Mechanical engineering is the discipline that transforms scientific discovery into the tangible realities of modern civilisation. From the design of transportation systems that connect our world - and even extend into the universe - to the development of advanced materials, medical devices, renewable energy technologies, robotics, and intelligent manufacturing, mechanical engineering plays a central role in nearly every aspect of human life. It not only powers innovation and progress but also shapes the way we live today and defines how we will live in the future.
Grounded in cutting-edge research across control and automation, advanced materials, nuclear engineering, renewable energy and energy storage, our MSc aims to equip you with the knowledge and practical expertise to design, develop and deliver innovative engineering solutions to real-world challenges - helping you influence the future of global engineering. To ensure you graduate with skills that align with the demands of the engineering sector, we have collaborated with industry experts and professional bodies from the School of Engineering’s Industry Advisory Board.
You’ll have the opportunity to deepen your technical expertise and broaden your professional capabilities through a choice of modules offering specialism in:
Nuclear Engineering
Low-Carbon Energy
Control Engineering
Machine Learning
Advanced Materials
Who is this programme for?
Our MSc Advanced Mechanical Engineering programme is designed for ambitious individuals seeking to progress from a bachelor’s degree to a Master’s qualification and work towards achieving Chartered Engineer status. The choice of modules offers career progression for those wishing to build expertise relevant to specific sectors.
Looking ahead to employability
You will graduate with the skills, confidence and creativity to address complex engineering challenges and advance your career in the ever-evolving field of modern engineering. We put a strong emphasis on enhancing your theoretical, technical and professional skills. A highlight is the Industry Consultancy Project where you collaborate with leading UK and international industry partners to solve a real-world engineering problem. Throughout the Master’s you will develop:
The knowledge for analysing complex systems
Systems thinking abilities for innovative and sustainable solutions
Teamwork, crucial for collaborating with engineers from other disciplines and industry professionals
Communication skills, both written and oral
Leadership skills
Project management skills
What to expect
You will select four modules, choosing topics that suit your interests, and complete the Industrial Consultancy Project.
The culmination of your Master’s is the dissertation, an extended opportunity for independent research. Your project, linked closely to an academic who will provide expert one-to-one supervision, will be aligned to your interests and career goals, shaped with you at the centre, and may be in partnership with industry or one of our research groups.
Recent projects have explored areas such as:
Autonomous systems
Novel heat exchangers
Renewable energy devices
Advanced composites
Three things we would like you to know
Excellence in research, innovation and industry engagement: we are internationally recognised leaders working at the forefront of mechanical engineering, energy systems, and advanced materials (95% of our research rated as world-leading or internationally excellent, REF2021). Our research informs our teaching, ensuring that your learning is rooted in the latest technological developments and engineering practices
Access to fantastic kit: We offer brand new, state-of-the-art mechanical engineering facilities in advanced manufacturing, materials testing, control systems, robotics and renewable energy. Kit includes dedicated robotics, wave energy, and scanning electron microscope labs, providing you with valuable experience working with high-end engineering equipment
Industry Advisory Board:We have long established links with major national and international companies as well as local small and medium enterprises. Alongside our world-leading research, they help shape our curriculum so that you are learning modern and innovative engineering techniques. They work directly with you on real projects and challenges developing your professional collaborative skills and application of solutions
Flexible study options
Study alongside work and other commitments by taking this course on a part-time basis. Running over two years, you take a selection of the modules each year.
We will liaise with you over your choice of optional modules and your schedule, so that you can successfully balance your work and other commitments alongside the Master’s programme.
Graduates of Lancaster’s MSc Advanced Mechanical Engineering programme are well positioned for a wide range of rewarding and high-impact careers across multiple sectors, including energy, manufacturing, transport, aerospace, robotics and high-value engineering design. Our alumni, known for their ability to apply advanced engineering theory to real-world challenges and to operate confidently in multidisciplinary, fast-changing environments are highly valued by employers. The inclusion of the Industrial Consultancy Project ensures that every full-time student gains first-hand experience of working with industry partners, building practical understanding and professional networks that support future employment.
The broad applicability of the skills developed during the MSc means that our graduates are not limited to purely technical roles. Many find rewarding careers in technical consultancy, operations and manufacturing management, supply chain and procurement, product development and technical sales or marketing - areas that increasingly require strong technical insight and strategic thinking.
Typical career destinations for our graduates include roles such as:
Research engineer
Mechanical engineer
Production engineer
Aerospace engineer
Automotive engineer
Manufacturing engineer
Nuclear engineer
Control engineer
Technical team leader
Manager or director
Engineering consultant
Software engineer
Others continue into PhD study or research careers, exploring advanced topics such as renewable energy systems, additive manufacturing, autonomous control, or sustainable materials.
Entry requirements
Academic Requirements
2:2 Hons degree (UK or equivalent) in Mechanical Engineering or related disciplines, or in Physics.
