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Undergraduate Study

BEng Mechanical Engineering with Foundation Year - 2025 entry

Please note: The below is for 2025 entries. Click here for 2024 entries.
UCAS code H310
Duration 4 year integrated degree programme: 1 year Foundation year plus 3 year undergraduate degree programme
Entry year 2025
Campus Streatham Campus
Discipline Engineering
Contact

Web: Enquire online
Phone: +44 (0)1392 724061

Typical offer

View full entry requirements

Eligibility: UK (Home Fee) students who fulfil the criteria as shown within our eligibility criteria below.

Contextual offers

Overview

We believe that fair access to higher education is a fundamental enabler for social mobility and are committed to delivering this through our education. We aim to widen participation and raise attainment - bridging gaps in retention, progression and success - to ensure our students enjoy the best possible outcome.

In support of the University’s Access and Participation Plan this course is only open to UK domiciled students who meet our contextual offer eligibility criteria, or are classed as Mature Students, and who may not have met the entry requirements for first year entry or have not been able to take A-level Mathematics alongside a BTEC L3 Extended Diploma. Check if you are eligible to join this programme on our contextual offer webpages.

  • It covers the core mathematics required to successfully complete a Mechanical Engineering degree programme at the University of Exeter
  • You’ll be learning in a friendly and structured environment and will be supported academically and personally as you prepare to study an Mechanical Engineering undergraduate degree
  • Provided you achieve the specific progression criteria, you will progress into Year 1 of the BEng Engineering programme, or Year 1 of the Civil, Mechanical or Electronic Engineering programmes which have a Foundation Year
  • Depending upon the qualifications you’ve gained prior to beginning the Foundation programme it may be possible to transfer to an undergraduate programme in Mathematics, Natural Sciences or Physics which have a foundation year and provided you meet the entry requirements for that programme
  • International students looking for a foundation course, please visit our INTO page.

Find out more about the foundation year in our Foundation Year [pdf].

View 2024 Entry

Request a prospectus

Open days and visiting us

How to apply

Contact

Web: Enquire online

Phone: +44 (0)1392 72 72 72

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Expertise in energy policy, marine renewables, biofuels, electrical power and networks, wind, photo-voltaic and thermal technologies

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Top 10 in the UK for Engineering

10th for General Engineering in The Complete University Guide 2025

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£6.5million investment in our teaching labs, workshop spaces and equipment

Eligibility criteria

Qualification Typical offer Required subjects
A-Level BCC C in Maths and B in a Science. We will also accept AS Maths at A or Core Maths at A in lieu of A level Maths.
IB 26/544 Maths HL4 or SL 6 and, HL 5 in a Science subject
BTEC DMM Applicants studying one of the following BTEC Extended Diplomas will be considered without a GCE AL maths and science subjects – Construction and the Built Environment, Building Services Engineering, Civil Engineering, Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
GCSE 4/C Grade C or 4 in GCSE English language
Access to HE 19 L3 credits at Distinction grade and 26 L3 credits at Merit Grade 12 L3 credits in Maths at Pass Grade and 12 L3 credits at Merit Grade or above in another Science subject

NB General Studies is not included in any offer.

In support of the University’s Access and Participation Plan this course is only open to UK domiciled students who meet our contextual offer eligibility criteria and who may not have met the entry requirements for first year entry or have not been able to take A-level Mathematics alongside a BTEC L3 Extended Diploma. Check if you are eligible to join this programme on our contextual offer webpages.

*GCE AL/AS science includes: Biology/Human Biology**; Chemistry; Computing; Design and Technology; Economics; Electronics; Environmental Science; Environmental Studies; Geography; Geology; Life and Health Sciences; Physical Education; Physics; Psychology; Science (applied); Statistics

**If more than one of these is taken they would only count as one 'science' but could count as two A-levels towards our general requirements.

Accreditation

Please note: As part of our ongoing commitment towards improving the student experience at Exeter, we are introducing a new foundation level year to our Engineering degrees from September 2022. The foundation course covers the core maths skills needed to progress onto our Year 1 of the BEng Mechanical Engineering with Foundation Year programme, or have the opportunity to transfer to Year 1 of another programme with a foundation year provided you meet the entry requirements for that programme. As a result of introducing the foundation year we are currently going through a process to expand our accreditation to include this programme.

Read more

One of my favourite things has been the applied mathematics module. I found it very engaging, as it built on concepts I was already familiar with from A-levels while incorporating more complex applications and coding.

The small class size also allowed for a good rapport with the lecturers, who were always willing to answer any questions. In general, the natural beauty of the Exeter campus has been a highlight. 

