Department of Mechanical Engineering

mechanical engineering students

Key facts

Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021

1st in the UK (Engineering) – based on the proportion of world-leading research

The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022

2nd in the UK

Imperial has one of the largest and most advanced mechanical engineering departments in the world.

It has a long-standing and well-established international reputation for the quality of its research, which is organised into three divisions:

  • Applied mechanics
  • Mechanics of materials
  • Thermofluids

The Department is one of the most successful in gaining funds for research from government, industry and charities. Much of our research is conducted in collaboration with industry, government establishments and other universities, both in the UK and worldwide.

Creating work that’s useful and has a practical application is our main aim, which is why we have forged close relationships with a range of industries, from those involved in the development of aircraft engines to human knee joints. It is this focus that keeps us motivated to produce new inventions, which have led to the creation of a number of patents and spin out companies through Imperial's technology transfer company, Imperial Innovations.

The Department receives sponsorship from major businesses and organisations such as Airbus, AWE, BASF, British Energy, BP Global Fuels, EDF, EPSRC, Ford, Jaguar Land Rover, Rolls-Royce, Scania, Serco, SKF, and the Wellcome Trust.

Facilities

Our extensive laboratory facilities aid learning and research in every aspect of mechanical engineering. There is a well-equipped PC cluster providing access to a wide range of computer software, particularly for computer-aided design.

Study opportunities

The Department offers a number of study options to help you take your knowledge to the next level.

If you are interested in Doctoral study, it’s important to gain support for your application from your potential supervisor before making a formal application to the College.

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Master's courses

MSc courses

Research programmes

Mechanical engineering student

The Department’s mission is to conduct world class research and respond to changing global requirements by developing new technologies to solve practical problems.

Our research platform is formed by our combined theoretical and experimental approach, backed by our well-equipped experimental and computational facilities. The view that science, engineering and medicine are no longer separate disciplines is the basis for future developments and we expect increasingly rapid changes in technical requirements to lead further towards this multidisciplinary science-based approach.

Much of our research is conducted in collaboration with industry, government establishments and other universities, both in the UK and worldwide. The Department receives sponsorship from major businesses and organisations such as Alstom Power, BP Global Fuels, DaimlerChrysler, EPSRC, Ford, Honda, Innovene, the Ministry of Defence, Rolls-Royce, Siemens and Unilever.

Our research activities have led to the creation of number of patents and spin-out companies through Imperial’s technology transfer company, Imperial Innovations. The Department also hosts, or contributes to, the Centres for: Adhesion, Adhesives and Composites; Ion Conducting Membranes; Vibration Engineering; Railway Research; and Non-Destructive Evaluation.

Areas of world class expertise in mechanical engineering in the Department include dynamics, non-destructive testing, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, materials, combustion, fuel chemistry and tribology.

Applied Mechanics

  • Computational mechanics
  • Design engineering
  • Dynamics Mechatronic systems
  • Medical engineering
  • Non-destructive testing
  • Railway engineering Tribology

Mechanics of materials

  • Adhesives Composites
  • Deformation and fracture of polymers
  • Food technology
  • Materials modelling
  • Metals Nanomaterials

Thermofluids

  • Multiscale flow dynamics
  • Sustainable energy technologies