Program Overview

Programme: BEng (Mechanical Engineering)

The BEng (Mechanical Engineering) programme is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in mechanical engineering, preparing them for a career in this field. The programme is accredited by the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) and complies with the academic requirements for registration as a professional engineer.

Programme Information

The programme consists of four years of study, with a minimum of 579 credits required for completion. The curriculum is designed to provide students with a strong foundation in mathematics, science, and engineering principles, as well as practical skills and experience.

Admission Requirements

To be eligible for admission to the programme, students must meet the following requirements:

• Achievement level: NSC/IEB
• English Home Language or English First Additional Language: 5
• Mathematics: 6
• Physical Sciences: 6
• APS: 35

Curriculum

The curriculum for the programme includes the following modules:

Year 1

• UPO 112: Academic orientation 112
• CHM 172: General chemistry 172
• EBN 111: Electricity and electronics 111
• FSK 116: Physics 116
• HAS 110: Humanities and social sciences 110
• HAS 120: Humanities and social sciences 120
• MGC 110: Graphical communication 110
• NMC 123: Materials science 123
• SWK 122: Statics 122
• WTW 158: Calculus 158
• WTW 164: Mathematics 164
• WWP 121: Workshop practice 121

Year 2

• BES 220: Engineering statistics 220
• JCP 203: Community-based project 203
• MJJ 210: Professional and technical communication 210
• MOW 217: Manufacturing and design 217
• MOW 227: Structural design 227
• MPR 213: Programming and information technology 213
• MSD 210: Dynamics 210
• MTX 221: Thermodynamics 221
• WTW 238: Mathematics 238
• WTW 256: Differential equations 256
• WTW 258: Calculus 258
• WTW 263: Numerical methods 263

Year 3

• BSS 310: Engineering management 310
• EIR 221: Electrical engineering 221
• MIA 320: Engineering activity and group work 320
• MKM 321: Solid mechanics 321
• MOW 312: Machine design 312
• MOW 323: Simulation-based design 323
• MPY 315: Practical training 315
• MSY 310: Structural mechanics 310
• MTV 310: Fluid mechanics 310
• MTX 311: Thermodynamics 311
• MVR 320: Vibration and noise 320

Year 4

• IPI 410: Engineering professionalism 410
• MBB 410: Mechatronics and control 410
• MKM 411: Computational fluid dynamics 411
• MOX 410: Design project 410
• MPY 415: Practical training 415
• MRN 412: Research project 412
• MRN 422: Research project 422
• MTV 410: Heat transfer 410
• MTV 420: Thermal and fluid machines 420

Elective Modules

The following elective modules are available:

• MHM 420: Heat and mass transfer 420
• MII 420: Maintenance engineering 420
• MKI 420: Nuclear engineering 420
• MLV 420: Aeronautics 420
• MOO 420: Optimum design 420
• MVE 420: Vehicle engineering 420

Promotion to Next Study Year

To be promoted to the next study year, students must meet the following requirements:

• A student who complies with all the requirements of the first year of study is promoted to the second year of study.
• A student who has not passed at least 70% of the credits of the first year of study after the November examinations must reapply for admission.
• A student who is repeating their first year may, on recommendation of the relevant head of department and with the approval of the Dean, be permitted to enrol for modules of the second year of study in addition to the first-year modules which they failed.

Pass with Distinction

A student graduates with distinction if they meet the following requirements:

• No module of the third or fourth year of study was repeated.
• A weighted average of at least 75% was obtained in one year in all the modules of the final year of study.
• The degree programme was completed within the prescribed four years.

General Information

The University of Pretoria is engaged in an ongoing effort to align its qualifications and programmes with the Higher Education Qualification Sub-Framework (HEQF) criteria. Current and prospective students should take note that changes to UP qualification and programme names may occur as a result of the HEQSF initiative. Students are advised to contact their faculties if they have any questions.