Program Overview

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MSc Advanced Mechanical Engineering (Work Experience)

Course summary

Advance your skills with state-of-the-art technologies and facilities – gaining Masters-level abilities and employability as a technical specialist or manager in mechanical engineering, with an embedded work placement as part of the course.

How you learn

You’ll benefit from our expert team’s wealth of experience – studying a combination of technical modules and advanced aspects of mechanical engineering.

You’ll apply your knowledge and skills to real-world contexts – actively engaging in work placements, live projects, field trips, networking events and competitions. These experiences will enhance your employability, deepen your understanding of the engineering and management fields, and prepare you to thrive in a dynamic and competitive professional landscape.

You learn through:

• Lab sessions
• Lectures
• Problem solving
• Critical reflection
• Group project work
• Independent study
• Assessments
• Coursework
• Seminars
• Tutorials

Key Themes

You’ll apply theories to real-life situations, whether within your organisation or through case studies. Practical work varies across formal lab sessions that explore relevant systems, processes or materials – which you’ll critically reflect on, and report your findings.

You’ll learn to apply modern computational methods – including finite elements modelling and analysis (FEM/FEA) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD).

We’ll support and challenge you to grow as an independent learner who confidently uses contemporary materials. You’ll address increasingly open-ended problems, using your evolving knowledge, experience and decision-making skills. The MSc project is the ultimate stage, where you're expected to work reasonably independently under your supervisor's guidance.

Course Support

You’ll be supported in your learning journey towards highly skilled, graduate-level employment, including:

• Academic support to help you thrive, integrating theory and practical modelling.
• Access to specialist support services to help with your personal, academic and career development.
• Access to our Skills Centre with one-on-ones, webinars, and online resources, where you can get help with planning and structuring your assignments.

Applied learning

Work Placements

You’ll have the opportunity to source a work placement for up to 12 months, where you’ll apply academic theory and your skills in a real-world setting. This hands-on experience will enhance your professional development and help you to make informed career choices after graduation. Throughout your placement, you’ll be supported to reflect on your experience and contribution to the organisation you work for. You'll also share your progress and achievements with your Placement Academic Supervisor as part of your final assessment.

Work placements are competitive and will require you to make formal applications to employers and be successful in securing an opportunity. The application process for placements takes place while you are a student with us. To support you in applying for placements, you’ll complete an additional placement preparation program that introduces you to the UK employment landscape and prepares you for the recruitment and assessment activities you will experience during that process. We also maintain a large database of placement offers that you can search to find opportunities most relevant to your course that you can apply for.

Live Projects

You’ll be able to engage in exciting live projects throughout the course. These projects allow you to apply your knowledge and skills to real-world scenarios, working on design challenges and problem-solving tasks.

Collaborating with industry partners, you’ll gain practical experience in managing projects, working in interdisciplinary teams and delivering innovative solutions. These are great opportunities to develop your creativity alongside a holistic understanding of the engineering and management field.

Networking Opportunities

You’ll have various opportunities to connect with professionals and experts in the mechanical engineering field.

You’ll have access to guest lectures, industry conferences, workshops and alumni events – chances to interact with leading practitioners, researchers and thought leaders. Here you can expand your professional network, gain industry insights and explore potential career paths.

Field Trips

We offer field trips to engineering facilities in and around Sheffield. These enhance your appreciation of mechanical engineering used in organisations and manufacturing settings, as well as introducing you to real-world working environments.

Competitions

Competitions are excellent ways to apply your skills, demonstrate your capabilities and gain recognition. You may be able to enter engineering and management competitions at regional, national and even international levels, such as SHU Racing.

These competitions challenge you to solve complex problems, showcase your innovative thinking and collaborate effectively within a team. You’ll also gain confidence and engage with industry professionals and potential employers.

Modules

Important notice:

The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.

You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.

