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Partner with us on Group Design and Business Projects

Set our engineering undergraduate students a real challenge and let them solve it for your company as part of their degree.

Our MEng courses in mechanical engineering, and electronic and electrical engineering include a Group Design and Business Project. In the third year, students work in teams during the second semester to create a design solution. Your company provides the project brief, and we match you with a suitable student team.

Over 14 weeks, our student teams explore design concepts, evaluate alternatives, and deliver detailed technical and commercial solutions. Each team is guided by an academic supervisor. They support the technical process and ensure academic goals are met while managing your collaboration with the University.

The project culminates in our annual Engineering Design and Project Exhibition. We invite you to come and see our student teams showcase their projects.

What's in it for your organisation?

Our students can bring new perspectives to existing problems, making their contribution valuable to your company.

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New ideas and approaches to your business challenges.

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Share your expertise to inspire the next generation of engineers.

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Access to the latest research methods and technology.

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Identify potential graduate recruits.

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Develop your staff by providing them with the opportunity to mentor.

Why work with our students?

  • Multidisciplinary problem-solving capabilities
  • Analytics and computational skills
  • Experience in design, prototyping and testing
  • Knowledge of systems integration and control
  • Project planning and teamwork experience
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What our students have studied

Our students spend two and a half years studying on their degree before starting the Group Design and Business Project. Many have also spent up to a year on placement in industry. They come to the project with a range of core engineering disciplines.

Aerospace engineering

  • Aerodynamics and flight mechanics
  • Aircraft and spacecraft design
  • Propulsion systems and thermodynamics
  • Control systems and avionics
  • Materials and structures for aerospace applications

Electronic and electrical engineering

  • Circuit theory and electronics
  • Signals and systems
  • Control engineering and robotics
  • Power systems and renewable energy
  • Embedded systems and software engineering

Mechanical engineering

  • Thermodynamics and fluid mechanics
  • Material science and mechanical properties
  • Dynamics, vibrations and control systems
  • Design and manufacturing processes
  • Structural analysis and finite methods

Project timelines

Find out about the key stages in the Group Design and Business Project process and your role.

Month Activity
September to October Your company proposes a project
November We confirm the project brief
February The project launches and the teams begin work
March Our teams go through a mid-term review to assess progress
May You're invited to our Design Exhibition where teams showcase their projects
July Our teams present their final solution to your company

Your role

You'll meet with our students on the first day of the second semester on launch of the project. During the project, you can meet with them as often as you want though we usually suggest once every two to three weeks. You'll also be invited to the mid-term review an our annual Design Exhibition.

Our past partners

Our teams have worked with start-ups, small or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), international companies, the public sector, and non-profits. Previous project partners include:

  • Royal United Hospitals (RUH) Bath
  • Airbus
  • Shellworks
  • National Composites Centre (NCC)
  • UK Atomic Energy Authority
  • CERN
  • AgriSound
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Contact us with your project idea

Email us if you have a project you think our students can work on, or if you have any questions about our group design and business project.