BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering Bachelor's degree at Glasgow Caledonian University
BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering at GCU. You'll study engineering fundamentals whilst building the practical and theoretical capabilities needed for professional practice.
About this course
BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering is a Bachelor's degree (BEng (Hons)) at GCU, based in Main Campus. It is studied part-time; duration varies by route.
For Engineering and technology graduates from this provider, 93% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 88% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £42,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Engineering, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Moderate evidence Published sample: 40; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2021-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 93% (2021-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 95% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
A typical UK Engineering degree builds from foundations to specialist options and a final project. An indicative structure:
| Stage | Module |
|---|---|
| Year 1 | Engineering Mathematics Calculus, linear algebra and numerical methods for engineers. |
| Year 1 | Mechanics & Materials Statics, dynamics and how materials behave under load. |
| Year 1 | Design & Practical Skills CAD, workshop practice and the engineering design process. |
| Year 2 | Thermodynamics & Fluids / Circuits & Systems The discipline core, mechanical or electrical stream. |
| Year 2 | Engineering Analysis & Computing Simulation, programming and data analysis for engineering problems. |
| Year 2 | Group Design Project A team build against a real specification, reviewed like industry. |
| Year 3 | Specialist options Typically energy, robotics, structures, communications or manufacturing. |
| Year 3 | Professional Engineering Practice Safety, ethics, sustainability and project management. |
| Year 3 | Individual project A substantial supervised design/research project, the degree's centrepiece. |
Typical structure for this subject (indicative). Modules vary by university. Check the provider's course page for the exact curriculum.
Specialisations & pathways
Tip: click a specialisation → current jobs in that area.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
You'll study mechanical engineering across three years, building from foundational mathematics, mechanics and materials science through to specialist options and a final individual project. A course like this typically begins with engineering mathematics, calculus and linear algebra, alongside statics and dynamics, and introduces CAD and workshop practice. In Year 2, you'll progress to core topics such as thermodynamics and fluids, circuits and systems, then move into engineering analysis, simulation and group design projects. Year 3 focuses on specialisations, such as mechanical, electrical and electronic, civil and structural, robotics and mechatronics, or energy and sustainability, together with professional engineering practice covering safety, ethics and sustainability. You'll also complete a substantial individual design or research project. A chartered (CEng) pathway is available for those pursuing professional registration.
Who it's for
You're suited to this course if you're drawn to understanding how mechanical systems work and solving tangible engineering problems. You'll need strong numeracy and problem-solving ability, plus the discipline to manage part-time study alongside other commitments. This programme works well for people who want to develop professional engineering knowledge and credentials, whether moving into the field for the first time or building on existing experience. You should be comfortable with independent learning and prepared for work that blends mathematics, design and practical application.
Careers & job market
Across engineering courses nationally, 90% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months of completing their degree. Of those working, 80% are in highly skilled positions or continuing their education. Graduate earnings figures (from national data, not university-specific guarantees) show starting salaries of £29,000–£35,000 at the 15-month mark, rising to £33,150–£46,800 after five years. Your actual earnings will depend on your specialism, employer and role taken.
University & format
This BEng (Hons) degree in Mechanical Engineering is studied part-time at Glasgow Caledonian University, a public university located at its Main Campus. The course is taught in English and leads to a nationally recognised Bachelor's degree. Glasgow Caledonian University is a recognised UK degree-awarding body and was.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively. Overall student satisfaction: 79%.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
Part-time application dates vary by provider. UCAS dates
Opened 2 July 2026; last choice 19 October 2026. Check vacancies now. A cached page never claims a place is still available.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| another higher-education qualification | 90% |
| A-levels or equivalent | 10% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code H380). One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by Apply directly to the provider
Part-time application dates vary by provider. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Provider fee page. Set under Scotland's student-finance system; the provider's page is authoritative.
Check fees at GCU →If you normally live in Scotland
For eligible Scottish-domiciled students at an eligible Scottish provider, SAAS can pay tuition directly. Living-cost support can combine bursary and loan and depends on household income and student circumstances. Students from elsewhere use their home funding body.
Check the current amounts with SAAS →Paying for it
- SAAS tuition payment: paid directly to the university for eligible Scottish-domiciled students, applied for through SAAS.
- Living-cost support: a mix of bursary and loan from SAAS, depending on household income.
- Repayment: only above the Scottish repayment threshold, and written off at the end of the plan term.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
Scotland runs its own system through SAAS; check saas.gov.uk for current rates.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Engineering graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £42,000 | £33,500 – £50,000 | 40 |
| 3 years after | £37,500 | £32,500 – £44,500 | 140 |
| 5 years after | £44,000 | £37,000 – £56,500 | 145 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 40; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2021-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in engineering · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Engineering nationally
National figures for Engineering graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2021-23. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 40; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2021-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Engineering courses at the same study level.
Compared with 2,256 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Engineering professionalsSOC 2020 212 · 61% of published destinations · ASHE median £50,325
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 115; response rate: 54%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Job market & outlook
How Engineering graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Engineering graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Engineering & manufacturing firms
- Automotive & aerospace
- Energy & utilities
- Defence & consultancies
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Engineering graduates.
Engineering Surveyor (Machine Control)BAM UK & IrelandEngineering Operations Project ManagerFdo Consulting LimitedEngineering ManagerVerto PeopleEngineering ManagerRobert WaltersEngineering ManagerPremier Technical RecruitmentEngineering ManagerRedline Group LtdIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
Published home tuition is £9,790/year for this course. Tuition for eligible Scottish-domiciled students is paid by SAAS directly to the university, applied for through SAAS and not Student Finance England. Living-cost support is a mix of bursary and loan, and you repay only above the Scottish threshold.
Where graduates go
93% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £42,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 9.0 out of 10: NSS 82.6% · in work or study 93% · continued 95%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Glasgow Caledonian University
Engineering and technology across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Is Engineering right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to GCU from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by GCU; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check GCU’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with GCU and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at GCU
Common questions
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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