What can you do with a mechanical and marine engineering degree?

Your degree at Plymouth will equip you with the technical expertise, practical and transferrable skills that are highly sought-after by graduate employers. Learning from lectures, laboratory, practical sessions and projects you tackle real-world problems and will be: 

Your degree opens the door to graduate careers in a range of work sectors. The following overview from the Institute of Mechanical Engineers highlights some of the key areas that may be of interest.

Aerospace engineers are all about flight, whether that’s planes, missiles or rockets. They design more fuel-efficient aircraft that cut emissions, satellites that power modern GPS technology, and create the next generation of spacecraft. They also work on components that make up aircraft such as landing gear and engines.

Specialist areas include:

Automobile engineers design, develop and produce vehicles and their constituent parts; the three main disciplines are:

Within these fields, an engineer will usually specialise in a particular working area, including bodywork, engine systems, fuel technology and emissions, electronics and control systems, fluid mechanics and aerodynamics.

Biomedical engineering, also known as medical engineering or bioengineering is the integration of professional engineering with medical knowledge of the human body. Mechanical engineers contribute to producing lifelike artificial limbs, pacemakers, artificial valves and even robotic surgical assistants as well as the running blades used at Paralympic events.

Major construction projects depend on mechanical engineers to focus on the details. This could mean designing the heating, cooling and ventilation systems for a 28-storey hotel, choosing the best way to deliver mains gas to an entire housing estate, or making sure a new metro tunnel project incorporates other services to make the most of under-city space.

Whether it’s high-volume, mass-produced goods, or specialist, ultra-tech equipment, mechanical engineers create the machines and technology that design and produce the goods our growing population relies on.

A buoyant world trade, thriving leisure industry and the need for defence of nations’ coastal waters and overseas interests, all mean that ships, boats and other marine vehicles will continue to be required. New challenges, such as the need for environmental protection and security also impact on vessel technology. Mechanical engineers provide innovative design, construction, installation and repair solutions for all kinds of marine vehicles as well as offshore installations.

Mechanical engineers power the world by generating and delivering the energy we need. This could mean designing nuclear power plants or biomass boilers, planning new long-distance grid connections, or storing power sustainably in solar storage cells or giant hydroelectric ‘batteries’ buried under mountains.

Process engineers assess mechanical processes and find ways to make them more efficient, safer, and deliver better quality. This means they directly affect almost every major mechanical industry in the world, from water supply and oil & gas through to pharmaceuticals and food manufacturing.

From track, signals and trains, to ticket barriers and tunnels; even elaborate control systems are the responsibility of engineers. New solutions are needed to deal with record passenger numbers worldwide, build thousands of miles of high speed railways, and develop faster propulsion methods.

Some of the occupations you could consider with a degree in Mechanical Engineering or Marine Technology include:

With a vast array of options open to you, it’s worth spending some time on researching your career options. Prospects and TargetJobs offer a great start with more detail available from the professional bodies such as the Institute of Mechanical Engineers and the Institute of Engineering and Technology.

Below is a snapshot of what some of our Mechanical and Marine Engineering graduates told us they were doing when they were surveyed 15 months after graduation.

Over the years, our graduates have secured fulfilling roles with employers including:

*Data is from the Graduate Outcomes Surveys covering the three years of 2018/19 – 2020/21. Graduates were surveyed 15 months after graduating. Data displayed is for UK-domiciled, first degree, full-time graduates who are working, studying or looking for work.

Some of the career pathways open to you may require further study or you may wish to specialise further or continue your studies in greater depth. The University of Plymouth offers the following postgraduate study options that could be of interest to engineering graduates: 

You should consider the financial implications of further study as well as selecting a programme that suits your interests, learning style and future career direction. The following websites are a good starting point for exploring postgraduate options, but you may also benefit from talking to a Careers Consultant about your particular situation. 

It is also worth investigating what further study options the University has to offer as you may find the perfect course for yourself in an institution you already know. There are also sometimes financial benefits of staying on such as a fee discount to alumni – find out your funding options.

Accessing support from the Careers Service couldn’t be easier, come along to the Careers Service Helpdesk in the Student Hub or access our 24/7 online resources.

There is a wide range of support available from skills workshops to events, placements and internships advice, 1-2-1 appointments and help getting started with LinkedIn.

Our bite-sized Skills Workshops can give your career the boost it needs. Choose from a range of topics:

Workshops are delivered by the Careers Service, however they are also an opportunity to learn from your peers, share experiences and ask questions. Visit myCareer to see the full range of activities and to book your place.

Build your network and job sector knowledge using LinkedIn’s alumni tool. This will allow you to see the career journeys of graduates from your programme, the qualifications they completed, the skills they developed and employers they worked for. You can then ‘connect’ with people of interest.

For more information about the alumni tool select the LinkedIn alumni tool guide. If you are looking for help to set up or learn how to make the most out of your LinkedIn profile, select the LinkedIn guide for students or come to one of our workshops.

Getting relevant work experience is strongly encouraged by all employers and many employers in this sector offer structured work experience opportunities ranging from year-long placements to summer internships or experiences. Take a look at Gradcracker to get an insight into the different schemes offered by some of the major recruiters of Mechanical Engineers in the UK and beyond.

Other work experience options include working part-time while you study or getting involved with the volunteering opportunities offered by the University of Plymouth Students’ Union in the community.

Involvement with sports or societies shows employers you are engaged and seek out opportunities to develop. It also improves teamwork, communication and negotiation skills. Committee members develop leadership, diplomacy and organisational skills and will gain experience of meetings, handling funds, and society promotion. 

You may choose to join a society that is specifically linked to mechanical and marine engineering or take the opportunity to explore the huge range of clubs, societies and sports, all of which can help you to broaden your horizons and explore new interests. 

Tutor and academic support 

Your tutor and other academic staff are an excellent source of support for your career development. They will have experience and contacts across industry and academia, so do approach them for advice and insights into careers you are considering. Your tutor will ultimately be writing references for your employment or further study applications, therefore establishing a positive relationship with this person is invaluable.