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Key information

Duration:: 4 years full time
Typical A-level offer:: ABB
View full entry requirements
UCAS code:: H32F
Start date:: September 2025

87.9% of our research outputs in Engineering were assessed to be world leading or internationally excellent (REF 2021)
14th in the UK for Mechanical Engineering (The Guardian University Guide 2025)

This degree will enable you to lead multidisciplinary teams in the development of complex systems, including sustainable power generation, power-trains for automotive vehicles, and jet engines for aircraft propulsion. The optional placement year also gives you the chance to get real work experience for a year in industry, while still being supported by Sussex.

We undertake world-class research, which enriches your teaching. Our Dynamics, Control and Vehicle Research Group and the Thermo-Fluid Mechanics Research Centre, develop innovative concepts in vehicle technology and efficient aero-engines, among other things. You’ll study in our Future Technologies Labs that incorporate computer suites and new automation/robotics facilities. There is a dedicated manufacturing lab with state-of-the-art facilities such as CNC machines and 3-D printers. You'll be able to specialise in subjects such as CAD, computational fluid dynamics through optional modules and work on areas such as control, vibration, tribology, or aerodynamics through project work including Formula Student and Wind-driven car projects.

We have dedicated academic advisers to support you during you time at Sussex, as well as a team of student mentors.

Accreditation

Our courses are accredited to include the 2023 intake. We are currently in the process of securing re-accreditation for the 2024 intake onwards, according to the rules of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, which require periodic re-accreditation.

Accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as an Incorporated Engineer and partially meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer. Find out more

To help you gain experience and increase your employability, you can apply for an optional placement as part of your course. This can be a fantastic opportunity to gain real-life insight into industry as well as skills valued by employers. You’ll be responsible for applying for and securing your placement. Our dedicated careers team can help you:

find an employer
draft an application
prepare for interviews.

Don’t worry if you’re not successful, you’ll simply transfer to a non-placement version of your course.

We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision. We’ll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities described in this prospectus. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to government or regulatory requirements, or unanticipated staff changes, we’ll let you know as soon as possible.

MEng or BEng?

We also offer this course without the industrial placement year, as a four-year MEng, or as a five-year MEng with an industrial placement year. Find out about the benefits of an integrated Masters year.

The facilities are excellent. I particularly enjoy the fast-speed computers, which have allowed me to run powerful softwares with ease.”Abigail Berhane
Mechanical Engineering BEng

How to apply

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A-level

Typical offer	ABB
Contextual offer	View contextual offer Not everyone has the same support to get to higher education – we help you reach your potential. When we receive applications through UCAS, we consider all factors and will sometimes make contextual offers as part of our Access and Participation Plan
Subjects	A-levels must include Mathematics, with at least grade B.
GCSEs	You should have a broad range of GCSEs grade 9-4 (A*-C), including good grades in relevant subjects.
Extended Project Qualification	We take the EPQ into account when considering your application and it can be useful in the summer when your results are released if you have narrowly missed the conditions of your offer. We do not routinely include the EPQ in the conditions of your offer but we sometimes offer alternative conditions that include the EPQ. If you wish to discuss this further please contact us

Other UK qualifications

Access to HE Diploma

Typical offer	Pass Diploma with at least 39 level 3 credits at Merit or above including 24 credits at Distinction
Subjects	You will normally need A-level Mathematics, grade B, in addition to the Access to HE Diploma.
Additional requirements	All Access applicants will be assessed on a case by case basis.

Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects (including A-level mixes)

Typical offer

M1 M2 M2

If you have one A-level and two Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects we would expect you to have grade A at A-level and, M2 and M2 in two Pre-Us.

If you have two A-levels and a Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subject we would normally expect you to have grades AB at A-level and M2 in Pre-U.

Subjects

You must have either Mathematics at A-level grade B or Cambridge Pre-U Principal subject with at least an M2.

GCSEs

You should have a broad range of GCSEs grades 9-4 (A*-C), including good grades in relevant subjects.

International Baccalaureate

Typical offer

32 points overall from the full IB Diploma.

Subjects

Higher Levels must include Mathematics, with a grade of 5.

