MEng in General Engineering

The Master of Engineering degree is a four-year first degree that delivers the breadth and depth that you will need in the world of engineering. It is designed to produce graduates who will go on and lead engineering teams. Your first two years offer you a broad-based engineering education. You are then able to specialize in your third and fourth years.

At Durham in each year of your degree you will take six modules, the year is divided into three terms and there are examinations at the end of each year.

Year 1

You study four modules of engineering, one of mathematics and one optional module. In your engineering courses, you will receive instruction in the use of 3D CAD software (e.g. SolidWorks) using our computer lab, be taught how to program a computer and take part in a number of practical labs. You will also take part in a group design activity where you have to design, build and test a device. Recent examples include a spring-powered dragster and a miniature hydro-electric plant. On the course, you also attend lectures, problem classes and supervisions with academic staff.

The compulsory modules consist of:

• Applied Mechanics I
• Electromagnetism and Manufacture
• Thermodynamics & Fluid Mechanics I
• Electronic Measurement
• Mathematics for Engineers and Scientists

And one free elective.

The optional (free elective) module may be selected from anything that will fit the timetable and for which you meet the necessary prerequisites. Popular choices in the past have included ‘Introduction to Programming’, ‘Computational Thinking’ and a range of different language modules but some students have done courses in History or Poetry.

Year 2

Engineering and mathematics now occupy the full six modules in the timetable.

You will undertake a major design project as part of a small team with guidance from an academic supervisor and an ‘Industrial Tutor’, an engineer from the industry. This lets you put into practice the skills you have picked up in the various lecture courses. The end result is usually a series of electronic drawings good enough to manufacture a device from.

Compulsory modules are:

• Engineering Mathematics 2
• Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics 2
• Mechanics 2
• Electrical Engineering 2
• Electronics 2
• Engineering Design 2.

Year 3

The course splits into the following streams: Electronic, Mechanical, Electrical and Civil Engineering.

A major team design project now occupies a whole module of the course where you consider the device as a product and do everything from basic market research to design for manufacture. For the Civil stream, you undertake a major design exercise providing an understanding of the principles of structural elements in structural steelwork and reinforced concrete. Practical courses cover topics such as surveying, industrial problem solving with interaction with local industry and robotics projects.

The modules for each stream comprise:

Electronic Engineering

Compulsory modules of:

• Electrical Engineering 3
• Engineering Design 3
• Control and Signal Processing 3
• Electronics and Communications 3
• Advanced Computer Systems and Digital Electronics 3
• Semiconductor Physics and Devices 3

Mechanical Engineering

Compulsory modules of:

• Materials 3
• Applied Mechanics 3
• Thermofluids and Fluid Mechanics 3
• Electrical Engineering 3
• Engineering Design 3
• Control and Signal Processing 3

Electrical Engineering

Compulsory modules of:

• Materials 3
• Applied Mechanics 3
• Thermofluids and Fluid Mechanics 3
• Electrical Engineering 3
• Engineering Design 3
• Control and Signal Processing 3

Civil Engineering

Compulsary modules of:

• Structures and Geomatics 3
• Geotechnics 3
• Environmental Engineering 3
• Civil Design 3
• Materials 3
• Applied Mechanics 3

In line with our integrated approach to engineering, many of the modules taken in the third year are found in more than one stream.

Year 4

The highlight of the degree is the final year project. This activity, which is half the year in most streams, involves working closely with a supervisor on an area of cutting-edge research and development. The best student projects have been featured in internationally recognized engineering journals, indicating that our students are amongst the finest young engineers in the world. In addition, you will sit modules of taught courses on advanced engineering.

The five final-year streams are Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aeronautics, Electronic Engineering, and New and Renewable Energy. The modules for each stream are shown below, students typically study three taught modules and the balance of work is project-based.

Aeronautics

Compulsary modules of:

• MEng Research and Development Project (or MEng Technical Project and Engineering into Schools)
• Fluid Mechanics and Turbomachinery
• Applied Mechanics
• Aeromechanics.

Civil Engineering

Compulsary modules of:

• MEng Research and Development Project (or MEng Technical Project and Engineering into Schools)
• Applied Mechanics 4
• Structures, Highways and Construction 4
• Advanced Geotechnical Engineering and Hydrology.

Electronic Engineering

Compulsary modules of:

• MEng Research and Development Project (or MEng Technical Project and Engineering into Schools)
• DSP and Microwave Engineering
• Communication Systems
• Advanced Semiconductor Devices.

Mechanical Engineering

Compulsary modules of:

• MEng Research and Development Project (or MEng Technical Project and Engineering into Schools)
• Applied Mechanics 4
• Fluid Mechanics and Turbomachinery
• Low Carbon Technologies.

New and Renewable Energy

Compulsary modules of:

• MEng Research and Development Project (or MEng Technical Project and Engineering into Schools)
• Energy Conversion and Delivery
• Low Carbon Technologies
• Applied Mechanics.

Study Abroad

Engineering is an increasingly international discipline and living and working in another country is a valuable addition to your CV. For this reason, students are encouraged to apply during their degree for a year-long placement with one of the Engineering Department's or the University's international partners, as an additional year of study. Students may study in English at some of the partner universities, whereas other foreign language skills are essential. Students are fully supported by the Department both during the application process and during the year abroad. Language tuition is available in the first year in a range of languages as free elective modules and in other years through the University’s Languages For All scheme