Mechanical Engineering
Introduction
Mechanical engineers design and develop everything that moves or has moving parts — from airplanes to wind turbines to dishwashers.
Overview
Mechanical Engineering
What will my study involve?
- Practical courses designing, building, testing, and maintaining mechanical systems.
- Take part in a variety of Research and Development (R&D) projects with industry sponsors, ranging from industrial design manufacturing, biomedical applications, and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).
- Check out clubs like UC Motorsport and Motosoc if you are interested in mechanics.
Mechanical Engineering
Courses
You may also choose to complete a minor alongside Mechanical Engineering in either Aerospace Engineering or Biomedical Engineering .
First year
The first year of the Bachelor of Engineering with Honours is made up of six compulsory courses taken by all Engineering students, plus courses specific to Mechanical Engineering:
You also need to complete one other 100-level elective course. Check with a Student Advisor for suggested options.
More information:
- To see what this degree will look like, view the degree diagram on the Bachelor of Engineering with Honours page.
- For guidance on how to structure your first year, visit the Engineering First Year webpage.
2nd–4th years
Once you have completed the first year and successfully applied for entry into Mechanical Engineering, you will study that discipline within the next three years.
Most courses in Mechanical Engineering consist of lectures supplemented by tutorials and laboratory classes.
In the fourth year you will complete a unique industry project. These are conducted within the department under the joint supervision of staff members and an industry sponsor. Most projects are sourced from Aotearoa New Zealand industry, or from well-known international firms. This experience gives you an employability advantage.
Second year
- Complete the following list of courses
Third year
- Complete the following list of courses
Plus one of:
- ENME311 Mechanical Engineering Design
- ENME351 Biomedical Engineering Design
- ENME362 Aerospace Engineering Design
Fourth year
- Complete the following list of courses
Plus four courses chosen from these options, or any approved 400-level Engineering courses.
Physical requirements
Mechanical Engineering involves a variety of practical undertakings which includes, but is not limited to:
- compulsory design courses in each year of the degree require hand sketching, the use of drawing instruments, and comprehensive CAD use
- laboratories throughout the degree, including manual manipulation of controls and other hardware
- Workshop Training (ENME199) in the use of machine tools and Practical Workshop Experience (ENGR200) are both essential and core to the understanding of engineering principles taught, and require manual dexterity
- extensive use of specialised software packages and the frequent use of Microsoft products
- extensive use of computer equipment, including a mouse and, in some cases, track pads.
Should you have accessibility requirements that may affect your ability to complete such activities, please contact the Engineering Student Advisors before enrolling in second year to discuss support options.
Mechanical Engineering
Career opportunities
Mechanical engineers meet the challenges of our changing world by applying creativity, scientific knowledge, and engineering skills to find solutions to technical problems.
Your experiences will work well in a huge number of industries, from medical to building to transport to power generation.
Career pathways could include:
- quality and test engineering
- machine operations and safety
- product manufacturing and design
- engineering consultancy.
Find out more about what you can do with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.
