Applied Mechanical Engineering BEng (Hons) top-up

Top-up courses

Man working on a big drill wearing a blue overall

This top-up degree is designed to enhance your existing engineering skills and qualifications and in turn, your career.

Year of entry

2025-26 2026-27

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time

Duration

1 year full-time

Course code

H301

Start date

September 2025

How to apply

Book an Open Day

Download a prospectus

Course overview

Successful completion of this honour’s degree could open a wide range of careers in many engineering disciplines and prepare you to apply for further postgraduate study. The course is aimed at those who have chosen a more vocational route and have a Foundation Degree, DipHE, HND or equivalent in engineering.

We aim to help you build upon and ‘top up’ your previous qualification and experience with activity-led, hands-on learning, giving you the opportunity to further develop your engineering and mathematical knowledge, understanding, management and analysis skills, in a professional manner to problem-solve engineering problems.
You will have the chance to practice your learning through defining, analysing and solving case studies and a research-inspired individual project.
Upon successful completion, you will top-up your existing qualifications to an honour’s degree level through a course that has been specially developed to consider the mechanical and mathematical science and experience you have already gained, through your existing qualifications.

Rated Gold Overall

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023

5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

Top 5 Student City in England (Coventry)

QS Best Student Cities Index 2025

Why you should study this course

The Applied Mechanical Engineering BEng top-up degree aims to provide you with a practical, industrially relevant, hands-on experience which is based on the understanding and development of traditional and research-inspired engineering, and mathematical science and technology.

The degree provides a rigorous balance of academic knowledge and development.
Upon successful completion, the course should provide you with the skills needed to solve engineering problems through analysis and critical evaluation, using professional engineering, design and management tools⁴.
We will support you to learn and adopt working practices that are professional and innovative, in a manner where there is an awareness of fundamental theoretical and analytical approaches to problem-solving.
Successful completion of this degree should also give you a good grounding to develop the highly scientific, numerical, analytical, practical and problem-solving skills that are sought within the engineering sector and other diverse fields, such as managerial and finance and beyond.
You will have the opportunity to access and benefit from a wide range of teaching and research facilities⁴.
We aim to maintain our strong links with major international and national potential employers and our current teaching staff are experienced professionals that are industry and/or research-active in their fields (staff are subject to change).

What you'll study

The course is designed for you to learn and develop a comprehensive understanding of the mechanical, materials and mathematical (analytical) sciences; approaches to design and product lifecycle and the managerial procedures that provide a basis for working professionally and effectively.

The top-up degree is composed of several linked modules that are delivered over the academic year.

A major component of the degree is the individual project, which is bespoke in design and allows you to put into practice and further develop the skills that you have learnt in the modules. The individual project is practical in nature and based on a research inspired engineering problem with a professional approach.

Modules

Individual Project Introduction – 10 credits

Manufacturing Process Improvement – 20 credits

New Product Development Strategies – 20 credits

Individual Project – 20 credits

The individual final year project is an important part of any engineering course. The general aims of the project are to give you a realistic exercise in the practice of engineering at a professional level, and to be a vehicle for integrating the knowledge gained in several subject areas of the degree course. It will also provide opportunities for you to develop your personal qualities such as initiative, imagination, creativity, communication, organisation, as well as employing IT effectively and solving non-routine problems.

Compulsory

Applied Mechanical Science – 20 credits

This module provides an understanding of fundamental principles through theory, experimentation and computational analysis. This allows you the opportunity to appreciate and validate basic behaviours through theory and practical, and then predict and optimise behaviours using computational analysis techniques.

Compulsory

Materials Analysis and Advanced Manufacturing – 20 credits

This module develops the understanding and application of the material and manufacturing science within the automotive and aerospace sectors. There is particular emphasis on the design, test and analysis with regards to product design and manufacture, and will cover established and new technologies.

Compulsory

Add+vantage Module – 10 credits

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.

How you'll learn

We place an emphasis on activity-led learning, with comprehensive student support throughout.

You should benefit from access to a variety of study materials that provide you with the opportunity to understand and reflect on engineering science, as well as develop established and research-inspired skills that could be applied to practical problems, for a future career in engineering.

Teaching contact hours

This course consists of five 20-credit modules (composed of 200 hours teaching each) and two 10-credit modules (composed of 100 hours teaching each).

As a full-time undergraduate student, you will study modules totalling 120 credits each academic year. A typical 20 credit module requires a total of 200 hours study. This is made up of teaching contact hours, guided and independent study.

Teaching hours:

Teaching hours vary each semester, year of study and due to module selection. During your top-up year you can expect 9-12 teaching hours each week. You will also have the option to attend optional sessions including time with a progress coach or to meet with staff for advice and feedback. As you progress through your studies, teaching hours may reduce.

