What is Mechanical Engineering?
Mechanical engineering is one of the broadest engineering fields. It applies the principles of motion, energy, and force in the design and development of most products that surround us. From everyday conveniences such as refrigerators, air-conditioners and microwaves to large machines such as electric generators, diesel engines and gas turbines, requires the work of mechanical engineering.
Video credit: University of Bath
What do Mechanical Engineers do?
Mechanical engineer involves in the research, designs, development and testing of mechanical products, equipment, systems and processes to meet the product requirements. They work with other engineers or departments in resolving system malfunctions, determining solutions, and completing modifications.
Mechanical engineers also develop and test mechanical prototypes of new designs and devices or even to improve existing ones. Mechanical engineers also carry out tests and research to analyze and ensure that the equipment or design is safe, efficient and reliable.
How to Become a Professional Engineer in Malaysia?
Upon completing a degree in engineering, students who want to pursue a career as a professional engineer first have to register with the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM) as a Graduate Engineer. BEM is a government body that is responsible for the registration of professional engineers in Malaysia. It is a regulatory body that grants the title, ‘Professional Engineer’ to Graduate engineers who have met the registration requirements.
Requirements to Register with Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM)
The following will brief students on the requirement to be credited as a Professional Engineer under BEM. For further details, please contact Excel Education.
- Applicants are required to complete a 4-year engineering degree programme with accreditation by the Engineering Accreditation Council (EAC) and recognition by BEM to register as a Graduate Engineer
- Applicants must complete 3 years of working experience as a Graduate Engineer, including a minimum of 1 year working in Malaysia and obtained experience in design and site.
- The Graduate Engineers are then qualified to sit for the Tier 1 exam, which consists of 3 routes;
Route A (Professional Assessment Examination)
Route B (Route for a Professional Engineer from an overseas Regulatory Body)
Route C (Corporate Member of IEM)
A pass in the Tier-1 exam enables the graduates to apply for Professional Engineer registration with BEM. Successful graduates will be awarded a Tier-1 Professional Qualification, which also grants the title ‘Ir’, and ‘PEng’.
Core Skills Required in Mechanical Engineering
Communication
Mechanical engineers develop products for their clients. They need to explain their ideas and designs to clients who are not familiar with mechanical systems. Thus, mechanical engineers have to be able to convey their ideas clearly and effectively, and this requires excellent communication skills.
Creativity
Mechanical engineering involves developing and designing a wide range of products, ranging from power generation to medical devices. Conceptualizing and developing completely new products requires a high level of creativity.
Problem-solving
Mechanical engineers often find ways to make mechanical or thermal devices work better. They need to be strong analytical thinkers in their design calculations to develop prototypes, validate product experiences and test-building materials.
Mathematics Skills
Mechanical engineers often use mathematics to solve problems that could be caused by miscalculations. Math skills include calculus and statistics. They must be adept at applying these skills to estimate the cost of designing new products or improving existing ones.
Careers Options with a Mechanical Engineering Degree
Mechanical engineering graduates are employed by a number of different industries. Mechanical engineers can be found in industries such as automotive, pharmaceutical, construction, oil and gas and so on. The roles and responsibilities vary in different industry. The general roles and responsibilities in these industries include;
Automotive Industry
Mechanical engineers may design new products and in some cases modify those currently They solve engineering problems using mechanical, electrical, hydraulic or thermodynamic principles as well as develop prototypes of components and test their performance to ensure safety.
Pharmaceutical Industry
Mechanical engineers will be responsible for designing, testing and developing machinery and equipment such as boilers, Heat and Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) and water systems. They also improve equipment performance and provide a daily inspection to identify equipment breakdown or system malfunction.
Construction Industry
Mechanical engineers work on designing the heating, air conditioning and smoke ventilation systems that make up buildings such as hospitals, offices and shopping malls, airports and railway stations.
Oil and Gas Industry
Mechanical engineers are involved in the design, development, installation and maintenance of mechanical plants, equipment and machinery such as pumps, engines, turbines, which are used for processing and producing oil and gas at either onshore or offshore production.
Program Structure of Mechanical Engineering Degree
Mechanical engineers typically require a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. The course spans over 4 years, where students learn the basics of engineering and core Mechanical Engineering subjects.
This course will help students to apply knowledge of mathematics, natural science, and engineering principles to solve sophisticated engineering problems and design mechanical systems for industries such as automotive, power generation, aerospace and manufacturing.
Students will undergo industrial training and also conduct a final year project where they gain practical application of the theories learnt throughout the course. This proves to be very fruitful when students step into the corporate world.
Common subjects taught in this course include;
- Computing for Engineers
- Engineering Design
- Thermodynamics
- Fluid Mechanics
- Computer-Aided Design (CAD)
- Solid Mechanics
- Heat Transfer
- Control System
- Engineering Dynamics
Academic Entry Requirements for Mechanical Engineering Degree in Malaysia
|
STPM |
CGPA 2.00 including Mathematics and Physics/ Chemistry |
|
Foundation/ Matriculation |
Pass with a minimum CGPA 2.00 |
|
A-Levels |
Minimum grade range of CCC to BBB including Mathematics and Physics / Chemistry |
|
UEC |
Grade B in 5 subjects including Mathematics & Physics |
|
Diploma |
Minimum CGPA 2.00 |
|
International Baccalaureate (IB) |
Minimum of 24 points |
*The requirements may vary among universities, for inquiries on other entry requirements, contact Excel Education.
Top Universities to Study Mechanical Engineering Degree in Malaysia
#1 Nottingham University, Malaysia
Image credit: University of Nottingham
|
Program |
BEng/MEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering |
|
Intake (2021) |
September |
|
Duration |
BEng: 3 years/ MEng: 4 years |
|
Indicative Annual Fees (2021) |
Local Students: RM48,900 International Students: RM57,000 |
#2 Monash University, Malaysia
Image credit: Monash University
|
Program |
Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (Honours) |
|
Intake (2021) |
February, July & October. |
|
Duration |
4 years (Full time) |
|
Indicative Annual Fees (2021) |
Local Students: RM48,101 International Students: RM54,915 |
#3 Taylor’s University
Image credit: The Star
|
Program |
Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering (Honours) |
|
Intake (2021) |
January, March & August |
|
Duration |
4 years (Full time) |
|
Indicative Fees (2021) |
Local Students: RM 139,514 International Students: RM 161,384 |
#4 Swinburne University, Malaysia
Image credit: Swinburne University
|
Program |
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Mechanical) |
|
Intake (2021) |
March, August & October |
|
Duration |
4 years (Full time) |
|
Indicative Annual Fees (2021) |
Local Students: RM32,560 International Students: RM41,200 |
#5 SEGi University
Image credit: Segi University
|
Program |
Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering with Honours (Dual Degree Award with University of Central Lancashire, UK) |
|
Intake (2021) |
January, May, July, September & October |
|
Duration |
4 years (Full Time) |
|
Indicative Fees (2021) |
Local Students: RM 85,875 International Students: RM 90,062 |
Articles you might be interested in;
Scholarships for SPM, UEC, and IGCSE Students in Malaysia 2021
Contact us to find out more!
Student enquiries:
Call/Whatsapp: +60182414802
Email: [email protected]
About the Author
Sasvin Ravi
I am a freelance content writer, writing on a weekly basis while discovering my true passion..