Top Mechanical Engineering Universities in UK

Last Updated on January 18, 2023

Engineering is considered one of the most rewarding careers in UK. Students from all around the world travel to UK every year to study in some of the best reputable engineering universities in UK. Mechanical engineering is a very competitive field but also has an ample number of opportunities and sectors to choose from.

This article provides more insight into the top mechanical engineering universities in UK. Read on to discover the latest information about the best mechanical engineering courses, top electrical engineering universities in uk, best universities for civil engineering uk, times university ranking mechanical engineering uk, design engineering university ranking uk, university of kent mechanical engineering ranking. You can get more in related articles on Collegelearners.

Top Electrical Engineering Universities in UK

The Best UK Universities for Mechanical Engineering
  1. Imperial College London
    One of the most renowned universities in the world, Imperial College London’s Mechanical Engineering department is ranked as the best in the UK by the Guardian and second by the Times University Guide. Imperial work continuously with industry to ensure that their courses – and the facilities, and equipment you will learn to use – remain relevant to the profession.

Postgraduate course to consider: MEng Mechanical Engineering

  1. University of Bath
    The University of Bath Faculty of Engineering and Design has strong industry links and is widely acknowledged for its fantastic research programmes. The University offers MSc in Automotive Engineering, Engineering Design, Innovation and Technology Management, and Mechatronics and MEng courses in mechanical engineering give you advanced engineering knowledge complemented by practical and transferable skills.

Postgraduate course to consider: Integrated Mechanical and Electrical Engineering MEng (Hons)

  1. University of Leeds
    The University of Leeds Faculty of Engineering won the Queen’s Anniversary Prize in 2009 for services to Engineering and Technology and now offers both BEng and MEng in various branches of the profession. Over 1000 students from over 65 countries study at the mechanical engineering school and its quality of research is second in the UK.

Undergraduate and postgraduate course to consider: Mechanical Engineering MEng, BEng

  1. University of Bristol
    The Faculty of Engineering at the University of Bristol is a dynamic environment with around 2,500 undergraduate and 700 postgraduate students. All undergraduate Engineering courses now offer a year in industry as part of the degree and every undergraduate programme offers a year of study at a university abroad. Bristol consistently ranks in the world’s top 100 and the UK’s top 10 universities in league tables.

Undergraduate course to consider: Mechanical Engineering, BEng
Postgraduate course to consider: Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, MEng

  1. Loughborough University
    Loughborough University have been teaching engineering programmes since 1909 and, if it is industry experience you are looking for, this School has it. Loughborough send over 15%* more students on engineering placements than any other UK university, and 94% of their students are employed or in further study within 6 months of graduation!

Phoebe Mae Rayner, an MEng Electronic and Electrical Engineering student at Loughborough, said of the School: “The teaching is exceptional. Labs are frequent and interesting and we experience using a variety of equipment from the start of the first year onwards.”

Undergraduate course to consider: Mechanical Engineering, BEng
Postgraduate course to consider: Mechanical Engineering MSc

Design Engineering University Ranking UK

Based on the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2020
UK RankingWorld RankingInstitutionLocation
13University of CambridgeCambridge
26University of OxfordOxford
37Imperial College LondonLondon
439=UCL (University College London)London
545=The University of ManchesterManchester
666University of EdinburghEdinburgh
7103=University of SouthamptonSouthampton
8106=University of BristolBristol
9117=The University of SheffieldSheffield
10122The University of NottinghamNottingham

Available as a one-year program, Masters in Mechanical Engineering in UK is offered by over 50 universities. The fees of availing Masters in Mechanical Engineering in the UK is up to around 20,430 GBP/year for the overseas students. For Indian students studying at mechanical engineering colleges in UK the program fees equal to ~20 lakhs.  While in graduate training mechanical engineers in UK can earn up to 28,000 GBP (27 lakhs).  Further, you can earn average salaries up to 80,000 GBP/year (~78 LPAafter completing their Masters in Mechanical Engineering in UK.

Though the investment of pursuing MS/ME in Mechanical Engineering may seem extremely high, there are a number of scholarships for masters students in UK that cover up to 50% of tuition fees.  Additionally, getting a professionally accredited degree from the UK can help you become a Charted Engineer. Accreditation bodies can be Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), or others. 

