This document provides information about engineering courses offered at Brunel University London, including Mechanical, Motorsport, Automotive, Aerospace, and Aviation Engineering. It discusses the hands-on, project-based learning approach and opportunities for industrial placements. Degree options include MEng, BEng, and BEng with Professional Development. Successful past projects involve Formula Student racing, aircraft design competitions, and work with companies like Red Bull and Rolls-Royce. Graduates have gained employment in fields like Formula 1, the aerospace industry, engineering consulting, and the military.

1. Mechanical, Motorsport,
Automotive, Aerospace, Aviation:
Courses Talk
Petra Gratton
Admissions Tutor for UG courses in
Mechanical and Aerospace
Engineering

2. Becoming an Engineer…
• Projects, projects, projects
• Labs
• Design, build and test
• Industry experience
• “Show and tell”
…there are some lectures too…
…the Brunel Way!

3. What courses…?
• Mechanical Engineering
– with Aeronautics
– with Automotive Design
– with Building Services
• Motorsport Engineering
• Automotive Engineering
• Mechanical and Energy Engineering
• Aerospace Engineering
• Aviation Engineering
• Aviation Engineering with Pilot Studies

4. Types of degrees
• Master of Engineering (MEng)
TOP DOG
– Accredited
– Fulfils the academic requirements to
become a Chartered Engineer (CEng)
• Bachelor of Engineering (BEng)
– Accredited
– Partially fulfils the academic
requirements to become a CEng; fulfils
academic requirement to become an
Incorporated Engineer (IEng)

5. Modes of study
• Full-time and sandwich mode available
• MEng
– 4-years full-time or 5-years sandwich
• BEng
– 3-years full-time or 4-years sandwich
• Thick sandwich
– Degree certificate: “…with Professional
Development”
– Accredited as Initial Professional Development

6. Example: BEng Thick Sandwich Structure – four-years
MAY
SEPT
Year 1 Autumn Term Spring Term
Year 2
Spring Term
Work Placement
Year 3
Autumn Term
Year 4 Autumn Term Spring Term
}
}
Level
1
Level
2
Level
3
}
Unassigned
Unassigned
University Work Placement
Unassigned Major Exam period

7. Industrial Placement
• Award-winning Placements & Careers
Centre
‘University with a Forward Thinking Attitude
to Work-Based Learning’
• www.brunel.ac.uk > Employability
• Placement blogs:
http://www.brunel.ac.uk/cedps/courses/student-industrial-
work-placements

8. What’s it like to study here?
• Lectures
– Theory; introducing new concepts
• On-line
– Supporting materials
– Discussion forums/webinars/wikis
• Seminars
– Reinforce; homework problems
• Experiments
– Laboratory-based
• Design Sessions
– Computer-assisted; project-based
• One-to-one
– Personal Tutor, PAL

9. Specialist Clubs and Societies
• EQ8 Society
• Karting Club
• Brunel Flying Club
• Innovia: for Women in Engineering, Design &
Physical Sciences
• Universities of London Air Squadron (ULAS)

10. Mechanical Engineering
• Common first and
second year
and specialisms for third year
in engines, sustainability and
mechatronics
• Fundamentals in
mechanical engineering plus
computing, electronics, energy and
environment systems
• Increased depth and
breadth in MEng final year
including the Major Group
Project

11. What projects students do…
• Inspired by academic
staff research
– Dr Mark Atherton
– Device to block the
sound of dentist’s drill
• Inspired by industrial
training
– Red Bull Technology
– Insulation of KERS

12. Projects…Mechanical Engineering
• Design the Optimization
Shape of a Wind Turbine
Blade
• Design and Build of a
Prototype Radio-controlled
Amphibious Car
• Investigation of Dynamic
Systems Modelling using
Neural Networks
• Screw Fixation in Porous
Media (like bones)

13. Projects… with Aeronautics
• Merlin’s Aircraft Design
and Handling Competition
• Roncz Project

14. Projects… with Automotive Design
• Isle of Man TT
• Top UK-university
team
in 2009
• Finished 6th
• Beaten only by
professional
teams (most
with mega-budgets!)

