Bachelor Of Engineering (honours) In Mechanical Engineering in University of Malta, Malta

Bachelor Of Engineering (honours) In Mechanical Engineering in University of Malta

Practically every physical artefact involves an element of mechanical engineering, be it a switch used to light your room to the complete aerodynamic, propulsion, and control system design of a space vehicle. The field of Mechanical Engineering (ME) can be traced back to ancient Greece and China, when early versions of devices in common use today, such as alarm clocks, water pumps, odometers, and printing presses were invented and built. The analytical aspect of ME was born following Newton’s work and the invention of calculus. ME became recognized as a distinct field during the industrial revolution, and has continued to grow in importance ever since. Mechanical Engineers were primarily responsible for the development of the automobile, the aeroplane, agricultural mechanization, air conditioning and refrigeration, spacecraft, household appliances, nuclear technologies, and high-performance materials, all of which are considered to be among the greatest twenty engineering achievements of the twentieth century, and also contributed greatly to the advent of electrification, water supply and distribution, highways, imaging, health technologies, and petroleum and petrochemical technologies, also all included among this list of achievements. In the present century, ME continues to grow in exciting and rapidly developing areas such as bioengineering, robotics, the production of clean energy, access to clean water, spacecraft, nano-manufacturing and nano-materials among many others.

The course is structured to provide students with various elements of knowledge, skills, experience, intellectual abilities, and understanding of engineering science and mathematical theoretical background; engineering analysis methods and tools; design and development of engineering products, components, processes or systems; economic, social, legal and environmental constraints; and engineering practice.

The integration and combination of the different study-units offered within this course program leads to the development of a comprehensive and competent mechanical engineer who is capable of applying multidisciplinary mechanical engineering knowledge in a vast range of organizational and industrial applications. The programme provides further in-depth knowledge and understanding in Applied Mechanics and Thermo-fluids Engineering, or Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, or Applied Materials in Engineering as selected by the student. The overall aim is to provide students with: a good working knowledge of the fundamentals of systems and processes which are generally recognized to be in the domain of mechanical engineering and its related subjects; being able to understand, model and predict the behaviour of engineering artefacts through the application of scientific and technological principles; a great deal of engineering practice in creating new solutions, adapting old ones, and in using the acquired knowledge in applied mechanics, thermos-fluids, materials engineering, maritime engineering, energy systems, manufacturing and computer-aided engineering design techniques. 

The programme also aims to develop additional transferable skills for graduates to continue develop their capacity through lifelong learning; to exercise personal responsibility by taking ownership of assigned projects; to increase their skills in communicating and working effectively with others through grouped and individual projects; and to grow to understand their place in society as an engineer in a complex and fascinating professional community.

Learning outcomes

The B.Eng.(Hons) in Mechanical Engineering provides students with the necessary tools and interdisciplinary skills to professionally design, develop, analyse, model, manufacture and maintain mechanical engineering systems and components. The course provides fundamental skills, knowledge and understanding in applied mechanics, industrial manufacturing and materials engineering that are applicable to a wide range of industrial sectors, in particular aerospace, automotive, building services, maritime, and production engineering. Interdisciplinary skills are addressed through core compulsory study-units providing the fundamental underlying principles and integration of mechanical engineering within the wider engineering context through attaining knowledge and understanding of electronics, electrical power, control, ICT, management, entrepreneurship, professional code of practice and sustainable environmental engineering. 

The course is specifically structured to provide the necessary intellectual abilities and practical skills to apply appropriate engineering analysis tools using analytical, computational and design methods in the formulation of creative and innovative engineering solutions. Students are exposed to a number of engineering design and analysis projects and assignments, laboratories and workshops and industrial visits. Many of our students follow an internship scheme during the summer recess. A practical understanding and implementation of engineering concepts, theories and analytical solutions are applied through computational tools and software in the design, analysis and control of engineering systems and components. These skills are particularly exemplified through a number of group and individual projects and assignments embedded within the different study-units and more specifically, through a grouped themed engineering design project and an individual final year project.

The Faculty of Engineering ensures that the course content maintains relevance towards meeting classical and modern engineering requirements through an Industrial Advisory Board consisting of members representing the local Engineering Boards and International Institutions together with major national and international employers that give advice on current and future engineering demands and needs. 

The course features a range of assessment methods, including written examinations; laboratory and design assignments; presentations and oral examinations; group and individual projects.

