Sustainable Transport Engineering

The Sustainable Transport Engineering MSc is a mainstream mechanical engineering course with a focus on vehicles and drive systems, and energy sources and management. For anyone wishing to specialise in railways, the course also has a rail option.

This course is intended for honours graduates (or an international equivalent) in mechanical or mechanical-related engineering (eg automotive, aeronautical or design), maths, physics or a related discipline.

Course structure:

All Sustainable Transport Engineering MSc students will undertake taught modules in the following core subjects:
•mechanical power transmission
•vehicle drives and dynamics
•human-systems integration
•energy sources and storage
•sustainable energy management.

You then have the option to take further general engineering modules or rail transport modules. See the module page for more information.

Alongside students undertaking other mechanical engineering MSc courses, you will also be introduced to engineering software and computational methods, ie Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and Finite Element Analysis (FEA).

Your research project is chosen from an extensive range of subjects. Project work can range from fundamental studies in areas of basic engineering science, to practical design-make-test investigations.

If you are specialising in the rail option, you will undertake a railway-themed research project. Newcastle University is actively involved in a wide range of railway research projects.

Some research may be undertaken in collaboration with industry.

There is an established programme of research seminars. These are delivered by guest speakers from academia and industry (both national and international), providing excellent insights into a wide variety of engineering research.

Two year MSc:

A two year MSc is available for non-native speakers of English. This consists of the standard one-year MSc and an initial year that:
•covers a selection of final-year undergraduate modules (a useful preparation for the Masters-level modules in the second year)
•provides opportunities to improve and gain confidence in English.

Delivery:

The taught component of the course makes use of a combination of lectures, tutorials/labs and seminars. Assessment is by written examination and submitted in-course assignments.

The research project (worth 60 credits) is undertaken throughout the duration of the Master's level course. Project work is assessed by dissertation and oral/poster presentations. You will be allocated, and meet regularly with, project supervisors.

Effective communication is an important skill for the modern professional engineer, and this course includes sessions to help develop your ability, both through formal guidance sessions dedicated to good practice in report writing, and through oral/poster presentations of project work.

Accreditation:

The courses have been accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) under licence from the UK regulator, the Engineering Council.

Accreditation is a mark of assurance that the degree meets the standards set by the Engineering Council in the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC).

An accredited degree will provide you with some or all of the underpinning knowledge, understanding and skills for eventual registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng).

Some employers recruit preferentially from accredited degrees, and an accredited degree is likely to be recognised by other countries that are signatories to international accords.

Facilities:

The School of Mechanical and Systems Engineering is based in the Stephenson Building. It has both general and specialist laboratories and workshop facilities. These are used for training, course delivery and the manufacture of materials/components needed to support project work.

Newcastle attracts students from over 120 countries worldwide and there is plenty of help and advice on hand to assist them in adapting to life in the UK. The university has a system where every student has a personal tutor to assist them in both academic and non-academic matters and there is also a Student Wellbeing Service for confidence advice and help. There is a Visa and Immigration Team on hand to deal with legal matters relating to these areas and a Student Advice Centre within the Student’s Union for information on matters such as housing and finances. Finally, towards the end of studying, there is a Careers Service to help students find work or further their education as required. The heart of student life outside the classroom in the university is the Newcastle University Students Union. Unlike many students unions, NUSU owns the building that it operates from, following an anonymous gift in 1924 that allowed them to build a neo-Jacobean style building. It is run by six sabbatical officers and employs some 300 people in roles such as bar staff and entertainment organisers. In the media, there is a student run newspaper, established in 1948, called The Courier as well as radio station. The university is one of the leading in the UK for its sports programs and there are more than 50 sports clubs to become involved with.