From sports equipment to high-tech operating theatres for hospitals, vehicles and public transport infrastructure, and industrial applications such as the structural design of wind turbines – mechanical engineers play a crucial part in shaping the way we live. A wide range of skills are needed to be able to successfully design and manufacture what we need in an efficient, environmentally friendly and sustainable way – and meet the demands and challenges of the modern world.As the branch of engineering that involves the design, production, and operation of machinery, mechanical engineers must be able to combine engineering physics and mathematics principles with materials science.Studying mechanical engineering at Leeds will open up a whole world of opportunities for your career. You’ll develop your abilities, knowledge and skills across the full range of mechanical engineering, from the fundamentals of design and manufacture to fluid dynamics. You’ll also have scope to specialise in fields that interest you, such as vehicle design or biomedical engineering.This accredited degree develops mechanical engineers who help meet the challenges facing the machine manufacturing sector. Our active Industrial Advisory Board helps inform the development of this course to ensure that it is up to date with industry developments and requirements. That’s one of the reasons why our graduates are so in demand from industry, and why our courses are accredited by the leading professional bodies.This is a practical course, so you’ll benefit from specialist facilities including extensive laboratory space and equipment, our high-spec computer cluster for Computer-Aided Design (CAD) work and computational modelling, in aerodynamic analysis for example, and workshop facilities for various rapid prototyping systems. You’ll also develop your programming skills in industry-standard languages like Matlab and for microprocessor systems, giving you everything you need to get started on your career in engineering.Industrial placement yearThis programme gives you the opportunity to undertake a paid industrial placement year as part of the course. Our close industry links give you the platform to apply to a number of major organisations such as Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Limited and Alcatel Submarine Networks.Why study at Leeds:- This course is accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).- Work on your own mechanical projects, putting into practice what you have learned by designing, manufacturing and assembling devices and testing their performance.- Our globally-renowned research here at Leeds helps to solve real-world mechanical engineering problems and feeds directly into your course, shaping your learning with the latest thinking.- Enhance your career prospects and give your CV that competitive edge before you graduate with a paid industrial placement year.- Access specialist facilities, including a high-spec computer cluster and extensive laboratory space.- We have strong university links with the Leeds Institute for Fluid Dynamics, Robotics Leeds, the School of Medicine and the Faculty of Biological Sciences.- Make the most of your time at Leeds by joining our student society MechEngSoc. It’s a great opportunity for you to meet people from different cultures and backgrounds who share your passion for mechanical engineering.