You are reading the 2024/25 Academic Calendar. The 2023/24 version remains in effect until August 31, 2024 and is available here.

Mechanical Engineering

In addition to the regular Mechanical Engineering program, options in Aerospace, Biomechanics and Medical Devices, Mechatronics, Energy and Environment, and Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering are also available.

Undergraduate Mechanical Engineering students must have or obtain a laptop, tablet, or similar electronic device which is:

  1. Web-Enabled: able to connect to the internet via Wi-Fi, open websites (such as Canvas), and run web applications (such as Matlab Online, O-ce Online, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams)
  2. Portable: able to run on battery power (without an outlet) for at least 2 hours
  3. Keyboard-ed: has a keyboard (physical or digital) large enough for quick typing of computer code
  4. USB-A compatible: able to interface with a USB-A device, either directly or via a student provided adaptor

These specifications are a bare minimum; students should consider their other computing needs (e.g. report-writing, note-taking) when selecting a device. It is not necessary to purchase a device capable of running advanced software (such as CAD, FEA, or CFD); activities using these programs are run in computer labs, and these same computer labs are available for student use outside of class.

Students who would suffer substantial financial hardship obtaining such a device can apply to borrow a minimum-spec device for the duration of their studies by contacting the Device Loan Coordinator at computers@mech.ubc.ca.

Students enter Mechanical Engineering in a common second-year program known as Mech 2. Mech 2 begins the week before the normal start of Term 1 classes at UBC. Term 1 course activities run until the end of exam period in December, and term 2 course activities run until the end of exam period in April. Attendance for the entirety of the program, including the first week, is mandatory. Due to the early start date, students planning to live on campus in UBC Housing are required to apply for early arrival. Visit the Mech 2 for information and instructions.

Students missing prerequisite courses from first year engineering will not be allowed to commence Mech 2. In particular, all students must have received credit for MATH 100, MATH 101, MATH 152, PHYS 157, PHYS 158, PHYS 170, one of PHYS 159, BMEG 102, and one of ENGL 112, WRDS 150, APSC 176 no later than August 1st. Any student who fails to do so will not be permitted to start Mech 2 that year and will forfeit their seat in Mech 2 until a subsequent year in which they are able to meet the prerequisites by the above deadline.

Students transferring into Mech 2 from other faculties or schools should consult Mech Student Services for information regarding prerequisite courses and transfer credits.

Students from the Camosun Bridge program, depending on which option they choose, may be required to take additional technical elective credits in order to satisfy UBC’s Requirements to Receive a Degree or Diploma. Camosun Bridge students must meet with a Mech academic advisor to review their individual program requirements.
 

In undergraduate MECH courses where at least 50% of the final grade is assigned to examinations, students may only pass the course if they achieve a weighted average examination grade of at least 50% for undergraduate students, 60% for masters students, and 68% for doctoral students. The "examination grade" includes scores from the final examination, midterms, and other tests done individually in a classroom setting. In the event of a student receiving an “examination grade” of less than 50% for undergraduate students, 60% for masters students, and 68% for doctoral students, the “examination grade” total will be entered as their final grade for the course. This policy applies unless it is explicitly waived by the instructor in the course syllabus.

Note: A student's degree requirements are initially defined by the program that was in effect the year that the student entered Mech 2. For students that transfer into the department in third year, their degree requirements will be initially defined by the program that was in effect during the Winter Session of their first course registration in the department. Some students will not take courses in the order below, depending on their Co-op schedule. Please refer to the Department website for recommended course sequences.

Mechanical Engineering

Second Year 
MATH 2543
MATH 2583
MECH 22014
MECH 22112
MECH 2226
MECH 2237
MECH 2241
MECH 2251
MECH 226 or MECH 22723 or 5
Total Credits40 or 42

Students who completed Mech 2 in 2018W – 2020W should follow the following course schedule:

Third Year 
MECH 3056
MECH 3254
MECH 3273
MECH 3283
MECH 3293
MECH 3583
MECH 3603
MECH 3683
MECH 3753
MECH 3803
MECH 3922
Total Credits36
Fourth Year 
APSC 4502
MECH 4263
ELEC 3443
MECH 4313
MECH 45736
MECH 4634
MECH 4664
Technical electives49
Complementary Studies electives56
Total Credits40
1 Taken prior to Term 1 of second year.
2 MECH 227 is taken in the summer after Second Year.
3 MECH 457 may be replaced by APSC 486 and APSC 496A with permission from Department.
4 To be chosen from a course list available on the Department website.
5 See Complementary Studies Courses.

