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Engineering Year Zero

This course is the first year of a four-year integrated degree course. It is designed for students who wish to study engineering but do not meet the entry requirements to start a degree course directly. By successfully completing the Year Zero course, you will be able to progress to the first year of an undergraduate engineering degree.

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Block teaching designed around you

You deserve a positive teaching and learning experience, where you feel part of a supportive and nurturing community. That’s why most students will enjoy an innovative approach to learning using block teaching, where you will study one module at a time. You’ll benefit from regular assessments - rather than lots of exams at the end of the year - and a simple timetable that allows you to engage with your subject and enjoy other aspects of university life such as sports, societies, meeting friends and discovering your new city. By studying with the same peers and tutor for each block, you’ll build friendships and a sense of belonging.

Read more about block teaching

Overview

This course can be a stepping stone towards one of our undergraduate Engineering degrees upon successful completion, and is a great place to start if you are returning to study. It is suitable for people from a wide range of backgrounds, including mature students and people looking for a change of career.

Key features:

  • Master core skills in science, mathematics, design and IT, and feel confident about starting the first year of your Engineering degree. 
  • Be taught by supportive academic experts and technicians from the School of Engineering and Sustainable Development.
  • Develop your practical skills in our specialist facilities.
  • Join student societies such as DMU Flyers and DMU Racing to meet like-minded people and further explore areas of engineering.
  • Benefit from block teaching, where most students study one subject at a time. A simple timetable will allow you to really engage with your learning, receive regular feedback and assessments, get to know your course mates and enjoy a better study-life balance.

On completion of the Engineering Year Zero course, you can progress to one of our BEng (Hons) / MEng courses:

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  • UK
  • EU/International

Institution code: D26

UCAS course code: H108

Duration: One year full-time

Fees and funding: 

2025/26 tuition fees for UK students: £9,250

Find out more about course fees and available funding

How to apply

Submit a study-related enquiry

Institution code: D26

UCAS course code: H108

Duration: One year full-time

Fees and funding: 

2024/25 tuition fees for international students: £16,250

Find out more about available funding for international students.

 

How to apply

Application guidance document

Submit a study-related enquiry

Entry criteria

  • Five GCSEs at grade C or above, including English and Mathematics, plus one of the following:
  • Normally 56 UCAS points from at least one A-level or equivalent or
  • BTEC National Diploma/ Extended Diploma at MPP or
  • Pass in the QAA Access to HE. English and Mathematics GCSE required as a separate qualification as equivalency is not accepted within the Access qualification. We will normally require students to have had a break from full-time education before undertaking the Access course or
  • International Baccalaureate: 24+ points
  • T Level Pass

Portfolio Required: No

Interview Required: No

We welcome applications from mature students with non-standard qualifications and recognise all other equivalent and international qualifications.

UCAS tariff information

Students applying for courses starting in September will be made offers based on the latest UCAS Tariff.

Contextual offer 

To make sure you get fair and equal access to higher education, when looking at your application, we consider more than just your grades. So if you are eligible, you may receive a contextual offer. Find our more about contextual offers.

 

English language

If English is not your first language then an IELTS score of 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each component (or equivalent) is essential.

English Language tuition, delivered by our British Council accredited Centre for English Language Learning, is available both before and throughout the course if you need it.

 

Structure and assessment

 

Course modules

Teaching and assessments

 

 

Block 1: Engineering and academic skills

Block 2: Electronic and mechanical principles 

Block 3: Engineering design

Block 4: Engineering data analysis


See detailed module information 

A variety of teaching techniques are used including lectures, tutorials and laboratory classes. You will also learn via research and presentation of findings and report writing. The course is taught by expert staff with many years of experience in teaching students who may find Mathematics and Physics difficult. Help and support is always available and there will be plenty of opportunities to ask questions and understand new concepts.

Continuous assessment forms a major part of the course. Assessment methods include phase tests, weekly quizzes, laboratory experiments and a CAD assignment.

 

Each block of study requires approx. 14 hours of contact time per week (84hrs per block), with an additional 120 hours of self study (approx.) required per block.

 

Facilities and features

 
Placements
Placements
Placements
 

Mechanical Engineering Laboratory

The main mechanical laboratory is a large open-plan space designed to accommodate the study of thermo-fluids, solid mechanics and dynamics. It also has an area with machine tools for manufacture of student designs.

There is a purpose built engine testing facility with full instrumentation to measure engine performance and emissions. This facility is normally used by our final year engineering and research students. Typical student projects include running the engine with alternative fuels such as bio-fuels and water-in-diesel emulsified fuels to improve performance and emission characteristics.

 

DMU's Mechanical Engineering Laboratory

Electronics Engineering Laboratory

Electrical and Electronic experimental facilities are divided into five main areas: general electronics and assembly, digital electronics and microprocessor engineering, power electronics, control systems and communications engineering. Each facility is equipped with state-of-the-art experimental equipment appropriate to the corresponding areas of study and research. An additional CAD design suite shared with the Mechanical and Design programmes provides access to computing facilities with specialist electronics CAD tools including Microsoft Office, OrCAD and PSpice.

A specialised area incorporating a spacious radio frequency reverberation chamber and Faraday cage allows for experimentation in radio frequency engineering and electromagnetics, while our digital design suite is equipped with the latest 8 and 32-bit embedded microprocessor platforms together with high speed programmable logic development environments. Power generation and conversion, industrial process control and embedded drives are provided while our communications laboratory is additionally equipped for R.F. engineering.

Your campus, your DMU

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Opportunities and careers

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Graduate Careers

Upon successful completion of Engineering Year Zero you can progress to the first year of one of our BEng / MEng (Hons) degree programmes.

After completing a BEng / MEng (Hons) Engineering degree, you can pursue a career in your preferred field of engineering, or continue with further study.

 

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DMU Global

Our innovative international experience programme DMU Global aims to enrich studies, broaden cultural horizons and develop key skills valued by employers. 

Through DMU Global, we offer an exciting mix of overseas, on-campus and online international experiences, including the opportunity to study or work abroad for up to a year.

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DMU Racing

Students can take part in Formula Student which is one of Europe's most established educational engineering competitions organised by Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). It includes design, manufacture and testing of a petrol or an electric car and the teams are tested on their design, costing and business presentation skills. 

You can join either the petrol DMU Racing team or the electric team DMU FaStER and actively participate in building DMU race cars for this event. These student teams speak to the passion and creativity of the student body providing an unforgettable experience during your study and putting you in good stead for the future.

 

Students can also take part in Formula Student which is one of Europe's most established educational engineering competitions organised by Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). It includes design, manufacture and testing of a petrol or an electric car. You can join either team and actively participate in building DMU race cars for this event.

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