Key Info
Bachelor/Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering
Entry route(s):
This is an ideal programme for you if you are interested in problem-solving using mathematics and science. If you think you might enjoy exploring areas such as mechanical design, energy systems and materials, then Mechanical Engineering at UL might be a good choice for you.
Why Study Mechanical Engineering at UL?
Mechanical Engineering is a very broadly based discipline and students following the degree programme are prepared for careers in many industrial sectors, including such diverse areas as Energy, Automotive, Chemical Processing, Research, Automation, Manufacturing, Design Consultancy, Materials Processing and Aviation. The Mechanical Engineering Degree programme aims not only to give you a thorough background in fundamental Mechanical Engineering subjects but also allows specialisation in one of a number of areas of particular relevance to Irish and international industry.
Mechanical Engineering at UL adheres to traditional guidelines set down by the professional engineering institutions (such as Engineers Ireland and IMechE) and requires you to have an aptitude for mathematics and problem-solving.
Entry to Mechanical Engineering is through LM116 (Engineering). Students take a common first year programme but select which engineering discipline (Mechanical, Biomedical, Civil or Design and Manufacturing) they wish to study in subsequent years during semester 2 of first year. Year 2, 3, and 4 for the Bachelors programme, and Years 2, 3, 4 and 5 for the Masters programme focus on that discipline and offer students a number of specialist modules.
Both the level 8 Bachelors and level 9 Masters degrees are accredited by Engineers Ireland (www.engineersireland.ie), and the qualifications of graduates are recognised worldwide through international accords.
Learn more about our courses and upcoming events
What you will study
The Bachelor of Engineering (BE) and Masters of Engineering (ME) programmes are 4 years and 5 years in duration, respectively. Both include an eight month period of Cooperative Education spent in an appropriate industrial environment. Both the BE and ME are divided into two parts.
PART I
Part I comprises the first year of study and is common to both the BE and ME programmes. It provides you with a foundation in the fundamental engineering subjects and makes up for variations in the background of individual students. The subjects taken include:
Mathematics | Computing | Engineering Mechanics | Physical Chemistry | Electrical Principles
Fluid Mechanics | Design for Manufacture | The Engineering Profession
PART II of the BE Mechanical Engineering
Part II of the BE comprises years 2, 3 and 4 and you will generally study five modules per semester. You will study all the fundamental subjects of mechanical engineering – mathematics, mechanics of solids, design, mechanics of fluids, thermodynamics, dynamics of machines and control.
At the end of Year 2 you are placed in industry for an eight-month Cooperative Education period. This period provides experience of the practice and application of Mechanical Engineering in an industrial environment. You will then return to the University for the latter half of third year and start to specialise. In the final year, you can specialise in Thermofluids, Mechanics of Solids or Energy by choosing appropriate final year electives.
An important aspect of this programme is the final year project completed in year 4. This is an individual project assigned to you at the end of year 3 giving you almost 12 months to undertake. The project is a major piece of work and involves the preparation of a report detailing all aspects of the project. It will provide you with the opportunity to demonstrate your ability to work as a professional engineer and to incorporate the knowledge you have gained over the previous three years. Many students are proud to show this work at subsequent job interviews.
PART II of the ME Mechanical Engineering
Part II if the ME comprises Years 2, to 5. Years 2 and 3 are common to both the BE and the ME. At the end of Year 3, students are asked to decide whether they wish to take the BE or the ME route. The ME route is then offered to those students who meet the required academic standards at the end of Year 3.
In Year 4, the subjects studied include:
- Mechanical Design
- Design of Thermofluid Systems
- Enterprise Management and Growth
- Finite Element Analysis
- Energy Management
- Prototype Build and Test
- Process Control
- Fuels and Energy Conversion
- Project Planning and Control.
An important part of Year 4 is a large group based project that the students undertake. In recent years, this project entailed the design, manufacture and test of a miniature steam turbine for the conversion of waste heat into useful power. The project brings together the theoretical content from a variety of modules that were taken over the first three years and allows the students to see how the various topics that were studied come together in a large team based engineering project.
