Mechanical Engineering (ME)

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Course Overview
Key Facts
Course Outline
Why Choose This Course?
Course Fees
Find Out More

Course Overview

The Master of Engineering (ME) at University of Galway is part of an integrated (Bachelors + Masters) 4+1 programme of study, meeting the European Framework Standards for engineering accreditation. Successfully completing this (level 9) ME course, as part of an accredited 4+1 structure, will allow you to achieve the educational requirements for Chartered Engineer (CEng) status upon graduation.

The ME programme on its own is a 60 ECTS one academic year course of study. Graduates with an honours degree in a cognate Engineering discipline may be eligible to take the ME. This will be of interest to graduates who wish to study more advanced topics in their core engineering discipline. Applicants wishing to use the ME programme as part of their CEng certification should be aware that professional accreditation is assessed by the Engineering Councils on the basis of the aggregate periods of study (Level 8 + Level 9), and not on the Masters year alone. Candidates need to satisfy themselves that their undergraduate (Level 8) degree meets the relevant standards.

This is a nine-month taught Master’s programme, which is a direct follow-on from the four-year undergraduate BE programme in Mechanical Engineering, providing students with the opportunity to take a first step in advanced engineering education and research skills, within the framework of the academic and professional requirements for Chartered Engineer status. The philosophy of the programme is the preparation of graduates for exciting careers in advanced engineering and innovative technology development and management.

The Master of Engineering

ME programme

The ME programme on its own is a 60 ECTS nine-academic-month course of study. Graduates with an honours degree in a cognate Engineering discipline may be eligible to take the ME. This will be of interest to graduates who wish to study more advanced topics in their core engineering discipline. Applicants wishing to use the ME programme as part of their CEng certification should be aware that professional accreditation is assessed by the Engineering Councils on the basis of the aggregate periods of study (Level 8 + Level 9), and not on the Masters programme alone. Candidates need to satisfy themselves that their undergraduate (Level 8) degree meets the relevant standards.

Scholarships available
Find out about our Postgraduate Scholarships here.

Applications and Selections

Applications are made online via the University of Galway Postgraduate Applications System.

Who Teaches this Course

Prof Sean Leen

Prof Kathryn Cormican

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Requirements and Assessment

Assessment will consist of continuous assessment via coursework and project work, along with written examinations.

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

Individuals must have a minimum Second Class Honours, Grade 2 (H2.2), in a Level 8 engineering degree in a related discipline, or equivalent, from a recognised university or third-level college. Factors taken into account in determining admission will include the specific content of the undergraduate degree, the applicant’s performance, and the availability of places.

Additional Requirements

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Duration

9 months, full-time

Next start date

September 2025

A Level Grades ()

Average intake

20 (approximately)

QQI/FET FETAC Entry Routes

Closing Date

Please refer to the review/closing date website.

NFQ level

Mode of study

ECTS weighting

Award

CAO

Course code

MENG-MEME

Course Outline

The programme combines advanced mechanical engineering modules with a substantial (nine month long) research and development project and modules on engineering transferable skills. The large group development project, which is the capstone of the Master’s, will be conducted in collaboration with an engineering industrial partner to develop new mechanical engineering technology. A key aspect of this programme is the teaching of innovation and entrepreneurship skills and technology, along with research methods. A range of advanced engineering modules (advanced mechanics of materials, advanced finite elements, advanced energy systems) are also taught to build directly on undergraduate mechanical engineering topics and bring students to a more specialized understanding of and ability to conduct state-of-the-art engineering design.

Curriculum Information

Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases).
Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Glossary of Terms

Credits: You must earn a defined number of credits (aka ECTS) to complete each year of your course. You do this by taking all of its required modules as well as the correct number of optional modules to obtain that year's total number of credits.
Module: An examinable portion of a subject or course, for which you attend lectures and/or tutorials and carry out assignments. E.g. Algebra and Calculus could be modules within the subject Mathematics. Each module has a unique module code eg. MA140.
Subject: Some courses allow you to choose subjects, where related modules are grouped together. Subjects have their own required number of credits, so you must take all that subject's required modules and may also need to obtain the remainder of the subject's total credits by choosing from its available optional modules.
Optional: A module you may choose to study.
Required: A module that you must study if you choose this course (or subject).
Required Core Subject: A subject you must study because it's integral to that course.
Semester: Most courses have 2 semesters (aka terms) per year, so a three-year course will have six semesters in total. For clarity, this page will refer to the first semester of year 2 as 'Semester 3'.

Year 1 (60 Credits)

Why Choose This Course?

Career Opportunities

Mechanical engineering industry (e.g., power generation, renewable energy, machine tool manufacture, equipment manufacture, transport and aerospace industry, general manufacturing industry, offshore oil and gas industry), biomedical engineering industry; engineering management; further more advanced research (e.g., PhD); software (engineering) development; engineering consultancy.

Who’s Suited to This Course

Learning Outcomes

Transferable Skills Employers Value

Work Placement

Study Abroad

Related Student Organisations

Course Fees

Fees: EU

€6,500 p.a. (€6,640 including levy) 2025/26

Fees: Tuition

€6,500 p.a. 2025/26

Fees: Student levy

€140 p.a. 2025/26

Fees: Non EU

€28,000 p.a. (€28,140 including levy) 2025/26

For 25/26 entrants, where the course duration is greater than 1 year, there is an inflationary increase approved of 3.4% per annum for continuing years fees.

Postgraduate students in receipt of a SUSI grant – please note an F4 grant is where SUSI will pay €4,000 towards your tuition (2025/26). You will be liable for the remainder of the total fee. A P1 grant is where SUSI will pay tuition up to a maximum of €6,270. SUSI will not cover the student levy of €140.

Note to non-EU students: learn about the 24-month Stayback Visa here.