Top Universities for Masters in Mechanical Engineering in UK

Mentioned below are the top Universities in UKas per QS rankings, providing Masters in Mechanical Engineering and its specializations. The table also discusses the cost and application details for MSc in mechanical engineering in the UK:

UniversityCourses & DurationTuition Fees (Yearly in GBP)
Imperial College LondonMSc. in Advanced Mechanical Engineering (1 year)32,500
University of ManchesterMSc. in Mechanical Engineering Design (1 year)24,000
University College LondonMSc. in Mechanical Engineering (1 year)28,530
University Of NottinghamMSc. in Mechanical Engineering (1 year)24,390
University of LeedsMSc. in Advanced Mechanical Engineering (1 year)24,000
University Of GlasgowMSc. in Mechanical Engineering (1 year)13,000
University of Strathclyde GlasgowMSc. in Advanced Mechanical Engineering (1 year)20,700
University of LiverpoolMSc. in Advanced Mechanical Engineering (1 year)21,500
University of LeicesterMSc. in Advanced Mechanical Engineering (1 year)20,700
Lancaster UniversityMSc. in Mechanical Engineering (1 year)22,550
University of HuddersfieldMSc. in Mechanical Engineering (1 year)15,000
The University of ExeterMSc. in Mechanical Engineering (1 year)22,700

The advantage of pursuing mechanical engineering in the UK is the shorter program duration and less stringent admission policies as compared to other popular study destinations like the USA or Canada. 

Why Study Masters in Mechanical Engineering in UK?

  • Four universities in the UK rank globally among the top 50 universities offering mechanical engineering abroad
  • Post completion of a mechanical engineering degree over 70% of the students is employed within 6 months of graduation. Depicted below are the details of what do mechanical engineering graduates in UK do:

Path Chosen by mechanical engineering graduates in UK

  • Around 60% of the graduates employed were working in engineering and building work. 
  • The chance of getting jobs and internships is relatively easier in the UK as the unemployment rate of the UK is around 3.8%. 
  • The Visa acceptance rate is around 90.08%, which is good. This suggests that landing in UK is far easier than in the USA and other contemporary countries. 

Masters in Mechanical Engineering in UK: Course Highlights

Courses AvailableMSc. in Mechanical Engg; Advanced Mechanical Engg; Advanced ME with Aerospace; Mechanical Engg Design
EligibilityUG with 65% in Mechanical, Automotive, or Energy System Engineering, or other relevant degrees
Entrance ExamEnglish Language Requirement:
IELTS: 6.5; TOEFL: 80; PTE: 58
Course Duration1 Year
Course TypeFull TIme
Average Tuition FeesOverseas Students: 20,430 GBP
Top Recruiting CompaniesJaguar Land Rover, Babcock Marine, BAE systems INC., Dyson, Cobham PLC, Siemens
Average Starting Salary31,000-32,000 GBP

Masters in Mechanical Engineering in UK: Admissions

To Study abroad, you need to have an equivalent Bachelor’s degree from a recognized institute and proof of English language proficiency. For enrolling and admitting to the mechanical engineering program in UK one needs to fulfill the following mentioned eligibility criteria.
International students must note that when applying for this program they may need to have clearance under ATAS (Academic Tech Approval Scheme). To apply for an ATAS certificate online, you will need your program details and the relevant Common Aggregation Hierarchy (CAH) code and descriptor. Which can be found on the university website.

Eligibility for Masters in Mechanical Engineering in UK

  • Equivalent Bachelor’s Degree with a minimum of 65% from any recognized institutes.
  • You need to have good English proficiency with average scores of:
    • IELTS:6.5| TOEFL: 81| PTE: 58
    • These are the tests required for studying in the UK. It is important that every non-native English speaking applicant submit these scores directly through the testing agency.
  • Few institutes might also require GCSE(The General Certificate of Secondary Education) English Language with a minimum of grade-C.
  • Good knowledge of mathematics is required, especially topics including algebra, complex mathematics, geometry, trigonometry.
  • Curriculum Vitae/Resume.
  • Letter of Recommendation. Most universities ask you for a minimum of 2 LORs. Academic LORs are always preferred over professionals. 

