About Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with the design, manufacturing and maintenance of machinery or mechanical systems. Mechanical Engineering lies at the intersection of physics, mathematics with material science. Mechanical Engineering students will study modules like thermodynamics, structural analysis, electromechanical, solid mechanics, and structural materials. Additionally, they will also be trained in the use of tools like CAD software and product lifecycle management — enabling them to model systems and manage manufacturing plants and machinery.

　　Due to the rapid technological advancement, mechanical engineers are contributing to fields as varied as composites, transport, biomechatronics and metallurgy. Even if you decide to switch fields later on the broad nature of Mechanical Engineering will have given you transferrable skills and knowledge setting you up for a successful career in the field of your choosing.

　　

Is Mechanical Engineering right for me?

Mechanical Engineering is best suited to curious and inquisitive individuals. People who enjoy ruminating on why and how a process or event occurred. This curiosity drives them to learn and innovate in their field enabling them to produce better designs for machinery. These individuals also enjoy applying their knowledge to real-world scenarios. If you think you have a personality that is both curious and likes the application of knowledge, then you have the right mindset to thrive in Mechanical Engineering.

　　Good listening skills are also important as mechanical engineers will often be cooperating with other professionals like architects, biologists, engineers and computer scientists to complete a project. They must listen carefully to analyse and fill the gaps in the current approach of other professionals to successfully solve the challenge at hand.

　　

Mechanical Engineering study options and costs

　　For most Mechanical Engineering jobs you need at least a bachelor’s degree, which is typically 3-4 years in duration and costs around £24,760 per year in the UK. In the US, it’s approximately $38,843 per year and in Australia it costs around AUD43,000 per year.

　　Pursuing a master’s in Mechanical Engineering allows you to specialise and increase your market value tremendously. A master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering costs around $27,000-56,000 per year and is typically 2-years in duration.

　　A PhD in Mechanical Engineering is needed for teaching positions in higher education institutes as well as research programmes. A PhD allows students to broaden their horizons and makes them prime candidates for administrator or managerial posts.

　　

Future outlook

Mechanical Engineering plays a significant role in solving problems related to automation, artificial intelligence and sustainable energy. For example in the automotive industry, mechanical engineers are particularly crucial in addressing challenges in hybrid and electric cars' performance and range.

　　The expected growth in the job market for mechanical engineers between 2016-2026 is 8.8%. Furthermore, the broad application of Mechanical Engineering links them to many industries ensuring that they are always in demand. More than 20,200 job openings are projected every year in the US alone!

　　

Career pathways for Mechanical Engineering graduates

　　

Mechanical Engineer

　　Mechanical engineers work in various industries applying their insights into the production of everything ranging from medical devices to batteries. They analyse faults in such systems and devices and resolve them using engineering principles. Top mechanical engineers earn upwards of $141,060 per year.

　　

Robotics engineer

　　As a robotics engineer you will design, build and maintain robots. Robotics engineers configure and debug these robots. They are responsible for the precise functioning of robotics and control how these robots will interact with their environment in response to different stimuli.

　　

Heating and Cooling Systems Engineers

　　These professionals design climate control systems that maintain temperature and humidity levels within certain limits. The demand for these engineers is on the rise as more residential and commercial buildings rely on HVAC infrastructure for climate control.

　　

Auto Research Engineers

　　The primary role of an auto research engineer is to improve the performance of cars. They evaluate and analyse the functions and mechanics of a car and find ways to make it more fuel-efficient and streamline its energy expenditure.