MEng Mechanical Engineering with Nuclear Engineering and a Year in Industry
Specialise in nuclear engineering and complete a 12-month industrial placement in this professionally accredited integrated Master’s degree.
Key information
Award
MEng
Duration
5 years
full-time
Applications : admissions ratio
10.5 : 1
Based on 2020 entry data
- UCAS course code: n/a*
- ECTS: 300
- Start date: October 2022
- Department: Department of Mechanical Engineering
- Campus: South Kensington
* Apply initially for MEng Mechanical Engineering (H301)
Overview
Our Mechanical Engineering degrees emphasise the development of skills needed by the twenty-first century graduate engineer:
- imagination
- creativity
- intellectual agility
- the ability to work in multidisciplinary teams
Study programme
All of our Mechanical Engineering courses start with the same two core years of intensive engineering science. You attend lectures, tutorials and laboratory sessions in areas including:
- thermofluids
- materials
- mechanics
- mechatronics
- stress analysis
- design
You practise sketching by hand, use computeraided design (CAD) to produce solid models and industry-standard technical drawings, and create the blueprints for your own designs.
You also develop your manufacturing skills in hands-on workshop sessions, and bring your designs to life through a ‘design, make and test’ group project.
Specialist modules in nuclear engineering
Specialist teaching delivered by the Departments of Chemical Engineering, Materials and Mechanical Engineering in years three and four cover topics such as an introduction to nuclear energy, nuclear chemical engineering, nuclear materials, thermodynamics and energy, and nuclear reactor physics. This course provides a foundation for employment in nuclear or related industries.
Industrial placement
You complete a paid industrial placement after your second year. This is not only a great way to put the skills you have learned into practice, it may also contribute to the professional development requirement of gaining Chartered Engineer status (see Professional Accreditation below).
You will be expected to help the Department organise your placement, however, you will have the support of the Year in Industry Coordinator. Securing a placement is competitive, so you may need to apply to multiple employers and take part in recruitment activities such as interviews.
Students from the Department have previously completed placements with:
- Red Bull Technology Limited
- McLaren
- Mercedes
The employer can often be in a location of your choice – including outside the UK – as long as you are successful in obtaining a position there and the placement is approved by the Department.
Industry links
We intensively engage with industry to ensure that our courses are relevant to the profession.
You will also benefit from access to facilities and equipment that match those used in industry. These include Instron machines for testing the strength of engineering materials, and microcontroller kits for testing the performance of mechatronic systems.
Student teaching workshop
Our teaching facilities are complemented by our exceptionally well-equipped student workshop, which contains both manual and CNC subtractive and additive manufacture machine tools. You will use these extensively in the manufacture and assembly of your project work, using a wide variety of materials.
Transfer between courses
All students should apply initially to MEng Mechanical Engineering.
Students interested in one of the other courses within the Department should then apply to transfer at the appropriate time during the course (selection criteria may apply).
Transfer during the second or third year
- MEng Mechanical with Nuclear Engineering
- MEng Mechanical Engineering with Nuclear Engineering and a Year in Industry
Transfer at the end of the third year
- MEng Mechanical Engineering with a Year Abroad
Transfer during the fourth year
- MEng Mechanical Engineering with a Year in Industry
- MEng Mechanical Engineering with a Year in Industry and a Year Abroad
If you are an international student, transferring to a different course could have an impact on your student visa. Please visit our International Student Support webpage for further information.
Structure
Find out more about the limited circumstances in which we may need to make changes to or in relation to our courses, the type of changes we may make and how we will tell you about them.
Year 1
Core modules
- Design and Manufacture 1
- Fluid Dynamics 1
- Materials 1
- Mathematics and Computing 1
- Mechanics
- Mechatronics 1
- Professional Engineering Skills 1
- Stress Analysis 1
- Thermodynamics 1
Year 2
Core modules
- Design and Manufacture 2
- Dynamics
- Fluid Mechanics 2
- Heat Transfer
- Materials 2
- Mathematics and Computing 2
- Mechatronics 2
- Professional Engineering Skills 2
- Stress Analysis 2
- Thermodynamics 2
Year in Industry
You spend this year on an industrial placement.
Year 4
Core modules
- Design, Make and Test Project
- Introduction to Nuclear Energy
- Nuclear Chemical Engineering
- Professional Engineering Skills 3
- I-Explore
Your I-Explore module offers you choices from a range of subjects hosted outside of the department. You will be taught alongside students from other courses with options including business, management and many more.
Optional modules
You will take three optional modules from below.
