mechanical engineering programmes
Mechanical engineers design, analyse, manufacture and maintain mechanical systems. Source: Marshall University

From the simplest to the most complex, mechanical engineering is about the efficient use of energy in the design and function of all types of mechanisms. It builds on physics, chemistry, materials, mathematics and biology to achieve this goal. Growth industries include advanced manufacturing, smart buildings, renewable energy, medical engineering and consulting practice.

A mechanical engineering degree teaches students how to develop and use new materials and technologies and gain an understanding of mechanical engineering theory. Upon graduation, they will have the skills to work on medical, automotive, aerospace, renewable energy, marine and sports-related projects. Graduates can expect to work for private firms and government agencies, leading projects involving building, minerals, construction, power, manufacturing and processing.

If this is the career path you seek, here are four universities with a reputation for excellence in teaching, research and industrial collaboration to consider:

Marshall University 

mechanical engineering programmes

The Weisberg Department’s Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering is designed to prepare students for a wide range of real-world challenges. Source: Marshall University

Student success is the primary goal of the Weisberg Department of Mechanical Engineering at Marshall University. Here, degree programmes prepare students for grand 21st century opportunities. As a result, the Marshall graduate is inspired. They have the insights, skills, and knowledge base. They possess a broad base of technical and entrepreneurial skills.

Innovative instruction, hands-on educational methods, and state-of-the-art laboratories make this possible. The Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering is ABET accredited and is designed to prepare students for a wide range of real-world challenges posed by future energy demands, industrial needs and hopes, materials development and processing, environmental sustainability, and global economic competition.

The Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering prepares students for leadership roles in industry, government, and private research. With a Marshall degree, they’re set for roles as product designers, research and development engineers, analysts, consultants, educators, and more. It also prepares students who desire to pursue further graduate work leading to a PhD degree.

The Weisberg Mechanical Engineering department’s faculty run strong research programmes in vehicle design, noise reduction and vibrations, controls, fluid mechanics, thermal sciences, renewable and sustainable energy systems, materials, manufacturing, and design of engineering systems. Students have the chance to, and are encouraged, to draw upon these and other research areas to tailor their plan of study to their own interests and goals. Click here to find out more.

University of California, Davis

mechanical engineering programmes

UC Davis’s College of Engineering equips students to push technological boundaries and have a profound impact on the world. Source: UC Davis Facebook

If you’re curious about mathematics, theory, and advanced computations that predict how things work, then University of California, Davis is the place to be. Underpinned by world-leading research and a vibrant environment, UC Davis’s College of Engineering equips students to push technological boundaries and have a profound impact on the world. 

The university’s College of Engineering offers a Degree in Mechanical Engineering that is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. The course dives deeper into the development of machines, energy conversion systems, materials and equipment for guidance and control. Here, students acquire knowledge in mathematics, physics, chemistry, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, heat transfer, mass transfer, electricity, manufacturing processes and economics.

Students are taught to push the boundaries of modern technology and acquire the knowledge, insight and skills to make a profound impact on the world. In their fourth year, students can tailor their studies to their own interests by selecting courses in Biomedical and Engineering Fluid Mechanics; Combustion and the Environment; Ground Vehicle Systems; Heat Transfer, Thermodynamics and Energy Systems; Manufacturing; Mechanical Design;System Dynamics and Control or Transportation Systems.

University of Kansas

mechanical engineering programmes

KU’s School of Engineering is the bridge that connects today’s engineers to tomorrow’s industry leaders. Source: University of Kansas

The University of Kansas pushes the boundaries of knowledge, transforms the academic experience, and creates solutions through innovative research. The university has one mission: to lift students and society by educating leaders, building healthy communities and making discoveries that change the world. 

At KU’s School of Engineering, students can cross the bridge that connects today’s engineers to tomorrow’s industry leaders through its 12 undergraduate, 19 master’s and 11 doctoral degree programmes. 

KU’s BSc in Mechanical Engineering is a four-year programme that focuses on engineering design and analysis in mechanical, thermal, fluids, and energy systems. The curriculum integrates engineering science, analysis, and design and teaches students how to design and manage the construction, operation and maintenance of machines used in many industries. 

The MSc in Mechanical Engineering dives deeper and explore areas of studies such as Biomechanics and Biomaterials; Computational Mechanics and Mathematics of Computations; Thermal-Fluid Systems and Heat Transfer; and Mechanical Design, Manufacturing, and Microprocessor Applications. 

In this programme, advanced mechanical engineering skills will be developed and students are guided by experts in fluid mechanics, turbulence and biomechanics. Students graduate with the skills and knowledge to design and build tomorrow’s machines and systems from small scale devices to air and spacecraft. 

University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign

mechanical engineering programmes

The University of Illinois offers a range of exciting engineering courses that will open up a world of opportunities to students. Source: University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign

Transformative learning happens at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. The university’s department of engineering hosts 966 undergraduate students — 880 of which are majoring in Mechanical Engineering — and 217 graduate students. 

Illinois’s flagship public university offers a range of exciting engineering courses that will open up a world of opportunities to students. Its international reputation for excellence in teaching and research means that an Illinois degree will be known and respected throughout the world. 

The BSc in Mechanical Engineering programme develops highly sought-after skills in project management and communication, alongside the ability to research, design and develop mechanical engineering products and systems.

Add an environment of wide-ranging interdisciplinary research and students are surrounded by cutting-edge science, methodologies and technologies within the broader context of their application. For students that want to take it up a notch, the MEng in Mechanical Engineering gives students the flexibility to customise their programme by combining tracks including controls and manufacturing, design, or energy. 

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International