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Close to the coast of Portsmouth, you’ll find a haven for aspiring engineers. Here lies the University of Portsmouth’s School of Mechanical and Design Engineering, which students like Ayah Rabi describe as a place with the “greatest opportunities” to advance one’s career goals.
“Based on my previous studies and experience, doing a master’s programme in mechanical engineering would open so many doors to expand my knowledge and enhance my career path,” she says. “Graduating with distinction was a remarkable achievement.”
The special features of the School of Mechanical and Design Engineering made this feat possible. You can accomplish the same — here’s why:
Learn from the best
Teaching staff from various backgrounds like mechanical engineering, biomedical engineering, and materials engineering help students to enhance their understanding. Students often get involved in research and innovation, as well as take on opportunities to work on industrial projects.
What’s more, all of the engineering courses are accredited by professional bodies such as the Institution of Engineering and Technology, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, and the Institution of Engineering Designers.
Specialised facilities help students to conduct research projects and gain valuable practical experience. Those in the MSc Mechanical Engineering programme experiment with advanced materials (alloys, polymers, ceramics and composites) and design energy engineering systems in dedicated mechanical engineering labs.
Little wonder why the University of Portsmouth is ranked third among modern post-1992 unis in the UK for research power, according to the Research Excellence Framework rankings.
Seventy-five percent of engineering research output were classified as “world-leading” or “internationally excellent,” according to the Research Excellence Framework 2021. Source: University of Portsmouth
Experience the industry through work placements
With many technical concepts, hands-on learning experiences allow students to put their theories to the test. There is no better way to do this than taking on a placement year for a chance to work with an established international business, a small-to-medium-sized enterprise, a startup, or even work self-employed.
Previous mechanical and design engineering students have done placements at places like Rolls Royce, Estee Lauder, and Ricardo Engineering, to name a few. Hear the enthusiasm of BSc (Hons) Product Design and Innovation students like Pueh Chua.
“My life as an undergraduate at the university has been amazing. I received so many opportunities to further explore career paths, one of which includes taking up a placement year, working for a manufacturing company as a design engineer,” she says. “Throughout the year, I picked up technical skills required of engineers and got the opportunity to work with a team of technicians. This is an eye-opener. Not only did I understand the area of knowledge I was lacking but also the career path I will be interested in pursuing after graduation.”
A vibrant student experience
The University of Portsmouth has an active student community, thanks to a seemingly countless number of events organised and hosted by over 140 clubs and societies within the Student Union.
The Mechanical Engineering Student Society provides opportunities for students to try out 3D printing, practise project management, visit companies, network, improve CVs, explore soldering, and more.
Sports enthusiasts can consider joining one of 24 sports clubs. As part of Black History Month, students can get involved in the annual Fusion Festival run by the Afro-Caribbean Society. Those interested in media can present a TV programme, run a radio show or write for Victory Media, a student-run media collective.
That’s not all. Look out for the cultural events that happen throughout the academic year, ranging from Christmas Vacation socials, Chinese New Year celebrations, and Global Week – filled with events, lectures and sports sessions to celebrate diversity at Portsmouth.
An unrivalled location
Want to discuss complex engineering problems with a diverse student community? At the University of Portsmouth, there are 5,700 international students from 150 countries to connect with.
Your new home away from home, Portsmouth, is a city that has been rated as a top 10 trending travel spot for domestic travel within the UK in 2023 according to AirBnB. The coastal city caters to a vast range of interests. Picture a growing local music scene, a year-round calendar of cultural festivals, an abundance of natural playgrounds, and more.
Need a break from studying? Plan a walk at the right time in the evening and you can watch the sunset over the coastline. Source: Shutterstock
Success guaranteed
Whether you are looking to enhance your knowledge in mechanical and design engineering or learn them from scratch, the programmes at the University of Portsmouth can help you build a strong foundation.
As many as 94% of graduates have secured a job or furthered their studies 15 months after graduation, according to the 2019-20 HESA Graduate Outcomes Survey. Rabi, in particular, secured a part-time job at the uni’s mechanical engineering lab and applied for a PhD to gain more experience in the field.
The best part? Students can use the Careers and Employability Service – rated as top 20 in the UK on Student Crowd in 2021 – to find work experience, placements and networking opportunities up to five years after graduation.
Click here to find out how you can be the next School of Mechanical and Design Engineering success story.
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