- Stress Analysis 3A
- Fracture Mechanics A
- Thermodynamics 3A
- Fluid Mechanics 3A
- Mechatronics 3A
- Machine Dynamics and Vibrations A
- Embedded C for Microcontrollers A
- Design, Art and Creativity A
- System Design and Optimisation A
- Structure, Properties and Applications of Polymers A
- Computational Continuum Mechanics A
- Finite Element Analysis and Applications A
- Manufacturing Technology and Management A
- Tribology A
- Mathematics A
- Statistics A
This is an indicative list of the optional modules available. You will be given notice of which options are available ahead of making your choices. If you have taken a level six version of a module (variant A) you cannot take the level 7 version (variant B) for credit.
Year 5
Core modules
- Individual Project
- Nuclear Reactor Physics
- Nuclear Thermal Hydraulics
- Nuclear Materials
Optional modules
You will study one module from Group A and two modules in total from Group B and Group C.
Group A
You choose one module from the list below.
- Aircraft Engine Technology
- Metal Processing Technology
- Future Clean Transport Technology
- Mechanical Transmissions Technology
Group B
- Advanced Control
- Advanced Stress Analysis
- Applied Vibration Engineering
- Combustion Science
- Computational Fluid Dynamics
- Composite Materials
- Interfacing and Data Processing
- Design, Art and Creativity B
- Stress Analysis 3B
- Fracture Mechanics 3B
- Embedded C for Microcontrollers B
- System Design and Optimisation B
- Computational Continuum Mechanics B
- Finite Element Analysis and Applications B
Group C (Inter Departmental Exchange)
There are multiple modules available through Inter Departmental Exchange (IDX). These modules allow you to take a module from another discipline, preparing you for inter-disciplinary work.
This is an indicative list of the optional modules available. You will be given notice of which options are available ahead of making your choices. If you have taken a level six version of a module (variant A) you cannot take the level 7 version (variant B) for credit.
Download the programme specification [PDF] – this is the most up-to-date version available for this course. It may change for your year of entry. If/when changes to this course are approved by the College, we will update this document and the information on this course page.
I-Explore
Through I-Explore, you'll have the chance to deepen your knowledge in a brand new subject area, chosen from a huge range of for-credit modules.
All of our undergraduate courses include one module from I-Explore's wide selection. The module you choose will be fully integrated into your course's curriculum and count as credit towards your degree.
Professional accreditation
The degree is professionally accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) on behalf of the Engineering Council.
Achieving a professionally accredited integrated Master's degree (MEng) means that you have satisfied the first step to becoming a Chartered Engineer (CEng) in your chosen field by satisfying the educational requirements of professional registration. To gain Chartered status, you will need to demonstrate your ability to meet additional graduate level competences described in the Engineering Council's UK-SPEC
A CEng is a highly respected qualification earned by professionals working in engineering, which can lead to higher earning potential and better career prospects.
Professional registration also brings international recognition of your qualification, which is particularly useful for students preparing for a career abroad.
Our accreditation agreement is valid for students starting their studies in 2021. This accreditation is due to be renewed in 2022-23.
Associateship
As well as your main Imperial degree, you will also receive the award of the Associateship of the City and Guilds of London Institute (ACGI) on completion of this course.
The City and Guilds of London Institute is one of three historic Colleges that came together to form Imperial College London in 1907.
Find out more about our Associateships.
Teaching and assessment
Teaching
You can expect to be taught in lectures, by problem sheets, in tutorials, through workshop training and laboratory work.
You will complete group practical exercises, a literature research project, a group design project and research project.
Overall workload
The expected total study time is normally 1500 hours per year.
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures, seminars and similar | 300 hours | 300 hours | Industry | 60 hours | 60 hours |
| Independent study | 1,200 hours | 1,200 hours | Industry | 600 hours | 600 hours |
| Project work | – | – | Industry | 600 hours | 600 hours |
| Based on the typical pathway through the course | |||||
Assessment
You will experience a variety of assessment methods and can expect to mostly sit written examinations and complete coursework assignments. Methods include:
- Written assessments
- Examinations
- Progress tests
- Online assignments, quizzes and tests
- Report writing
- Peer assessment
- Practical assessment
- Laboratory/workshop practicals
- Programming tests
- CAD & simulation tool tests
- Oral assessment
- Oral presentations
- Poster presentations
- Group presentations
- Design exhibitions
Assessment types
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coursework | 20% | 20% | Industry | 40% | 45% |
| Practical | 5% | 5% | Industry | 5% | 5% |
| Written | 75% | 75% | Industry | 55% | 50% |
| Based on the typical pathway through the course; percentages have been rounded to the nearest whole number | |||||
Staff expertise
At Imperial, you will be taught by a range of teachers of all levels from Professors to PhD students, including some who undertake groundbreaking research and are regarded as experts in their field.
