Mechanical Engineering BEng (Hons) with foundation year
University of Bradford
Develop engineering understanding of machines, materials and physical systems. Apply analysis and design to practical problems in manufacturing, product development and related engineering industries.
Modules shown cover the university degree stage. Confirm the Oxford International foundation route and progression conditions.
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For learners seeking a preparatory year before degree-level study. Confirm the exact college route and progression conditions for your offer.
02
What you will learn
Published modules
Selected published modules. Options and availability may change between intakes. Subject guidance. The exact curriculum for this course variant needs confirmation with the provider.
Electronics and MechanicsDegree stage: First year
Engineering MaterialsDegree stage: First year
Design, Build and Test (Mechanical)Degree stage: First year
Materials And Manufacturing TechnologiesDegree stage: Second year
Engineering Mathematics and Machine LearningDegree stage: Second year
Instrumentation, Measurement & Control SystemsDegree stage: Second year
Individual Research ProjectDegree stage: Final year
Materials Failure Analysis And ReliabilityDegree stage: Final year
Reliability and Safety EngineeringDegree stage: Final year (option)
Vehicle Design AnalysisDegree stage: Final year (option)
Put it into practice
Illustrative examples based on these subjects; assessed activities are confirmed by the provider.
Illustrative example: Model a simple mechanism and compare how two materials or dimensions affect its performance.
Subject areas
Subject guidance. The exact curriculum for this course variant needs confirmation with the provider.
Mechanical engineeringMaterials and systemsEngineering design
03
Explore your career potential
Gross annual figures. Region and source are shown for each occupation.
Indicative occupational salaries, not guaranteed earnings after this course.
Mechanical engineer
Related career
Mechanical engineers design, build and install machinery used in industries like power, engineering, transport and manufacturing.
Starting out
£28,000
UK median (2025)
£51,110
Experienced
£60,000
How to read the median
Covers professional mechanical engineers (SOC 2122), rather than vehicle mechanics or maintenance technicians. Covers different career stages; this is not starting pay or a course outcome. The sample requires more than one year in the same job and excludes self-employment.
How to get there: Match the role’s engineering discipline and practical design/technical requirements; conversion or specialist study may be needed. Chartered status requires separate experience and assessment.
Design engineers improve product performance and efficiency while researching and developing new ideas and systems.
Starting out
£25,000
Typical reference
Not published
Experienced
£55,000
How to get there: Match the role’s engineering discipline and practical design/technical requirements; conversion or specialist study may be needed. Chartered status requires separate experience and assessment.
Manufacturing systems engineers design and install manufacturing machinery and production lines.
Starting out
£26,000
Typical reference
Not published
Experienced
£50,000
How to get there: Match the role’s engineering discipline and practical design/technical requirements; conversion or specialist study may be needed. Chartered status requires separate experience and assessment.
Robotics engineers design and build machines to do automated jobs in industries like manufacturing, aerospace and medicine.
Starting out
£31,000
Typical reference
Not published
Experienced
£60,000
How to get there: Match the role’s engineering discipline and practical design/technical requirements; conversion or specialist study may be needed. Chartered status requires separate experience and assessment.
Quality control officers check that a company's products and services meet quality standards.
Starting out
£25,000
Typical reference
Not published
Experienced
£40,000
How to get there: Develop practical evidence for this occupation through relevant projects, placements or work; employer selection and role-specific skills requirements still apply.
Business project managers plan tasks and organise people and resources to complete work projects on time and on budget.
Starting out
£29,000
Typical reference
Not published
Experienced
£75,000
How to get there: Build relevant operational and sector experience, then responsibility for projects, budgets or teams; this management role is not an automatic first job after graduation.
Higher education (HE) lecturers research and teach academic and vocational subjects at universities and higher education colleges.
Starting out
£37,000
Typical reference
Not published
Experienced
£65,000
How to get there: Usually requires postgraduate specialisation, often a doctorate, plus research and teaching evidence in the relevant subject; competitive academic recruitment applies.
Designs and tests aircraft or spacecraft systems and components.
Starting out
£30,000
Typical reference
Not published
Experienced
£70,000
How to get there: Match the role’s engineering discipline and practical design/technical requirements; conversion or specialist study may be needed. Chartered status requires separate experience and assessment.
Develops and tests vehicle systems and manufacturing solutions.
Starting out
£26,000
Typical reference
Not published
Experienced
£48,000
How to get there: Match the role’s engineering discipline and practical design/technical requirements; conversion or specialist study may be needed. Chartered status requires separate experience and assessment.
Develops sustainable power generation systems and technologies.
