and produce everything from small parts like miniature connectors to large machine tools like drill presses.

So, they pick up a product from start to finish ensuring they design for aesthetics, functionality, and durability.

Mechanical engineers can design a range of products, such as; prosthetic devices; disk drives; printers; semiconductor tools; sensors, and gas turbines.

Their understanding of thermodynamics and CAD help them long-term.

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What are the Mechanical Engineering degrees in the U.K?

Mechanical engineering is a vast subject area. Hence, building your focus in a certain area would be best. There are few areas of specialization in mechanical engineering such as;

On the other hand, you can combine your knowledge of mechanical engineering into electrical engineering to form mechatronics.

Check Out: 10 Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in New York

What is the Salary and Job Outlook of Mechanical Engineers in the U.K?

In the UK, starting salaries for mechanical engineers and for those on graduate training schemes are between £20,000 to £28,000.

Additional experience can eventually increase it to between £25,000 and £35,000. Once you operate as a mid-level for lead or principal engineer, your salary is between £35,000 to £50,000.

Once you reach the senior level, such as chief engineer, you can earn as much as £45,000 to £60,000.

There are projections that between 2019 and 2029, there will be at least a 3% increase in the employment of mechanical engineers.

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How Much Does It Cost To Study Mechanical Engineering In the UK?

UK tuition fees have been very unsteady over the past couple of days. Recently, their prices have risen to very high levels for UK and EU students. Now, UK and EU students at English universities have to pay at least £9,250 ($13,050) per year.

In the same vein, international students are incurring higher fees. Today, they have to pay as much as £10,000 ($14,130), excluding those in medical programs which pay higher fees.

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Best Mechanical Engineering Universities in UK | 2024

Picking the best universities in any city and subject is always hard. It demands a lot of research into different ranking factors.

So, we have ranked these universities based on their nature of programs, QS University rankings, and the number of students.

Hence, the top 10 best mechanical engineering universities in the U.K are;

  • The University of Southampton
  • University of Leeds
  • Heriot-Watt University
  • University of Bath
  • University of Bristol
  • The UniversityUniversity of Glasgow
  • University of Strathclyde
  • University of Oxford
  • Imperial College London
  • University of Cambridge

#10. University of Southampton

The University of Southampton Mechanical Engineering program with industry placement will put you on the path to becoming a chartered engineer.

Here, you’ll pick the basics about mechanical design, structures, and materials, then select specialist topics to study.

Furthermore, the Project work throughout the degree allows you to apply your design skills to real-world problems.

In the course, you learn the essential engineering principles in matters such as modeling and computing, systems design, law, and management. All these will be for four years.

You can have extended visits to their design workshops and studios while showcasing your work in their Engineering Design Show. For this and many other reasons, the University of Southampton is one of the best mechanical engineering universities in the U.K.

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#9. University of Leeds

This course offers a wide range of advanced subjects to develop your knowledge across the mechanical engineering disciplines.

This institution strongly advises applying computational methods and packages in mechanical engineering analysis, design, and manufacture to solve complex engineering problems.

So, you can choose from a wide range of modules that allow you to streamline your studies to match your interests or career ambitions.

Researchers will train you in their world-class facilities to enable you to create a breakthrough in your career. So, it’s the perfect chance to build a wide range of knowledge and skills to help you build an exciting and challenging career.

Besides this institute’s advanced CAD facilities for design work, they possess the latest industry-standard software for computational fluid dynamics and finite element modeling of material stress analysis.

So, why should you ignore them? Register to take up a place immediately.

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#8. Heriot-Watt University

Heriot-Watt has an excellent track record of graduate employment in its mechanical engineering program. Indeed, this record has attracted the amazing students that fill their campuses today.

As the high demand for mechanical engineers continues to rise, Heriot-Watt plays a key role in all industrial sectors ranging from aerospace, oil, and gas, through food and transport to manufacturing, chemical, and entertainment industries.

The Guardian University Guide ranks Heriot-Watt mechanical engineering courses 1st in Scotland and top 10 in the UK 2020 and 2nd in Scotland by the 2018 National Student Survey.

Hence, they remain one of the best mechanical engineering universities in the U.K.

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#7. University of Bath

The University of Bath prepares students for rewarding careers in engineering. Indeed, they have a reputation for excellence in teaching, research, and industrial collaboration.

Their courses give you advanced engineering knowledge complemented by practical and transferable skills, and the chance to gain professional experience during your degree.

The mechanical, automotive, aerospace, manufacturing, and design courses. During your undergraduate degree, you must execute a project.

You’ll need to work in teams and individually to develop your skills and use what you learn practically.

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#6. University of Bristol

Mechanical systems ensure our machines work, from satellites to miniature cameras. And Mechanical engineers design and implement practical solutions for these products and processes, making the optimal use of new materials and technologies.

Look no further if you love maths and physics and have a flair for design and creative thinking.

