Why Mechanical Engineering?
Are you a creative thinker? Do you enjoy science and technology, and love to design new things and solve problems? Are you concerned about human welfare and the environment? Are you inspired to make a difference in our world?
Mechanical Engineers use the science of movement to continuously innovate and advance solutions to the problems we face in our daily lives.
Whether developing advanced robotic systems, pushing the boundaries of aerospace or transportation, supporting human health with innovative medical devices, or sustaining human and environmental futures through clean energy systems, mechanical engineers apply physics and mathematics to analyze, design, manufacture, and maintain moving systems.
This broad and diverse field allows follow your own special interests and reach your full potential – and UBC is ready to help you get there.
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Our Program
Our Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.Sc.) program combines academic studies with hands-on learning to give students the balance between the practical and analytical skills required to become a successful engineer.
To enter the program, students first complete a year of general engineering studies at UBC, or in one of the recognized engineering transfer programs at BC colleges. At the end of first-year, students apply to join our discipline through the UBC Engineering program placement process.
Joining our program in second year, students take our award-winning MECH 2 program and gain a comprehensive foundation in mechanical engineering. In third and fourth year, students dive into one of our six Options allowing them to specialize in a field of interest or stay broad and explore different areas. In their final year, our 45X Capstone course brings everything they’ve learned together in a design project for a real client.
Admissions Curriculum Mech 2 Our Options Capstone
Throughout their degree, students can take part in co-op and gain work experience during their program, study abroad on exchange, do research, or enhance their degrees with a variety of experiential learning opportunities.
Your Future
Mechanical engineering is an engaging and rewarding profession, and with it broad nature, the skills you will develop will qualify you for a range of opportunities. Whether you want to travel to new and exciting places, develop original research, apply your knowledge in industry, explore entrepreneurship, or find a flexible job that fits with your personal goals, a degree in Mechanical Engineering will put you on the path to a future that is right for you.
Diverse career opportunities
Engineers generally receive some of the highest starting salaries of graduating Bachelor’s students, and mechanical engineers have a huge variety of work opportunities. Here are just some of the fields you might work in as a mechanical engineer:
- Product design and development
- Energy (oil, gas, and renewable energy)
- Automotive and transportation
- Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
- Consulting and management
- Naval architecture
- Robotics
- Aerospace
- Biomedical devices and health
- Mining and minerals
- Paper and forest products
- Manufacturing and machinery design
- Roller coasters and water slides
- Acoustics
Gain Professional Credentials
Our program is fully accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board of the Canadian Council of Professional Engineers. This allows our graduates to register as an Engineer-in-Training (E.I.T.) and work towards their designation as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.).
The P.Eng. designation is the gold-standard credential for engineering in Canada, required for licensing by Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia (EGBC) or the other regional associations in the Canadian Council of Professional Engineers.
Launch into other fields
Mechanical engineering also gives you a broad foundation of knowledge that can lead to other opportunities or professions. UBC mechanical engineers have gone on to do outstanding research in engineering here and abroad, earn their MBAs, and become physicians, lawyers and successful business owners or entrepreneurs.
Opportunities like the Minor in Commerce, the Minor in Science, the Minor in Honours Mathematics and the Dual Degree program (offered with the Faculty of Arts) can add further breadth to your degree, while the Co-op program can provide you with valuable work experience.