Extended Degree Programme Engineering and Mathematics
(preparatory year)
First year of a full-time four year degree (or five years with one year work placement)
UCAS code • HG11
Location • City Campus
Subject area • Engineering
Related subjects • Mathematics
By adding to My Courses you can compare courses and create a personalised prospectus.
Watch a video of Mark Thompson, head of undergraduate recruitment for engineering, talking about our engineering courses.
Read about SHU Racing and our formula racing team.
Watch a video about our formula student racing car and the benefits of being involved in the team.
Sheffield Hallam University has been shortlisted for a Times Higher Education Award for its innovative work in engaging with regional and national employers. Find out more.
Our Digital Design Centre can print medium to large format high quality outputs on a range of different media. The laboratories have software supporting 2D and 3D engineering and creative design applications. Find out more.
One of the most valuable resources available for you to access is our highly experienced technical support team. Find out how they can help support your development.
At a glance
This course is for people that want to study engineering or mathematics but do not have the usual A-level or equivalent mathematics qualification.
Key points
• Gain an understanding of mathematics and engineering principles.
• If you complete this course successfully, you can progress onto a degree course.
• As well as maths and engineering you may also apply for maths teacher training courses.
• You can claim normal student support from your local education authority.
This course
If you do not have the usual A level or equivalent qualifications, successfully completing this one year course allows you to continue on to an engineering or mathematics degree.
It is ideal for mature students who have been out of education for some time, or do not have relevant qualifications, and school leavers with A levels or equivalent qualifications that do not include mathematics.
You study mathematics, basic engineering principles and associated subjects including
• engineering science – mechanical, electrical and electronic
• materials
• professional skills
• practical applications of engineering or mathematics
You are taught and assessed using techniques that are used on the degree courses, such as assignments, lab exercises, individual and group presentations and formal examinations. This helps you to prepare for the transition to a degree course.
Teaching methods include classes in small tutor groups, large lectures with all students together and practical investigations.
If you successfully complete this year, you can move on to a place on one of our specialised engineering degrees or on the BSc (Honours) Mathematics degree.
Engineering degrees include • aerospace • mechanical engineering • electrical and electronic engineering • materials engineering • automotive studies • energy engineering • computer and network engineering • product design • sport technology.
This course can also lead to acceptance on to our BSc (Honours) Secondary Education in Mathematics with Qualified Teacher Status, subject to relevant work experience and successful interview.
You follow the preparatory year with three or four years of academic study on your chosen degree, plus an optional one year industrial training placement. Details of the placement are in the course entry for individual degree courses.
As the preparatory year is part of an engineering or mathematics degree, you can claim the normal student support from your local education authority.
We teach this course in partnership with Sheffield College. The majority of teaching takes place at our City Campus, with some teaching at Sheffield College.
Key areas of study
Includes • mathematics • mechanical engineering principles • materials science • electrical and electronic principles • professional skills.
You can get involved in extra-curricular projects alongside the course, such as Formula Student, Engineers without Borders or the Heavy Lifting Challenge.
Find out more about Extended Degree Programme Engineering and Mathematics
Related courses
You apply for this course through UCAS.
The course fee may be subject to annual inflationary increase. For further information on fees and funding see www.shu.ac.uk/study/ug/fees-and-funding
2013/14 academic year
Typically £10,680 a year
2014/15 academic year
Typically £11,250 a year
The course fee may be subject to annual inflationary increase. For further information on fees, scholarships and bursaries see www.shu.ac.uk/international/fees
• coursework • mathematical investigations • short tests • project • group work • examinations
Find out about work placements and how we can support your placement experience.
Optional year-long work placements are normally gained by competitive interview and are not a guaranteed part of a course.
Students in the Pennine lecture theatre
About our courses (1:19)
Mark Thompson, head of undergraduate recruitment for engineering, talks about studying engineering courses at Sheffield Hallam. Mark covers topics including employability, practical-skills building, specialist facilities and student support.
SHU Racing
SHU Racing 2011 team
Students from almost every engineering and technology course make up our SHU Racing team. If you feel you have the enthusiasm and dedication to work on an exciting motorsport project from start to finish, then you could be an ideal team member.
