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Studies & Degrees in Mechanics

Mechanics is the study of motion and of the forces that produce it. As a field of study it covers two different routes. The first is the trade of the mechanic, who maintains and repairs vehicles, engines and industrial machines or makes metal parts on machine tools. The second is mechanical engineering, where mechanics is the scientific base for designing machines. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) calls mechanical engineering one of the broadest engineering fields. Mechanical engineers research, design, develop, build and test mechanical and thermal devices, including tools, engines and machines.

What students learn depends on the route. Vocational programmes are workshop-based: fault diagnosis, engines and their auxiliary systems, hydraulics and pneumatics, vehicle electrics and electronics, machining and welding. University programmes start from mathematics and physics. TU Wien, for example, describes the base of its bachelor's programme as mathematics, mechanics, engineering design, materials science, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics and manufacturing technology.

Qualifications and levels

  • Vocational training in Spain. Two official intermediate-level vocational training (FP, grado medio) programmes of 2,000 hours each are Técnico en Electromecánica de Vehículos Automóviles, for vehicle mechanics, and Técnico en Mecanizado, for machine-tool work. The usual entry requirement is the compulsory secondary education certificate (ESO) or a higher qualification.
  • Certificates and associate degrees in the United States. According to the BLS, high schools, community colleges and technical institutes offer programmes in automotive service technology that lead to a certificate or an associate degree. Alexandria Technical & Community College in Minnesota, for example, offers Diesel Mechanics as an AAS degree and as a diploma, with training on highway, agricultural and heavy equipment.
  • Bachelor's degree. In Spain a bachelor's degree (grado) has 240 ECTS credits. The Grado en Ingeniería Mecánica of the Universidad de Cantabria is taught on campus, offers 60 places for new students and, according to the university, gives graduates the professional competences of the Ingeniero Técnico Industrial, specialising in mechanics. In other European countries the bachelor's degree is shorter. The mechanical engineering bachelor's programme at TU Wien lasts six semesters, has 180 ECTS credits and is taught in German. In the United States, mechanical engineers typically need a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or mechanical engineering technology. The technology programmes focus less on theory and more on practical application.
  • Master's degree and doctorate. Official master's degrees in Spain have 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits. They allow graduates to specialise in areas such as design, materials, energy or vehicles.

Many schools also teach short and online courses in mechanics and maintenance. These vary widely, so students should ask the school what recognition the qualification has.

Where to study it

This directory lists 47 active schools for mechanics. The United States has 17 and Spain 4. China, the United Kingdom, Finland, Belarus, France and Egypt have 2 each, and several other countries have 1.

The schools in the United States are mostly community and technical colleges that teach the trade, such as Alexandria Technical & Community College, Des Moines Area Community College, Alamance Community College and Pasadena City College, together with universities such as Drexel University. In Spain the directory lists the Universidad de Cantabria and online providers such as SEAS, Estudios Abiertos in Zaragoza and Formación Universitaria in Seville. Elsewhere in Europe it includes TU Wien (Vienna University of Technology), Manchester Metropolitan University, the Université de Rennes and Lapland University of Applied Sciences. In Latin America it lists the Universidad de Guadalajara, the Universidad Central de Venezuela and the Universidad Central "Marta Abreu" de Las Villas in Cuba.

The language of instruction usually follows the country: Spanish in Spain and Latin America, English in the United States and the United Kingdom, German at TU Wien. Students should confirm the language with each school before applying.

Careers

Mechanics work in repair workshops, dealerships, transport fleets, vehicle inspection centres and factories. The Spanish vocational qualifications lead to jobs such as car electromechanic, machine-tool operator, turner and milling-machine operator. Diesel mechanics work in transport, farming, construction, mining, shipping, rail and power generation.

In the United States there were 825,800 jobs for automotive service technicians and mechanics in 2025, according to the BLS. Employment is projected to grow 5% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations, with about 66,200 openings each year.

Mechanical engineers held about 298,500 jobs in the United States in 2025. The largest employers were engineering services (20%), machinery manufacturing (14%) and transportation equipment manufacturing (10%). The BLS projects 11% growth from 2025 to 2035, much faster than average, and about 17,800 openings each year. Engineers who sell their services to the public in the United States must hold a licence.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a mechanic and a mechanical engineer?

A mechanic maintains and repairs vehicles and machines and trains in a vocational programme, a certificate or an associate degree. A mechanical engineer designs and tests machines and needs a university degree.

How long does it take to train as a mechanic in Spain?

The intermediate-level vocational training programmes in vehicle electromechanics and in machining have 2,000 hours each. Entry normally requires the compulsory secondary education certificate.

How long is a mechanical engineering degree?

In Spain the bachelor's degree has 240 ECTS credits. At TU Wien in Austria the bachelor's programme has 180 ECTS credits over six semesters.

Is there demand for mechanics and mechanical engineers?

In the United States the BLS projects employment growth from 2025 to 2035 of 5% for automotive service technicians and mechanics and 11% for mechanical engineers.