Mechanical Engineering Foundation Degree (Validated by Queens University Belfast) FT Millfield

Belfast Metropolitan College

Overview

Application for this course must be made through UCAS (H302) at: During Confirmation and Clearing in August applicants may be considered via UCAS Clearing, if vacancies are available. Vacancies and entry requirements are normally published on the Queen’s University website (and the UCAS website ( If you meet the entry requirements, then contact the Admissions and Access Service at Queen’s University () in the first instance.

The Foundation degree (FdEng) in Mechanical Engineering is a two-year degree offered by Belfast Metropolitan College (BMC) in collaboration with Queen’s University Belfast (QUB). Students are enrolled at both BMC and QUB, with all the main entitlements as other undergraduate students at the university.

The majority of manufactured 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. Mechanical engineers are also at the forefront of sustainable solutions for a better world in the 21st century.

Course Structure

In Year 1 students are introduced to core engineering principles and mathematics, and they undertake individual and small team-based projects, designed to introduce them to the concept of professional engineering practice and to develop personal and interpersonal skills. They are also introduced to the principles of engineering design and manufacturing processes where they gain practical experience of the processes through the hands-on use of manufacturing engineering equipment in the production of working prototypes.

Year 2 builds on the knowledge already gained with a series of more advanced engineering science subjects, which focus on basic theory and application. The Work Based Learning (WBL) forms a significant part of Year 2 (one third) and while no formal teaching programme is required for it, students are prepared for it through instruction on areas such as interview skills, report writing and other skill areas which they are likely to encounter. The College liaises closely with its industrial partners to identify and evaluate suitable WBL opportunities for the students.

Industry Links - Work Based Learning

The college liaises closely with industrial partners to identify and evaluate suitable Work Based Learning (WBL) opportunities for students. The WBL experience, which is one of the main strengths of this programme, requires 400 hours of meaningful placement with a company, during which time students receive several visits from a dedicated WBL coordinator to monitor progress, assess performance, encourage reflection on the learning experience and consult with the Industrial Supervisor.

Facilities

The College has a wide range of workshop, laboratory, computing and CAD facilities to support teaching and learning. These are all located on-campus and include:

Modern Workshop

Computer Based Learning Suite

Flexible Project Environments

Teaching Laboratories

Belfast Metropolitan College is responsible for delivering the degree. However, Foundation students are enrolled as students in both the College and the University and have all the main entitlements and access to facilities at both campuses.