We may also consider non-standard applicants when accompanied by significant experience in a relevant field. For UK applicants, a HND or equivalent together with appropriate industrial experience may be considered. Please contact us for further information.
Additional Requirements
Some experience in industry in a technical position requiring engineering skills is desirable but not required.
English Language Requirements
We require an IELTS (Academic) Test with an overall score of at least 6.5, and a minimum of 6.0 in each element of the test.
If you are thinking of applying to Lancaster and you would like to ask us a question, complete our enquiry form and one of the team will get back to you.
Delivered in partnership with INTO Lancaster University, our one-year tailored pre-master's pathways are designed to improve your subject knowledge and English language skills to the level required by a range of Lancaster University master's degrees. Visit INTO Lancaster University for more details and a list of eligible degrees you can progress onto.
Course structure
We continually review and enhance our curriculum to ensure we are delivering the best possible learning experience, and to make sure that the subject knowledge and transferable skills you develop will prepare you for your future. The University will make every reasonable effort to offer programmes and modules as advertised. In some cases, changes may be necessary and may result in new modules or some modules and combinations being unavailable, for example as a result of student feedback, timetabling, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes and new research. Not all optional modules are available every year.
Core
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Your dissertation is the culmination of your Master’s degree - an opportunity to demonstrate your ability to research, design and deliver a substantial piece of independent engineering work. Working under the guidance of an academic supervisor, you will contribute to defining your own project, conduct a detailed review of the relevant literature, and apply advanced analytical and technical skills to solve a complex engineering problem.
Projects may focus on experimental investigation, computational analysis, or systems design, and can draw on Lancaster’s research expertise or, where appropriate, industry collaboration. You will develop valuable skills in project management, technical communication and critical evaluation, culminating in a professional dissertation that showcases your ability to plan, execute and present advanced engineering research.
By completing this module, you will gain the confidence and experience to contribute original thinking to your chosen field and demonstrate the professional and academic qualities expected of a Master’s-level engineer.
Apply your knowledge and skills in a real-world context to an exciting industry-linked team project. You will explore the role of engineering consultancy in various industries, focusing on the skills, methodologies and practices involved in providing consultancy services to solve engineering-related problems. This will develop your understanding of industry needs, business requirements, stakeholder management and effective communication with clients.
The module introduces the use of generative AI and prompt engineering as tools to support project management, problem-solving, and communication. You will consider the ethical implications of using AI in professional contexts, including issues related to data use, biases, transparency, accountability and the role of human oversight.
Optional
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Explore the advanced materials that drive innovation across industries such as automotive, aerospace, healthcare, construction and energy. Uncover how material properties, processing techniques and microstructure influence the performance of critical components. Through hands-on learning and materials selection tools, you will analyse historic developments in materials and apply this knowledge to design next-generation alloys that enhance performance, reduce costs and promote sustainability. By the end of the module, you will have the skills to make informed design choices for materials that could help shape the future of engineering and technology.
Explore key concepts in machine learning, intelligent control and modern control theory, with applications in robotics, industrial automation, smart manufacturing, predictive maintenance and digital twin. You will study control theory’s role in ensuring stability and robustness in safety-critical systems, beginning with classical proportional-integral control and progressing to digital control, state-space models and linear quadratic optimal control.
Machine learning (ML) techniques, such supervised and unsupervised learning, reinforcement learning and deep neural networks, will be introduced to address complex, high-dimensional systems where traditional models fall short. The module also examines practical and ethical constraints, while equipping you with computational tools such as MATLAB and Python for real-world implementation.
Throughout, you will gain hands-on experience in designing and applying these methods to engineering challenges, preparing you for the growing role of statistical modelling, intelligent control and ML in diverse fields like healthcare, economics and the natural sciences.
Explore the future of clean energy with this module on hydrogen and fuel cell technologies. You will gain a strong understanding of how hydrogen is produced, stored and used as a sustainable energy source. The module covers the fundamentals of fuel cell operation, types of fuel cells and their applications. Through case studies and practical examples, you will learn about the challenges and advancements in hydrogen technology, infrastructure, and environmental impact.
You will develop critical problem-solving skills and a forward-thinking approach to energy solutions. Youwill also gain the knowledge to assess the role of hydrogen in a low-carbon future and understand its potential in global energy markets. Assessment may include reports, presentations and technical analysis. This module is ideal if you are interested in renewable energy, engineering or sustainability.
Explore the core principles of mechatronics and control engineering, where you’ll learn dynamic modelling, actuator design and sensor technologies to tackle real-world challenges in automation, robotics and smart manufacturing. You’ll analyse and optimise systems using time and frequency domain methods, design robust actuators like electric, pneumatic and hydraulic systems, and integrate advanced sensors that measure pressure, temperature and electromagnetic fields.
