MECHANICAL ENGINEERING at Canterbury Christ Church University

Mechanical engineers’ contribution to our world is all around us. From the chairs we sit on, the clothes we wear, to utilities to make our environment safe and healthy. We offer a unique learning opportunity as not only has the course been co-designed with local industry, during the course you will have the opportunity to solve problems provided by local industry. Working with your peers and other fields of engineering, you will apply the course theoretical learning to solve industry supplied work related problems, such as using Industry 4.0 technology to manufacture modular homes. You will conceive ideas to solve the problem(s), design your solution, implement your solution and test/observe your solution using the pioneering CDIO approach.

Why study Mechanical engineers?

Mechanical engineers make a vital contribution to a variety of industries by developing, implementing and maintaining engineering solutions that ensure products are manufactured efficiently and to customer’s quality requirements. Mechanical engineers could be involved in work to automate packaging solutions for your favourite biscuits, use energy as efficiently as possible throughout a building at every level, designing mechanical casing for fluid and electric socket fittings on HGV ensuring a male or female HGV driver can hold and plug in the socket. Mechanical engineers ensure systems meet demand, are reliable, integrated and operate smoothly. They are also responsible for many ‘hidden’ functions that keep building services fit-for-purpose. 

We are offering a unique and inclusive learning opportunity with courses that have been co-designed with local industry. Working with your peers and other fields of engineering you will typically have the opportunity to take the course theoretical learning and apply it to solve industry supplied work related/work based problems. You will conceive ideas to solve the problem(s), design your solution, implement your solution and test/observe your solution: CDIO (Conceive, Design, Implement and Observe). We are one of only a handful of universities in the UK to offer the pioneering CDIO international engineering education model and studying in this way offers you an authentic learning experience.

Throughout the degree you will be supported to develop your employability skills and job application skills to apply for placement opportunities. Placement opportunities in engineering often to lead to opening doors to great potential engineering graduate employment opportunities with for example Cussons, EDF, Delphi, Rambol, Berkeley Group, Southeast Water, etc.

What will i study?

Our Mechanical Engineering degrees have a common Year 1 (Level 4) with biomedical engineering and product design engineering degrees. You will be introduced to the fundamentals of engineering science, maths, physics and chemistry, and computer programming. You will gain hands-on learning experiences in the engineering workshops, engineering laboratories and makerspace. 

On all Mechanical Engineering degrees, you will develop your learning through active learning laboratories, engineering laboratories and the use of engineering workshops, makerspace using equipment akin to industrial practice. You will undertake small group projects, typically sourced from industry. We will also facilitate your learning to be able to:

• Work effectively and supportively in diverse and inclusive groups
• Communicate effectively in groups and one to one
• Apply project management to group-work
• Apply principles of commercial management and consideration of wider issues.

On all Mechanical Engineering degrees, at every level, you will undertake a large group project typically, where possible, sourced from industry. At each level these large group projects will provide you with the opportunity to develop your learning in engineering business, practice, and project management. 

In year 1 you will have the opportunity to develop your knowledge and understanding and some application. As you progress to year 2, you will apply your knowledge and understanding to conceive, design, build and operate a solution to a problem. In your third year, you will undertake an individual research and development project that inform the group project and help you to develop and illustrate the ability to critically analyse the application of your knowledge and understanding to solve a problem typically sourced from industry. We will continue to facilitate your learning and good practice in inclusive team working, communication, project and business management skills to the benefit of the group project.   

We also offer a number of four year integrated Masters degrees (MEng). If you are interested in this higher level degree, take a look at the following course pages:

• MEng/BEng Mechanical Engineering (Advanced Manufacture)
• MEng/BEng Mechanical Engineering (Building Services)
• MEng/BEng Mechanical Engineering (Systems)