A mechanical engineer is a little bit of everything, he is the football player who defends, attacks and scores goals. Mechanical engineering covers all areas of engineering, allowing the mechanical engineer the perform function. This is key to the success of a mechanical engineer. Its pillars are mathematics and physics, enabling to conceive, design and manufacture cars, motorcycles, aircraft, bases, energy systems, etc. It is the engine of our society.

A mechanical engineer designs or helps to design almost anything, from medical devices or sports equipment to car engines, airplanes or power plants. Mechanical engineering deals with everything that moves, starting with the human body; it uses knowledge of physics, mathematics and materials, and concepts such as strength, energy and movement to design and manufacture mechanical systems that affect virtually every aspect of our lives. Therefore, it is of major importance to the growing of the economy, increasing security, and contributing to the development of both individuals and societies.

The career opportunities for mechanical engineers are highly diverse and may be found in many different companies, from large multinationals to small local companies, in public services or in self-employment / consultancy.

The scope of mechanical engineering allows students a wide variety of career options, in which continuing education must be assured. Regardless of the particular path taken after graduation, the training provides the tools and creative thinking that allows designing a product or system, which means that the skills of mechanical engineers are of interest even in non- engineering activities, such as insurance, banking and others.

Objectives

The 2nd cycle of studies in Mechanical Engineering (M.EM) main goals are:

• To rejuvenate and modernize the training given to future Mechanical Engineers by significantly increasing the technical and scientific density of its ‘specializations;
• Meet the Industry needs, either in the emerging technological areas from mechanics or in the areas of research at DEMec, following the installation of many development centers and production units of several national and international companies in the north of Portugal;
• Marking a clear differentiation and appreciation of the cycle of study in relation to similar Polytechnic Education, particularly through the technical and scientific dimension of the specializations;
• Transfer the scientific excellence of DEMec (and FEUP) to the specializations, namely its human, computational and experimental resources.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Acquisition of knowledge and mastery of methods and techniques in Mechanical Engineering areas such as: a) construction and maintenance of equipment; b) energy production and management; c) production planning and management; d) automation; e) new materials; f) new products;
• Acquisition of experience in the use of computer resources in the areas of Mechanical Engineering, as well as skills in scientific computing, databases and management, CAD / CAM / CAE and computer applications for automation;
• Acquisition of skills so that, throughout life, students might be able to: a) know how to use technical-scientific knowledge in solving problems; b) recognize the need for experimentation and be able to project, carry out and interpret results; c) communicate and interact with different audiences and through different means of communication; to participate in multidisciplinary teams, with personal integrity and professional ethics; d) develop their training.

Fields of Specialization

The Mechanical Engineer Master offers the following Specialization areas: 

• Machine Design
• Aeronautic and Vehicle Structure
• Automation
• Manufacturing
• Production Engineering & Management
• General Mechanical Engineering

Professional Abilities

During the Master’s program, we encourage:

• acquisition of experience in the use of computer resources in the areas of Mechanical Engineering, as well as skills in scientific computing, databases and management, CAD / CAM / CAE and computer applications for automation;
• acquisition of skills so that, throughout life, students might be able to: use technical and scientific knowledge in solving problems; recognize the need for experimentation and be able to design, carry out and interpret results; communicate and interact with different audiences and through different means of communication; participate in multidisciplinary teams, with personal integrity and professional ethics; develop their training.

Employment Prospects

FEUP’s mission is the “Education and training of engineering professionals at an international level, sustained by Research and Development of excellence with regional focus but with recognized quality at a global level and in an extension practice of recognized quality, covering the scientific, technical aspects , ethics and cultural ”. The Master in Mechanical Engineering (MEM) completely endorses this mission, by providing advanced training in Mechanical Engineering, enabling its graduates to embark on professional careers in both national and international terms. To this end, it provides its students with wide array of technical and personal skills, of recognized importance in the business world.

The main professional opportunities of a Master in Mechanical Engineering include:

• Construction of mechanical and thermal equipments (motor and rail vehicles, machine tools, metal structures, boilers, heat exchangers …);
• Energy production (thermal energy, wind energy, new energies, air conditioning, indoor air quality …);
• Production planning and management (logistics, transport, industrial maintenance, human resource management, quality management …);
• Industrial automation (automation of production lines, robotics, control systems …);
• Development and application of new materials (ceramic, composites, polymeric, bio-materials…);
• Design and development of new products (integrated design, ergonomics, sustainability, …);
• Automotive management maintenance and repair;
• Creation of new technological companies;
• Project management and consulting.

Contacts

M.EM Director: 
Prof. Marco Parente

Office Hours: 
Monday and Wednesday from 14:30 - 15:30 p.m
Room M204


M.EM Secretariat

Rosa Silva
Ana Coutinho

Phone: +351 22 508 1642/1571
E-mail: m.em@fe.up.pt

Office Hours: 
10h-12h e 14h-16h00
Room: L007

https://paginas.fe.up.pt/~estudar/mem/

General information

Study Plan

Certificates

Predominant Scientific Areas

Previous Courses/Cycles of Study