English Language Scores for Masters in Mechanical Engineering in UK

Though the least requirement for studying UK is mentioned above, given below are university-specific scores for various ELP tests required for pursuing a masters in mechanical engineering in UK. These include PTE, IELTS, and IELTS

UniversityTOEFL ScoresIELTS Scores
Imperial College London1006.5
University of Manchester906.5
University College London1097.5
University Of Nottingham876.5
University of Leeds886.5
University Of Glasgow906.5
University of Strathclyde Glasgow806.5
University of Liverpool886.5
University of Leicester806
Lancaster University936.5
University Of HuddersfieldAccepted6
The University of Exeter906.5

UK Student Visa

All the global students from outside the UK or EU are required to apply for a student’s visa for studying in UK. For the overseas students who plan to contemplate a full-time certificate course in the UK must apply for Tier 4 visas which are generally of two types: General Student Visa and Child Student Visa. Tier 4 general student visa is given to international students who are more than 16 years of age and select to study a course in the UK. Qualification is determined to utilize a standard framework. Student visa prerequisites in the UK are:

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  • Course Confirmation.
  • Funding.
  • VISA Application
  • Immigration Health Service Charge

Documents Required:

  • Recent Passport Size photos.
  • Passport Details.
  • Letter of Recommendation.
  • Criminal Record Certificate.
  • Financial Proof of having a sufficient amount( around 1,140 GBP/month) to sustain your stay in the UK.
  • The unconditional written permission of the sponsor to the VISA application.

Masters in Mechanical Engineering in UK: Cost to Study

Underneath referenced is a point by point assessment of the student’s costs while studying in UK. This incorporates pre-arrival costs as well as post-arrival costs, being familiar with these costs will help an international student to plan ahead with a budget and apply for scholarships or other fundings on time. 

Pre- Arrival Costs

Pre-arrival costs also known to a student as pre-departure cost, includes expenses like exam fee, application fees, visa fee, etc. These are one-time expenses that an international student suffers way before they have landed in their study destination, UK

CategoriesCost(GBP)
TOEFL Fees200
IELTS Fees200
PTE Fees150
Visa Application322
Total872

Tuition Fees for Masters in Mechanical Engineering in UK

Tuition fees for availing a master’s degree in Mechanical engineering in the UK costs around an average of 20,430 GBP/Year for the overseas students. For an Indian student these values to around 20 Lakhs. The tuition fee varies from university to university with a maximum amount of 32,500GBP/Year (31 LPA) for the overseas students in Imperial College London and a minimum amount of 13000 GBP/Year (12 LPA) in the University of Glasgow for the overseas students.

UniversityTuition Fees (in INR)
Imperial College London31.45 lacs
University of Manchester23.22 lacs
University College London27.61 lacs
University Of Nottingham23.60 lacs
University of Leeds23.22 lacs
University Of Glasgow12.58 lacs
University of Strathclyde Glasgow20.03 lacs
University of Liverpool20.80 lacs
University of Leicester20 lacs
Lancaster University21.82 lacs
University of Huddersfield14.51 lacs
The University of Exeter21.96 lacs

Aspirants must note that the cost range given is in regard to the top 10 mechanical engineering colleges in UK. These costs change each year and hence, you must visit the course page on the college website to ensure that you get the exact idea of the fees that you will be paying. Additionally, as the costs depict a range restricted to top universities, you may find cheaper programs in some universities in UK. 

Cost of Living in UK

This section highlights the detailed structure of living, meals, and personal expenses of an individual on a monthly basis while his/her stay in the UK. The cost of living will depend on the accommodations opted for in UK, lifestyle choices, city one is living in, etc. 

ParticularsAverage monthly Cost (GBP)
Rent450
Food200
Mobile Phone30
Internet40
Stationery Items40
Clothing75
Laundry25
Transportation45(monthly card)
Miscellaneous25
Total930

So, the average yearly cost of living in the UK stands up to around 11,880 GBP/year, which takes the average cost of studying and living in the UK to around 32,310 GBP/Year for overseas students.