Bristol is the perfect place for you for so many reasons. Apart from their forward-thinking nature and research-driven potential, they also offer personal supervision.

This supervisor or mentor guides you when you seek help throughout your program.

Furthermore, you study abroad using any of the options.

Bristol’s project works and many other opportunities make them one of the top mechanical engineering schools in the U.K. and the world at large.

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#5. University of Glasgow

The University of Glasgow has been delivering world-class engineering education and research for over 150 years as much as they are the oldest School of Engineering in the U.K.

This School provides an enabling research environment with world-leading research groups and a facilion to a vigorous PhD program and a wide variety of research topics. Their research covers a wide range of Engineering subjects.

Most times, they have interactions with biology, chemistry, computer science, medicine, and physics.

Generally, they form part of the Glasgow Research Partnership in Engineering (GRPE).

Because of continuous investment to build internationally excellent research and provide an outstanding learning environment for talented students from all backgrounds, their aim is to maintain this position and improve upon it.

Hence, thereby keeping the status quo as one of the select numbers of institutions regarded as the best in the world.

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#4. University of Strathclyde

Mechanical engineers get a lot of recognition for their knowledge and skills in conceiving, designing, implementing, and operating devices, machines, engines, and energy systems.

Over 60 companies target for graduate recruitment the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Strathclyde.

Hence, you can see that the quality of knowledge they dispense is top-notch.

Currently, they rank 6th in the UK for Mechanical Engineering in the Complete University Guide League Table.

No matter your course, you have a study abroad option available. Hence, Mechanical Engineering with International study guarantees that the international study experience is recognized in the degree award title.

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#3. University of Oxford

The Department of Engineering Science is where engineering is properly taught and well understood.

Every academic staff is committed to a common engineering structure besides advanced work in their own specialties, which include most areas of the subject.

Furthermore, they possess rigid links with computing, materials science, and medicine.

When you’re a student at Oxford, you have a comprehensive view of engineering based on a scientific approach to the fundamentals. Hence, this is part of the tradition that has helped build them for over one hundred years. (valium)

Therefore, they’ve remained relentless in educating great engineers and research at the cutting edge!

Graduates of engineering at Oxford venture into different spaces of occupations – into designing cars, building roads and bridges, creating new electronic devices, producing pharmaceuticals, healthcare, and aerospace, into an additional study for higher degrees and in many other directions.

Hence, they are one of the best mechanical engineering universities in the U.K.

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#2. Imperial College London

Imperial College London is one of the world’s leading centers for studying mechanical engineering in the entire world.

They have a tradition of excellence in certain core areas. These core areas include; research and practice, leadership and teaching.

The mechanical engineering department at ICL has 100 permanent members of staff and around 120 fixed-term research staff.

Generally, they make up the numbers of one of the UK’s leading university departments of Mechanical Engineering. As expansion keeps looming, more staff members could join this number.

This department closely collaborates with industries while gaining the support of the research councils. Hence, they deliver world-class research. For this reason, when you graduate from this school, everyone regards you as a first-class researcher.

Staying in an exciting and encouraging environment, there are over 500 high-achieving undergraduate and postgraduate students.

These students have access to facilities, resources, and the motivation they need to reach their full potential. So, there’s no doubt that ICL is one of the best mechanical universities in the U.K.

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#1. University of Cambridge

Cambridge’s Department of Engineering remains one of the few truly integrated engineering departments worldwide.

Furthermore, it is also the largest department in the University. Its breadth and scale bring a unique advantage others don’t possess.

In this department, their research portfolio shows excesses of world-class excellence, which come together to treat many engineering challenges.

So, graduate teaching seeks to bring students into the heart of the latest research and developments.

Generally, undergraduates build a strong foundation in all engineering disciplines with profound knowledge of their chosen specialist field.

The Department of Engineering grants students, members, and industry partners a highly networked community for sharing and developing engineering knowledge in research, teaching, and graduate study.

Hence, they have the top spot for the best mechanical engineering universities in the U.K.

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FAQs on Best Mechanical Engineering Universities U.K.

Does UK have a high demand for mechanical engineering?

Jobs in construction, manufacturing, tech, and engineering have continued to see strong growth in 2017, with positions in mechanical, electrical, industrial, and civil engineering some of the most in-demand roles in the UK

What university is best for mechanical engineering UK?

Here are the best global universities for mechanical engineering in the United Kingdom
Imperial College London.
The University of Cambridge.
University of Oxford.
The University of Manchester.
The University of Nottingham.
University College London.

Conclusion

Universities like Cambridge and Oxford are the two top universities in the UK in serious competition for the top ten places on the boards. Hence, their standards are impeccable.

As much as these universities are the best, there are still others that are good. And if you feel you don’t like any of the universities listed here, you can also research that area.

Becoming a mechanical engineer in the U.K. will grant you access to many opportunities – nationally and internationally.

So, build up your results, pick up your application form, and get enrolled immediately.

References

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