Degree structure
Source: https://www.tue.nl/en/education/bachelor-college/bachelor-mechanical-engineering/degree-structure Parent: https://www.tue.nl/en/education/bachelor-college/bachelor-mechanical-engineering
Bachelor Mechanical Engineering
Degree structure
In addition to the subject-specific knowledge you gain during the Bachelor Mechanical Engineering at TU/e, there is ample opportunity to apply this knowledge and to develop professional skills. Think of attending and participating in meetings, presentations and collaborations. The program contains lectures that explain the theory. During the guided self-study, you practice the theory by doing exercises. You then apply this knowledge in the Challenge-Based Learning projects.
For example: due to a change in legislation, a certain commonly used fluid is no longer allowed as a lubricating oil. Manufacturers now have to find a substitute that is equally workable and affordable. During the development process, there will be an intense collaboration between multiple disciplines in which their plans and activities need to be aligned. You will learn this skill in Challenge-Based Learning.
You can shape your three-year program according to your wishes by choosing electives. You may want to broaden your knowledge by taking subjects or projects from other bachelor's programs at TU/e, or you can deepen your knowledge within the field of Mechanical Engineering by choosing subjects and projects from the Mechanical Engineering program. The third year marks the capstone of the bachelor's program and prepares you for potentially pursuing a fitting master's program.
First year
You take nine courses in your first year. Additionally, you take four Challenge-Based Learning assignments and several training sessions.
Mechanical engineering courses
During the courses Mechanics, Dynamics and Introduction to Transport Phenomena, you study mechanical engineering constructions and processes. You learn to describe these processes through modeling and will soon discover that they are very broadly applicable. In the first year, you also take the course Introduction to Mechanical Engineering, which functions as an orientation for future courses.
Tackling mechanical engineering problems also requires knowledge from physics. The first-year course Structure and Properties of Materials teaches you exactly this skill. For instance, you will understand how materials and constructions react under different circumstances: different temperatures, loaded or unloaded, stationary or moving.
Mathematical courses
Naturally, you deepen your knowledge in the field of mathematics: after all, it is the language for solving many technological problems. In addition, you take a Calculus course, which is a type of applied mathematics, and a Dynamics course. The latter focuses on the basic principles that are also used in other subjects, such as functions and integrals with multiple variables. These courses build on the mathematics you learned in high school. You learn how to use computers for calculations, but always keep in mind that the fundamental principles remain human skill.
Challenge-Based Learning (CBL)
In the first year, you have three CBL assignments, which are concluded with a report and a presentation. Each student is assessed on his or her contribution within the group. In principle, this is done by a tutor (mentor). At a later stage, you learn how to assess and give feedback to each other. Here you can find a collection of robots in motion from the CBL course ‘Multiped Robot’. The robots are designed and made completely by first year bachelor students from Mechanical Engineering at within only eight weeks! Everyone is involved and having lots of fun turning their own ideas from paper into reality!
Training sessions
The first year also contains various training sessions. You learn how to work with computer programs such as CAD or NX (for creating 3D images and 3D prototypes).
View the education guide* for more detailed information about the study program.
Second year
The second year consists of five courses, three Challenge-Based Learning (CBL) cases. Furthermore, in each quartile, there is a elective.
Some courses, such as Thermodynamics, and Dynamics and Control of Mechanical Systems, build upon first-year courses. Courses such as Heat and Flow apply the knowledge of a diverse range of subject areas to better understand processes and constructions. The knowledge you gain in these courses can be applied during the real-life projects, such as the CBL cases. This also helps you to better master the material.
Third year
The third year marks the conclusion of the bachelor's degree and prepares you for your master's degree. It consists of a number of Mechanical Engineering courses, CBL projects and electives. The electives provide flexibility for both deepening and broadening of knowledge. The third year is concluded with the Bachelor's Final Project, otherwise called BEP (Bachelor Eindproject in Dutch).
Bachelor's Final Project
The bachelor’s degree is completed with the Bachelor's Final Project (BEP). This final project, which covers two quartiles, integrates everything you learned during your three-year degree. It is therefore the perfect opportunity to strengthen your strong points and revisit the challenging ones, so you can better orientate which master's degree is the best fit for you. While working on your final project, you take four electives. You conduct scientific research independently during your final project. It is not a predetermined assignment, but you contribute to an actual research project conducted by the faculty's research group. You complete the final project with a compact project report and presentation. A few examples of recent final projects are:
- The applicability of rapeseed oil as lubricating oil
- Modeling a chip factory
- A flexible assembly system
- Humanoid robots
- Simulation of particle trajectories in a turbulent rotating particle separator
During your final project, you will be assessed on independence, planning and organization, analytical ability and reflection, and reporting and presenting skills. More information about the Bachelor's Final Project can be found in the education guide*. The Education guide also contains more information about the curriculum*.
*Please note: The Education guide is a document that is used as a source of information by current TU/e students, it contains detailed, practical information that is important during the course.
Click here for a brief description of each course in the curriculum.
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