Engineers who excel

One of the top UK universities for research, teaching, the student experience and employability, the University of Bath was ranked third after Oxford and Cambridge in The Times Good University Guide 2012. Mechanical Engineering was one of three individual subjects for which the university was ranked number one.

Engineering students from the university follow a common curriculum for the first two years before they specialize. In that time, they learn about workshop practice, experimental methods, data analysis, prototype building and common engineering elements. They are all given the opportunity to do an industrial placement, which enables them to apply course learning in real life. Their achievements are demonstrated by continuing success in Formula Student, which is one of the leading educational motorsport programs and is supported by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Team Bath Racing (TBR) is well established, designs a bold, new racing car each year, and attracts extensive commercial sponsorship. University of Bath engineering students are also achieving success and recognition for projects involving the design, build and operation of a human-powered aircraft and a human-powered submarine.

Of the 1,000 engineering students enrolled at any one time, each has an individual copy of Siemens Digital Industries Software’s Solid Edge® software, supplied and supported by Siemens Digital Industries Software partner Majenta PLM. First-year students learn to use the software for their initial design-and-make project, which comes in the second semester. “This is their introduction to Solid Edge and they immediately see and experience the benefits,” says Jeff Barrie, academic administrator and design support engineer. “They find the Engineering Reference tools very useful for entering engineering properties and rough ideas, and generating basic components such as gears.”