Masters in Mechanical Engineering in UK with Scholarships

Studying abroad can burn a hole in your pockets. To make the costs more feasible international students are offered scholarships while studying in UK. Few things to keep in mind when planning to apply for scholarships are:

  • Look for scholarships offered specifically to students of your country or is exclusive to your programs. This will cut down the competition and enhance your chances.
  • Ensure that you apply for institutional scholarships along with the government scholarships available throughout UK for international students. 
  • Make sure you fulfill all the eligibility criteria. 
  • Apply before approaching deadlines 

Mentioned below are a few of the scholarships for international students pursuing masters in mechanical engineering in UK:

ScholarshipUniversity NameEligibilityAmount offered(in GBP)
Quality Company Formation ScholarshipImperial College LondonOne time for PG meritorious students1000
Mechanical Engineering Department MSc. ScholarshipImperial College LondonMeritorious PG students.
Applicable only on the tuition fee.
4000-14000
The University of Manchester India ScholarshipUniversity of ManchesterMeritorious Indian masters applicants10,000
ANID FEE PartnershipUniversity College LondonMeritorious International student.
Contribution is made on the tuition fee only.
25% of the tuition fee is covered.
Alumni ScholarshipUniversity College LondonMeritorious international student with financial needs10,000
International Leadership ScholarshipUniversity Of GlasgowMeritorious masters applicant10,000
Education Future International ScholarshipUniversity of HuddersfieldMeritorious applicants2500-11500
Dean’s Indian Scholarships in UKUniversity Of StrathclydeIndian students3000-4000

Earn While Learning in UK!

Did not get a scholarship? Don’t worry!!! The UK gives you a work permit for part-time jobs while you are availing any course from UK universities. It allows you to work around 20 hours a week depending on the course structure you are admitted to.

Some of the popular Part-time Jobs in the UK: Restaurant staff, Online Customer Services, Tutoring, Freelance Creative Writer, and Assistant jobs in Research Labs. You can also apply to university facilities like cafeteria, library, etc. 

You can earn up to an average amount of 115 GBP/week working in a part-time job which can help you with your personal expenses to a certain extent.

Internships: If you are good at your academics and have good marks in your semesters you can simply opt for internships at some of the best automotive, aerospace, or power plant industries that might again pay you well and help you sustain in the UK.

Masters in Mechanical Engineering in UK: Job Prospect

Students have plenty of opportunities after completing their Masters in Mechanical Engineering in UK. Some of the top recruiters are Jaguar Land Rover, Babcock Marine, BAE system INC., Dyson, Cobham PLC, Siemens etc. The average salary of engineers in UK is around 106,000 GBP. Some of the highest paying states of the United Kingdom offering annual cushy median salaries to engineers areas represented in the image below along with the salary package:Average Salaries for Engineers V/s State

Mentioned below are a few of the popular designations and their average pay scales offered to the mechanical engineering graduates are: 

DesignationAverage Salary(in GBP/Year)
Automotive Assembler65,000
Diesel Engine Specialist67,200
Automotive Project Engineer89,500
Aerospace Technician110,000
Aerospace Engineer129,000
Mechanical Design Engineer121,000
Mechanical Engineer114,000
Mechanical Inspector113,000

The average pay of a person working in the automotive industry is around 82,900 GBP/year with a maximum pay of 132k GBP/year and the minimum pay of 51,500 GBP/year. Whereas, the average pay of a person working in the Aerospace Industry is around 117,000 GBP/year, with a maximum pay of 161,000 GBP/year and the minimum pay of 79,200 GBP/year. The average starting salary of mechanical students as a graduate engineer trainee is around 25,000-35,000 GBP/year. Some of the top recruiters for mechanical engineering graduates in UK are Hays, MatchTech, Aspen, etc. 

Research Opportunities

After completing masters in Mechanical Engineering in UK students can also opt for the research degrees which are mainly categorized into two parts: Masters of Philosophy(M.Phil) and Doctorate of Philosophy(Ph.D). Some of the prime universities offering research opportunities are the University of Cambridge, University of Leeds, University of Liverpool, etc.

Considering a Masters in Mechanical Engineering in UK is a brilliant vocation choice for any international student. Other than the framework and nature of Education, the UK is probably one of the most secure nations on the planet. The accommodation and nourishment are of the highest caliber, aside from different social plans for universal students. Apart from these, the main features of UK universities are their workshops and the ability to provide placements. 

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