Course Overview

The MSc in Mechanical Engineering is a one year, full-time programme designed to give students knowledge of a wide range of advanced mechanical engineering topics. This 90 ECTS (credits) programme features 60 ECTS of taught modules and 30 ECTS for a Research Thesis on an advanced mechanical engineering research topic. Although the modules are taught over two semesters, the Research Thesis takes place over the entire year.

Applications and Selections

Who Teaches this Course

Dr Kevin Moerman

Dr Richard Barrett

Dr Noel Harisson

Dr Eoin King

Dr Martina Kelly

Dr Mingming Tong

Prof Dr Rory Monaghan

Prof Dr Kathryn Cormican

Enda Fallon

 

Dr Will Ronan

Dr Jamie Concannon

Prof Dr Patrick Mcgarry

Dr Michel Destrade

Requirements and Assessment

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

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

Entry to the programme is open to individuals who have a minimum Second Class Honours, Grade 1 (H2.1), in a Level 8 Mechanical Engineering degree (or in a related discipline), 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

1 year, full-time

Next start date

September 2025

A Level Grades ()

Average intake

30

QQI/FET FETAC Entry Routes

Closing Date

This programme will be accepting applicants on a rolling basis

NFQ level

Mode of study

ECTS weighting

90

Award

CAO

Course code

MSC-MSME

Course Outline

This is a 90 ECTS course which features. 30 ECTS are allocated to a significant research component, the Research Thesis, which runs throughout the year. The remaining 60 ECTS is for taught modules. The taught modules includes 5 core modules listed below, which all students entering this program (25 ECTS):

  • Advanced Mechanics of Materials
  • Advanced Manufacturing
  • Engineering Acoustics: Noise and Sustainable Development
  • Finite Element Methods in Engineering – Theory and Practice
  • Research Methods for Engineers

Recognising the multi-disciplinary nature and breadth of mechanical engineering as a domain, this course offers students flexibility to design their own educational journey and specialisation. As such, beyond the core modules above, students may choose 4 to 6 of the following advanced mechanical engineering modules (20 to 30 ECTS):

  • Materials II
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics
  • Turbomachines & Advanced Fluid Dynamics
  • Advanced Energy Systems Engineering
  • Combustion Science & Engineering
  • Sustainable Energy
  • Advanced Finite Element Methods
  • Non-Linear Elasticity* - OR - Partial Differential Equations*
  • Biomechanics
  • Advanced Computational Biomechanics
  • Fundamentals of Python Programming
  • Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence for Engineering Applications
  • Digital Control Systems for Automation and Robotics* - OR - Power Systems*
  • Embedded Machine Vision

 

Finally, students may choose 1-3 (5-15 ECTS) of the following industry focussed modules:

  • Technology, Innovation & Entrepreneurship
  • Lean Systems
  • Project Management
  • Safety Engineering
  • Physical Ergonomics
  • Human Reliability

 

* The modules labelled with an asterisk alternate on a yearly basis. The final list of available options will be shared with all students.

 

Assessment for this course will consist of continuous assessment via coursework, written examinations, as well as the final thesis.

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 (90 Credits)

OptionalMP494: Partial Differential Equations - 5 Credits - Semester 1
OptionalMP410: Non-Linear Elasticity - 5 Credits - Semester 1
OptionalME432: Technology Innovation & Entrepreneurship - 5 Credits - Semester 1
OptionalEG5101: Advanced Energy Systems Engineering - 5 Credits - Semester 1
OptionalME4109: Materials II - 5 Credits - Semester 1
OptionalME4112: Computational Fluid Dynamics - 5 Credits - Semester 1
OptionalCT5200: Fundamentals of Python Programming - 5 Credits - Semester 1
OptionalEE4104: Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence for Engineering Applications - 5 Credits - Semester 1
OptionalEE5103: Digital Control Systems for Automation and Robotics (Level 9) - 5 Credits - Semester 1
RequiredBME5100: Advanced Computational Biomechanics - 5 Credits - Semester 1
OptionalEE6102: Power Systems - 5 Credits - Semester 1
OptionalBME400: Biomechanics - 5 Credits - Semester 1
OptionalBME5100: Advanced Computational Biomechanics - 5 Credits - Semester 1
OptionalCE5100: Sustainable Energy - 5 Credits - Semester 1
OptionalME4105: Safety Engineering - 5 Credits - Semester 1
OptionalIE5100: Physical Ergonomics - 5 Credits - Semester 1
OptionalIE450: Lean Systems - 5 Credits - Semester 1
OptionalIE446: Project Management - 5 Credits - Semester 1
RequiredME5107: Mechanical Engineering MSc Thesis - 30 Credits - Semester 1
RequiredME521: Research Methods for Engineers - 5 Credits - Semester 1
RequiredBME5110: Finite Element Methods in Engineering - Theory and Practice - 5 Credits - Semester 1
OptionalME426: Turbomachines and Advanced Fluid Dynamics - 5 Credits - Semester 2
OptionalBME501: Advanced Finite Element Methods - 5 Credits - Semester 2
OptionalEE5104: Embedded Machine Vision - 5 Credits - Semester 2
OptionalME5171: Combustion Science and Engineering - 5 Credits - Semester 2
OptionalME572: Human Reliability - 5 Credits - Semester 2
RequiredME516: Advanced Mechanics of Materials - 5 Credits - Semester 2
RequiredME5106: Advanced Manufacturing - 5 Credits - Semester 2
RequiredME5111: Engineering Acoustics: Noise and Sustainable Development - 5 Credits - Semester 2

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; furthermore advanced research (e.g., PhD); software (engineering) development; engineering consultancy.

Who’s Suited to This Course

Learning Outcomes

Transferable Skills Employers Value

This course included the following industry focussed and transferable skills modules: Safety Engineering, Physical Ergonomics, Human Reliability Technology, Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Lean Systems, Research Methods for Engineers, and Project Management.

Work Placement

Study Abroad

Related Student Organisations

Course Fees

Fees: EU

€8,750 p.a. (€8,890 including levy) 2025/26

Fees: Tuition

€8,750 p.a. 2025/26

Fees: Student levy

€140 p.a. 2024/25

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

Find out More

Dr Kevin Moerman

+353 91 49 3552

kevin.moerman@universityofgalway.ie

International Scholarships

Postgraduate Scholarships