Students who completed Mech 2 in 2021W or later should follow the following course schedule:

Third Year 
MECH 3056
MECH 3254
MECH 3283
MECH 3603
MECH 3683
MECH 3753
Technical electives46
Complementary Studies electives56
Total Credits34
Fourth Year 
MECH 4003
MECH 4313
MECH 45736
MECH 4634
MECH 4664
Technical electives416
Total Credits36
1 Taken prior to Term 1 of second year. 
2 MECH 227 is taken in the summer after Second Year. 
3 MECH 457 may be replaced by APSC 486 and APSC 496A with permission from Department. 
4 To be chosen from a course list available on the Department website. 
5 See Complementary Studies Course. 

Aerospace Option

The Aerospace Option in Mechanical Engineering allows students interested in aircraft, spacecraft, and related systems to have a course and project concentration in these areas.

Students will be admitted to the option at the end of second year by permission of the option coordinator, based on academic achievement and a demonstrated interest in aerospace engineering.

To complete this option, students will modify the standard Mechanical Engineering third- and fourth-year programs.

Note: Some students will not take courses in the order below, depending on their Co-op schedule. Please refer to the Department website for recommended course sequences.

Students who completed Mech 2 in 2018W – 2020W should follow the following course schedule:

Third Year 
ELEC 3443
MECH 3056
MECH 3273
MECH 3283
MECH 3583
MECH 3603
MECH 3753
MECH 3803
MECH 4263
MECH 4664
MECH 4813
Complementary Studies electives13
Total Credits40
Fourth Year 
APSC 4502
MECH 4313
MECH 45326
MECH 4623
MECH 4634
MECH 4773
MECH 4793
MECH 4843
MECH 4853
MECH 4894
MTRL 4943
Complementary Studies electives13
Total Credits40
1 SeeComplementary Studies Courses.
2 MECH 453 may be replaced by APSC 486 and APSC 496A with permission from Department.

Students who completed Mech 2 in 2021W or later should follow the following course schedule:

Third Year 
MECH 3056
MECH 3273
MECH 3283
MECH 358 or 3593
MECH 3603
MECH 3683
MECH 3753
MECH 3803
MECH 4263
MECH 4634
MECH 4813
Complementary Studies electives13
Total Credits40
Fourth Year 
MECH 4003
MECH 4313
MECH 45326
MECH 4623
MECH 4664
MECH 4773
MECH 4793
MECH 4843
MECH 4853
MECH 4894
MTRL 4943
Complementary Studies electives13
Total Credits41
1 See Complementary Studies Courses.
2 MECH 453 may be replaced by APSC 486 and APSC 496A with permission from Department.

Biomechanics and Medical Devices Option

The Biomechanics and Medical Devices Option in Mechanical Engineering allows students interested in biomedical engineering, biomechanics and related topics to have a course and project concentration in these areas.

Students will be admitted to the option at the end of second year by permission of the option coordinator, based on academic achievement and a demonstrated interest in biomedical engineering. Enrolment in this option is limited.

To complete this option, students will modify the standard Mechanical Engineering third- and fourth-year programs.

Note: Some students will not take courses in the order below, depending on their Co-op schedule. Please refer to the Department website for recommended course sequences.

Students who completed Mech 2 in 2018W – 2020W should follow the following course schedule:

Third Year 
BMEG 4103
MECH 3056
MECH 3254
MECH 3283
MECH 3583
MECH 3603
MECH 3683
MECH 3753
MECH 3803
MECH 4634
Complementary Studies electives33
Total Credits38
Fourth Year 
APSC 4502
BMEG 4563
ELEC 3443
MECH 4263
MECH 4313
MECH 4391
MECH 45916
MECH 4664
MTRL 4953
Technical electives29
Complementary Studies electives33
Total Credits40
1 MECH 459 may be replaced by APSC 486 and APSC 496A with permission from Department. 
2 To be chosen from a course list available on the Department website.
3 See Complementary Studies Courses.

Students who completed Mech 2 in 2021W or later should follow the following course schedule.

Third Year 
BMEG 4103
MECH 3056
MECH 3254
MECH 3283
MECH 3603
MECH 3683
MECH 3753
MECH 4634
Complementary Studies electives36
Total Credits35
Fourth Year 
BMEG 4563
MECH 4003
MECH 4313
MECH 4391
MECH 45916
MECH 4664
MTRL 4953
Technical electives212
Total Credits35
1 MECH 459 may be replaced by APSC 486 and APSC 496A with permission from Department.
2 To be chosen from a course list available on the Department website.
3 See Complementary Studies Courses.

Energy and Environment Option

The Energy and Environment Option in Mechanical Engineering allows students interested in sustainable buildings and energy systems to have a course and project concentration in these areas.

