GENERAL

Masters in Mechanical Engineering in UK: Top Universities, Fees, and Placements

SR
Samrat Ray • 9 Mins read • 28 Jul 25
Masters in Mechanical Engineering in UKMasters in Mechanical Engineering in UK

A Masters in Mechanical Engineering in the UK is a 1-year course available to interested candidates from India. It provides a learning opportunity across different streams and specialisations of Engineering with a global exposure. The prominent colleges offering this course include Imperial College of London, University of Cambridge, University of Manchester, and others. Admissions to this course are based on merit in the Bachelor’s degree qualifying exam and the level of English proficiency proven by the IELTS or TOEFL exam

The annual fee for a Masters in Mechanical Engineering in the UK ranges from £20,000 to £35,000 per year. Scholarships available for this course include the Fleix Scholarship, University of Leeds International Excellence, and Warwick Chancellor’s International, among others. They provide scholarships starting from £2,000 and can offer full tuition fee waivers. The monthly living costs in the UK for Indian students are from £900 to £1,500. 

The average starting annual salary package for Indian graduates of Masters in Mechanical Engineering in the UK can range from £28,000 to £35,000. Airbus, Jaguar, Rolls-Royce, and Siemens are some of the top recruiters from this program. The applications are usually held around 1 year in advance, and the upcoming application deadline is expected to be in November 2025. 


Masters in Mechanical Engineering in UK: Highlights 

Here is an overview of the important details regarding a Masters in Mechanical Engineering in the UK. 

Feature

Details

Degree Offered

MSc / MEng in Mechanical Engineering

Duration

  • 1 year (Full-time)
  • 2 years (Part-time)

Top Universities

University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, University of Manchester

Tuition Fees

£20,000 – 35,000 per year

Eligibility

UG degree in Mechanical/related field, IELTS/TOEFL, LORs, SOP

Entrance Exams

  • IELTS/TOEFL
  • GRE (optional and required only in some cases)

Average Salary After Graduation

£28,000 – 35,000 per year

Top Recruiters

Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems, Airbus, Jaguar Land Rover, Siemens

Post-Study Work Visa

2 years 

Scholarships Available

Chevening, Commonwealth, GREAT, Inlaks, university-specific awards

Intakes

September (main), some offer January intake

Living Costs (Annual)

£12,000 – £20,000 depending on location


Why Choose a Masters in Mechanical Engineering in UK?

Here are the main reasons for you to choose a Masters in Mechanical Engineering in the UK:

  • Advanced facilities: The universities in the UK have advanced facilities to ensure the best possible quality of engineering programs. 
  • Great reputation: When it comes to Mechanical Engineering, the UK has universities with a good reputation globally offering Masters programs in this stream. 
  • Global recognition: A Masters in Mechanical Engineering in the UK is globally recognised and will enhance your employability across many countries. 
  • Huge variety of career paths: Based on your interests, you can find many career paths and roles suitable for you after Masters in Mechanical Engineering in the UK. 
  • High earning potential: Apart from a wide variety of options, you can also expect a great earning potential after Masters in Mechanical Engineering in the UK. 
  • Work visa: Once you have finished your graduation, you can get a work visa to gain professional experience in the UK. 


Masters in Mechanical Engineering in UK: Best Colleges/Universities

Here are the top colleges for Masters in Mechanical Engineering, along with their QS global rankings. 

University

QS World Ranking (2025)

Annual Tuition Fees (GBP)

University of Cambridge

2th

£39,708

Imperial College London

6th

£38,600

University of Oxford

3th

£39,800

University of Manchester

32th

£29,000

University of Edinburgh

22th

£35,900

University of Sheffield

104th

£27,200

University of Bristol

54th

£28,800

University of Southampton

78th

£26,352

University of Nottingham

95th

£27,200

Loughborough University

212th

£26,500


Masters in Mechanical Engineering in UK: Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria for the freshers and experienced candidates to Masters in Mechanical Engineering in the UK are given in the table below. 

Criteria

Freshers

Experienced Candidates

Academic Qualification

  • Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering or related (e.g., Mechatronics, Manufacturing, Aerospace). 
  • 2:1 UK equivalent (60%+ in India).
  • Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering or related (e.g., Mechatronics, Manufacturing, Aerospace). 
  • 2:1 UK equivalent (60%+ in India).
  • Lower scores can be expected based on experience. 

Work Experience

Not mandatory. 

1–3 years of relevant work experience.