You may also experience peer teaching and be taught by specialists external to the College.
Entry requirements
We welcome students from all over the world and consider all applicants on an individual basis – see selection process below.
For advice on the requirements for the qualifications listed here please contact the Department (see Contact us).
We also accept a wide range of international qualifications. If the requirements for your qualifications are not listed here, please see our academic requirements by country page for guidance on which qualifications we accept.
A-levels
Minimum entry standards
Our minimum entry standard for 2022 entry is A*A*A or A*AAA overall, to include:
Three A-levels
- A* in Mathematics
- A* in Physics
- A in another subject
Four A-levels
- A* in Mathematics
- A in Physics
- A in two other subjects
Typical offer range
As a guide, here are the typical offers made to at least 80% of A-level applicants for 2020 entry:
- Three A-level offer: A*A*A
- Four A-level offer: A*AAA-A*A*AA
Practical endorsement (practical science assessment)
If you are made an offer you will be required to achieve a pass in the practical endorsement in all science subjects that form part of the offer.
The practical endorsement is part of the reformed English linear A-levels.
Subject choice
Mathematics and Physics are required subjects for entry. For your third (and fourth if applicable) A-level we consider most other subjects, although some are unlikely to form part of your offer, such as a foreign language if you are a native speaker of that language. General Studies and Critical Thinking are also not accepted.
We suggest that you make your choices based on your interests and strengths, rather than specifically aiming at entry to our course.
Additional Mathematics support
Our A-level Mathematics online course covers a range of key topic areas to help you gain a deeper understanding of the skills and techniques required to succeed in your A-level Mathematics exams.
This optional course has been built around the A-level syllabus with the aim of developing your thinking skills, fluency and confidence.
Please note: this course is not compulsory and does not form part of the entry requirements for this course. It is available free of charge via the EdX website. It is self-paced so you can start it at any time.
International Baccalaureate
Minimum entry standards
Our minimum entry standard for 2022 entry is 40 points overall, to include:
- 6 in Mathematics at higher level
- 6 in Physics at higher level
Typical offer range
As a guide, the typical offer made to at least 80% of IB applicants for 2020 entry was 40 points overall.
Mathematics Higher Level for award in 2022
For entry in 2022, the Mathematics Analysis and Approaches or the Applications and Interpretation syllabi will be accepted at higher level, but Analysis and Approaches is preferred.
Additional Mathematics support
We have launched an A-level Mathematics online course, which is available free of charge via the EdX website.
Although this optional course has been built around the A-level syllabus, it is relevant to your curriculum too.
Please note: this course is not compulsory and does not form part of the entry requirements for this course. It is self-paced so you can start it at any time.
Advanced Placements
The grades detailed below are the minimum requirements for students offering only Advanced Placements as their exams for entry to Imperial.
If you are studying a High School Diploma that is accepted by Imperial alongside Advanced Placements, requirements may apply to both your Diploma and Advanced Placements.
Please consult our country index to check whether we accept your High School Diploma programme for admission.
Our minimum requirement for this course is grades 5, 5, 5, 5 to include:
- 5 in Calculus BC
- 5 in Physics C (Mechanics)
- 5 in two other subjects
Additional Mathematics support
We have launched an A-level Mathematics online course, which is available free of charge via the EdX website.
Although this optional course has been built around the A-level syllabus, it is relevant to your curriculum too.
Please note: this course is not compulsory and does not form part of the entry requirements for this course. It is self-paced so you can start it at any time.
Selection process
Assessing your application
Admissions Tutors consider all the evidence available during our rigorous selection process and the College flags key information providing assessors with a more complete picture of the educational and social circumstances relevant to the applicant. Some applicants may be set lower offers and some more challenging ones.
Completing your UCAS application
Please tell us in your personal statement about the things you have done to find out about mechanical engineering.
In particular, describe any work placements, industrial visits, or relevant projects or hobbies.
We are also interested in your general motivation as evidenced by extracurricular activities and part-time work, as well as your wider contribution to your school or community life.
Admissions test
If your application passes initial screening, you'll be invited to take a 60-minute, online admissions test.
The test will be held in November (for applications received by 15 October 2021) and in February (for all other applications).
The test will mostly be based on areas in mathematics and physics which you study in your final years of secondary school.
