Mechanical Engineering MSc

The programme spans a single academic year (three semesters) and requires full-time attendance on campus. The programme outline is provided below.  For the first two semesters, students will study a mandatory set of core subjects and a suite of optional advanced subjects (electives). Students will engage in a single research project over all three semesters with the submission of a research project (thesis) at the end of semester 3. Students will also be provided with training in technical communications and project planning.

Research in the School covers a wide range of topics -the School has strong links with the Bernal Institute which is a leading research institute. The School also houses research centres in Automation, Biomedical Engineering, Biofuels, Composite Materials and Computational Fluid and Solid Mechanics.

To graduate from the programme, a student must accumulate 90 credits, comprising 51 credits of taught modules and 39 credits of research work, as outlined in the table below. Credit may be given for prior learning, in agreement with the Course Director.

Autumn
 

• Research Project (3 credits)
• Advanced Technical Communication for Engineers (3 credits)

Four Specialist Electives (each 6 credits) to be chosen from:-
 

• Finite Element Analysis
• Advanced Mechanics of Solids
• Aerospace Metallic Materials
• Computational Fluid Dynamics
• Wind Ocean Hydro
• Boundary-Layer Theory
• Heat and Mass Transfer
• Scientific Computing
• Fundamentals of Continuum Mechanics 
• Microfluidics

Spring
 

• Research Project (6 credits)
• Project Planning & Control (6 credits)

Three Specialist Electives (each 6 credits) to be chosen from:-
 

• Advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics
• Engineering Mechanics of Plastics and Composites
• Renewable Energy Technologies
• Fracture Mechanics
• Fuels and Energy Conversion
• Non-Linear Finite Element Analysis
• Engineering Alloys
• Plasticity of Conventional and 3D Printed Metals

Summer
 

•  Research Project (30 credits)

The minimum entry requirement to the programme is a 2:2 undergraduate degree (Level 8 - National Qualifications Authority of Ireland) (or equivalent) in Mechanical Engineering, or closely related field. For international students, the entry equivalent will be accepted as determined by the Course Director in consultation with UL Graduate School Admissions. Where applicants are non-native English language speakers, certified achievement in TOEFL or IELTS Standard English Language Competency Test will be required. An interview may be part of the admission process.

Those with degrees from programmes not accredited by Engineers Ireland will be reviewed on an individual basis.

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)

Prospective careers for graduates are very broad including the energy, biomedical, manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, construction and pharmaceutical/chemical industries.