15. Projects… with Building Services
• Experimental
wind turbine
• Monitoring and
targeting energy
use at Ewart
House

16. Motorsport Engineering
• Based on sound mechanical
engineering principles
• Projects have automotive /
motorsports theme
• Internationally recognised
engine research
• Major Group Project to enter
the Formula Student
competition managing a
team of students

17. Formula Student
• Formula Student
Silverstone
– 6th out of 87 teams
– 2nd place UK uni
• FS Germany
– 2nd place UK uni
– 16th out of 78 teams
• Prizes (for example):
– Honda Prize for Most
Desirable Engineering
Product
– Best in UK Class 1 &
Overall 4th place in
international
competition

18. Automotive Engineering
• More specialist than Mechanical
Engineering with Automotive Design
• Content more suitable to the Automotive
Industry rather than Motorsport

19. Mechanical and Energy
Engineering
• Content serving the needs of the Energy
Industries
– Generation (large and small-scale)
– Distribution
– Renewable Energy Technologies

20. Aerospace Engineering
• Based on sound mechanical principles
with an emphasis on aeronautical
engineering applications
• Projects have an aeronautical theme
• MEng Major Group Projects include
aircraft-building and evaluation

21. Aerospace Engineering
• Heavy Lift Challenge
– Best in UK
– Runner-up to Overall
Champion
• Build a microlight aircraft
– Students static testing of
landing gear

22. Aviation Engineering with Pilot Studies
• Aims to prepare students to apply for airline pilot training
following graduation (or during summer)
• The “with Pilot Studies” delivers basic flying training and
a solid grounding in flight theory
• Introduces wider aspects of the aviation industry such as
operations and management
• Flying training will consist of 32 hours flying with a qualified flying
instructor, and the PPL ground theory required in order to gain a National
Private Pilot's Licence
• The total additional cost of this flying is about £6,200
• You pay about £3,000 at the start of Term 1 for 15 hours, then negotiate either 17 or 30 hours to complete either the NPPL
(minimum required for the degree) or PPL (required to progress to Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) training

23. Aviation courses
Difference between courses
• At Level 1, Aviation Engineering with Pilot
Studies students undertake flight training
• Aviation Engineering students take additional
engineering modules. The content of both
courses is the same at Levels 2, 3 (and 4 for
those taking a MEng)

24. Graduate Shows
• Brunel Engineers
– May, Uxbridge
• Made in Brunel
– June, Southbank, London
Novel ideas
Commercial potential
Small increments or step changes

25. What prospects?
• Employment in engineering discipline
• Stay at Brunel
– Further study (MSc)
– Research (MPhil, PhD)
• Graduate training (non-engineering)

26. Brunel Engineering Graduates
Motorsport Engineering
• Dan
– Force India F1
– Design Engineer
Mechanical Eng. with Aero.
• Siama
– Rolls-Royce
– Designing aero-engines
• Claire
– Arup
– Transport engineering
• Ed
– MOD
– Top secret
• Phil
– Arup
– Transport engineering

27. Brunel Engineering Graduates
Aviation Engineering with Pilot
Studies
• Tony
– Airbus
• Fenella
– Royal Air Force
– Engineering
Officer
training

28. Entry Requirements
• Master of Engineering (MEng)
– A-levels: AAA including Maths and Physics
– BTEC Extended Diploma: D*D*D* with Distinctions in
Further Mathematics for Technicians, and Further
Mechanical Principles or equivalent
• Bachelor of Engineering (BEng)
– A-levels: AAB including Maths and Physics
– BTEC Extended Diploma: D*D*D with Distinctions in
Further Mathematics for Technicians, and Further
Mechanical Principles or equivalent

29. Scholarship Opportunity
For September 2014
~500 scholarships available
including Engineering Excellence
£2,000 for 3-years
(Subject to terms and conditions)
http://www.brunel.ac.uk/courses/ug/fees/brunel-support-2014

30. “Problem with either Maths or
Physics? No problem!”
• BEng Engineering with an Integrated Foundation
Year
• One-year, full-time pre-degree course + BEng
degree
• Opportunity to transfer to MEng depending on
grades
• Provides a sound foundation knowledge in
Maths, Physics and Engineering Science

31. UCAS Personal Statement
• Why interested in the course
• No conflicts of chosen courses
• What personal qualities – evidence?
– Engineering Education Scheme, Formula
Schools, Headstart, Year-in-Industry, Young
Engineers Club, Air Cadets, DofE Award…
– Contribution made to your community

32. Further Information
 me-ug-admissions@brunel.ac.uk
 Interview Day or
Applicant Day
 www.brunel.ac.uk
 01895 266633

33. THANK YOU
See you again soon at an
Interview/Applicant Day!
Safe journey home.