You'll have the chance to take a readiness test a few days before, which we'll send to you by email, to familiarise yourself with the platform and test format.
Find out more about the Department of Mechanical Engineering admissions test
Interview
We look holistically at candidates' UCAS applications and admissions test scores when deciding who to invite for interview.
Interviews will be held with academic staff on Wednesday afternoons between November and March.
If invited, you'll be asked about your motivation to study mechanical engineering, your personal statement and your written workings from the admissions test. You'll also be assessed on your problem solving skills.
Interviews will be held in person for those able to travel to the college. Otherwise, they will be held online.
You'll find out about the outcome of your interview in March, after all interviews have been completed.
Find out more about the Department of Mechanical Engineering's interviews
Foundation programmes
A foundation course is a one-year preparation course, designed for international students, which leads to undergraduate programmes in the UK. Foundation programmes are normally for school-leavers who have studied a non-British curriculum but wish to pursue a degree at a UK university.
Foundation programmes are offered by many UK universities, but only two would be considered for entry to Imperial:
- UCL’s Undergraduate Preparatory Certificate for Science and Engineering (UPCSE), and
- Warwick’s International Foundation Programme (IFP) in Science & Engineering
UCL UPCSE
A year-long programme for international students whose school leaving qualifications do not allow them direct entry to UK universities. Students must complete four modules across the year – two compulsory and two elective modules:
| Module | Status |
|---|---|
| Research and Academic Skills: Science and Society | Compulsory |
| Academic English | Compulsory |
| Biology | Elective |
| Chemistry | Elective |
| Mathematics | Elective |
| Physics | Elective |
| Information correct at time of publishing, but subject to change | |
To be considered for admission to Mechanical Engineering, international students studying UCL UPCSE must achieve:
- 80% overall
- 80% Mathematics + Physics
Warwick IFP Science and Engineering
A year-long programme for international students whose school leaving qualifications do not allow them direct entry to UK universities.
To be considered for admission to Mechanical Engineering, international students studying Warwick IFP Science and Engineering must achieve:
- 80% overall
- 80% Mathematics + Physics
To meet these requirements, students should choose from the following IFP pathways:
- Engineering
Contextual admissions
We want to make sure that the Imperial learning community is as diverse as the society we serve. So to make our admissions process as fair as possible, we have introduced admissions schemes for Home students that allow us to consider your application in the full context of any additional barriers you may face.
Find out if you meet the eligibility criteria for our contextual admissions schemes.
If your predicted grades meet the minimum College entry standard of AAA at A-level or an equivalent level qualification in the relevant subjects, this department will guarantee you an interview.
Read more about the contextual admissions scheme in this department and others.
ATAS certificate (overseas candidates)
An ATAS certificate is required for all visa-nationals, with the exception of EEA/Swiss nationals and nationals of the following countries: Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the USA.
To apply for an ATAS certificate online, you will need your programme’s Common Aggregation Hierarchy (CAH) code and ‘descriptor’, as well as your university supervisor name. For this course, these are:
| CAH code | Descriptor | Supervisor name |
|---|---|---|
| CAH10-01-02 | mechanical engineering | Professor Mike Lowe |
Your student visa application, or extension of stay, will automatically be refused if you need an ATAS certificate and cannot provide one.
For further guidance on obtaining an ATAS certificate please see the information on our International Student Support website.
English language requirement (all applicants)
All candidates must demonstrate a minimum level of English language proficiency for admission to the College.
For admission to this course, you must achieve the standard College requirement in the appropriate English language qualification. For details of the minimum grades required to achieve this requirement, please see the English language requirements for undergraduate applicants.
Tuition fees and funding
We charge tuition fees for every year that your course lasts. The fee you will be charged is based on your fee status, which is determined by government regulations.
Home rate of tuition
2022 entry
£9,250 per year.
Year in industry
£925 for that year.
Read more about funding for year in industry placements.
For each subsequent year, you should expect and budget for your tuition fee to increase by an amount in line with inflation. The measure of inflation used will be the Retail Price Index (RPIX) value, taken from April in the calendar year in which the academic session starts.
For example, the RPIX value in April 2022 will apply to fees for the academic year 2022–2023.
Fee status
Whether you pay the Home fee depends on your fee status.
Your fee status is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status.
Find out more about how we assess your fee status.
Home fee eligibility
You can find the conditions you need to meet to pay the Home rate of tuition fees from the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA). These apply to higher education courses in England and reflect the regulations as they currently stand, noting that these are subject to amendment.
Because of the UK’s exit from the European Union, some frameworks of eligibility have been amended. Individuals affected by the amended frameworks should refer to the UKCISA publication, Who pays ‘home’ fees for higher education in England [PDF].
