Studies & Degrees in Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering Study Programs
Mechanical engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with machines, moving parts, energy and heat. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) describes it as one of the broadest engineering fields: mechanical engineers research, design, develop, build and test mechanical and thermal devices, including tools, engines and machines. The same training is used for vehicles, robots, production lines, heating and cooling systems, power plants and medical devices.
Degree programmes start with mathematics and the physical sciences and then move to engineering and design. Typical subjects are engineering drawing and computer-aided design, mechanics and strength of materials, machine design and testing, thermodynamics and heat engineering, fluid mechanics, materials, manufacturing and control. Most programmes end with a design project.
Qualifications and levels
The route to the profession depends on the country, and so does the title a graduate may use.
- Europe. In the European credit system, 60 ECTS credits equal one full year of study, and a bachelor's degree has either 180 or 240 ECTS credits.
- Spain. Official bachelor's degrees (grados) have 240 ECTS credits and official master's degrees have 60, 90 or 120. The bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering follows a ministerial order (Orden CIN/351/2009) because it gives access to a regulated profession, Ingeniero Técnico Industrial. The order requires 60 credits of basic subjects, 60 credits common to the industrial branch, 48 credits of the specific technology (here, mechanics) and a final project of 12 credits. One example is the Grado en Ingeniería Mecánica of the Universidad de Navarra, taught at its engineering school Tecnun in San Sebastián: an official degree of 240 ECTS credits over four years, in Spanish and English.
- United Kingdom. Universities offer a three-year Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) and a four-year integrated Master of Engineering (MEng). At the University of Southampton, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers accredits the MEng as meeting in full the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer, and the BEng as meeting it in part.
- United States. According to the BLS, mechanical engineers typically need a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or in mechanical engineering technology; the technology degrees focus less on theory and more on practical application. Some universities offer five-year programmes that lead to both a bachelor's and a master's degree. Programmes are accredited by ABET, which accredits programmes rather than institutions. A licence is not required for entry-level jobs. The Professional Engineer (PE) licence comes later and generally requires a degree from an accredited programme, two exams and work experience of typically at least four years.
- Vocational training. Spain has higher vocational (FP) qualifications of 2,000 hours close to this field, such as Técnico Superior en Diseño en Fabricación Mecánica and Técnico Superior en Mecatrónica Industrial. They train technicians, for example design draughtsmen, and are not engineering degrees.
After the bachelor's degree, students can specialise with a master's degree or a doctorate in areas such as automotive, energy, robotics or materials.
Where to study
SpainExchange lists 285 active schools that teach mechanical engineering. The United States has the most (89), followed by Spain (33) and the United Kingdom (20). Brazil has 10, Canada 9, Germany 7, China and France 6 each, Chile and Colombia 5 each, and Argentina and Mexico 4 each.
In Spain the list includes the Universidad de Navarra, the Universidad de Oviedo and the Universidad de Cádiz. Abroad it includes, among others, the University of Southampton and the University of Aberdeen in the United Kingdom, and Stanford University, The Ohio State University, the University of Michigan and Colorado School of Mines in the United States.
The language of instruction is normally the language of the country. Some programmes mix languages: at Tecnun the first year can be taken entirely in English. For its MEng, the University of Southampton asks applicants who take IELTS for an overall score of at least 6.5. Check the language and entry requirements of each programme before applying.
Careers
Mechanical engineers work in design offices, engineering consultancies, factories and research laboratories. In the United States they held about 298,500 jobs in 2025, according to the BLS. The largest employers were engineering services (20 percent), machinery manufacturing (14 percent) and transport equipment manufacturing (10 percent). The BLS projects employment of mechanical engineers to grow 11 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations, and links this to automation in manufacturing.
These figures describe the United States only. In other countries, ask the school for its own graduate employment data and check which professional title the degree gives access to.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a mechanical engineering degree take?
It depends on the country. In Spain the bachelor's degree has 240 ECTS credits and takes four years. In the United Kingdom a BEng takes three years and an integrated MEng four.
Does the Spanish degree give access to a regulated profession?
Yes, if it is an official degree verified under Orden CIN/351/2009. Such degrees qualify graduates for the regulated profession of Ingeniero Técnico Industrial. Ask the school whether its degree is verified under this order.
Why does accreditation matter?
Accreditation often decides whether a degree counts towards a professional title. In the United States a degree from an accredited programme is usually necessary to become a licensed professional engineer, and in the United Kingdom an accredited MEng meets the academic requirement for Chartered Engineer registration.
Can I study mechanical engineering in English outside English-speaking countries?
Sometimes, at least in part. At Tecnun (Universidad de Navarra) the degree is taught in Spanish and English and the first year can be taken entirely in English. Each school sets its own language rules.