English Language Proficiency

IELTS with a score of 6.5 overall/

TOEFL iBT with a score of 88+/

PTE with score of 58–65+

  • IELTS with a score of 6.5 overall/TOEFL iBT with a score of 88+/PTE with a score of 58–65+
  • The English test may be waived off in some cases. 

GRE

Rarely required.

Rarely required.


Masters in Mechanical Engineering in UK: Application Process

Here are the steps to apply and secure your admission to a Masters in Mechanical Engineering in the UK right now:

  • Visit the university’s official website: The admission portal for Masters in Mechanical Engineering in UK can be accessed through the official websites of the universities. 
  • Fill out the application form: You must fill out the details asked for in the application form for the university you are applying to. 
  • Upload scanned documents: You usually have to submit scanned documents supporting your eligibility to the course through the application portal. 
  • Pay the application fee: The application is free of cost in some cases and sometimes ranges from £90 to £100 for a Master's in Mechanical Engineering in UK. 
  • Accept the admission letter: Check your email for an admission letter from the university and accept it through the specified steps. 


Masters in Mechanical Engineering in UK: Important Documents

Make sure to carry these documents during your admission to Masters in Mechanical Engineering in UK:

  • Bachelor’s and other Master’s certificates. 
  • 1 SOP
  • IELTS/TOEFL scorecard.
  • 2 LORs
  • CV/resume. 
  • Proof of funds. 
  • A copy of your passport. 
  • Sponsor letter/scholarship award (if applicable).
  • Application form and fee. 
  • Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) clearance in some cases. 
  • GRE or GATE scores (for some universities).


Masters in Mechanical Engineering in UK: Visa Application Timeline

Check the visa application timeline for Masters in Mechanical Engineering in UK below. 

Events 

Tentative Dates

Visa application 

August 2025 (or 3 weeks before travelling) 

Departure 

September 2025


Top Entrance Exams for Masters in Mechanical Engineering in UK

Check the specific entrance exams for Masters in Mechanical Engineering in the UK, along with their requirement and purpose, in the table below. 

Exam Name

Required/Optional

Purpose

IELTS Academic

Mandatory (for most)

English language proficiency.

TOEFL iBT

Mandatory (if not IELTS)

English language proficiency.

PTE Academic

Accepted by many universities.

English language proficiency.

GRE General Test

Optional / Rare.

For some top universities (e.g., Imperial).

Duolingo English Test

Accepted by some universities.

Alternate English test (mostly post-COVID).

Cambridge C1/C2

Optional / Accepted as IELTS alternative.

Proof of English proficiency.


Masters in Mechanical Engineering in UK: Cutoff

Here are the typical cutoffs for the top entrance exams for a Masters in Mechanical Engineering in UK. 

Exam Name

Typical Score Requirement

IELTS Academic

6.5 overall, no band below 6.0

TOEFL iBT

88–100+ total score

PTE Academic

58–65+

GRE General Test

310+ (if required)

Duolingo English Test

110–120+ (if accepted)

Cambridge C1/C2

C1 Advanced (180–200), C2 Proficiency (200+)


Masters in Mechanical Engineering in UK: Syllabus

The table below shows the year-wise core and elective subjects in each year under Masters in Mechanical Engineering in UK. 

Year

Core Subjects

Elective Subjects (Choose Based on University Offerings)

Year 1 (Taught Modules)

  • Engineering Design & Analysis - Thermofluids
  • Materials & Manufacturing 
  • Applied Mathematics for Engineers
  • Professional Engineering Practice
  • Advanced Stress Analysis
  • Finite Element Methods
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) - Mechatronics
  • Robotics and Control 
  • Advanced Heat Transfer 
  • Tribology

Year 2 (Specializations & Research Project)

  • Research Methods & Engineering Management
  • Individual Thesis/Project (Major Component)
  • Energy Systems and Sustainability 
  • Machine Learning for Engineers
  • Nuclear Systems
  • Composite Materials
  • Automotive Engineering
  • Industrial Automation
  • Aircraft Propulsion Systems


Masters in Mechanical Engineering in UK: Scholarships 

Find the scholarships you can apply for, the amounts they provide, and eligibility criteria among the ones given below. 

Scholarship

Value

Eligibility

Chevening Scholarship

Full tuition + living expenses + travel

  • High academic merit, 
  • 2+ years of experience preferred
  • Leadership potential

Commonwealth Shared Scholarship

Full tuition + stipend + airfare

  • Citizens of eligible developing Commonwealth countries.
  • Excellent academic record.