Guided and independent study:

Throughout your studies, you will be expected to spend time in guided and independent study to make up the required study hours per module. You'll be digging deeper into topics, review what you've learnt and complete assignments. This can be completed around your personal commitments. As you progress through your studies, you'll spend more time in independent study.

Online learning:

As an innovative university, we use different teaching methods including online tools and emerging technologies. So, some of your teaching hours and assessments may be delivered online.

Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module.

The assessment methods may include:

formal examinations
phase tests
essays
group work
presentations
reports
projects
coursework
exams
individual assignments.

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.

Entry requirements

Typical entry requirements:

You will need to have, or expected to achieve, a FHEA Level 5/SCQF Level 8 Foundation Degree (FD), DipHE, or HND in Engineering. Successful completion of two years appropriate academic study in higher education. GCSE maths and English at grade 4 / C or Functional Skills Level 2, or other equivalent Level 2 awards.

Alternatively, you will need to have a recognised equivalent where there is a substantial component of mechanical engineering/science or a closely related discipline.

Other qualifications and experience

Our students come from a variety of backgrounds, each with a unique story. We recognise a breadth of qualifications. If your qualifications differ from the above, contact our Admissions Team who will be happy to discuss your qualifications and routes into your chosen course.

Contextual offers and Fair Access Scheme

If you meet the criteria for our Fair Access Scheme, you could automatically receive a contextual offer that may be up to 24 UCAS points lower than our standard entry requirements. View the criteria for our Fair Access Scheme.

Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:

You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.0 overall, with no component lower than 5.5.

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

Fees and funding

Student	Full-time	Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man	£9,535 per year	Not available
EU	£9,535 per year with EU Support Bursary £19,850 per year without EU Support Bursary	Not available
International	£19,850 per year	Not available

For advice and guidance on tuition fees and student loans visit our Undergraduate Finance page and see The University’s Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permits an increase in tuition fees, the university may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them. Find out what's included in your tuition costs.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

Any optional overseas ﬁeld trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

**EU Support Bursary

Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.

How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.

If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.

Facilities

Your studies will be centred in high-specification learning environments that benefit from extensive social learning facilities, well-appointed laboratories, industry-standard equipment, lecturing facilities and classrooms, facilitating our innovative teaching methods across a diverse suite of courses.

Metals Workshop

Participate in technical work in a hands-on way. The workshop includes lathes, milling machines, fabrication equipment for sheet metal work, CNC machines, work benches, welding lines and a fitting assembly area.

A student looking from a balcony over the engineering centre

High Performance Engineering Centre (HPEC)

Home to flight and driving simulators, a chassis design assembly and test facility and wind tunnels. The centre also houses a fleet of CNC manufacturing machines.

Student in blue overalls in the metrology lab.

Metrology Laboratories

Coventry University is a recognised leader for independent measurement expertise and services in the field of metrology. Facilities in our metrology laboratory include an impressive range of dimensional metrology equipment.

Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.

Careers and opportunities

Successful completion of this course will top-up your existing qualifications to BEng (Hons) degree level. You should also gain the engineering and mathematical, managerial, academic and practical skills that are relevant to current engineering sectors.

We aim to help you develop a rigorous problem-solving approach to engineering challenges, influenced by a rich mix of academic and industrial experience.

Upon successful completion of the course, you should be able to deal with complex issues that require a high degree of innovation through the development of transferable skills. You will also have opportunities to gain vital professional technical and managerial skills that could enable you to work both individually and as a team effectively and responsibly.

This degree should provide you with the skills to work within a broad range of engineering and associated sectors.

How to apply

View our courses on UCAS

Visit UCAS

UK students

Full-time students can apply for this course through UCAS. Read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.

How to apply

Apply via UCAS

If this course has a part-time option you will need to apply directly to the university.

Apply via the portal

If you'd like further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.

+44 (0)24 7765 2222

ukadmissions@coventry.ac.uk

Complete our contact form.

International students

International codes:
EECU204

How to apply

For further support for international applicants applying for an undergraduate degree view our International hub.

You can also download our International Guide which contains lots of useful information about our courses, accommodation, tips for travel and guidance on how to apply.

If you'd like further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.

+44 (0)24 7765 2152

ioadmissions@coventry.ac.uk

Complete our contact form.

Disclaimers

Coventry University together with Coventry University London, Coventry University Wrocław, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough, and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the University) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University.

¹Accreditations

The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.

²UK and international opportunities

Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or international opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be unpaid and/or subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel, public authority guidance, decisions or orders and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand any visa requirements, please contact the International Office.

³Tuition fees

The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

If you choose to study this course with a professional placement, the University will charge the tuition fees stated above for those on a placement during Academic Year 2025/26. The University will review professional placement tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study, but such that it will be no more than 5% above inflation.

⁴Facilities

Student Contract

By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the current 2024/2025 contract is available on the website for information purposes however the 2025/2026 contract will apply for the 2025/2026 intake. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.