For entry, either Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches or Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation at Higher Level will be accepted.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma and one A-level

Typical offer	Grade B in A-level and Distinction, Distinction in Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma.
Contextual offer	View contextual offer Not everyone has the same support to get to higher education – we help you reach your potential. When we receive applications through UCAS, we consider all factors and will sometimes make contextual offers as part of our Access and Participation Plan
Subjects	A-level must be Mathematics at grade B.
GCSEs	You should have a broad range of GCSEs grades 9-4 (A*-C), including good grades in relevant subjects.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate and two A-levels

Typical offer	Grades BB in A-levels and Distinction in BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate.
Contextual offer	View contextual offer Not everyone has the same support to get to higher education – we help you reach your potential. When we receive applications through UCAS, we consider all factors and will sometimes make contextual offers as part of our Access and Participation Plan
Subjects	A-levels must include Mathematics at grade B.
GCSEs	You should have a broad range of GCSEs grades 9-4 (A*-C), including good grades in relevant subjects

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (formerly BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma)

Typical offer	DDD
Contextual offer	View contextual offer Not everyone has the same support to get to higher education – we help you reach your potential. When we receive applications through UCAS, we consider all factors and will sometimes make contextual offers as part of our Access and Participation Plan
Subjects	The BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma should be in Engineering and must include a Distinction in Calculus to Solve Engineering Problems or if taking the BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Engineering you must gain a Distinction in the Further Mathematics for Engineering Technicians.
GCSEs	GCSE (or equivalent) Mathematics with at least grade 5 is essential (or grade B). You should also have a broad range of GCSEs 9-4 (A*-C ), including good grades in relevant subjects.

Scottish Highers

Typical offer

AABBB

Subjects

Highers must include Mathematics, grade A. You should normally have an Advanced Higher in Mathematics (grade B).

Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced

Typical offer	ABB-BBB from the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Skills Challenge Certificate and two A-levels
Subjects	A-levels must include Mathematics, grade B.
GCSEs	You should have a broad range of GCSEs A*-C (9-4), including good grades in relevant subjects.

International Baccalaureate

Typical offer

32 points overall from the full IB Diploma.

Subjects

Higher Levels must include Mathematics, with a grade of 5.

For entry, either Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches or Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation at Higher Level will be accepted.

European Baccalaureate

Typical offer	Overall result of at least 77%.
Additional requirements	Evidence of existing academic ability at a high level in Mathematics is essential (normally with a final grade of at least 8.0).

Additional requirements

Evidence of existing academic ability at a high level in Mathematics is essential.

China

Typical offer

If you have the Goakao, we will consider applications for direct entry to first year. You would normally need an overall average of 75%, including required subjects.

We are also pleased to consider applications if you are following a recognised International Foundation Year or you have one or more years of Higher Education in China at a recognised degree awarding institution.

The Senior High School Graduation alone would not be sufficient for entry to our undergraduate degrees, but you may be eligible to apply for our International Foundation Year. If you successfully complete an International Foundation Year, you can progress on to a relevant undergraduate course at Sussex.

Check which qualifications the International Study Centre accepts for the International Foundation Year.

Additional requirements

Evidence of existing academic ability at a high level in Mathematics is essential.

Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Croatia

Typical offer	Maturatna Svjedodžba with an overall score of between 4 and 4.2
Additional requirements	Evidence of existing academic ability at a high level in Mathematics is essential.

Typical offer	French Baccalauréat with overall final result of 13/20.
Additional requirements	You will need to be taking the science strand within the French Baccalauréat with a final result of at least 12/20 in Mathematics.

Germany

Typical offer	German Abitur with an overall result of 2.0 or better.
Additional requirements	Evidence of existing academic ability at a high level in Mathematics is essential (normally with a final grade of at least 12/15).

Greece

Typical offer

Apolytirion with an overall average of 18.5 will be considered for first-year entry.

You must also have either Apolytirion pathway in Mathematics with a score of 19 or the Pan Hellenic in Mathematics with an overall score of 17.

Additional requirements

Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Hong Kong

Typical offer

Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) with grades of 5, 4, 4 from three subjects including two electives.

Additional requirements

You must have some advanced/higher level ability in Mathematics, and will need to complete both the Compulsory and Extended Mathematics components.

Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Hungary

Typical offer

Erettsegi/Matura with a good averageof at least 55544.

Additional requirements

Evidence of existing academic ability at a high level in Mathematics is essential.

Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

India

Typical offer

Standard XII results

75% - 80% from ISC Indian School certificate of Education (CISCE)
80% from SSC All India Senior School Certificate Examination (CBSE)
80% HSC Higher Secondary Certificate ( Maharashtra )

Additional requirements

Evidence of existing academic ability at a high level in Mathematics is essential.

Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Iran

Typical offer	Where direct entry is unsuitable, we'll automatically consider you for one of our Foundation Years. Or you might want to apply to one of our International Foundation Years at the international Study Centre on Campus. Visit isc.sussex.ac.uk/our-courses/international-foundation-year or www.sussex.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/foundation-years
Subject-specific knowledge	Evidence of existing academic ability at a high level in Mathematics is essential.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Ireland

Typical offer	Irish Leaving Certificate (Higher Level) at H1,H2,H2,H3,H3 to H2,H2,H2,H3,H3.
Additional requirements	Highers must include Mathematics, grade H1.

Israel

Typical offer

For first year entry at least 80% (or 8/10) in at least 6 subjects, including one 5 unit subject, in one sitting of the Bagrut.

Additional requirements

Evidence of existing academic ability in Mathematics to a high level is essential.

Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Italy

Typical offer	Italian Diploma Di Maturità or Diploma Pass Di Esame Di Stato with a final Diploma mark of between 78/100 and 81/100.
Additional requirements	Evidence of existing academic ability at a high level in Mathematics is essential.

Japan

Typical offer	Where direct entry is unsuitable, we'll automatically consider you for one of our Foundation Years. Or you might want to apply to one of our International Foundation Years at the international Study Centre on Campus. Visit isc.sussex.ac.uk/our-courses/international-foundation-year or www.sussex.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/foundation-years
Subject-specific knowledge	Evidence of existing academic ability at a high level in Mathematics is essential.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Latvia

Typical offer

Atestats par Visparejo videjo Izglitibu with very good grades in state exams.

Additional requirements

Evidence of existing academic ability at a high level in Mathematics is essential.

Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Lithuania

Typical offer

Brandos Atestatas including scores of 80% in at least three state examinations (other than English).

Additional requirements

Evidence of existing academic ability at a high level in Mathematics is essential.

Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis

Luxembourg

Typical offer	Pass the Diplome de Fin d’Etudes Secondaires with between 43-46 points overall.
Additional requirements	Evidence of existing academic ability at a high level in Mathematics is essential. Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis

Malaysia

Typical offer

at least Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) with grades of BBB, Matriculation with a least a grade of 3.0 or UEC with an overall average grade B4 (70%) from 6 subjects.

Additional requirements

Evidence of existing academic ability at a high level in Mathematics is essential.

Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis

Netherlands

Typical offer

Voorereidend Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs (VWO), normally with an average of at least 7.

Additional requirements

Evidence of existing academic ability at a high level in Mathematics is essential.

Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis

Nigeria

Typical offer

You are expected to have one of the following:

Higher National Diploma
One year at a recognised Nigerian University
Professional Diploma (Part IV) from the Institute of Medical Laboratory Technology of Nigeria
Advanced Diploma

You must also have a score of C6 or above in WAEC/SSC English

Additional requirements

Evidence of existing academic ability at a high level in Mathematics is essential.

Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis

Norway

Typical offer	Norwegian Vitnemal Fra Den Videregaende Opplaering - Pass with an overall average of 4.
Additional requirements	Evidence of existing academic ability at a high level in Mathematics is essential.

Pakistan

Typical offer

You can apply for direct entry to Year 1 if you are completing at least two years of Bachelor degree studies.

You'll normally need to complete a Foundation year after taking Intermediate Certificate or the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC). You might choose one of our International Foundation Years at the International Study Centre on campus.

Additional requirements

Evidence of existing academic ability at a high level in Mathematics is essential.

Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis

Poland

Typical offer

Pass Matura with least 3 Extended level subjects including Mathematics in the 75th percentile.

Additional requirements

Please note: Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Portugal

Typical offer

Diploma de Ensino Secundario normally with an overall mark between 16/20 and 17/20.

Additional requirements

Evidence of existing academic ability at a high level in Mathematics is essential.

Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis

Romania

Typical offer	Diploma de Bacalaureat with an overall average between 8.0 and 8.5 including a score of 8 in Mathematics.
Additional requirements	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Russia

Typical offer	Applicants who have good grades in the Attestat o Srednem Obrazovami (Certificate of Secondary Education) and who have successfully completed the first year of a Russian University degree, with a minimum GPA of 4.0, will be considered for admission to the first year of our bachelor’s degree courses.
Subject-specific knowledge	Evidence of existing academic ability at a high level in Mathematics is essential.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Singapore

Typical offer	A-levels, as well as certain certificates and diplomas.
Additional requirements	Evidence of existing academic ability at a high level in Mathematics is essential. Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis

Slovakia

Typical offer	Pass Vysvedčenie o maturitnej skúške (Maturita) with an average grade above 2.0 from 4 subjects including Mathematics.
Additional requirements	Please note: Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Slovenia

Typical offer

Secondary School Leaving Diploma or Matura with at least 23 points overall.

Additional requirements

Evidence of existing academic ability at a high level in Mathematics is essential.

Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

South Africa

Typical offer	National Senior Certificate with very good grades.
Additional requirements	Evidence of existing academic ability at a high level in Mathematics is essential. Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis

Spain

Typical offer	Spanish Título de Bachillerato (LOGSE) with an overall average result between 7.5 and 8.0.
Additional requirements	Evidence of existing academic ability at a high level in Mathematics is essential.

Sri Lanka

Typical offer	Sri Lankan A-levels
Additional requirements	Evidence of existing academic ability at a high level in Mathematics is essential. Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis

Sweden

Typical offer

Fullstandigt Slutbetyg/Högskoleförberedande Examen with a total of 2,500 credits to include B grades in the majority of subjects and to include grade B in Mathematics.

Additional requirements

Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Switzerland

Typical offer	Federal Maturity Certificate.
Additional requirements	Evidence of existing academic ability at a high level in Mathematics is essential. Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis

Turkey

Typical offer

We'll consider students who have taken the Lise Diplomasi or Lise Bitirme, with a score of at least 4/5 or 80/100 in their final year, on a case by case basis for direct entry to year 1.

Where direct entry is unsuitable, we'll automatically consider you for one of our Foundation Years. Or you might want to apply to one of our International Foundation Years at the international Study Centre on Campus. Visit isc.sussex.ac.uk/our-courses/international-foundation-year or www.sussex.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/foundation-years

Additional requirements

Evidence of existing academic ability at a high level in Mathematics is essential.
Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis

USA

Typical offer

We look at your full profile considering everything you are studying, including the High School Graduation Diploma, Grade 12 GPA, SAT tests and subject tests and/or ACT grades and AP tests. We expect to see a combination of these qualifications.

Alongside your High School Graduation Diploma, we would ideally like to see 3 good AP scores with either, a combined SAT test score (evidence-based reading and writing and mathematics) of 1300, or a combined ACT score of 26

AP and SAT Subject tests

Please check the individual course pages for our typical A-level offer and see below for the corresponding scores we would require from AP test scores:

A Level requirements	AP test grades
AAA	555
AAB	554
ABB	544
BBB	444

We will also accept a combination of any 3 AP tests and SAT subject test where a score of 600 in an SAT subject test can be substituted for an AP test in the above table

If you are applying for a degree with an A level subject requirement in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry or Biology will normally need to hold an AP test in that subject.

College level credits

We also accept college level 3-credit courses in academic subjects as the equivalent of a UK A Level on a case by case basis. These can be combined with AP tests and or SAT subject tests

Associate degrees

An Associate degree with a GPA of 3.0 will meet our entry requirements for year 1.

Foundation Year entry

Students who have a High School Diploma and SAT or ACT tests only would be eligible to apply for our Foundation Year

Additional requirements

Evidence of existing academic ability at a high level in Mathematics is essential.
Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis

My country is not listed

If your qualifications aren’t listed or you have a question about entry requirements, contact us

English language requirements

IELTS (Academic)

6.0 overall, including at least 5.5 in each component

Check your IELTS qualification meets all of our language requirements

Find out more about IELTS

IELTS scores are valid for two years from the test date. You cannot combine scores from more than one sitting of the test. Your score must be valid when you begin your Sussex course.

We accept IELTS One Skills Retake.

We do not accept IELTS Online.

Other English language requirements

Proficiency tests

Cambridge Advanced Certificate in English (CAE)

169 overall, including at least 162 in each skill

Check your Cambridge Advanced Certificate in English (CAE) qualification meets all of our language requirements

Find out more about Cambridge English: Advanced.

We would normally expect the CAE test to have been taken within two years before the start of your course.