Starting out
£31,000
Typical reference
Not published
Experienced
£61,000
How to get there: Match the role’s engineering discipline and practical design/technical requirements; conversion or specialist study may be needed. Chartered status requires separate experience and assessment.
Designs or manages nuclear systems with specialist safety requirements.
Starting out
£28,000
Typical reference
Not published
Experienced
£58,000
How to get there: Match the role’s engineering discipline and practical design/technical requirements; conversion or specialist study may be needed. Chartered status requires separate experience and assessment.
Investigates material properties and selects materials for engineering applications.
Starting out
£27,000
Typical reference
Not published
Experienced
£52,000
How to get there: Match the role’s engineering discipline and practical design/technical requirements; conversion or specialist study may be needed. Chartered status requires separate experience and assessment.
Diagnoses equipment faults and maintains industrial machinery.
Starting out
£27,000
Typical reference
Not published
Experienced
£48,000
How to get there: Match the role’s engineering discipline and practical design/technical requirements; conversion or specialist study may be needed. Chartered status requires separate experience and assessment.
Designs and maintains the power, lighting and environmental systems in buildings.
Starting out
£28,000
Typical reference
Not published
Experienced
£51,000
How to get there: Match the role’s engineering discipline and practical design/technical requirements; conversion or specialist study may be needed. Chartered status requires separate experience and assessment.
Produces technical drawings and models using design software.
Starting out
£24,000
Typical reference
Not published
Experienced
£42,000
How to get there: Match the role’s engineering discipline and practical design/technical requirements; conversion or specialist study may be needed. Chartered status requires separate experience and assessment.
Explains complex products and processes through clear user documentation.
Starting out
£27,000
Typical reference
Not published
Experienced
£50,000
How to get there: Develop practical evidence for this occupation through relevant projects, placements or work; employer selection and role-specific skills requirements still apply.
Combines technical knowledge and patent law to protect inventions.
Starting out
£35,000
Typical reference
Not published
Experienced
£95,000
How to get there: Requires a suitable technical/science degree, employment-based patent training, professional examinations and IPReg registration; this degree is only the academic starting point.
Demonstrates products and develops customer accounts.
Starting out
£23,000
Typical reference
Not published
Experienced
£50,000
How to get there: Develop practical evidence for this occupation through relevant projects, placements or work; employer selection and role-specific skills requirements still apply.
Helps organisations prevent workplace injury and illness.
Starting out
£26,000
Typical reference
Not published
Experienced
£48,000
How to get there: Obtain appropriate occupational safety training, such as a recognised NEBOSH qualification, and practical risk-assessment experience; the academic course does not itself confer safety competence.
Coordinate manufacturing output, quality, resources and costs.
Starting out
£30,000
Typical reference
Not published
Experienced
£63,000
How to get there: Build relevant operational and sector experience, then responsibility for projects, budgets or teams; this management role is not an automatic first job after graduation.
ELLT test, No english test for On-site Level 3 holders.
Interview or assessment
No Interview
Classes and attendance
2-3 days a week on campus, 9 am to 3pm
05
Funding and support
FUNDING AWAITING CONFIRMATION
CalmaLink needs to check this course’s funding before confirming it to you.
Student Finance England
Tuition fees:To be confirmed
Maintenance:To be confirmed
Most courses starting on or after 1 January 2027 use the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE). You must be under 60 on the first day of the course to apply for a Tuition Fee Loan. At 60 or over, an additional living-cost loan may be available: we review this with you. If the course has not been confirmed as LLE-funded, check it with us.
For courses starting before 1 January 2027, the Tuition Fee Loan has no upper age limit. If you are 60 or over at the start of the first academic year, eligible full-time living-cost support is up to £4,582 in 2026/27, depending on household income.
Most courses starting on or after 1 January 2027 use the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE). You must be under 60 on the first day of the course to apply for a Tuition Fee Loan. At 60 or over, an additional living-cost loan may be available: we review this with you.
Previous study does not rule you out: it depends on what you studied, whether you received UK funding and the course. We review it with you.
Student Finance England makes the decision. We help you check.Official source
Course funding does not guarantee individual approval or a particular amount.
To receive a Maintenance Loan you normally need regular in-person classes during the week. A course offering only weekend attendance does not normally meet these requirements. Before enrolling, confirm the timetable and any applicable exceptions with the provider and Student Finance England.
The provider will check that you meet the English requirements for this course, whether you are a Home or international student. Declaring your level does not replace their assessment.
Bradford publishes disability, wellbeing and student support services. Its Disability Service can assess individual study needs. For an Oxford International foundation stage, confirm college support separately.
Sources and review
Academic information reviewed: 2026-10-21
Catalogue availability and curriculum/salary evidence are checked on separate dates.