Year 5 entails core modules in Advanced Technical Communications for Engineers and Fundamentals of Continuum Mechanics. Students must also pick five elective modules. These are specialist modules in the areas of solid mechanics, fluid dynamics, energy, heat transfer and materials. A large individual research project is undertaken by all students in Year 5, and this accounts for a significant proportion of grades for the year. Topics for these projects reflect the range of research interests of the Mechanical Engineering lecturing staff. Examples of project titles in recent years include:
- Rain erosion testing of wind turbine blades
- Pneumatic transport of dairy powders
- Hydrodynamics in Stirred Baffled vessels used by the Pharmaceutical Industry.
- Vibrational Energy Harvesting
- Automotive heat recovery for improved engine efficiency
- Wave energy in China
- Electrification of Public and Commercial transport in Ireland
- Ultrasonic Welding of Composite/Metal Aircraft Joints
- Data Analysis and optimisation of Domestic renovation Air source heat pumps
- Building Energy Modelling
- Heat Pipe Technologies for use in Battery Thermal Management Systems for Electric Vehicles
- An analysis on the optimisation of a heat pump in a school building
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
| MA4001 | Engineering Maths 1 | MA4002 | Engineering Maths 2 |
| EE4011 | Engineering Computing | ME4111 | Engineering Mechanics 1 |
| EE4001 | Electrical Eng. 1 | ME4412 | Fluid Mechanics 1 |
| ME4121 | Engineering Science | MT4002 | Materials 1 |
| CH4001 | Chemistry | Elective | |
| ME4001 | Introduction to Engineering | ME4031 | Structural Engineering Design 1 |
| ME4042 | Introduction to Design for Manufacture |
| Semester 3 | Semester 4 | Summer | |||||||||||
| MA4003 | Engineering Maths 3 | MA4004 | Engineering Maths 4 | Cooperative Education | |||||||||
| ME4112 | Engineering Mechanics 2 | ME4113 | Applied Mechanics | ||||||||||
| ME4213 | Mechanics of Solids 1 | ME4414 | Fluid Mechanics 2 | ||||||||||
| ME4523 | Thermodynamics 1 | >IE4214 | Industrial Organisation | ||||||||||
| ME4714 | Instrumentation and Control | ME4114 | Engineering Design and Communication | ||||||||||
| Semester 5 | Semester 6 | Summer | ||||||||||
| Cooperative Education | MA4006 | Engineering Maths 5 | Project Reading | |||||||||
| ME4526 | Heat Transfer | |||||||||||
| ME4226 | Mechanics of Solids 2 | |||||||||||
| ME4117 | Vibration Analysis | |||||||||||
| ME4516 | Thermodynamics 2 | |||||||||||
| Semester 7 | Semester 8 | |||||||||||
| ME4616 | Finite Element Analysis | IE4248 | Project Planning and Control | |||||||||
| ME4517 | Energy Management | ME4718 | Process Control | |||||||||
| ME4818 | Mechanical Design | ME4018 | Project 2 | |||||||||
| ME4017 | Project 1 | ME4028 | Project 3 | |||||||||
| Electives - Choose One from | Electives - Choose One from | |||||||||||
| ME4037 | Advanced Mechanics of Solids | ME4047 | Fuels and Energy Conversion | |||||||||
| ME4417 | Boundary Layer Theory | ME6072 | Engineering Mechanics of Plastics and Composites | |||||||||
| EP4007 | Enterprise Management and Growth | ME6092 | Renewable Energy Technologies | |||||||||
Entry requirements
| Minimum grades |
Applicants are required to hold at the time of enrolment the established Leaving Certificate (or an approved equivalent) with a minimum of six subjects which must include: Two H5 (Higher Level) grades and Four O6 (Ordinary Level) grades or four H7 (Higher Level) grades. Subjects must include Mathematics, Irish or another language, and English. |
|---|---|
| Subject requirements |
In addition, applicants must hold a minimum grade H4 in Mathematics and grade O6/H7 in one of the following: Physics, Chemistry, Physics with Chemistry, Engineering, Technology, Design & Communication Graphics/ Technical Drawing, Biology, Agricultural Science, Applied Maths, Construction Studies. |
| Additional considerations |
A Special Mathematics (Higher Level) Examination will be offered at UL following the Leaving Certificate results for those students who did not achieve the Mathematics requirement. We welcome applications from mature students. Mature applicants must apply through the Central Applications Office (CAO) by 1 February. |
| Non-EU Entry Requirements |
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How to apply
| Where are you applying from? | How to Apply |
|---|---|
| Ireland | Irish students must apply to UL via the CAO. More information can be found here. |
| The UK | Students who have completed their A-Levels can apply to UL via the CAO. More information can be found on the Academic Registry website. |
| The EU | EU Students can apply to UL via the CAO. More information can be found on the Academic Registry website. |
| Non-EU country | If you are outside of the EU, you can apply for this degree here. |
Fees and funding
Student course fees are broken into three components - Student contribution, Student Levy and Tuition Fees.