You cannot combine scores from more than one sitting of the test.

Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)

169 overall, including at least 162 in each skill

Check your Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) qualification meets all of our language requirements

Find out more about Cambridge English: Proficiency.

We would normally expect the CPE test to have been taken within two years before the start of your course.

You cannot combine scores from more than one sitting of the test.

Pearson (PTE Academic)

59 overall, including at least 59 in all four skills.

Check your Pearson (PTE Academic) qualification meets all of our language requirements

Find out more about Pearson (PTE Academic).

Please refer to our English language requirements above, and as listed for each of our undergraduate courses, to find the appropriate English level for the course you are applying for.

PTE (Academic) scores are valid for two years from the test date. You cannot combine scores from more than one sitting of the test. Your score must be valid when you begin your Sussex course.

We do not accept the PTE Academic Online test.

TOEFL (iBT)

80 overall, including at least 17 in Listening, 18 in Reading, 20 in Speaking, 17 in Writing.

Check your TOEFL qualification meets all of our language requirements

Find out more about TOEFL (iBT).

TOEFL (iBT) scores are valid for two years from the test date. You cannot combine scores from more than one sitting of the test. Your score must be valid when you begin your Sussex course.

We do not accept TOEFL (iBT) Home Edition.

The TOEFL Institution Code for the University of Sussex is 9166.

English language qualifications

AS/A-level (GCE)

Grade C or above in English Language.

Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (HKALE)/ AS or A Level: grade C or above in Use of English

GCE O-level

Grade C or above in English.

Brunei/Cambridge GCE O-level in English: grades 1-6.

Singapore/Cambridge GCE O-level in English: grades 1-6.

GCSE or IGCSE

Grade C or above in English as a First Language (grade 4 or above in GCSE from 2017).

Grade B or above in English as a Second Language

Ghana Senior Secondary School Certificate

If awarded before 1993: grades 1-6 in English language.

If awarded between 1993 and 2005: grades A-D in English language.

Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE)

Level 4, including at least 3 in each component in English Language.

Indian School Certificate (Standard XII)

The Indian School Certificate is accepted at the grades below when awarded by the following examination boards:

Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) – English Core only: 70%

Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) - English: 70% or Grade 3

International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB)

English A or English B at grade 5 or above.

Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education

Grades A – C in English

Malaysian Certificate of Education (SPM) 119/GCE O-level

If taken before the end of 2008: grades 1-5 in English Language.

If taken from 2009 onwards: grade C or above in English Language.

The qualification must be jointly awarded by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES).

West African Senior School Certificate

Grades 1-6 in English language when awarded by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) or the National Examinations Council (NECO).

Country exceptions

If you are a national of one of the countries below, or if you have recently completed a qualification equivalent to a UK Bachelors degree or higher in one of these countries, you will normally meet our English requirements. Note that qualifications obtained by distance learning or awarded by studying outside these countries cannot be accepted for English language purposes.

You will normally be expected to have completed the qualification within two years before starting your course at Sussex. If the qualification was obtained earlier than this we would expect you to be able to demonstrate that you have maintained a good level of English, for example by living in an English-speaking country or working in an occupation that required you to use English regularly and to a high level.

Please note that this list is determined by the UK’s Home Office, not by the University of Sussex.

List of exempt countries

Antigua and Barbuda
Australia
Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
Canada**
Dominica
Grenada
Guyana
Ireland
Jamaica
New Zealand
St Kitts and Nevis
St Lucia
St Vincent and the Grenadines
Trinidad and Tobago
United Kingdom
USA

** Canada: you must be a national of Canada; other nationals not on this list who have a degree from a Canadian institution will not normally be exempt from needing to provide evidence of English.

Admissions information for applicants

Transfers into Year 2	Yes. Find out more about transferring into Year 2 of this course. We don’t accept transfers into the third or final year.

If your qualifications aren’t listed or you have a question about entry requirements, contact us

For details on any additional costs, check out the Fees and scholarships section.

Don’t meet our entry requirements?

If you don't meet our entry requirements, we recommend our in-house Foundation Year course to prepare you for Year 1 of your chosen degree:

Engineering (with a foundation year) BEng (Hons)

If you don't have the required language skills for this course you could consider the International Study Centre. The ISC offers a range of foundation courses in combination with English language teaching.

How to apply

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Modules

This is a single-honours course, allowing you to focus in depth on your core subject.