Gain hands-on experience with signal conditioning, combining hardware and software components, and developing closed-loop control systems for precision in industrial settings. Using tools like MATLAB/Simulink, you’ll simulate projects from robotic assembly lines to IoT-driven automation.
Dive into emerging trends such as AI-enhanced control and master electromagnetic compatibility and noise mitigation - key skills for Industry 4.0 careers. Ideal for aspiring automation specialists and robotics developers, this module focuses on scalable, intelligent system design through industry-aligned labs and hybrid solutions. Shape the future of engineering - one system at a time.
This module aims to develop your understanding of the key aspects underlying engineering science, relating to the production of nuclear fuels and the conversion of nuclear energy. The unique hazards associated with handling the materials in the manufacturing train, such as criticality, radioactive exposure, chemical toxicity and flammability, will be highlighted together with methods for their safe management.You will be able to study advanced material balancing methods suited to the special requirements of nuclear materials including methods of reconciliation and active material accountancy.
Additionally, you will extend your knowledge of heat transfer with particular reference to the design of nuclear reactors and the complex boiling processes occurring in theory geometries. Ultimately, this module will provide understanding of a range of nuclear fuels, their associated manufacturing processes, and their relationship with the civil/military controversy.
This module will introduce the fundamental concepts underpinning fusion energy and its associated engineering challenges. You will learn the candidate fusion reactions and discuss the different engineering approaches to extracting useful energy from them, with a focus on magnetic confinement fusion (MCF) and inertial confinement fusion (ICF). You will gain a basic grounding in electromagnetism and superconductivity to enable discussion of these confinement concepts and associated technologies, including lasers, magnets and diagnostics. Further, you will learn about the tritium fuel cycle and materials issues unique to fusion, i.e. radiation damage, and how these are being developed with consideration to public acceptability.
The module will employ a systems approach showing the interdependence between different components in a fusion reactor. This will demonstrate how to treat a complex system in a holistic way. You will also examine how non-technological factors, such as economics, politics and public perception impact technological development.
The module discusses engineering aspects of wind, tidal and hydraulic energy, from the analysis of the resource (e.g. wind frequency distribution and tide cycles) to the analysis, design and control of the turbines required to convert renewable energy into electricity. Analysis and design of solar farms is also addressed.
Methods and examples of cost and environmental impact analysis of renewable energy are introduced. Latest approaches to integrate renewable energy in large electricity grids and energy storage technologies are presented. The hydrogen economy is analysed, with approaches to green hydrogen generation, transport, storage and cost analysis.
You will learn specialised and general skills including a) initial aero-/hydromechanical analysis and design of wind, hydraulic and hydrokinetic turbines, b) cost and environmental impact analysis, c) analysis of green hydrogen generation, storage and usage as energy vector, d) analysis of energy transmission chain and techno-economic aspects of integrating new energy production systems into macrogrids.
Fees and funding
Location
Full Time (per year)
Part Time (per year)
Home
£14,140
£7,070
International
£30,000
£15,000
Additional fees and funding information accordion
There may be extra costs related to your course for items such as books, stationery, printing, photocopying, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits. Following graduation, you may need to pay a subscription to a professional body for some chosen careers.
Specific additional costs for studying at Lancaster are listed below.
College fees
Lancaster is proud to be one of only a handful of UK universities to have a collegiate system. Every student belongs to a college, and all students pay a small College Membership Fee which supports the running of college events and activities. Students on some distance-learning courses are not liable to pay a college fee.
For students starting in 2025, the fee is £40 for undergraduates and research students and £15 for students on one-year courses.
Computer equipment and internet access
To support your studies, you will also require access to a computer, along with reliable internet access. You will be able to access a range of software and services from a Windows, Mac, Chromebook or Linux device. For certain degree programmes, you may need a specific device, or we may provide you with a laptop and appropriate software - details of which will be available on relevant programme pages. A dedicated IT support helpdesk is available in the event of any problems.
The University provides limited financial support to assist students who do not have the required IT equipment or broadband support in place.
Application fees for 2026
There is no application fee if you are applying for postgraduate study starting in 2026.
Paying a deposit
For some of our courses you will need to pay a deposit to accept your offer and secure your place. We will let you know in your offer letter if a deposit is required and you will be given a deadline date when this is due to be paid.
The fee that you pay will depend on whether you are considered to be a home or international student. Read more about how we assign your fee status.
If you are studying on a programme of more than one year’s duration, tuition fees are reviewed annually and are not fixed for the duration of your studies. Read more about fees in subsequent years.
You may be eligible for the following funding opportunities, depending on your fee status and course. You will be automatically considered for our main scholarships and bursaries when you apply, so there's nothing extra that you need to do.
Unfortunately no scholarships and bursaries match your selection, but there are more listed on scholarships and bursaries page.
The information on this site relates primarily to the stated entry year and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.
The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.
More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.
Our Students’ Charter
We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. Find out more about our Charter and student policies.
