Each year is split up into a range of modules that you have to take – you must pass each one to progress to the next year.
Semester 1
Below is a list of the modules in semester one, and some info about each one!
Mathematics 1
Currently taught by Prof Glen Mullineux, this course is designed to bring all the freshers up to the same level of maths ability. You’ll cover everything from differentiation right up to matrices and complex numbers.
You might think that you don’t need to go to some of the lectures, especially if you’ve done Further Maths. Whilst some of the early ones can be a bit basic, you should definitely turn up to all the ones later in the term, as the lecturer often throws in new ways to solve problems that you probably won’t have seen before. Also, he expects you to use these in the exams!
Solid Mechanics 1
This is definitely the most ‘practical’ module you’ll study this semester! It’s split up into statics and kinematics, with the former featuring stress and strain in materials, and the latter dealing with Free Body Diagrams of moving systems.
If you’re at all interested in the statics side of things, J.E. Gordon’s book “Structures: Or Why We Don’t Fall Through The Floor” is a really good read, even though it’s a little old now. There’s plenty of copies in the library, so don’t feel you have to go out and buy one!
Thermofluids 1
For the first semester, this module focuses on the Thermodynamics side of things. Taught by Dr. Kevin Robinson, you’ll learn everything from the ‘real’ Captain Birdseye to the impending doom of the universe.
There are quite a few definitions to learn here, so it might be helpful to keep a list so you don’t lose track. Also, the exam questions can be quite a bit harder than those in the tutorial problem sheets, so make sure you do plenty of practise questions beforehand!
Design 1
The design course is split into a (usually!) entertaining lecture, followed immediately by a 2-hour session in the design studios. Most of the first semester is taken up with technical drawing, from 3rd angle orthographic projection to isometric sketches.
If you’ve done some drawing before it might be tempting to skip the studio classes and do it at home, but experience shows it’s much easier to get motivated to work when you’re in a room with 100 other working people than at home with the ever-present distraction of Facebook/Youtube/iPlayer… Also, finishing you drawing portfolio a few days before the deadline gives you an excellent opportunity to practise your ‘smug face’ while your friends rush around the night before panicking!
Experimentation and Applied Engineering
There are no lectures here – this unit is simply your coursework marks throughout the term. For more info on labs, see below.
Semester 2
Here’s the list of compulsory modules for your second semester.
Mathematics 2
The second semester of Maths is pretty much just more of the same. You’ll cover harder complex numbers and differentiation, and learn an awesome new way to solve integration by parts. There’s also an interesting bit about probability and statistics at the end. It’s worth paying attention in the stats lectures – easy marks in the exams!
One novelty is in the way the exam marks are handed out. There are 13 questions each worth 10 marks, but you can get a score of 100% for gaining 80 marks. Rather than just focusing on 8 questions, you’re better off trying to get some marks on each question, as getting the final few marks in each one is often quite hard.
Solid Mechanics 2
If you enjoyed this the first time round, you’re in for a treat. You’ll learn how clutches, gearboxes and pulleys work, and master the equations behind them.
The statics side is also a bit easier than Solid Mech 1. Mohr’s Circle is possibly the simplest thing you’ll do all year – make sure you do that question in the exam!
Thermofluids 2
This time round you’ll be looking at the Fluid Dynamics side of the course. The first (and hardest!) part is run by Prof Gursul, and covers Dynamics and Hydrostatics. It’s helpful to try and keep on top of the examples as they are covered in lectures, as falling behind is definitely a Bad Thing.
The second part is a little more Fluid Dynamics followed by Dimensional Analysis, taught by Dr. Carley. This stuff is always on the last 2 questions of the exam paper, so if you can master it you’ll be on your way to easy marks!
Instrumentation and Electronics
This unit is a bit of an oddity, as there’s no exam at the end of it! Instead, you’ll be assessed on coursework, and 3 short tests throughout the term. The first and third units are taught by Professor Almond, and even though you may not like the slow speed of the lectures, you’ll find yourself remembering the content really well afterwards.
Also, the only way to get hold of the tutorial sheets is to go to the P&F sessions, and as the test questions are almost identical to the P&F examples, turning up is a good idea! The middle unit features a huge amount of formulae to use – it’s a good idea to work out which ones you need to remember and which are provided in the test.
Design 2
Your design skills will start to get tested here, as you’re immediately thrown in at the deep end and asked to design a gearbox! Going to the weekly tutorials is a must (a register is taken towards the end of the term!) and the tutors will be able to point you in the right direction.
The second half of the course is taken up with the group Design and Make project. You’ll placed into random groups of about six or so, and asked to produce a design for an actual product (ours was a can crusher). While it might be tempting to produce a ridiculously complicated beast of a machine, bear in mind that you will have to make your design next year… Another useful tip is to make the most organised person the project manager – you’ll be glad come hand-in day! Oh, and try and print your drawings before the last day, to avoid the huge queue in the DAC!
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