Student Projects
As a School of Mechanical Engineering student you’ll have ample opportunity to apply your technical knowledge on engineering projects throughout your degree.
Whether you are an undergraduate or postgraduate student, our broad curriculum allows you to practise real engineering through project-based work, providing you with a solid foundation of both theory and hands-on experience.
Undergraduate and postgraduate student projects
You’ll undertake a design-and-build project in the second and third years of your undergraduate mechanical engineering degree, and a research-and-design project in your fourth (final) year.
In third-year the project is undertaken as part of a national design-and-build competition judged by Engineers Australia. While in your final (honours) year, your studies will culminate with a research project focused on solving a real-world engineering problem related to industry or scientific research. It will have added emphasis on project management and effective communication.
If undertaking a postgraduate mechanical engineering master degree you’ll also undertake research-and-design projects. These and final-year honours projects range from system analysis and design for manufacture, to experimental investigations of fundamental research problems.
Are you looking for a honours or masters by coursework research project idea?
We facilitate research projects across a wide range of specialisations within mechanical engineering. If you are an honours or masters by coursework student, search our database for research project ideas.
Ingenuity
The School of Mechanical Engineering presents all final-year honours projects at the Faculty of Engineering, Mathematical and Computer Sciences’ annual exhibition, Ingenuity.
The event celebrates students’ knowledge and skills through a showcase of future technologies, with many previous projects leading to patentable inventions.
Design and Build Competitions
The school offers students three opportunities to participate in design-and-build competitions—one during Orientation Week at the start of your undergraduate mechanical engineering degree, and the others in second- and third-year.
World Solar Challenge
The World Solar Challenge (WSC) is a design-and-build competition that focuses on sustainable energy management. Each year, the competition hopes to find the world’s most efficient electric vehicle.
Our school proudly supports and sponsors the Adelaide University Solar Racing Team (AUSRT), which competes annually in the WSC. The team, comprised of final-year engineering students, displays its solar-car entry each year at the faculty’s Ingenuity showcase. Visit the AUSRT Facebook page to find out more.
Adelaide University Motorsport Team
The School of Mechanical Engineering also sponsors the Adelaide University Motorsport Team (AUMT), which was founded in 2001 to compete in the annual Formula SAE Australasia competition.
More recently, the AUMT has partnered with the University Sport Association to establish the Adelaide University Motorsport Club, providing an on-campus hub for everything motorsport. For more details visit AUMT's Facebook page.
Higher degrees by research
Whether you intend to work in research or industry, a higher degree by research can give you a competitive edge throughout your career. Find out more about studying a Master of Philosophy or Doctor of Philosophy.