Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering

The bachelor of engineering programme is of four years in duration and is divided into two parts.

PART I

Part I, which comprises the first year of study, provides you with a foundation in the fundamental engineering subjects and makes up for variations in the background of individual students:

Mathematics | Computing | Engineering Mechanics | Physical Chemistry | Electrical Principles 
Fluid Mechanics | Design for Manufacture | The Engineering Profession

PART II of the BE Mechanical Engineering

Part II comprises years 2, 3 and 4 and you will generally study five modules per semester. You will study all the fundamental subjects of mechanical engineering – mathematics, mechanics of solids, design, mechanics of fluids, thermodynamics, dynamics of machines and control.

At the end of Year 2 you are placed in industry for an eight-month Cooperative Education period. This period provides experience of the practice and application of Mechanical Engineering in an industrial environment. You will then return to the University for the latter half of third year and start to specialise.

In the final year, you can specialise in Thermofluids, Mechanics of Solids or Energy by choosing appropriate final year electives.

An important aspect of this programme is the final year project completed in year 4. This is an individual project assigned to you at the end of year 3 giving you almost 12 months to undertake. The project is a major piece of work and involves the preparation of a report detailing all aspects of the project. It will provide you with the opportunity to demonstrate your ability to work as a professional engineer and to incorporate the knowledge you have gained over the previous three years. Many students are proud to show this work at subsequent job interviews.

Mechanical Engineering at UL now offers an integrated Bachelor/Master of Engineering programme. The entry route to both is through LM116 but in year 3 students have the choice to decide between the Bachelor or Master of Engineering Programme:
 

• Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering (4 years in duration)
• Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering (5 years in duration)

Year 1

Semester 1    
 

• Engineering Maths 1    
• Engineering Computing    
• Electrical Eng. 1    
• Engineering Science    
• Chemistry    
• Introduction to Engineering    

Semester 2
 

• Engineering Maths 2
• Engineering Mechanics 1
• Fluid Mechanics 1
• Materials 1

Elective
 

• Structural Engineering Design 1
• Introduction to Design for Manufacture

Year 2

Semester 3
 

• Engineering Maths 3
• Engineering Mechanics. 2
• Mechanics of Solids 1
• Thermodynamics 1
• Instrumentation and Control

Semester 4
 

• Engineering Maths 4
• Applied Mechanics
• Fluid Mechanics 2
• Industrial Organisation

Year 3

Semester 5
 

• Cooperative Education

Semester 6
 

• Engineering Maths 5
• Heat Transfer
• Mechanics of Solids 2
• Vibration Analysis
• Thermodynamics 2

Summer
 

• Project Reading

Year 4

Semester 7
 

• Finite Element Analysis
• Energy Management
• Mechanical Design
• Project 1

Electives - Choose One from
 

• Advanced Mechanics of Solids
• Boundary Layer Theory
• Enterprise Management and Growth

Semester 8
 

• Project Planning and Control
• Process Control
• Project 2
• Project 3

Electives - Choose One from
 

• Fuels and Energy Conversion
• Engineering Mechanics of Plastics and Composites
• Renewable Energy Technologies

Minimum grades    
Applicants are required to hold at the time of enrolment the established Leaving Certificate (or an approved equivalent) with a minimum of six subjects which must include: Two H5 (Higher Level) grades and Four O6 (Ordinary Level) grades or four H7 (Higher Level) grades. Subjects must include Mathematics, Irish or another language, and English.

Subject requirements    
In addition, applicants must hold a minimum grade H4 in Mathematics and grade O6/H7 in one of the following: Physics, Chemistry, Physics with Chemistry, Engineering, Technology, Design & Communication Graphics/ Technical Drawing, Biology, Agricultural Science, Applied Maths, Construction Studies.

Tuition Fees

These are based on Residency, Citizenship, Course requirements.

Review the three groups of criteria to determine your fee status as follows
 

1. Residency
    
   • You must have been living in an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland for at least 3 of the 5 years before starting your course
      
2. Citizenship
    
   • You must be a citizen of an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland or have official refugee status
      
3. Course Requirements (all must be met)
    
   • You must be a first time full-time undergraduate (Exceptions are provided for students who hold a Level 6 or Level 7 qualification and are progressing to a Level 8 course in the same general area of study).
   • You must be undertaking a full-time undergraduate course of at least 2 year’s duration
   • You cannot be undertaking a repeat year of study at the same level unless evidence of exceptional circumstances eg serious illness is provided (in which case this condition may be waived)

Job titles for graduates with this degree

Graduates progressing directly into employment take up a wide variety of roles. The following provides a sample of initial roles listed on the Graduate Outcomes Survey by graduates approximately one year after graduation:
 

• Assembly Technician
• Associate R&D Engineer
• Automation Engineer
• Automation Project Engineer
• Business and System Integration Analyst
• Cables Engineer
• CAD Technician
• Calibration Specialist
• Calibration Technician
• Commissioning Engineer
• Computer Design
• Control Engineer
• Customer Engineer
• Design Assurance Engineer
• Design Engineer
• EASA Part 21 Design Engineer
• Electrical Engineer
• Engineering Assistant
• Engineering Cadet
• Engineering Professional Development Programme
• Graduate Design Engineer
• Graduate Engineer
• Graduate Mechanical Engineer
• Graduate Programme
• Hyperbaric Systems Project Engineer
• KTP Associate
• Lead Developer
• Maintenance Manager
• Manufacturing Engineer
• Manufacturing Engineering Technician
• Mechanical Design Engineer
• Mechanical Engineer
• MEP Supervisor
• Planning Engineer
• Plant Engineer
• Process Development Engineer
• Process Improvement Engineer
• Process Technician
• Product Design Engineer
• Product Development Engineer
• Profile Engineer
• Process Engineer
• Project Engineer
• Project Manager
• Quality Assurance Engineer
• R&D Prototype Technician
• Research and Development Engineer
• Research Assistant
• Software Engineer
• Stores Manager
• Stress Engineer
• Supplier Quality Engineer
• System Install Engineer
• Technical Services Graduate Engineer
• Test Engineer
• Trade Development Executive
• Trainee R&D Engineer