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Advanced Mechanical Engineering (MSc) (2025 Entry)

Some advance mechanical engineering students look at plants in a lab at The University of Warwick

Postgraduate Taught

Find out more about our Advanced Mechanical Engineering taught Master's degree.

The Advanced Mechanical Engineering MSc focuses on key skills required for a career in mechanical engineering.

This course is accredited by the IET, and IMechE and InstMC. More information is available on the School of Engineering website


Course overview

Our Advanced Mechanical Engineering MSc enables students to develop the versatility and depth of knowledge to deal with new and unusual challenges across a wide range of disciplines, within engineering and beyond. Within the School of Engineering, teaching is underpinned by research in automotive systems, biomedical engineering, electrical and thermal energy systems, materials and modelling, precision engineering and measurement, solid and fluid mechanics.

Core modules will provide advanced knowledge in fundamental topics of mechanical engineering and will also allow you to develop skills required to execute engineering projects involving multiple stakeholders. Optional modules allow you to select complementary topics that are of particular interest to you.

You will also complete an individual research project: an in-depth experimental, theoretical or computational investigation of a topic chosen by you in conjunction with your academic supervisor.

Previous graduates have gone on to work for companies such as Arup, Rolls-Royce and Siemens. Others have chosen to continue their studies by doing a PhD at Warwick or elsewhere.


General entry requirements

Minimum requirements

A minimum 2:1 undergraduate UK Honours degree or equivalent international qualification, in an engineering, physical sciences or mathematical subject.

Please note that applicants will need post A2 Level (or equivalent) knowledge in Mathematics, covering topics such as linear algebra, calculus and analysis, and including differential equations. This could be gained through a mathematics module taken as part of an undergraduate course. It is expected that candidates have a good understanding of these topics at the start of their MSc studies.

You can see how your current degree score or GPA equates to the British system in our Study pages in the equivalent scores table.

We are willing to consider applications from students with lower qualifications on a case-by-case basis, particularly when the applicant can evidence relevant employment, practical experience or strong performance in undergraduate modules related to their proposed postgraduate course of study.

To ensure you have the essential foundations for the course, and depending on your overall academic profile, we may require you to take a mathematical skills test.


English language requirements

You can find out more about our English language requirementsLink opens in a new window. This course requires the following:

  • Band A
  • IELTS overall score of 6.5, minimum component scores not below 6.0.

Additional requirements

There are no additional requirements for this course.


Additional Course Costs

This course may also include additional costs.

Core modules

Computational Fluid Dynamics

The aim of this module is to provide a fundamental understanding of important numerical techniques in computational fluid dynamics and to establish a critical view on the use of CFD as part of the design process. This module offers an increased depth and range of specialist knowledge in computational fluid dynamics required by IMechE.

Renewable Energy

The module is intended to present and assess some of the important renewable energy technologies and give some sense of the engineering design and development of some of these technologies. Starting with a brief outline of existing and proposed renewable energy systems, the course adopts an active solution-seeking approach, assessing these technologies against economic, engineering and other criteria.
Two of the most promising technologies, wind power, and solar energy are treated in some depth as an example of optimisation in mechanical and electrical engineering design. Other technologies studied include geothermal, biomass, ocean and hydro power.

Dynamics of 3D Mechanical Systems

This module aims to deliver an overview of important techniques of engineering dynamics, and providing insight into advanced knowledge in kinematics, kinetics, and vibrations. The dynamics of engineering systems important to modern engineering applications such as spatial mechanisms and robots are examined. The complexities of kinematic and kinetic analysis of fully 3D motion will provide an appropriate challenge for the Master's level course.

Heat Transfer Theory and Design

Heat Transfer Theory and Design provides a knowledge of heat transfer that is of vital importance in many industrial sectors from process industries, through vehicles, etc., power plant, to building technology.

Mechanical Engineering Group Design

The design projects aim to give you the experience of working within a team, and parallels the way engineers often work in industry. You will integrate your knowledge and understanding in order to specify and solve a substantial Mechanical Engineering problem (or user need), through the creation and development of a product, process or system. The project also allows you to develop your understanding of project management, time management, ethics, sustainability, health and safety, risk, regulatory requirements, and intellectual property rights. You will also develop effective communication and leadership skills.

Research Methods and Professional Skills

The module aims to equip you with the research skills necessary to support masters’ level learning in engineering and facilitate engagement with the individual project through equipping you with a broad research skill set. In addition, this module will provide you with the professional and team skills to support the course and your career in engineering.

Individual Project

This module gives you the opportunity to demonstrate that you have independently contributed primary data and/or a new analysis of secondary data, within your chosen advanced research topic.

Projects will be highly variable in nature to reflect the range of topics within the programmes of study but all will provide you with an opportunity to achieve the learning outcomes. Thus, projects may entail experimentation, modelling, analysis and literary survey skills to develop advanced skills in the discovery and occasionally creation of new knowledge. The module also offers the chance for you to pursue curiosity driven work guided by an academic supervisor.