A number of illustrative examples of fees for this course based on the current fee levels have been set out in the tables below.
An explanation of the components, how to determine status and the criteria involved is provided below the examples as is a list of possible scholarships and funding available.
EU Students with Free fees status in receipt of a SUSI grant
| HEA pays | Tuition Fees | €4,262 |
| SUSI pays | Student contribution | €3,000 |
| Student pays | Student Levy | €100 |
| €7,362 |
EU Students with Free fees status not in receipt of a grant
| HEA pays | Tuition Fees | €4,262 |
| Student pays | Student contribution | €3,000 |
| Student pays | Student Levy | €100 |
| €7,362 |
Students with EU fee status not in receipt of a grant
| Student pays | Tuition Fees | €4,262 |
| Student pays | Student contribution | €3,000 |
| Student pays | Student Levy | €100 |
| €7,362 |
Non-EU Students
| Student pays | Tuition Fees | €20,900 |
| Student pays | Student Levy | €100 |
| €21,000 |
Student course fees are comprised of the following components:
Student Contribution
Annual charge set by the government for all full-time third level students. All students are liable unless they have been approved for a grant by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI). Please refer to https://www.studentfinance.ie to determine your eligibility for a grant and for instructions on how to apply. The current student contribution is set at €3000.
Student Levy
All students are liable to pay the Student Levy of €100. Please note the Student Levy is not covered by the SUSI Grant.
Tuition Fees
These are based on Residency, Citizenship, Course requirements.
Review the three groups of criteria to determine your fee status as follows
-
Residency
- You must have been living in an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland for at least 3 of the 5 years before starting your course
-
Citizenship
- You must be a citizen of an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland or have official refugee status
-
Course Requirements
(all must be met)
- You must be a first time full-time undergraduate (Exceptions are provided for students who hold a Level 6 or Level 7 qualification and are progressing to a Level 8 course in the same general area of study).
- You must be undertaking a full-time undergraduate course of at least 2 year’s duration
- You cannot be undertaking a repeat year of study at the same level unless evidence of exceptional circumstances eg serious illness is provided (in which case this condition may be waived)
Depending on how you meet these criteria your status will be one of the following -
- Free Fee Status: You satisfy all three categories (1, 2 and 3) and therefore are eligible for the Higher Education Authority’s Free Fees scheme.
- EU Fee Status: You satisfy both the citizenship and residency criteria but fail to satisfy the course requirements and are liable to EU fees.
- Non EU Fee Status: You do not meet either the citizenship or residency criteria and are therefore liable to Non EU fees.