Find out about our types of undergraduate degrees, their structure, modules and credits

Year 1 at Sussex
Year 2 at Sussex
Placement
Year 3 at Sussex

Core modules

Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.

Autumn teaching

Spring teaching

Intersemester Week

Global Design Challenge

Global Design Challenge

You join all first-year students in the School of Engineering and Informatics in a team-based, week-long activity, the Global Design Challenge. Each team designs a solution to a problem faced by a community in the developing world. You develop transferable skills, benefiting both your studies and your future employability.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2024/25. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.

We’ll do our best to provide as much optional choice as we can, but timetabling constraints mean it may not be possible to take some module combinations. The structure of a small number of courses means that the order of modules or the streams you choose may determine whether modules are core or optional. This means that your core modules or options may differ from what’s shown here.

Check back in January 2025 for more details of the modules running in the academic year 2025/26.

Core modules

Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.

Autumn teaching

Autumn and spring teaching

Industry Ready: Mastering the Placement Application Process

Spring teaching

Check back in January 2025 for more details of the modules running in the academic year 2025/26.

An industrial placement gives you the chance to spend a year working with an organisation, in an area relevant to your course, while being paid. It’s a proven way to fast-track your career. Recent students have gone on placements at:

EDF Energy
GE Aviation
YASA Motors.

You develop your technical, team-working and transferable skills, and apply what you have learnt in your studies to a business environment.

Find out more about placements and internships

Find out about the latest award-winning design from one of our placement students

Our careers team offers dedicated support to help you obtain a placement, including:

finding an employer
drafting an application
preparing for interviews
ongoing help throughout a placement.

Don’t worry if you’re not successful in securing a placement, you’ll simply transfer to a non-placement version of your course.

I owe my current academic and career progress to the opportunities that my placement gave me.”Thomas Westwood
Mechanical Engineering (with an industrial placement year) MEng
Product Support Engineer, Eschmann Equipment

Please note that if you’re receiving – or applying for – USA federal Direct Loan funds, you can’t undertake your placement in the USA if the number of credits for the placement/internship exceeds 25% of the total credits for your course. Find out more about American Student Loans and Federal Student Aid

Core modules

Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.

Autumn teaching

Autumn and spring teaching

Individual Project

Spring teaching

Heat Transfer

Options

Alongside your core modules, you can choose options to broaden your horizons and tailor your course to your interests. This list gives you a flavour of our options, which are kept under review and may change, for example in response to student feedback or the latest research.

While it’s our aim for students to take their preferred combinations of options, this can’t be guaranteed and will be subject to timetabling. Options may be grouped and if so, students will be able to choose a set number of options from the selection available in any particular group.

Autumn teaching

Spring teaching

Check back in January 2025 for more details of the modules running in the academic year 2025/26.

Societies and partnerships

You’ll be welcomed into our active, student-run engineering societies, and benefit from our partnerships with:

Studying Mechanical Engineering at Sussex.

How to apply

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Our staff

My favourite part of teaching is when my students connect the theory we’ve explored to real-life engineering issues. Finding innovative solutions is a great motivation!”Dr Esra Sorguven
Senior Lecturer in Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics

Prof Julian Dunne

Professor of Mechanical Engineering

View profile of Julian Dunne

Prof Romeo Glovnea

Professor

View profile of Romeo Glovnea

Dr Vasudevan Kanjirakkad

Senior Lecturer in Thermo-fluid Mechanics

View profile of Vasudevan Kanjirakkad

Dr Kun Liang

Senior Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering (Computer Aided Design)

View profile of Kun Liang

Dr Yevgen Petrov

Reader in Structural Dynamics

View profile of Yevgen Petrov

Dr Mark Puttock-Brown

Senior Lecturer in Mechanical Engineerin

View profile of Mark Puttock-Brown

Prof Martin Rose

Professor of Mechanical Engineering

View profile of Martin Rose

Prof Esra Sorguven

Professor of Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics

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Dr Chang Wang

Reader

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Dr William Wang

Senior Lecturer in Engineering

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Fees

Home students:: £9,250 per year
Channel Islands and Isle of Man students:: £9,250 per year
International students:: £26,250 per year
Placement:: Find out about tuition fees for placements

Note that your fees, once they’re set, may be subject to an increase on an annual basis. Find details on our Tuition fees page.