SHU Racing develops your personal and technical skills. It gives you valuable business experience as the outcome relies on the performance of every team member.
You work on every part of the project including • design • manufacture • business • liaising with sponsors. This experience increases your value to all types of engineering companies when you graduate.
You design, build and test the car with a view to competing in the Formula Student event at Silverstone.
The Formula Student competition, which is run by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, aims to inspire and develop young engineers. Universities from across the globe are challenged to design and build a single-seat racing car which is judged for its racing performance, design and the strength of the teams' business models.
Cars are judged by a panel of experts from the field of automotive engineering. The competition is backed by Ross Brawn OBE, who has worked for a number of Formula One teams, serving as the technical director of the championship-winning Benetton and Ferrari teams.
SHU Racing and the Formula Student project is a popular choice for many of our students as a final year project. It also forms an integral part of the BSc (Honours) Automotive Design Technology.
Formula student (2:02)
Watch a video about the benefits of being involved in the SHU Formula student racing team.
Previous SHU Racing team members have gone on to work for Formula 1 racing teams.
Download a transcript of this video.
University recognised for its links with industry
Sheffield Hallam University were shortlisted for a Times Higher Education Award for its "innovative" work in engaging with regional and national employers.
The University was nominated in the Outstanding Employer Engagement Initiative category for its work delivering flexible engineering education, which has been recognised as a "strategic and innovative approach to delivering employers’ workforce development needs."
Through its "engineering hub", the University works with industrial partners such as Rolls-Royce, Kimberly-Clark and Severn Trent Water to offer their employees the chance to study while they work.
Employees can study on the University's Integrated Engineering course, which has four specialist engineering routes and leads to professional accreditation by the Institution of Engineering Technology.
Delivery of the courses is completely flexible allowing for staff development that suits business requirements.
Gary Herbert, a mechanical technician for Kimberly-Clark, has been studying for a foundation degree at the University, which offers him the flexibility to learn with ten days' study time over the academic year.
He said: "I have been working in my technician role for the last 12 years. This opportunity to study through Sheffield Hallam University gives me a chance to consolidate the knowledge I have acquired through my role within Kimberly-Clark alongside a more academic route."
Rolls-Royce has worked with the University to support the development of its young engineers.
Chris Keane, from Rolls-Royce's UK apprentice development team, said: "The foundation degree has provided an excellent framework in which to develop Rolls-Royce's engineers of the future. The students are able to develop their knowledge and qualifications quickly, whilst continuing to contribute to the company."
Martin Howarth, head of the engineering and mathematics department at the University, said: "We identified the need for greater flexibility in both course content and delivery in order to meet the needs of both employers and their staff.
"Our flexible approach means employers can choose how and when their staff access learning, as well as contribute to the course content.
"This ensures we are providing consistent, relevant education and making a key contribution to the development of engineers in the United Kingdom."
The Digital Design Centre
The Digital Design Centre comprises a suite of 6 IT laboratories (4 PC and 2 MAC) together with the Print Output room, an area for printing medium to large format high quality output on a range of different media. The laboratories have a wide range of software supporting 2D and 3D engineering and creative design applications.
The Digital Design Centre runs a high quality computer printing facility and has the ability to print sizes between A4 and A0 and wide format banners. A3, A2, A1, A0 and Banner photo quality printing is available on a range of papers, as well as AutoCAD type plans ( B & W ) on standard paper.
Technical support team
While you will find excellent facilities throughout, the most valuable resource you will have at your disposal is access to our extremely dedicated, highly experienced technical staff.
All the staff are there to support you during your time in the workshops. The technical team with its professionally qualified staff and practicing professionals, has a wealth of knowledge and expertise across all areas of our provision and comprises engineers, designers, silversmiths and jewellers, fine artists, media arts specialists and IT experts.
The team are committed to using their diverse range of skills and knowledge to support practical aspects of your
course work, whether solving a simple software problem, producing a complex engineering project or creating design work for an international exhibition. There are currently 50 technical staff directly supporting the Technical Resource Centres and the research institutes of the faculty.