By graduation the students will have acquired the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge and understanding of:
• The concepts, fundamental theories and scientific principles of ME
• Mathematical principles essential for supplementing problem solving in mechanical engineering
• Higher level concepts and applications in chosen elective areas (applied mechanics, thermo-fluids engineering, maritime engineering, industrial and manufacturing engineering, and/or materials engineering)
• Interdisciplinary engineering concepts and applications 
• The social, legal, economic and environmental context
• The use of analytical, computational and design methods used in engineering
• Management techniques necessary for the integration of professional engineering in society
• The underlying principles of the use of information technology and literature 

Intellectual abilities in:
• Using ME science, mathematics and computational methods to analyse engineering problems
• Using creativity and innovative solutions in problem solving and solution development
• Formulating design methodologies to produce engineering products, processes or solutions
• Exercising independent thought and judgement
• Conducting a technical investigation through appropriate level of detail and interpretation

Practical skills in:
• Adopting a systematic approach towards experimental investigation and analysis of results
• Developing technical engineering drawings using hand or computer methods
• Using computational tools to design, analyse, simulate, test and build engineering solutions
• Engineering technical know-how of the use of equipment, processes and tools

General transferable skills in:
• Communicating and working effectively within a team by taking various roles
• Technical report writing and public speaking
• Retrieval of information from literature and other resources 
• Self-development through continuous lifelong learning
• Monitoring and adjustment a programme of work
• Working with technical uncertainty 
• Exercise initiative and personal responsibility by taking ownership of tasks and projects
• Adapting to current and future emerging technologies

Course intended for

The ME degree is intended for students with a background in Physics and Mathematics who are interested in one or more of the various sectors falling under the broad field of mechanical engineering. The course is a spring board for the student who wishes to gain the broadest prospects of entry into the realm of technology. ME provides a practical route for people wishing to venture into areas such as transport, energy including alternative energy, structural engineering, biomechanics, robotics, product design, manufacturing, automation, or materials engineering. This four year degree typically lends itself for further study in a wide range of disciplines.

Course intended for

The ME degree is intended for students with a background in Physics and Mathematics who are interested in one or more of the various sectors falling under the broad field of mechanical engineering. The course is a spring board for the student who wishes to gain the broadest prospects of entry into the realm of technology. ME provides a practical route for people wishing to venture into areas such as transport, energy including alternative energy, structural engineering, biomechanics, robotics, product design, manufacturing, automation, or materials engineering. This four year degree typically lends itself for further study in a wide range of disciplines.

Career opportunites and access to further studies

Mechanical Engineers find employment very quickly in various sectors, such as aerospace, automotive, construction, energy, manufacturing, maritime, medicine, or even sport. The course is designed to provide broad based fundamental knowledge to facilitate job mobility. For those with an entrepreneurial mind set, the starting up of a technology based company can be an attractive option.

The national Employability Index Report issued by the Ministry for Education and Employment has found that for graduation years 2012 and 2013, between 80 and 90% of University of Malta Engineering graduates quickly found employment in fields directly related to their studies. Salaries are very good and potential for personal growth is limited only by your imagination and motivation. Local sectors of employment include: building services, entrepreneurship, self-employment, consultancies, manufacturing industries, government agencies, pharmaceutical plants, hotels and hospitality, power generation and distribution, water and waste treatment, mobile and fixed telecommunication companies, hospitals, education and research institutions and many others.

This four-year degree typically leads to Master and Doctoral studies at the Faculty of Engineering in the areas of Applied Mechanics & Biomechanics; Strength, Stability, and Integrity of the Structures; Applied Multi-physics Modelling; Composite Structures; Mechanics of Welding; Environmental Engineering; Offshore Renewable Energy; Solar Energy; Aerodynamics and Wind Energy; Air-conditioning Systems; Heat Transfer in Electrical Machines; Internal Combustion Engines; Naval Architecture; Design of Mechatronic Devices; Robotics; Artificial Hand Design and Development; Laser Material Processing and Surface Engineering for corrosion and wear resistance; Nanomaterial Modelling; Biomaterials; Austempered Ductile Iron (ADI); Product Design and Development; Design of Biomedical and Assistive Devices; Rapid Prototyping; Tooling and Manufacturing (RPTM) using Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) and Electron Beam Melting (EBM); Polymer Processing (injection moulding and thermoforming); Lean and Agile Manufacturing; Micro and Nano Manufacturing; Sustainable Manufacturing; and Industrial Automation. Such study is usually conducted through research. The Faculty also offers a part-time taught Masters course in Integrated Product Development, with new courses planned to be launched in the very near future. 

Many ME graduates further their studies either locally or in the world’s top educational institutions overseas. The rate of acceptance by foreign universities is practically 100%.