Bachelor Mechanical Engineering

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

HAN University of Applied Sciences

Program Overview

The Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering at HAN University of Applied Sciences is a hands-on 4-year program perfect for students passionate about designing innovative machines, energy-efficient systems, and sustainable tech—whether you're into construction engineering like cranes or micro-devices, or energy systems that cut waste and harness renewables. You'll build essential technical skills alongside project management, teamwork, and communication through real-world projects like windmills or heat pumps, plus internships and a graduation assignment with international companies, setting you up for immediate impact in industry.

Curriculum Structure
Year 1
In your first year, you'll dive into the foundations with a focus on construction engineering in semester 1 and energy systems in semester 2, building a strong base through core subjects like Mathematics, Statics, Dynamics, Mechanics of Materials, and Constructional Components. You'll apply these right away in team projects, getting intensive coaching to turn theory into practical designs while developing social and communication skills. It's an exciting start that matches what industry really needs.

Year 2
Building on year 1, you'll deepen technical knowledge in mechanical engineering fields, tackling more complex projects that blend construction and energy systems with general professional skills like intercultural teamwork. Expect hands-on work in steering, control, and cost-efficient design, preparing you for real challenges like human-machine interfaces. This year sharpens your problem-solving for smarter, more efficient machines.

Year 3
Here, you step up to professional level with subjects on production facility design and business economics, focusing on practical experience through a full-semester internship at a company. You'll hone project management and optimization skills, working on actual production challenges to ensure low-cost, high-quality manufacturing. It's your bridge to the working world, with loads of industry exposure.

Year 4
Your final year lets you specialize with a minor—deepening mechanical engineering or exploring related fields—followed by an independent graduation assignment solving real issues for international clients. This capstone research project showcases your expertise in design, energy systems, or automation, often leading straight to job offers.

Focus Areas
Construction engineering (designing machines from cranes to micro-healthcare tech) and energy systems engineering (smart, renewable energy monitoring and control).

Learning Outcomes
Master 3D-CAD design, simulation, project leadership, production management, and sustainable systems; gain 100% employability with skills for roles like product designer or energy engineer.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)
HAN's practice-based bachelor's is accredited as a university of applied sciences degree, emphasizing immediate industry application with direct pathways to masters like Engineering Systems.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)
100% of graduates employed within 1 year, average starting salary €2,813, with jobs at top firms like Bosch, Philips, and Heinz-Kraft.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At HAN's Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering, you'll dive straight into hands-on learning from day one, building real-world skills in construction engineering and energy systems engineering through team projects that challenge you to design things like windmills or heat pumps. You'll get intensive coaching while working alongside students from automotive and electrical engineering, plus gain serious professional experience via a full-semester internship in your third year and a graduation project with industry pros. This isn't just theory—it's about creating smart, energy-efficient machines using cutting-edge facilities right on our Arnhem campus, like a fully-equipped workshop packed with extensive lab facilities for practicing essential techniques.

Here’s how our experiential learning ramps up your skills: you'll tackle group projects, internships, and specialized tools tailored to mechanical engineering:

- Team projects throughout the program: Collaborate on practical designs like windmills, heat pumps, or even 3D-printed bodywork for sustainable vehicles, often with multidisciplinary teams including electrical and embedded systems students.
- Mandatory internship: Spend a full semester in year 3 gaining pro experience at leading companies like Bosch or Philips, building your resume before graduation.
- Fully-equipped workshop and lab facilities: Access extensive student labs for hands-on techniques in construction and energy systems—perfect for prototyping machines from cranes to micro-mechanical devices.
- Production facility design subjects: In year 3, apply skills to real production setups, including business economics and steering/control systems.
- Campus facilities supporting your work: Modern lecture halls, study/multimedia centers, libraries, and canteens on the Arnhem campus, all geared for engineering students.

Progression & Future Opportunities

At HAN's Mechanical Engineering program, learning goes far beyond lecture halls. You'll spend significant time applying what you learn through extensive project work where you design real mechanical systems—from windmills to heat pumps—working in teams with classmates and students from other engineering disciplines like automotive and electrical engineering. This hands-on approach means you're not just studying engineering; you're doing it.

Throughout your degree, you have access to a fully-equipped workshop with extensive lab facilities where you practice essential engineering techniques. The Arnhem campus provides everything you need to succeed, including modern lecture halls, study and multimedia centers, and dedicated spaces where you can collaborate with fellow students.

Here's what makes the experiential learning at HAN truly distinctive:

- Team-based projects integrated throughout all three years, with intensive coaching from lecturers
- Internship placement lasting a full semester in your 3rd year, giving you real professional experience in the industry
- Graduation project that caps off your degree and demonstrates your engineering capabilities
- Fully-equipped workshop and lab facilities for hands-on technical practice
- Multimedia centers at the Arnhem campus with extensive resources to support your learning
- Online learning platform (OnderwijsOnline) for collaborating with lecturers and classmates
- International classroom environment where you work alongside students from different cultures, enhancing problem-solving approaches

The program is specifically designed around what industry actually needs, so your projects and internships connect directly to real mechanical engineering challenges you'll face in your career.