Additional costs

Note about additional costs

Please note that all costs are best estimates based on current market values. Activities may be subject to unavoidable change in response to Government advice. We’ll let you know at the earliest opportunity. We review estimates every year and they may vary with inflation. Find out how to budget for student life.

Placement

This course offers you the opportunity to apply for a placement. Find out about placement fees at Tuition fees. You’ll need to pay for your own travel costs to and from your placement.

Find out about typical living costs for studying at Sussex

Find out about our terms and conditions

Scholarships

Our goal is to ensure that every student who wants to study with us is able to regardless of financial barriers, so that we continue to attract talented and unique people.

Chancellor's International Scholarships

£5,000 in the first year of full-time study

Find out more
Sussex Bangladesh Scholarship (Undergraduate)

Up to £4,500 (£1,500 per year of full-time study)

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Sussex Egypt Scholarship (Undergraduate)

Up to £4,500 (£1,500 per year of full-time study)

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Sussex India Scholarship (Undergraduate)

Up to £4,500 (£1,500 per year of full-time study)

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Sussex Nigeria Scholarship (Undergraduate)

Up to £4,500 (£1,500 per year of full-time study)

Find out more
Sussex Pakistan Scholarship (Undergraduate)

Up to £4,500 (£1,500 per year of full-time study)

Find out more
Sussex Turkey Scholarship (Undergraduate)

Up to £4,500 (£1,500 per year of full-time study)

Find out more
Sussex Vietnam Scholarship (Undergraduate)

Up to £4,500 (£1,500 per year of full-time study)

Find out more

How to apply

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Careers

Gain the skills for a career in engineering, and benefit from our industry links with companies like Jaguar, IBM, Siemens and Thales. The technical, team-working and design skills you develop on this course mean you can go into graduate jobs in sectors including:

aerospace and energy
construction and manufacturing
automotive.

You can also meet graduate employers at careers events. Recent sessions have included talks by IBM and Atkins, and advice on applying for graduate schemes.

Working while you study

Our Careers and Entrepreneurship team can help you find part-time work while you study. Find out more about career development and part-time work

Design your future at Sussex

Taking the next step in your career can feel daunting, but we’ll help you to explore, connect and flourish throughout your studies and beyond.

As a Sussex student, you’ll learn how to tackle real-world challenges and have access to tailored programmes of careers support:

our Career Lab helps you to explore your options, build key skills and connect with employers. Take part in internships, community consultancy projects and insight visits, where you can learn about life at organisations including Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club, Gatwick Airport and the Knepp Rewilding Project
one-to-one coaching with your Faculty Careers Consultant can enable you to identify your career goals, write an effective CV and prepare for future interviews
entrepreneurship initiatives like StartUp Sussex and Ideas Lab can empower you to turn your concepts into reality.

Explore how our Careers and Entrepreneurship team can support you

Winner
Supporting Student and Graduate Employability Award
AGCAS Awards for Excellence 2024

Winner
Entrepreneurship Catalyst Award
National Enterprise Educator Awards 2024

How to apply

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Mechanical Engineering (with an industrial placement year) BEng (Hons)

Key information

Accreditation

MEng or BEng?

Entry requirements

A-level

Other UK qualifications

Access to HE Diploma

Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects (including A-level mixes)

International Baccalaureate

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma and one A-level

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate and two A-levels

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (formerly BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma)

Scottish Highers

Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced

International Baccalaureate

European Baccalaureate

Other international qualifications

Australia

Austria

Belgium

Bulgaria

Canada

China

Croatia

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Denmark

Finland

France

Germany

Greece

Hong Kong

Hungary

India

Iran

Ireland

Israel

Italy

Japan

Latvia

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Malaysia

Netherlands

Nigeria

Norway

Pakistan

Poland

Portugal

Romania

Russia

Singapore

Slovakia

Slovenia

South Africa

Spain

Sri Lanka

Sweden

Switzerland

Turkey

USA

My country is not listed

English language requirements

IELTS (Academic)

Other English language requirements

Proficiency tests

Cambridge Advanced Certificate in English (CAE)

Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)

Pearson (PTE Academic)

TOEFL (iBT)

English language qualifications

AS/A-level (GCE)

GCE O-level

GCSE or IGCSE

Ghana Senior Secondary School Certificate

Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE)

Indian School Certificate (Standard XII)

International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB)

Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education