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Engineering

Why Choose Aberdeen?

Engineering is one of the most satisfying professions. You get results. You make things happen. You generate new solutions to other people’s problems and at the end of the day, you have the job satisfaction of being able to see your work in action. Engineering is an intellectually demanding profession, mainly because of the wide range of skills you need to deploy. You are expected to be good at mathematics, to have a sound grasp of basic sciences, to be inventive and creative, to be able to sell your ideas to clients and colleagues and, in due course, to organise and lead fellow professionals.

• Integrated Engineering School, containing award-winning staff and well-equipped laboratories

• Common core in years 1 and 2 for all engineering students

• Programmes reflect ‘systems engineering’ approach in modern industry

• Final choice of specialisation can be made at start of year 3

• Philosophy of world-class teaching in an atmosphere of research

Degree Programme Structure & Content

Honours Degrees of MEng & BEng
The MEng is a five-year Honours programme and the BEng is a four-year Honours degree programme both of which are fully accredited by the Engineering Institutions (see Professional Accreditation section). For the first two years you study a common core covering the basic principles of all branches of engineering.

In the later years you specialise, following your chosen discipline in greater depth, including design applications.

You do not need to finalise your choice of specialisation until you begin third year. This is also the point at which a final decision between MEng and BEng must be made. Successful BEng candidates will be offered the chance to change to the MEng programme. A wide range of both MEng and BEng programmes are available across the entire engineering spectrum, reflecting the multi-disciplinary nature of the School.

In the first year you will study topics such as Engineering Mathematics, Engineering Science, Applied Mechanics and Structures, Electronic and Electrical Engineering and Engineering Communication, Design and Practice.

Following this, in the second year, the topics covered include, Engineering Mathematics, Materials and Structures, Electronics and Programmable Systems, Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics, Electrical and Mechanical Systems and Engineering Design and Practice.

In your third year, you have the opportunity to study from a range of courses leading to specialisation in your chosen discipline. The major feature of the fourth year is the undertaking of an individual project in the area of your specialisation. The project occupies half of your study time and can be undertaken in Aberdeen or abroad. The opportunity exists to study a European language to support this study. Formal courses continue to develop your specialist interests.

If you are studying for the MEng degree then in fifth year you undertake a group design project in addition to courses in Engineering Analysis and Methods and Engineering and Project Management. The study of Advanced Special Topics further deepens your specialist knowledge.

For more detailed information please refer to the Engineering Brochure, available from the Student Recruitment and Admissions Service. Alternatively, from our Web site at www.eng.abdn.ac.uk you can follow the ‘Teaching’ link to find full details of the syllabus and a book list for all of the courses we offer.

Degree of BScEng
BScEng students follow the common core of first and second year courses but at an easier pace and with the opportunity to study Mathematics at a foundation level. In later years you can mix specialist engineering courses with other subjects outside Engineering to tailor a curriculum to suit your interests.

The BScEng is not an Honours degree and is not accredited by the Engineering Institutions. It is, however, suited to those who want a general engineering education and intend to pursue a technical career outside professional engineering. Those who do sufficiently well have the possibility of upgrading to an Honours degree programme and special bridging courses are run in the summer vacation to enable such a transfer. This route is also well suited to those wishing to enter the engineering profession with less ‘conventional’ qualifications or background.

Teaching & Assessment

The main methods of teaching are lectures, tutorials, laboratory and design classes. You can expect an average of 20 hours of lectures, labs and tutorials per week, which you are expected to supplement with private study. Self-study is vital as it develops the confidence to enable you to tackle unfamiliar problems, an essential skill for the professional engineer. Lectures last fifty minutes and are the main method used to teach the underlying principles of engineering science. Question sheets designed to develop your analytical skills are given out during lectures. These are to be worked on in your private study time, and any problems encountered can be subsequently discussed, as solutions are worked through during tutorials.

Laboratories and design classes are used to develop practical skills such as manufacturing and measurement techniques. They are also valuable for giving practical demonstrations of the concepts covered in the lecture courses.

A number of coursework exercises are carried out each year, aimed at developing and improving communication skills. These include written laboratory reports, dissertations, and presentations. The main method of assessment is examinations in January and May although for many courses pressure is taken off the examinations by use of continuous assessment. Presentations, laboratory reports and other coursework are submitted and marked individually throughout the year.

Professional Accreditation

Most engineers achieve professional status in the UK through membership of one of the Engineering Institutions and register as Chartered Engineers. Chartered Engineers can practice in Europe and our Honours degrees are recognised by the European Federation of National Engineering Associations.

The Engineering Institutions regularly investigate degree programmes and accredit those they find suitable on behalf of the Engineering Council (UK) and Engineering and Technology Board.

According to your choice of curriculum, our MEng Honours degree is accredited by the Institution of Civil Engineers, the Institution of Structural Engineers, the Institution of Electrical Engineers and or by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. The BEng Honours degree is also accredited, but to complete the academic requirements for professional membership, you would need to follow your degree studies with advanced study equivalent to the final year of an MEng programme.

Our degrees are also recognised world-wide including, in particular, by the Professional Engineers Board in Singapore.

Your Future

A degree in Engineering is fundamental to a career as an engineer today. At the moment there is a shortage of good engineers, which means that there are many and varied employment opportunities throughout the country and, indeed, the world. It will also hold you in good stead for more specific careers such as accountancy or management consultancy.

An Engineering degree at the University of Aberdeen can also lead to the opportunity of further study. Every year many of our students come back for postgraduate study either on one of our taught programmes or to gain higher degrees by research.

The University’s Careers Service helps undergraduates find employment by providing a range of training opportunities and information on prospective employers.

Student Recruitment & Admissions Service
University of Aberdeen · University Office · King's College · ABERDEEN AB24 3FX

Tel: (UK) 01224 272090 / 1 · (International) +44 1224 272090 / 1
Fax: (UK) 01224 272576 · (International) +44 1224 272576
e-mail: sras@abdn.ac.uk

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