Read more from Mia McCormick

Mia McCormick

BEng Mechanical Engineering with Foundation Year

Accreditations

Institution of Mechanical Engineers logo

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

The Mechanical Engineering BEng with Foundation Year (Hons) 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.

Course content

The Foundation Year is part of an integrated 4 year undergraduate degree programme. The information below relates to the Foundation Year only. Please see our 'pathways' below for further information and details of the modules available on the degree programmes you can progress to from the Foundation Year.

The course comprises of 90 credits of core maths, to elevate students’ knowledge to A-level grade A standard, plus some aspects of the further maths curriculum, but concentrating on developing core mathematical skills.

The other 30 credits comprise a project that includes key skills for university study.

The modules we outline here provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.

Compulsory modules

CodeModuleCredits
MTH0001Principles of Pure Mathematics30
MTH0003Exploring Mathematics15
MTH0004Foundation Statistics15
MTH0005Science: Skills and Culture30
MTH0006Applied Mathematics15
MTH0007Programming Skills15

We’re really proud to launch our foundation programme pathways which demonstrate the University of Exeter’s commitment to widening access to our engineering, maths, physics and natural science programmes.

For any student who has not had the opportunity to demonstrate their true ability in A-level maths, whether through educational disadvantage, exceptional circumstances or making the wrong choices, this programme offers an alternative route into STEM at Exeter.

Read more from Professor Nicola King

Professor Nicola King

Associate Dean for Education

Exeter’s foundation has been created to support and prepare students for the challenges of an undergraduate degree in Mathematics, Physics, Natural Sciences or Engineering.

The programme has been designed for students with the passion and aptitude for a degree, but who may have missed our standard entry criteria for various reasons, and is a call to widen participation and increase access to higher education.

Read more from Dr Houry Melkonian

Dr Houry Melkonian

Foundation Year Course Director

Fees

Tuition fees for 2025 entry

UK students: £9,250 per year
International students: £30,900 per year

Scholarships

The University of Exeter has many different scholarships available to support your education, including £5 million in scholarships for international students, such as our Global Excellence Scholarships*. Financial support is also available for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, lower income households and other under-represented groups to help them access, succeed and progress through higher education.

* Terms and conditions apply. See online for details.

Find out more about tuition fees and scholarships

Learning and teaching

The way you learn at university may be different from what you have experienced before. Depending on your course, you may encounter a variety of teaching methods.

In the Foundation year of this programme, you will experience a range of teaching and learning activities including lectures, workshops, tutorials, group projects/presentations and/or seminars. The mathematics modules at this stage comprise of 90 credits in total, while 'Science: Skills and Culture' module is 30 credits. You should expect your total workload to average about 40 hours per week during term time including guided independent study hours.

Visit our course pages for details of the Learning and Teaching methods on the BEng Civil Engineering or BEng Mechanical Engineering, BEng Engineering, BEng Electronic Engineering, BSc Mathematics, BSc Natural Sciences and BSc Physics degree programmes for the subsequent years of your chosen degree programme.

A research and practice led culture

You will benefit from teaching by academic staff comprising of internationally-recognised experts active across a wide range of topics in your chosen degree programme. As you progress through your degree, you will hear about the latest research and have opportunities (for example, the independent research project) to become involved in a research project yourself.

Private study and support

You will be allocated a personal tutor who will be happy to advise or put you in touch with support services, and you are encourage to discuss subject related questions with tutors and lecturers who advertise regular office hours. Extra support is available, for example through our peer mentor scheme, and we have an active student-staff liaison committee.

Assessment

Modules are assessed by a combination of summative assessments. You must pass your foundation year and meet the progression criteria to progress to Year 1 of the BEng in Mechanical Engineering with a foundation year, but the results do not count towards your degree classification.

Read more

Your future

Students with wave machine experiment

Our graduates are now working for major international organisations in a diverse range of sectors, or have successfully launched their own companies.

Engineers have a reputation as being articulate, numerate, problem solvers, who claim great job satisfaction. Typically, salaries are significantly higher for engineering graduates than the average for other graduates.

Exeter has an excellent reputation with graduate recruiters and a strong employment record. Our graduates excel in specialist engineering fields and across a broad range of other sectors. We offer a very wide range of opportunities for you to develop the skills employers are looking for.

Employer visits

Throughout your degree you will have the opportunity to meet with graduate employers. Professional engineers visit the University to hold mock interviews, allowing you to discuss your career opportunities at an early enough stage to inform your choice of modules and placement decisions.