Useful Information

Student Resources | Frequently Asked Questions | Useful Links | How Do They Do That?

Student Resources

Student Information System

UCD Connect

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Mechanical Engineering Documents:

Laboratory Report Receipt [New_Lab_Report_Receipt.pdf (20.9 KB)]

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a mechanical engineer earn?

There is no single answer, but in today’s work environment the system of remuneration is often a complex mix of salary, benefits, share option schemes and annual bonuses. A successful mechanical engineer could expect to see their total package increase by 500% in ten years following graduation.

Isn't mechanical engineering old technology, a career of the past?

Quite the opposite, in fact. Mechanical Engineering, like other branches of engineering, is firmly based on the laws of Physics. The excitement and challenge lies in finding new ways to apply these laws and to make the impossible possible. Mechanical Engineers are developing tomorrow's technology, today!  

Isn't mechanical engineering is about big, heavy, dirty systems?  Is it really a career that anyone can enjoy?

In Ireland, there is significant demand for mechanical engineering graduates amongst the electronic, biomedical and IT sectors, at both engineering and management levels. Career options are open in all directions.

Isn't mechanical engineering just about cars and machinery?

Well, yes and no. Cars are machines, but so are rockets, ships, aircraft and fridges. Look around you. Almost every man-made item or service is either a machine or was made and supplied using machines. Mechanical engineers design the products you use and the machines and processes that supply them.

Isn't the course very difficult?

The Mechanical Engineering degree programme at UCD Dublin is challenging and requires a high level of student commitment and participation during the academic year. However, academic staff in the Department are highly focused on the undergraduate programme and provide immense support and encouragement to all students who accept this challenge.

Useful Links

• Engineers Ireland
• S.T.E.P.S.
• NASA
• IMechE
• ASME
• AIAA (American Institue of Aeronautics and Astronautics)
• SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers)
• NASA's Power and Propulsion Program
• Engineering Council (UK)
• The Smithsonian Institution

How Do They Do That?

• How a car engine works
• How submarines work
• How Gyroscopes Work
• How Boomerangs Work
• How a Block and Tackle Works
• How Clutches Work
• How a Pendulum Clock Works

These are general interest articles with a Mech. Eng. bent

• How a Hybrid Car Works
• How Gas Turbine Engines (and Jet Engines) Work
• How Fuel Cells Work
• How Rocket Engines Work
• How Helicopters Work
• How Airplanes Work
• How Space Planes Will Work

And a bit of history –

Leonardo the engineer:

Now that the International Space Station has unfurled those enormous solar panels there's an amazing sight in the skies. The panels reflect so much light that the station is easily visible in the night sky.

Finding out its current location is easy using a nifty NASA site - Human Space Flight, Orbital Tracking. This is certainly accurate, reading the help page reveals that it is updated directly from the tracking data stream coming from the orbiting station. It shows the orbital path for the next few circuits (the blue lines) the part of the earth that the ISS is visible from (the red circle) assuming it is dark enough. During shuttle flights the HSF will also show the shuttle's position