MSc in Mechanical Engineering - Khalifa University

The degree of Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSc in MEEN) is awarded for successfully completing the requirements of a program of study, which includes taught courses as well as thesis. The thesis is an independent investigation of specialized areas within the general field of mechanical engineering and associated disciplines. The MSc degree gives candidates the opportunity to deepen their knowledge in the broad field of MEEN and contribute to the process of discovery and knowledge creation through the conduct of original research. Candidates for this degree are taught and supervised by experienced faculty and are expected to demonstrate initiative in their approach and innovation in their work. In addition to successfully completing the taught course component of the program, candidates prepare and present a thesis on their chosen area. Research may be undertaken in several topics corresponding to the areas of focus identified by the University.

Career Opportunities

The Mechanical Engineering program offers world-class graduate-level engineering education and research opportunities. Being highly versatile in core courses and electives, the MSc program in Mechanical Engineering has earned the reputation of being one of the strongest, largest, and best equipped across the Middle East. It nurtures a highly supportive, interdisciplinary atmosphere where students can work collaboratively with experts in the fields of materials, aerospace, chemical, petroleum and biomechanical engineers as well as science and medical programs. It attracts students with a background in Mechanical Engineering and related disciplines of engineering and science and cultivates them with unmatched academic and research expertise to lead projects in various high tech industries, such as energy and the environment, structures, manufacturing, micro- and nano-technologies, health and biomechanics, as well as industrial automation and the internet of things. Graduates include outstanding researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs, industrial leaders as well as strong independent academic scholars. Their skills develop in areas that include but are not limited to mechanics of continua (solids and fluids), nano-mechanics thermal sciences, dynamics, automation, controls and mechatronics, manufacturing with additive processes and much more.

Employers include the UAE Armed forces and the defense sector of the economy, Emirates Global Aluminum, Emirate Steel; Tawazun Group, ADNOC, AAMROC , STRATA, Yahsat, MBRSC, ADNOC, Mubadala Petroleum, Dolphine Energy , NPCC, and the educational sector. Furthermore, graduates go through rigorous training and research experience to help them pursue their studies at PhD level.

The educational objectives (goals) of the MSc in Mechanical Engineering program are to produce graduates who will:

Advance professionally and be recognized as leaders in their chosen fields.
Apply their technical expertise to address the needs of society in critical, creative, ethical, and innovative manner.
Further develop their knowledge and skills through graduate education and professional schools.

Students graduating with the MSc in Mechanical Engineering will be able to:

Identify, formulate, and solve advanced mechanical engineering problems through the application of modern tools and techniques and advanced knowledge of mathematics and engineering science.
Acquire knowledge of contemporary issues in the field of mechanical engineering.
Design and conduct experiments, as well as analyze, interpret data and make decisions.
Conduct research and document and defend the research results.
Function in teams and communicate effectively.
Conduct themselves in a professional and ethical manner.

Overall Structure and Requirements

The MSc in Mechanical Engineering (MEEN) program consists of a minimum of 30 credit hours. The required program credits are distributed as follows: 12 credits of Program Core courses, 9 credits of Program Elective courses, and 9 credits of MEEN Master’s Thesis work.

A student may (but does not have to) organize the selection of the elective courses and the master’s thesis topic to follow a concentration or specialization. In such cases, the concentration will be noted on the student’s academic record (transcript).

The table below presents a summary of the MSc in MEEN degree program structure and requirements. All the MSc in MEEN program courses, with the exception of the Research Seminar and the Master’s Thesis, have a credit rating of three credits each.

Summary of MSc in MEEN Degree Program Structure and Requirements

Category	Credits Required
Program Core	12
Program Electives	9
Seminar in Research Methods	0
MEEN Master’s Thesis	9
Total	30

Program Requirements

Students seeking the degree of MSc in MEEN must successfully complete a minimum of 30 credited hours as specified in the categories detailed in this section, with a minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.0.