More information about fees can be found on the Finance website
These scholarships are available for this course
| Title | Award | Scholarships Available |
|---|---|---|
| BD Science and Engineering Undergraduate Scholarship | €2,000 for one year | 6 |
| Innovative Student Engineer of the Year Awards | €1,500 and a trophy | 1 |
| Johnson and Johnson WiSTEM2D Programme | ||
| Stryker Scholarship | €2,500 | 3 |
| The Ei Electronics Women in Engineering Scholarship | €2,500 for 3 years | 1 |
| Women in Engineering Bursary Awards | €500 | 8 |
These scholarships are available for all courses
| Title | Award | Scholarships Available |
|---|---|---|
| All Ireland Scholarships - sponsored by J.P. McManus | €6,750 | 125 |
| Brad Duffy Access Scholarship | €5,000 for one year | 1 |
| Bursary for my Future Scholarship | €2,750 one off payment | 4 |
| Cooperative Education Award | 1 medal per faculty | |
| Elaine Fagan Scholarship | €1,500 | |
| Financial Aid Fund | ||
| Hegarty Family Access Scholarships | €5,000 for one year | 2 |
| Higher Education Grants & VEC Grants | ||
| Paddy Dooley Rowing Scholarship | €2,500 | |
| Plassey Campus Centre Scholarship Programme | ||
| Provincial GAA Bursaries Scheme | €750 | |
| Stuart Mangan Scholarship | ||
| The Michael Hillery and Jacinta O’Brien Athletics Scholarship | Various benefits equating to over €7,000 in value | |
| UL Sports Scholarships | Varies depending on level of Scholarship | Multiple |
Your future career
Employability skills from this degree
- Analysing energy and thermo-fluid components and systems
- Designing machines, devices and components, and performing stress-analyses on these systems
- Understanding instrumentation and the control of mechanical devices
- Planning, prioritising, working to deadlines and under pressure
- Working in multidisciplinary teams
- Communication
- Problem-solving through logic and creative and innovative approaches
- Numeracy and IT skills, with excellent use of analytical skills
- Project management
- Awareness of cost/value
- Awareness of social, cultural, environmental, health and safety, and wider professional responsibilities
- Attention to detail
- Good judgement and acceptance of responsibility
Further Study Options
- Structured PhD
- Research PhD
- MSc in Advanced Engineering Materials
- GradDip in Chemical Engineering
- MSc in Software Engineering
- MSc in Applied Physics
- MSc in Project Management
- MSc in Sports Performance
Job titles for graduates with this degree
Graduates progressing directly into employment take up a wide variety of roles. The following provides a sample of initial roles listed on the Graduate Outcomes Survey by graduates approximately one year after graduation:
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Student profiles
Joseph Mooney
I choose to complete my degree at University of Limerick because of its highly recognized engineering courses, co-operative education and sporting facilities. As a sports scholar, UL helped me to balance my sporting and academic goals and in August 2018, I graduated with a first class honors degree. I am also still at peak performance levels in sport thanks to the university and its staff.
In my leaving cert year I was uncertain of what course I wanted to pursue. I had a great passion for design (my DCG project received 4th best in the country), problem solving, inventing and making these inventions come to life. My favorite subjects in school were: Physics, DCG, Engineering and Mathematics. In choosing Engineering (Common Entry), I was able to study relevant engineering modules in first year before deciding on my specific discipline. After my first year in UL, I knew that mechanical engineering was for me.
I chose mechanical engineering because it is so versatile. Throughout the programme, I developed skills to solve problems in mechanical engineering, but also for applications in many other types of engineering such as aeronautical, biomedical and design. The University of Limerick gave me the opportunity to work for a biomedical engineering company (Johnson & Jonson: Vision Care) for my co-operative education.
Currently I am completing a PhD in the development of cooling systems for 5G wireless technologies. This research requires me to use the knowledge I gained from my undergraduate courses in heat transfer, materials, finite element analysis and mechanics modules. I developed a passion for these topics during my undergraduate and I believe 5G technologies are currently on the front line for global development. A degree in mechanical engineering is so adaptable that if, in time, you want to branch out into another industry you will already have the skills required to do so.
Ruairí Quinlan
Ruairí knew he had an aptitude for mathematics, physics, computer aided design and problem solving in general.
He selected LM116 as a common entry to introduce him to the various disciplines of engineering. He decided on BE Mechanical Engineering and studied subjects such as Mechanics of Solid Fluid Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Vibration Analysis, Project Management and Introduction to Programming
In Year 3 Ruairí spent his Cooperative Education in Stryker in a project management position and received the President’s Distinguished Performance award.
Ruairí particularly enjoyed development friendships, group projects and group assignments as part of his time at UL.
He now works in Stryker as a Staff Engineer, Automation & Digitalization.