Government funding
If you're a Home student, you can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan from the UK government to cover the entire cost of tuition for every year of your course.
You can also apply for a means-tested Maintenance Loan to help towards your living costs.
Overseas rate of tuition
2022 entry
£35,100 per year.
Year in industry
10% of the relevant fee for that year.
Read more about funding for year in industry placements.
For each subsequent year, you should expect and budget for your tuition fee to increase by an amount in line with inflation. The measure of inflation used will be the Retail Price Index (RPIX) value, taken from April in the calendar year in which the academic session starts. For example, the RPIX value in April 2022 will apply to fees for the academic year 2022–2023.
Fee status
Whether you pay the Overseas fee depends on your fee status.
Your fee status is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status.
Find out more about how we assess your fee status.
Home fee eligibility
You can find the conditions you need to meet to pay the Home rate of tuition fees from the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA). These apply to higher education courses in England and reflect the regulations as they currently stand, noting that these are subject to amendment.
Because of the UK’s exit from the European Union, some frameworks of eligibility have been amended. Individuals affected by the amended frameworks should refer to the UKCISA publication, Who pays ‘home’ fees for higher education in England [PDF].
Additional course costs
This section outlines additional costs relevant to this course. These are not included in your tuition fees. It's possible that all, or only some, of these will be relevant to you.
Figures are approximated, usually based on costs in the most recent academic year. They are likely to change each year but it's useful for you to be aware of the things you may have to pay for. This can help you budget for life at Imperial.
Mandatory costs are those that you will need to pay to fully participate in and complete your studies. Optional costs are not essential to your studies so you can opt-out of these.
| Description | Mandatory/optional | Guide to cost |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Protective Equipment | Mandatory | Provided |
| Laptop | Optional (but recommended) | Varies |
| Travel and placement costs | Mandatory (if taking Year Abroad or Year in Industry course) | Varies |
| Please review the information below for more information on the costs listed in the table. | ||
Personal Protective Equipment
Wearing personal protective equipment is compulsory for some activities on this course. Where this applies, the Department of Mechanical Engineering will provide you with the necessary PPE free of charge to ensure you can undertake lab work safely. This includes:
- Boiler suit
- Goggles
- Lab coat
Laptop
Although College machines will be available for you to use on campus, you may wish to have a laptop of your own. As a guide, our recommended laptop specification is listed below.
- Windows 10 operating system
- Intel I7 3.6 GHz CPU
- 16 GB RAM
- 512 GB SSD drive
A laptop with I5 processors and SSD drives of 256GB will work almost as well.
Placements and year abroad
If you are undertaking a placement or year abroad, you may have to consider the costs involved. These will vary, depending on the location of your year abroad or placement.
Costs may include flights, transport, visas, travel insurance, health insurance and living expenses such as accommodation.
Find out more about the types of placement costs
Student status with the Year Abroad
If you spend an academic year abroad, you will retain your student status at Imperial so that you will normally remain eligible for the same loans and grants that you would receive in the UK. As an exchange student, you will not pay tuition fees to the host institution abroad.
Accommodation and living costs
Living costs, including accommodation, are not included in your tuition fees.
Most Imperial undergraduates choose to live in our halls of residence in their first year. You can compare costs across different accommodation options.
Bursaries and scholarships
Careers
Our close industry links ensure that many graduates leave Imperial with jobs already lined up.
Formula One and related industries are popular destinations for our graduates.
The chance to specialise in nuclear engineering is also good preparation for an industry poised for future expansion.
The technical and management skills of the discipline are equally valued in consultancy, finance and project management.
Recent graduates of the Department have become:
- Mechanical Engineer, European Space Agency
- Graduate Nuclear Engineer, EDF
- Vehicle Dynamics and Simulation Engineer, Formula One
- Offshore Structures Wind Engineer, Engineering and design company
- CEO, medical prosthetics startup
How to apply
UCAS key information
- UCAS course code: n/a*
- UCAS institution code: I50
Apply on UCAS
You can start and track your application on UCAS Hub. There you can add this course as one of your choices.
* Apply initially for MEng Mechanical Engineering (H301)
Application deadlines
Applications are now closed.
Any questions?
Find answers to your questions about admissions.
If you have a disability or impairment, the Disability Advisory Service are here to support you and answer your questions.
Related departments
You may also be interested in the following related departments and the courses they offer:
Connect with us
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T: +44 (0)20 7594 7005
E: me.admissions@imperial.ac.uk
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