Year 1

Final year

Compulsory modules

Module

Credits

Assessment

Advanced Engineering Design

Credits 40

Assessment Coursework 50% Practical 50%

Digital Engineering & Prototyping

Credits 20

Assessment Coursework 100%

Engineering Simulations

Credits 40

Assessment Coursework 50% Practical 50%

Postgraduate Work Experience Applied Professional Diploma

Credits -

Assessment

Elective modules

Module

Credits

Assessment

Advanced Computational Methods In Engineering

Credits 20

Assessment Coursework 100%

Artificial Intelligence Concepts And Applications

Credits 20

Assessment Coursework 100%

Process Improvement Methodologies

Credits 20

Assessment Coursework 100%

Robotics And Autonomous Systems

Credits 20

Assessment Coursework 100%

Compulsory modules

Module

Credits

Assessment

Project And Dissertation

Credits 40

Assessment Coursework 100%

Research Methodology And Practice

Credits 20

Assessment Coursework 100%

Future careers

A primary motivation for Master’s level study is enhancing your employability by achieving higher-level technical knowledge and personal skills. These employability-related skills and competencies are explicitly referred to in the Engineering Council UK spec – and they’re embedded in all our modules.

You’ll have access to employability services during the year – from focused career advice to interview preparation.

This course prepares you for a career in:

• Mechanical design
• Mechanical system/structural analysis
• Energy/power
• Renewable energy systems
• Manufacturing/production
• Research and development
• Postgraduate study

Equipment and facilities

On this course you’ll have access to the following facilities, resources and state-of-the-art laboratories:

• A computer numerical control (CNC) manufacturing workshop
• Additive manufacturing
• Automation and robotics
• A design studio
• A modelling and simulation workshop

You’ll also study in our Adsetts Learning Centre, gaining teaching, academic skills and library research support, plus library resources and systems. You’ll have access to the Microsoft Office suite for free via a cloud provider – on devices we provide or on your personal ones.

Where will I study?

You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.

City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.

Entry requirements

All students

UK students

Normally one from

• an honours degree (2.2 or above) in a science or engineering subject
• suitable professional qualifications in an engineering field
• a degree in any discipline plus at least one year of relevant experience
• a diploma in a technological area plus at least three years of relevant experience

You may also be able to claim credit points which can reduce the amount of time it takes to complete your qualification at Sheffield Hallam. Find out more

Overseas students

Overseas applicants from countries whose first language is not English must normally produce evidence of competence in English. An IELTS score of 6.0 with 5.5 in all skills (or equivalent) is the standard for non-native speakers of English. If your English language skill is currently below an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English level.

India

• a first class BE in an relevant discipline, or a good second class BE with a strong performance in mechanical and manufacturing subjects

China

• a four year Bachelors degree in an relevant discipline, with an overall average of at least 80 per cent or equivalent

Other countries

• a good honours degree or equivalent in an relevant subject

Fees and funding

Home students

Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £12,120 for the course. The tuition fee displayed above is for the full course. For this work experience route, your fees will be payable over two years, divided into two annual payments based on credits studied. The fee includes dedicated employability support to help you prepare for and secure work experience. It does not guarantee you a placement and if a placement is not secured the work experience fee will still be charged. If a placement is not secured you will transfer to the standard version of the course to complete your remaining credits, where the balance of your course fees will be due in year one in line with completing the course.

If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.

International students

Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £19,225 for the course. The tuition fee displayed above is for the full course. For this work experience route, your fees will be payable over two years, divided into two annual payments based on credits studied. The fee includes dedicated employability support to help you prepare for and secure work experience. It does not guarantee you a placement and if a placement is not secured the work experience fee will still be charged. If a placement is not secured you will transfer to the standard version of the course to complete your remaining credits, where the balance of your course fees will be due in year one in line with completing the course.

Postgraduate student loans

Up to £12,858 is available in 2025/26 for home students on most masters courses.

Learn more

Additional course costs

The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.

General course additional costs

Additional costs for School of Engineering and Built Environment (PDF, 142.7KB)

Legal information

Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.