The study programme in Mechanical Engineering aims to provide in-depth training in all the subjects linked to the mechanical industry. These can be classified in four groups: Technology and Production Techniques ; System Dynamics ; Thermics and Energetics and Mechanics of Liquids and Solids. The job possibilities resulting from these studies are very numerous as the training is particularly polyvalent in nature : for example, mechanical construction (automobile industry or aeronautics), the techniques for forming materials (plastics, metals and alloyage...), as well as the creation and study bureaux and centres of scientific research.

The programme leading to a degree in Civil Chemical Engineering is accessible to all students holding the first study cycle diploma ("candidature") in Civil Engineering. Industrial engineers and certain university degree holders in subjects relating to the Exact Sciences may also be entitled access, as may students with a foreign degree judged as being equivalent.

The University admission and enrolment procedures are detailed in the section : "Access to studies" on the web page : http://www.ucl.ac.be/etudes/libres/acces.html

The study programme for the technical years (second study cycle) comprises :

A) General and polyvalent course.

B) Specialised courses in mechanics. These are grouped together in ten coherent collections called "subject groups" :

• The "basic subject groups" comprise the courses judged as being fundamental for the studies in Mechanical Engineering. These courses, the content of which provides the groundings for many other specialised courses, are compulsory.
• Each of the nine other so-called "specialised" groups is composed of courses forming a logical ensemble, leading to a complete training programme in this domain.
• Within each subject group, certain courses form the associated "shortened module"; they are compulsory.
• Within each subject group, the non-compulsory courses form a collection of "options", that the student will choose depending on his centres of interest, all the while mindful of the conformity of his programme with the rules imposed by the programme Mnagement Committee.

C) An end of course thesis, corresponding to 30 credits (representing a little less than half a year's work).

Instructions

The student is obliged to follow all the courses of the subject group, as well as the compulsory courses of each of the nine specialised subjects. The student is nevertheless authorised to only take one of the two compulsory courses "Thermic Cycles" and "Internal Combustion Motors".

The programme of each student (grouping together all the different types of studies) must correspond to a total minimum volume of 165 credits of course attendance (courses, exercises, seminars and laboratory work). The student will carry out an apprenticeship in industry which may count for 3 credits (around 30 hours of course work), for a minimal duration of four weeks, in line with the procedure established by the programme Management Committee.

In order to attain the imposed minimum total of 165 credits of course work/attendance, the student will complete his general and polyvalent courses and his compulsory subjects in the specialised courses with options. By way of example, considering that the student needs to choose a minimum of 45 credits of options, these courses will be chosen as a priority from the nine specialised subject groups of the programme. It is possible for certain options to be chosen outside of these subject groups, from among the courses offered by the Faculty of Applied Sciences. The choce may even be extended to the whole range of courses offered by the University or by other universities.

The choice of options by each student will be submitted to one of the three study advisors appointed for this function by the programme management Committee. The student's course programmes and their conformity with the reglementation established by the programme Management Committee will then be examined for approval on the part of the "Collège", composed of three Advisors for the options and the President of the programme Management Committee. The Committee will take the final decision in case of disagreement or doubt.

Subject "branches"

The specialised study programme is clearly divided up into different subject "branches". By subject "branch", we mean a collection of course options covering the different aspects of a special scientific, technical or industrial domain. These courses are chosen by the programme Committee and selected from the nine subject groups of the Mechanical Engineering programme or from elsewhere on the programmes offered by the Faculty of Applied Sciences, by the University or by other universities. Each study "branch" includes recommended courses and suggested courses, depending on their importance for the particular target studies. However, it is not a question of restrictive rules but rather of proposals and the student remains free to organise his own coherent choice of options, provided this is in line with the reglementation of the programme Committee. To date, six different study "branches" are available :

• Aeronautics
• Mechanical Construction
• Metal Formation
• Polymer formation
• Energy
• Biomechanics

Details of the study branches are available at the Secretary's office of the Mechanics Department.

1. Programme composition

The student is obliged to follow one of the two polyvalent courses listed below (according to choice) :

In addition the student will follow a polyvalence course to be chosen from the list below. This choice may even include two polyvalence courses or or be extended to other courses in the FSA, subject to the agreement of the MECA degree programme Management Committee.

The "Civil Mechanical Engineering" students may follow parts A + B [30 hours + 60 hours] (7 credits) or only part A [30 hours + 30 hours] (5 credits).

The "Civil Mechanical Engineering" students may follow parts A + B + C [60 hours] (6 credits) or only parts A + B [45 hours] (4.5 credits).

The shortened modules in subject areas within the mechanics domain are constituted of all the course subjects which do not have the status of optional courses.

50.10. Basic subjects in Mechanics.

50.11. Mechanics of Liquids and Transfers.

50.12. Calculation Methods for Applied Mechanics.

50.13. Materials and Structures Mechanics.

50.14. Applied Dynamics.

50.15. Mechanical Production.

50.16. Conception and Projects in Mechanical Engineering.

50.17. Mechanical Fabrication .

50.18. Thermic Machines .

50.19. Thermodynamics and Energetics.

During the second cycle, the students must follow the course especially organised by the FSA : ANGL2470. This general course represents 3 credits and aims at improving the linguistic skills and the professional interactive communication capacities of the students.

The students are encouraged to do an apprenticeship in an enterprise for a minimal duration of four weeks, during their second study cycle. This apprenticeship represents 3 credits (30 hours) of the overall volume of their programme. It is subject to the prior approval of the degree programme Management Committee and concludes with a report. It will be ratified by an evaluation specifying "has/has satisfied the requirements".

2. Programme per year of studies

Before determining his study programme year by year, the student will choose, together with the aid of one of the three Department study advisors, the courses that he will take as options, in line with the rules for the MECA 2 programme constitution.

The programmes listed below only present the compulsory courses (general and polyvalent courses, and the basic course subjects and the shortened modules).

First quadrimester

This project will be spread over the two quadrimesters

This course will be spread over the two quadrimesters.

Second quadrimester

First quadrimester

This course may be followed in MECA 23.

According to choice, with MECA 2220, Internal Combustion Motors.

This project will be spread over the two quadrimesters

Second quadrimester

According to choice, with MECA 2150, Thermic Cycles.

According to choice, with MAPR 2300, Process Controls.

According to choice, with ELEC 2510 Linear Automatics.

First quadrimester

If this course was not followed in MECA 22.

Second quadrimester

The courses (theory, practical exercises and laboratory work) are evaluated in accordance with the usual procedures. The points (/20) are transmitted to the MECA secretary before the deliberation. The total percentage obtained by the students is calculated bearing in mind the ponderations available at the MECA secretary's office. The end of course thesis is evaluated after the handing in of the written thesis and its oral presentation. The jury consists of the thesis promoter, two evaluators and a moderator selected by the MECA degree programme Management Committee.