Mechanical Engineering with Foundation Year

The BEng Mechanical Engineering with Foundation Year programme is a (4) year programme of study at National Qualification Framework (NQF) level (6) (as confirmed against the FHEQ). This programme is divided into (3) ‘Stages’. Each Stage is normally equivalent to an academic year. The programme is also divided into units of study called ‘modules’ which are assigned a number of ‘credits’. The credit rating of a module is proportional to the total workload, with 1 credit being nominally equivalent to 10 hours of work.

Credit
The programme consists of 480 credits with 120 credits taken at each stage. Normally not more than 75 credits would be allowed in any one term. In total, students normally take no more than 150 credits at level 1, and must take at least 90 credits at level 3.

The pass mark for award of credit in an individual module is 40%.

Progression to stage 1 
At stage zero 0 of the programme, you can progress to stage 1 of the BEng Mechanical Engineering programme once the 120 credits have been passed, and provided that an average of at least 55% has been achieved over the 120 credits of assessments for this stage. Where students do not achieve the overall average of 55%  their progression to Stage 1 will be reviewed on a case by case basis.

Assessment and Awards
Assessment at stages 0 and 1 does not contribute to the summative classification of the award. The award will normally be based on the degree mark formed from the credit-weighted average marks for stages 2 and 3 combined in the ratio 1:2 respectively.

Classification
The marking of modules and the classification of awards broadly corresponds to the following percentage marks:

Class I 70% +
Class II Division I 60-69%
Class II Division II 50-59%
Class III 40-49%

Exit Awards
If you do not complete the programme you may be able to exit with a lower qualification. 
At stage 0 of the programme, If you have achieved 120 credits with an overall average of at least 40% and less than 55% at Level 3, you may be awarded a Foundation year Certificate as an exit award. If you achieve 120 credits with an overall average of 55% or above, you will progress to stage 1 of the BEng in Mechanical Engineering programme.

At subsequent stages of the programme, If you have achieved 120 credits, you may be awarded a Certificate of Higher Education and if you achieve 240 credits, where at least 90 credits are at Level 5 or above, you may be awarded a Diploma of Higher Education.

Full details of assessment regulations for all taught programmes can be found in the TQA Manual, specifically in the Credit and Qualifications Framework, and the Assessment, Progression and Awarding: Taught Programmes Handbook.

Additional information, including Generic Marking Criteria, can be found in the Learning and Teaching Support Handbook.

In accordance with University policy a system of personal tutors is in place for all students on this programme.  A University-wide statement on such provision is included in the University's TQA Manual.  As a student enrolled on this programme you will receive the personal and academic support of the Programme Coordinator and will have regular scheduled meetings with your Personal Tutor; you may request additional meetings as and when required. The role of personal tutors is to provide you with advice and support for the duration of the programme and extends to providing you with details of how to obtain support and guidance on personal difficulties such as accommodation, financial difficulties and sickness. You can also make an appointment to see individual teaching staff.

Information Technology (IT) Services provide a wide range of services throughout the Exeter campuses including open access computer rooms, some of which are available 24 hours, 7 days a week.  Help may be obtained through the Helpdesk, and most study bedrooms in halls and flats are linked to the University's campus network.

Additionally, the College has its own dedicated IT support staff, helpdesk and computer facilities which are linked to the wider network, but which also provide access to some specialised software packages.  Email is an important channel of communication between staff and students in the College and an extensive range of web-based information (see https://intranet.exeter.ac.uk/emps/) is maintained for the use of students, including a comprehensive and annually revised student handbook.

The Harrison Learning Resource Centre is generally open during building open hours. The Centre is available for quiet study, with four separate rooms that can be booked for meetings and group work. Amongst its facilities, the Learning Resource Centre has a number of desks, four meeting rooms with large LCD screens, and free use of a photocopier. Also available are core set texts from your module reading lists, and undergraduate and MSc projects from the past two years.

Online Module study resources provide materials for modules that you are registered for, in addition to some useful subject and IT resources. Generic study support resources, library and research skills, past exam papers, and the 'Academic Honesty and Plagiarism' module are also available through the student portal (http://vle.exeter.ac.uk)

Student/Staff Liaison Committee enables students & staff to jointly participate in the management and review of the teaching and learning provision.

Each academic programme in the University is subject to an agreed College assessment and marking strategy, underpinned by institution-wide assessment procedures.

The security of assessment and academic standards is further supported through the appointment of External Examiners for each programme. External Examiners have access to draft papers, course work and examination scripts. They are required to attend the Board of Examiners and to provide an annual report. Annual External Examiner reports are monitored at both College and University level. Their responsibilities are described in the University's code of practice.  See the University's TQA Manual for details.

Certain programmes are subject to accreditation and/ or review by professional and statutory regulatory bodies (PSRBs)

The BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering with Foundation Year is accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).

The accredited BEng (Hons) will meet, in part the exemplifying academic benchmark requirements for registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng) and students will need to complete an approved format of further learning pursuant to the requirements of the UK-SPEC*.

See details on further learning on the IMechE website: www.imeche.org/furtherlearning

The accredited BEng (Hons) will also automatically meet in full, the exemplifying academic benchmark requirements for registration as an Incorporated Engineer (IEng).

*UK-SPEC is the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence.

Students on programmes accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers will be assessed throughout their programme against the Engineering Council’s Accreditation of Higher Education Programmes (AHEP4) Learning Outcomes.