Foundation Degree
Providing access to Queen's University for students who would not otherwise have the opportunity to enrol on the BEng Honours degree
The majority of man-made products are mechanical or have mechanical parts, and mechanical engineers are to be found working in virtually every type of industry, on products as diverse as racing cars, jet engines, cruise ships, farm machinery, sports equipment and domestic appliances. Mechanical engineers therefore have very wide career opportunities and are employed because of their scientific knowledge, design expertise, problem-solving skills and business awareness.
The Foundation degree (FdEng) in Mechanical Engineering is a two-year degree offered by Belfast Metropolitan College in collaboration with Queen's University Belfast.
Successful students can either enter at Stage 2 of the BEng Honours degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering or Product Design Engineering at Queen's where they can graduate with an Honours degree after a further two years of study, or they can progress into full-time employment in the design or mechanical/manufacturing industry.
Content |
This Foundation degree, which takes two years to complete, starts with a comprehensive introduction to the discipline and a grounding in the mathematical skills needed by graduate engineers. Scientific topics on which modern engineering are based are also covered, and there is an emphasis on both engineering practice and its real-world application. Design plays a prominent part in the degree, and students are taught how to interpret technical drawings and how to use professional CAD facilities. In addition, all students undertake a period of relevant industrial work placement which will assist in developing a sound understanding of the practical applications of some of the theoretical content. This forms a significant portion of the assessment and will be completed in the first semester of Year 2. |
Special Features |
Progression: the Foundation degree is designed to provide access to Queen's University for students who would not otherwise have the opportunity to enrol on the BEng Honours degree, and places are available to applicants with a wide range of qualifications. Access to University facilities: while Belfast Metropolitan College is responsible for delivering the degree, Foundation students are enrolled as students in both the College and the University and have all the main entitlements and access to the University's facilities as other undergraduate students at Queen's. |
Careers/Further Study |
After graduating with the FdEng in Mechanical Engineering, students will have acquired practical and theoretical knowledge and a wide range of skills. They will also have had the benefit of undertaking a major industrially-relevant project as part of the industrial placement. As a result, graduates will be in an excellent position to pursue careers in many of the areas where mechanical engineers are employed. Further study by progression to a BEng degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering at Queen's will broaden students' options in terms of employment and create the opportunity for further progression through postgraduate study. |