Program Core

The MSc in MEEN degree program core requires a minimum of 12 credits, consisting of 3 credits of engineering mathematics, 9 credits of MEEN core courses, and the research seminar course, which has zero credit rating. The courses for each one of the core categories are specified below.

I. Engineering Mathematics Course (3 credits)

Students must take:

– MEEN 630 Advanced Engineering Mathematics

II. MEEN Core Courses (9 credits):

Students must select at least three courses from the list below:

MEEN 601 Advanced Dynamics
MEEN 602 Advanced Vibrations
MEEN 603 Advanced Thermodynamics
MEEN 604 Advanced Fluid Mechanics
MEEN 605 Advanced Continuum Mechanics
MEEN 606 Advanced Mechanics of Solids and Materials
MEEN 607 Sustainable Energy

III. ENGR 695 Seminar in Research Methods (0 credits)

Program Electives

Students must complete a minimum of 9 credits of electives. The list of electives that students can select from includes any core courses not used to meet the MEEN Core requirement above as well as those listed below. Students can also select up to two elective courses (6 credits) from other MSc programs in the College of Engineering at KU subject to the approval of their research advisor.

MEEN 610 Applied Finite Element Analysis
MEEN 613 Advanced Heat Transfer
MEEN 614 Advanced Energy Conversion
MEEN 615 Multiphase Flow Engineering
MEEN 616 Solar Thermal Analysis, Design and Testing
MEEN 617 Fuel Cell Systems
MEEN 618 Computational Fluid Dynamics and Fire Modeling
MEEN 619 Fire Dynamics Laboratory
MEEN 620 Measurements and Instrumentation
MEEN 621 Feedback Control
MEEN 622 Control System Theory and Design
MEEN 623 Introduction to Hydrodynamic Stability
MEEN 631 Fatigue and Fracture of Engineering Materials
MEEN 632 Micro/Nanotechnology and Applications
MEEN 633 Advanced Manufacturing Processes
AERO/MEEN 611 Combustion Theory and Applications
AERO/MEEN 612 Advanced Viscous Flow Analysis
MEEN/ECCE 659 Modeling and Control of Robotic Systems
MEEN 694 Selected Topics in Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering Master’s Thesis

MEEN 699 Master’s Thesis (9 credits)

A student must complete a master’s thesis that involves creative research-oriented work within the broad field of MEEN, under the direct supervision of the main advisor, who must be a full-time faculty in the MEEN Department, and at least one other full-time faculty who acts as co-advisor. The research findings must be documented in a formal thesis and defended successfully in a viva voce examination. Furthermore, the research should lead to publishable quality scholarly articles.

Space Systems and Technology Concentrations

For the optional concentrations, the selected concentration will be noted on the student’s academic record (transcript) provided that the student completes:

A minimum of 9 credits from the group of courses designated by the concentration.
A master research thesis within the domain of the concentration.

The concentrations identified by the MSc in MEEN program and the required courses for each of the concentrations are as indicated below.

List of Courses in Space Systems and Technology Concentration

Space Systems and Technology
AERO 650	Space Systems Engineering*
AERO 651	Space Systems Design Project*
AERO 653	Space Propulsion
AERO 654	Astrodynamics and Mission Analysis

* Required courses for the concentration.

Students must consult with their respective advisors on the courses that they will enroll in, the required pre-requisites, and the thesis topic selection. Full-time graduate students must register for 9 to 12 credits, including thesis credits, during a regular semester (Fall and Spring) and a maximum of 6 credits during a Summer term. In the case of part-time students, the credit load is normally 6 credits during a regular semester as well as the summer term.

Students can only register for thesis credits after successfully completing a minimum of 9 credits of the core courses of the master’s program they are enrolled in. It is to be noted that the minimum pass grade for graduate courses is a “C” letter grade. Students should consult the Graduate Catalog to learn about the graduate programs, the grading system, graduation requirements, and other pertinent matters.