GREAT Scholarship (India)

£10,000 towards tuition fees

  • Indian nationals.
  • Excellent academic record.
  • Enrolled at a participating UK university. 

Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarship

Up to $100,000 USD

  • Indian citizens under 30
  • Excellent academic and extracurricular achievements.

Felix Scholarship (Oxford)

100% tuition + living costs

  • Indian nationals applying to the University of Oxford.
  • Based on financial need and merit. 

University of Sheffield India Merit PG

£2,000–£3,000 tuition fee reduction

Indian applicants with first-class undergraduate degrees.

University of Manchester Global Futures

Up to £8,000

  • International students.
  • Excellent academic record.
  •  Engagement with global issues.

University of Leeds International Excellence

Up to £5,000

  • Strong academic performance.
  • Motivation and leadership qualities. 

Warwick Chancellor’s International

Full tuition + maintenance stipend

  • Strong academic record.
  • Research potential (for MSc with research).


Cost of Living in UK

Here are the types of expenses and their living costs per month during your Masters in Mechanical Engineering in UK. 

Expense Category

Monthly Cost (GBP)

Accommodation

£500 – £900

Food & Groceries

£150 – £250

Transport (local)

£50 – £120

Utilities & Internet

£60 – £100

Study Materials

£30 – £50

Mobile Plan

£10 – £25

Leisure & Miscellaneous

£100 – £200

Health Insurance (IHS)

N/A


Career Scope After a Masters in Mechanical Engineering in UK

The diverse job roles available to you after completion of a Masters in Mechanical Engineering in UK are given in the table below. 

Job Role

Typical Annual Salary (GBP)

Description

Mechanical Design Engineer

£30,000 – 45,000

Designing and developing mechanical products and systems. 

Robotics Engineer

£40,000 – 65,000

Developing robotic automation systems for research or industry. 

Aerospace Engineer

£35,000 – 60,000

Designing, maintaining, and testing aircraft and aerospace systems. 

Project/Operations Engineer

£30,000 – 50,000

Managing engineering projects and operations in an industrial setup. 

Structural/Stress Analyst

£33,000 – 52,000

Performing simulation and stress testing for essential components. 

Manufacturing/Production Engineer

£28,000 – 42,000

Overseeing the manufacturing processes and their optimisation.

Control Systems Engineer

£35,000 – 55,000

Designing and managing control and automation systems. 

Research & Development Engineer

£36,000 – 58,000

Engaging in innovations in products and technical R&D. 


Masters in Mechanical Engineering in UK: Salary Package

Check the progression given below for your average salary package per year after completing your Masters in Mechanical Engineering.

Experience Level

Average Annual Salary (GBP)

Equivalent in INR (Approx.)

Starting Salary (Fresh Graduates)

£28,000 – £35,000

₹29 – 36 lakhs

2–5 Years Experience

£38,000 – £45,000

₹40 – 47 lakhs

Senior Mechanical Engineer (8+ yrs)

£50,000 – £70,000+

₹52 – 73+ lakhs

Industry Average (All Experience Levels)

£37,000 – £42,000

₹39 – 44 lakhs


Frequently Asked Questions


Ques: Is it better to pursue a Mechanical Engineering Masters in London or another UK city in 2025?

Ans: By studying in London, you can learn at universities with higher global rankings. On the other hand, other cities in the UK can offer you more affordability in terms of living costs. You must therefore choose among the locations accordingly. 


Ques: Who provides the accreditation and recognition of Mechanical Engineering Masters in UK in 2025?

Ans: All of the UK’s Mechanical Engineering Masters programs are recognised and accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (MechE). The accreditations are provided based on the criteria set by the Engineering Council of the UK. 


Ques: Which one is better between Imperial College London and the University of Manchester for Mechanical Engineering Masters in 2025?

Ans: In terms of overall rankings and reputation, you can consider Imperial College London as a better option. The University of Manchester offers you a good alternative by providing a research-focused and high-quality Masters in mechanical Engineering program. 


Ques: What are the visa requirements for a Mechanical Engineering Masters in UK for International Students in 2025?

Ans: You must have a Tier 4 or General student visa for the UK to enroll in a Masters in Mechanical Engineering course. In order to be eligible, you must have an admission letter from the university and show proof of financial stability and English language proficiency. 


Ques: Which are the best Mechanical Engineering Masters programs in the UK in 2025 for research opportunities?

Ans: The Imperial College London, the University of Cambridge, and the University of Oxford are some of the best options to consider for students who are looking for research opportunities in Masters in Mechanical Engineering in the UK.