Mechanical Engineering

Why study this program

Mechanical engineering graduates are able to work in a variety of different fields. Common areas of focus they can pursue include: Product design and development, energy (oil, gas, and renewable energy), automotive, aerospace, biomedical, naval architecture, mining and minerals, pulp and paper, manufacturing, and mechatronics robotics. A mechanical engineering degree is extremely adaptable, and whether you take a broad set of courses or specialized technical electives, the core discipline of mechanical engineering can take you into almost any industry.

Courses & specializations

Students will first complete a foundational first year of engineering and then take specialized courses beginning in second year, once they are placed into their engineering discipline.

After completing our award winning Mech 2 program in their second year, mechanical engineering students at the Vancouver campus have the option to enter one of the following program Options:

• Biomedical 

• Mechatronics 

• Thermofluids 

• Aerospace 

• General Mechanical 

Here is a sample of the courses Mechanical Engineering students at UBC Vancouver can take in each year of study.

Sample courses

For a more in-depth look at the Vancouver curriculum, please consult the Academic Calendar and course descriptions.

Enhance Your Education (further education) 

Mechanical engineering graduates looking to continue their education are well positioned to pursue professional or graduate degrees after the completion of their undergraduate studies. The analytical and problem-solving skills students gain from an undergraduate engineering degree translate well into the qualities needed for Medical and Law School.

After graduating from our undergraduate program, students can deepen their professional and research expertise by applying to various graduate programs offered at UBC Vancouver. Our Doctoral and Master of Applied Science (MASc) students study a wide range of fields including of Applied Solid Mechanics, Biomedical & Biomechanical Engineering, Computational Engineering, Energy & Environment, Fluid Mechanics, Manufacturing Automation & Robotics, Mechatronics & Instrumentation, and Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering.

Students wanting to pursue a graduate program to enhance their professional expertise can enter our Master of Engineering (MEng) program with options to specialize in Mechatronics Design, Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering, Computational Modeling & Simulation, Design & Product Development, Microsystems & Nanotechnology, Energy & Environment. These students also make strong candidates for UBC’s Master of Engineering Leadership degree, which offers a unique combination of engineering and business courses for students looking to further their studies in naval architecture and marine engineering, clean energy engineering, or high performance buildings.

Careers

With a mean base salary of $100,721 (source) and an expected employment growth rate of 1.3% over the next 5 years (source), Mechanical Engineering graduates are well equipped to pursue successful careers in consulting firms, power-generating utilities, and manufacturing, processing, and transportation industries (source). Common career titles (source) for Mechanical Engineering graduates include: acoustical engineer, building systems engineer, consulting mechanical engineer, design engineer, diesel engineer, fluid mechanics engineer, heating specialist engineer, lubrication engineer, mechanical design engineer, mechanical hydraulic engineer, internal combustion engineer, mechatronic engineer, nuclear engineer, piping engineer, power plant engineer, refrigeration engineer, robotics engineer, thermal power engineer and more.

Employers

Both current students and graduates are able to work for a wide range of employers. Some of the biggest employers of UBC Mechanical Engineering students over the past several years include: Verathon Medical, Kardium, Schneider Electric and Seaspan ULC. UBC Vancouver graduates have worked at Tesla, Google, Apple and more.

Alumni

Design teams & clubs

Design teams 

There are over 30 Engineering Design Teams at UBC. Joining an engineering design team is an excellent opportunity for students from all disciplines to collaborate on a wide variety of design projects and gain relevant teamwork, leadership, and technical skills transferrable to future careers. Design teams supported by UBC Vancouver’s Department of Mechanical Engineering include:

• UBC AeroDesign

• UBC BAJA

• UBC Biomedical Engineering Student Team (BEST)

• UBC Formula Electric

• Formula UBC

• UBC Orbit

• UBC Open Robotics

• UBC SailBot

• UBC Solar

• SUBC

• UBC Supermileage

• UBC Thunderbots FC

• UBC Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)

See full list of UBC’s Engineering Design Teams.

Clubs

There are many ways engineering students can get involved, including joining clubs relevant to their discipline. Clubs relevant to Mechanical Engineering include:

• American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers

• American Society of Mechanical Engineers

• Biomedical Engineering Graduate Student Association

• Engineers Without Borders

• Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers

Research

Undergraduate students can get involved in research through technical electives. Mechanical engineering at UBC Vancouver has unique opportunities for undergraduate students to get involved in research opportunities. These opportunities include MECH 493: Introduction to Academic Research and CREATE-U which is an immersive cohort-based experience featuring research education opportunities in Mechanical Engineering. CREATE-U is a unique opportunity to complete 6 credits of course work and a paid research project in the summer, which can count as a co-op work term. Our faculty members conduct research the areas of Applied Solid Mechanics, Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering Computational Engineering, Energy & Environment, Engineering Education, Fluid Mechanics, Manufacturing Automation & Robotics, Mechatronics & Instrumentation, and Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering.

Mechanical Engineering Research

Minors & Dual Degrees 

Engineering students are able to complement their studies with 5 Minors available or a Dual Degree with Arts. Students interested in a minor can apply to their chosen option in their third year of study. A minor or dual degree will likely extend your degree past 4 years.

Co-op

Participation in the Applied Science Co-op Education program gives students the opportunity to gain up to 20 months of paid relevant work experience during their degree. This experience provides an excellent opportunity for students to explore different industries, apply their studies to the working world, and create connections with future employers. The Co-op program will extend your four year degree to five years. Participation is optional and students apply to join Co-op in their second year of study.

International experiences

Students can embark on an unforgettable experience abroad while earning credits towards their engineering studies. Opportunities include the Coordinated International Experience (CIE) exchange program, the Go Global exchange program, and the Global Engineering Leadership courses. The CIE program is customized for Applied Science students and features 18 international partner institutions across 3 regions. All of the international experiences have generous funding opportunities and allow for students to build an international network of peers, professors, and potential employers.