University College London (UCL)
Mechanical Engineering MSc
London, United Kingdom
MSc
DURATION
1 year
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
GBP 39,800 *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* international students: full time £39,800 | UK students: full time £20,500. Additional fees may apply
The MSc in Mechanical Engineering offers a strong foundation in core engineering principles, combining theoretical knowledge with practical skills. Students can explore areas such as thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, materials, and manufacturing processes. The program emphasizes applying these concepts to real-world engineering problems through project work and laboratory sessions, helping students build confidence in their technical abilities.
In addition to technical coursework, students are encouraged to develop skills in research, design, and critical thinking. The curriculum often includes opportunities for specializations, allowing students to focus on areas like robotics, energy, or computational mechanics. Throughout the course, there is an emphasis on independent learning and problem-solving, which prepares students to adapt to diverse roles in industry or academia after graduation. The program aims to support students’ growth into competent engineers who are ready to tackle current and future engineering challenges.
UCL Scholarships
There are a number of scholarships available to postgraduate students, including our UCL Master's Bursary for UK students and our UCL Global Master's Scholarship for international students. You can click the link below to search via the scholarships finder for awards that you might be eligible for. Your academic department will also be able to provide you with more information about funding.
External Scholarships
Online aggregators like Postgraduate Studentships, Scholarship Search, Postgraduate Funding and International Financial Aid and College Scholarship Search contain information on a variety of external schemes.
If you have specific circumstances or an ethnic or religious background, it is worth searching for scholarships/bursaries/grants that relate to those things. Some schemes are very specific.
Funding for disabled students
Master's students who have a disability may be able to get extra funding for additional costs they incur to study.
Teaching and learning
This MSc programme is delivered through a mix of tutorials, lectures, and projects, which frequently draw upon real-life industry case studies.
Assessment is through examinations, presentations, coursework, the group design project, and your individual research project.
Full-time students on this programme can expect approximately 12-16 hours of contact hours per teaching week. The exact number of contact hours and composition varies throughout the terms, depending on the module choices of the student. A full-time weekly schedule will amount to 35-40 hours a week, which comprises contact time, self-directed study, and preparing for assessments.
Your project module will see you conduct research, write up your final report, and engage in regular contact with your project supervisor(s), who will guide and support you throughout your project.
Modules
Full-time
The taught part of the programme comprises seven subject modules: four compulsory modules (one of which is the group project), and three optional modules. The taught modules consist of lectures, seminars, tutorials and example classes.
The first two academic terms consist of the taught modules, including the group project. The Individual Research Project comprises a large part of the programme running from March to September. This is carried out under the supervision of an academic member of staff and is assessed on the basis of a written report and a project presentation.
Compulsory modules
- MSc Individual Project (75 Credits)
- Materials and Fatigue
- Advanced Computer Applications in Engineering
- MSc Group Design Project
- Project Management
Optional modules
- New and Renewable Energy Systems
- Vibrations and Acoustics
- Applied Thermodynamics and Turbomachinery
- Power Transmission and Auxiliary Machinery Systems
- Control and Robotics
Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment, and module content and availability are subject to change.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in Mechanical Engineering.
What this course will give you
This programme offers you the following benefits and opportunities.
- A postgraduate degree from a top-ranked university. UCL is consistently ranked among the best universities globally (ranked 9th in the latest QS World University Rankings 2025), providing you with a prestigious qualification that is highly regarded by employers worldwide.
- The chance to study at UCL Mechanical Engineering, the first in the world to introduce laboratories in engineering education in 1878.
- A Master’s degree accredited by the IMechE on behalf of the Engineering Council, which means that on completion of this MSc, you can meet the academic requirements to register as a Chartered Engineer.
- A working understanding of advanced computer applications in engineering, and how to apply theoretical approaches such as finite element analysis (FEA) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD).
- The skills to analyse new and sustainable energy systems, and assess their suitability for different engineering contexts according to their technical limitations, their key parameters and applications, and their relationship with the energy grid and local environment.
- Perspectives from leading experts in mechanical engineering, with regular consultation hours, module-specific discussion forums and a self-directed individual research project developed in close liaison with your project supervisor.
- A university experience in the world's best city for university students (QS Best Student Cities 2024). UCL’s Bloomsbury campus is in the heart of a London district famous for its cultural and educational institutions.
The foundation of your career
Mechanical Engineering graduates are in high demand, and our graduates go on to senior positions across many sectors and industries, from engineering and manufacturing to consultancy and finance.
Recent UCL Mechanical Engineering graduates have gone on to work for organisations such as Rolls-Royce, SpaceX, Mercedes AMG and the Royal Navy (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2017-22). Others have successfully launched their own enterprises, including AI software firm Hybird, custom-fit cycle helmet company Hexr, and biomedical outfit Oxford Heartbeat.
Employability
This Master’s is specifically designed to give you the skills and theoretical knowledge to succeed in virtually any mechanical engineering role, in any industry. With a carefully selected set of core and optional modules that focus on in-demand specialisms and technologies, you’ll be well-positioned to achieve your engineering career ambitions.
Networking
You’ll have regular opportunities to connect, collaborate and build professional contacts as part of your Master’s. You will be able to:
Explore a wealth of tailored events at both the faculty and departmental level, facilitated by UCL Careers, UCL’s alumni team, and UCL Innovation and Enterprise.
Attend student-led events, such as industry visits or guest lectures, with a focus on specific industrial sectors.
Connect with like-minded innovators and successful entrepreneurs through UCL’s innovation hubs and start-up incubators if you’re interested in entrepreneurship.
Accreditation
The Mechanical Engineering MSc has been accredited by the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) and the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology (IMarEST) on behalf of the Engineering Council as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for registration as a Chartered Engineer and Chartered Marine Engineer. Candidates must hold a CEng-accredited BEng/BSc (Hons) undergraduate first degree to comply with full CEng registration requirements. The accredited MSc will meet, in part, the exemplifying academic benchmark requirements for registration as a Chartered Engineer. Accredited MSc graduates who also have a BEng (Hons) accredited for CEng will be able to show that they have satisfied the educational base for CEng registration.