Mechanical Engineering Master

Course Overview

Mechanical Engineering is a subject concerned with the design and manufacture of parts and systems that make up the range of machinery and equipment you see around you, from a can opener to a jet aircraft. Mechanical engineers design the tools and processes necessary to create all man-made products, and are often involved from conceiving of an idea right through to seeing it as a finished product ready for its commercial application. They design everything you think of as a device or machine. Devices used in engines, the components used in transportation, power conversion equipment, like the steam and wind turbines used in modern electric power plants, and processing equipment used in oil and gas rigs all come within the remit of the mechanical engineer.

If you think you have or can develop the skills and knowledge to understand the requirements for designing a moving device or machine for the environment it will be used in as well as understand how it will best be manufactured, then you may make a good mechanical engineer. This degree programme is designed to provide graduates with the skills to face the challenge for newer, better, faster, more reliable, more versatile, longer-lasting and more environmentally friendly products and processes. These skills need also to be complemented by the managerial and personal skills needed to interact with teams on joint projects.

Learning about Mechanical Engineering will help you to develop your creative side, a part of your thinking that will enable you to design a new product or system and the analytical skills to make it a reality. You will also learn about the value of the teamwork skills that go into the successful production of most devices and processes used in today's world. These are valuable skills that will be useful in other areas of your life also.

Integrated Masters (ME and Work placement

All students registering for an engineering degree at NUI Galway will be enrolled on an integrated five year programme a Bachelor of Engineering (BE (four years, Level 8 + a Master of Engineering (ME (one year, Level 9. Upon successful completion of the five years of study, graduates will have the educational qualifications required for progression to Chartered Engineer. Students registering for an engineering degree at NUI Galway in 2019 will make a decision at the beginning of 3rd Year to either remain on the BE+ME pathway (five years or exit with a BE (four years. Students on the BE+ME pathway will avail of advanced engineering modules, a substantial research and development project, and a work placement of eight months duration during the 4th Year. For students exiting with a BE, the work placement (eight months will occur during 3rd Year. Read more about Engineering work placements.

Accreditation

All Engineering Degrees at NUI Galway are professionally accredited by the statutory professional body, Engineers Ireland. This “Accreditation” means that the degree has been assessed and approved to meet the educational requirements for professional Engineers.

• Under an international agreement (Washingon Accord, any Degree accredited by the National professional body (Engineers Ireland is recognized internationally. So having an “Accredited” degree means that employers outside of Ireland can (1 understand the quality/education achieved by a graduate and (2 know that it is equivalent to their own Education system/standards, and (3 can offer appropriate employment on this basis. For example, certain functions (sign off on large civil engineering construction projects can only be carried out by a chartered engineer.
• Engineers Ireland changed the criteria for Accreditation in 2012, and now require a Masters (Level 9 qualification as the education standard required for Registered Professional Titles of Chartered Engineer* (prior to this, a Level 8 degree was required. The changes were implemented because the standard European engineering qualification (degree or diplome is at level 9, and European industry maintains a strict differentiation between those engineers qualified at level 9 and those qualified at level 8. Any graduate interested in working in Europe/Worldwide is now strongly advised to get an accredited level 9 award.
• Engineers Ireland accreditation can be obtained at the following levels:
  
  • Level 8: 4-year honours degree – associate engineer
  • Level 9: 5-year masters degree – chartered engineer

*A Chartered Engineer is the highest professional education standard in Engineering. A chartered Engineer is competent (because of their education and training to assume personal responsibility for the development and application ofengineering in research, design, construction, manufacturing, superintending, managing and in the education of the engineer. His/her work is predominantly intellectual and varied and not of a routine mental or physical character. It requires the exercise of original thought and judgement and the ability to supervise the technical and administrative work of others.

Minimum Grade H5 in two subjects and passes in four other subjects at O6/H7 Level in the Leaving Certificate,
including Irish, English, Mathematics, a laboratory science subject (i.e., Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Physics with Chemistry (joint), Agricultural Science or Computer Science) or Technology, and any two other subjects recognised for entry purposes.

As Mechanical Engineering is perhaps the most wide ranging of engineering disciplines, it offers diverse career opportunities. Graduates go on to work in such areas as research, industrial design, project management, environmental protection, energy production, technical sales, process control, manufacturing, aeronautics, and materials and product development. For students interested in pursuing further education, the PhD and MEngSc degrees are obtained through doing research work along with advanced study. Research students specialise in an area of research, working with a high degree of independence.

Mechanical Engineers – we move the world!