Optional modules

Optional modules can vary from year to year. Example optional modules may include:

  • Biomechanics
  • Advanced Robotics
  • Design for Sustainability
  • Batteries and Fuel Cells
  • Mathematical and Computer Modelling
  • Precision Engineering and Microsystems
  • Automobile Systems, Dynamics and Control

Teaching

The degree comprises eight taught modules and a project. The individual research project is an in-depth experimental, theoretical or computational investigation of a topic chosen by you in conjunction with your academic supervisor.

Previous project titles include: CFD for electric car battery cooling system design; Developing and testing an improved solar thermal collector (for hot water); Modelling and simulation of biological control systems; Recycling of materials from spent lithium ion batteries; Biomechanical detection of breast cancer by palpation; Polymer gear contact simulations for EV gearbox applications.


Class sizes

Class sizes for lectures, practical laboratory sessions and seminars vary depending on the number of students taking the module.


Typical contact hours

The MSc degree (totalling 180 credits) comprises:

  • Eight taught modules (15 credits each)
  • A research project (60 credits)

The typical workload for a 15-credit module is as follows:

  • 20-30 hours of lectures/seminars
  • 5 hours of laboratory work
  • 45 hours of private/directed study
  • 70 hours of assessed work

The research project is valued at 60 credits and students should plan to execute around 600 hours of work towards the completion of the project dissertation.


Assessment

You will experience a variety of assessment methods, and can expect to mostly sit (online or face-to-face) examinations and complete coursework assignments.

Reading lists

If you would like to view reading lists for current or previous cohorts of students, most departments have reading lists available through Warwick Library on the Talis Aspire platform.

You can search for reading lists by module title, code or convenor. Please see the modules tab of this page or the module catalogue.

Please note that some reading lists may have restricted access or be unavailable at certain times of year due to not yet being published. If you cannot access the reading list for a particular module, please check again later or contact the module’s host department.


Your timetable

Your personalised timetable will be complete when you are registered for all modules, compulsory and optional, and you have been allocated to your lectures, seminars and other small group classes. Your compulsory modules will be registered for you and you will be able to choose your optional modules when you join us.

Your career

Graduates from these courses have gone on to work for employers including:

  • AECOM
  • BAE Systems
  • BT
  • Morgan Sindall
  • Mott MacDonald
  • Proto Labs
  • TSP Projects
  • Volvo Cars Corporation

They have pursued roles such as:

  • Business, research and administrative professionals
  • Civil engineers
  • Design and development engineers
  • Mechanical engineers
  • Quality control and planning engineers

Our department has a dedicated professionally qualified Senior Careers Consultant offering impartial advice and guidance together with workshops and events throughout the year. Previous examples of workshops and events include:

  • Options in Engineering
  • Meet an Engineer
  • Engineering, Science and Technology Fair
  • Considering a PhD in the STEM Subjects
  • Warwick careers fairs throughout the year

Tuition fees

Tuition fees are payable for each year of your course at the start of the academic year, or at the start of your course, if later. Academic fees cover the cost of tuition, examinations and registration and some student amenities.

Find your taught course fees  


Fee Status Guidance

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Students will be classified as Home or Overseas fee status. Your fee status determines tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available. If you receive an offer, your fee status will be clearly stated alongside the tuition fee information.

Do you need your fee classification to be reviewed?

If you believe that your fee status has been classified incorrectly, you can complete a fee status assessment questionnaire. Please follow the instructions in your offer information and provide the documents needed to reassess your status.

Find out more about how universities assess fee status


Additional course costs

As well as tuition fees and living expenses, some courses may require you to cover the cost of field trips or costs associated with travel abroad.

For departmental specific costs, please see the Modules tab on the course web page for the list of core and optional core modules with hyperlinks to our Module Catalogue (please visit the Department’s website if the Module Catalogue hyperlinks are not provided).

Associated costs can be found on the Study tab for each module listed in the Module Catalogue (please note most of the module content applies to 2022/23 year of study). Information about module department specific costs should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below:

  • Core text books
  • Printer credits
  • Dissertation binding
  • Robe hire for your degree ceremony

Scholarships and bursaries

Scholarships and financial support

Find out about the different funding routes available, including; postgraduate loans, scholarships, fee awards and academic department bursaries.

Living costs

Find out more about the cost of living as a postgraduate student at the University of Warwick.

Find out how to apply to us, ask your questions, and find out more.

How to apply

Applications are now open for courses that start in September and October 2025.

Applications will close on 2 August 2025 for students who require a visa to study in the UK, to allow time to receive a CAS and complete the visa application process.

How to apply for a postgraduate taught course  

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We understand how important it is to visit and explore your future university before you apply. That's why we have put together a range of online and in-person options to help you discover more about your course, visit campus, and get a sense of postgraduate life at Warwick. Our events offer includes:

  • Warwick hosted events
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