Students will be admitted to the option at the end of second year by permission of the option coordinator, based on academic achievement and a demonstrated interest.

To complete this option, students will modify the standard Mechanical Engineering third- and fourth-year programs.

Note: Some students will not take courses in the order below, depending on their Co-op schedule. Please refer to the Department website for recommended course sequences.

Third Year 
MECH 3056
MECH 3254
MECH 3273
MECH 3283
MECH 3603
MECH 3683
MECH 3753
MECH 3803
MECH 4113
Complementary Studies electives23
Total Credits34
Fourth Year 
MECH 4003
MECH 4313
MECH 45636
MECH 4634
MECH 4664
MECH 4894
Technical electives112
Total Credits36
1 To be chosen from a course list available on the Department website.
2 See Complementary Studies Course.
3 MECH 456 may be replaced by APSC 486 and APSC 496A with permission from Department.

Mechatronics Option

The Mechatronics Option in Mechanical Engineering allows students interested in mechanical systems integrated with embedded electronics, sensors, actuators, and related systems to have a course and project concentration in these areas.

Students will be admitted to the option at the end of first or second year by permission of the option coordinator, based on academic achievement and a demonstrated interest in mechanical engineering and electronic design.

To complete this option, students will modify the standard Mechanical Engineering third- and fourth-year programs.

Note: Some students will not take courses in the order below, depending on their Co-op schedule. Please refer to the Department website for recommended course sequences.

Third Year 
CPEN 3123
CPSC 2594
ELEC 3023
ELEC 3433
MECH 3064
MECH 3254
MECH 3283
MECH 3603
MECH 3663
MECH 3753
MECH 3922
MECH 4634
Total Credits39
Fourth Year 
CPEN 3333
MECH 4003
MECH 4203
MECH 4214
MECH 4234
MECH 4313
MECH 45816
MECH 4674
Technical electives23
Complementary Studies electives36
Total Credits39
1 MECH 458 may be replaced by APSC 486 and APSC 496A with permission from Department. 
2 To be chosen from a course list available on the Department website. 
3 See Complementary Studies Courses. 

Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Option

The Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Option in Mechanical Engineering allows students interested in the design and construction of ships and related marine systems to have a course and project concentration in these areas.

Students will be admitted to the option at the end of second year by permission of the option coordinator, based on academic achievement and a demonstrated interest.

To complete this option, students will modify the standard Mechanical Engineering third- and fourth-year programs.

Note: Some students will not take courses in the order below, depending on their Coop schedule. Please refer to the Department website for recommended course sequences.

Third Year 
MECH 3056
MECH 3254
MECH 3283
MECH 3594
MECH 3603
MECH 3683
MECH 3753
MECH 3803
Technical electives13
Complementary Studies electives26
Total Credits38
Fourth Year 
MECH 4003
MECH 4313
MECH 45536
MECH 4634
MECH 4664
MECH 4863
MECH 4883
CIVL 4353
Technical electives16
Total Credits35
To be chosen from a course list available on the Department website. 
See Complementary Studies Courses. 
3 MECH 455 may be replaced by APSC 486 and APSC 496A with permission from Department. 

Thermofluids Option

**Starting in 2023W, the Thermofluids Option will no longer be accepting new students. This Option will remain active until current students have completed the program, and then it will be permanently retired. Mechanical Engineering students interested in thermofluids should consider the Aerospace Option, the Energy and Environment Option, or the Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Option.**

The Thermofluids Option in Mechanical Engineering allows students interested in aircraft, naval architecture, engines, and related systems to have a course and project concentration in these areas.

Students will be admitted to the option at the end of second year by permission of the program director, based on a demonstrated interest in engineering thermofluids.

Students can continue into the Thermofluids Option in the Master of Engineering degree program if they have a strong interest in a particular area of thermofluids and are eligible for graduate studies.

To complete this option, students will modify the standard Mechanical Engineering third- and fourth-year programs.

Mechanical Engineering Thermofluids Option

Third Year 
MECH 3056
MECH 3254
MECH 3273
MECH 3283
MECH 3603
MECH 3753
MECH 3803
MECH 3863
Complementary Studies electives16
Total Credits34
Fourth Year 
MECH 3683
MECH 4003
MECH 4313
MECH 45426
MECH 4634
MECH 4664
MECH 4793
MECH 4894
Technical electives36
Total Credits36
1 See Complementary Studies Courses. 
2 MECH 454 may be replaced by APSC 486 and APSC 496A with permission from Department. 
3 To be chosen from a course list available on the Department website. 

 


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