Mechanical Engineering BEng Welcome Pack
Welcome to Mechanical Engineering BEng – September 2026.
On behalf of the Engineering Team at The University of Northampton, welcome to your Engineering programme. We all hope that you’ll enjoy your studies and that you’ll get a lot of benefit from the new knowledge you will acquire.
We’ve been tutoring programmes in Engineering for many years, and most of us have worked at one time or another in the engineering industry, so we’re confident that we can provide you with all the support you need. More than that, we’re looking forward to working with you and learning with you as well about how industry is working today – what’s new, what’s improving and what’s changing.
Through engaging with our welcome and induction activities you will get to know your super-supportive tutors, have a chance to make new friends and be able to access what you need to know and do to start studying successfully. Ultimately, we want you to feel confident about how you will learn.
Your Course Leader
Dr Nawar Al-Esawi
Senior Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering and Design
Nawar.Al-Esawi@northampton.ac.uk
Additional staff
- Dr Mohammed Ghaleeh
- Dr Steve Mabbutt
- Dr Tariq Chaudhary
- Dr Shafqat Rasool
- Dr Mahmoud Moradi
- Dr Huijuan Su
- Dr Michael Cauchi
- Mr Stephen Hillyard
- Mr Dan Bailey
- Soliman Milady, Technical Demonstrator
- Robert Walker, Technical Demonstrator
Welcome and Induction Sessions
This is your induction timetable with in-person sessions starting on Tuesday 22 September. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact induction organiser, Nawar Al-Esawi, Nawar.Al-Esawi@northampton.ac.uk.
Tuesday 22 September 2026
Session: Course Welcome activity – this is an opportunity to meet and get to know the programme leader as well as your fellow students.
- Time: 9:30 – 10am (BST)
- Location: CH011, Ground Floor, Creative Hub, Waterside campus
Session: Introduction to the Course – the course leader will run through a range of information in relation to the course including: Academic content and delivery methods, Expectations, Student support available, Professional development guidance and support, Industrial Engagement opportunities, and a brief tour of the Engineering Labs
- Time: 10 – 11am (BST)
- Location: CH011, Ground Floor, Creative Hub, Waterside campus
Session: Personal Academic Tutor (PAT) meeting – the role, purpose and importance of the PAT meetings will be explained (At the University of Northampton, our Personal Tutors meet regularly and frequently with their tutees, both in group and in 1-to-1 sessions. They will help you to reflect on how your studies are going and explore actions you can take to maximise your chances of success.).
- Time: 11 – 11:30am (BST)
- Location: CH011, Ground Floor, Creative Hub, Waterside campus
Session: General Technology Wide Welcome all Tutors and Students (UG Engineering)
- Time: 12 – 12:45pm (BST)
- Location: CH011, Ground Floor, Creative Hub, Waterside campus
Session: Meet the Engineering Course Team – this will be an opportunity to meet the engineering tutors.
- Time: 1 – 1:30pm (BST)
- Location: CH011, Ground Floor, Creative Hub, Waterside campus
Session: Free time to engage with other activities
- Time: 1:30pm (BST) onwards
Preparation/Specialist Equipment/ Reading Lists
Key texts will be identified on a Module-by-Module basis and will be suggested by your tutor. Please note there is no requirement for you to purchase these books, as copies are available. However, should you wish to have your own copy then these would be of use throughout the course. For your mathematics and science-based subjects the books below are recommended:
- Engineering Mathematics: A Foundation for Electronic, Electrical, Communications and Systems Engineers by Dr Robert Davison, Martin Hargreaves, James Flint. Publisher: Pearson; 4th edition (2 Aug. 2012). ISBN-10: 0273719777, ISBN-13: 978-0273719779
- Physics for Scientists & Engineers with Modern Physics: Pearson New International Edition, 4/E. By Doug Giancoli. Publisher: Pearson; 4th edition (29 Jul. 2013). ISBN-10: 1292020768 • ISBN-13: 9781292020761
Prior Knowledge
The following is indicative understanding prior undertaking this course:
In terms of Maths:
- Fundamental Algebra: one variable linear equation, one variable linear inequalities, two-variable linear equations, functions, linear equations and functions word problems, sequences, systems of linear equations, two-variable linear inequalities, absolute value, and piecewise functions., expressions with rational exponents and radicals, introduction to exponential functions, polynomials, polynomial factorization, quadratic equations, rational and irrational numbers
- Matrix manipulation. Representing linear systems of equations with augmented matrices. Adding and subtracting, multiplying matrices, Matrix inverse, solving equations with inverse matrices.
- Basic Trigonometry. The unit circle definition of basic trigonometric functions. Graphs of trigonometric function.
- Trigonometry with general triangles
- Trigonometric equations and identities
- Integration and differentiation. Integration by parts, u-substitution, integration using trigonometric identities. Basic differentiation rules, power rule, differentiating linear functions, polynomial function differentiation, radical functions differentiation, exponential and natural logarithms differentiation.
Preparation Prior To Starting The Course
We find that if some students have been out of learning for some time, they may find some topics with mathematical content challenging. The following links will provide useful information, which will prepare you prior to and during the course.
The following Khan Academy links cover the Engineering Math requirements:
- https://www.khanacademy.org/math/trigonometry
- https://www.khanacademy.org/math/algebra
- https://www.khanacademy.org/math/precalculus/precalc-matrices
- https://www.khanacademy.org/math/algebra-home/alg-matrices
- https://www.khanacademy.org/math/integral-calculus/definite-integral-evaluation-ic
- https://www.khanacademy.org/math/integral-calculus/integration-techniques
- https://www.khanacademy.org/math/differential-calculus/basic-differentiation-dc
The following Khan Academy links cover the Engineering Physics requirements:
- https://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics
- https://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics/one-dimensional-motion
- https://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics/two-dimensional-motion
- https://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics/forces-newtons-laws
- https://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics/centripetal-force-and-gravitation
- https://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics/work-and-energy
- https://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics/linear-momentum
- https://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics/torque-angular-momentum
- https://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics/mechanical-waves-and-sound
- https://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics/fluids
The following links are useful to get used to Arduino and electronics:
- Intro to Arduino (easy to follow). It helps grasping the basic syntax of Arduino programming: http://www.ladyada.net/learn/arduino/
- Circuit Analysis Sample Video Lessons:
- Introduction to Electronics: http://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/
The information above is only a guide – rest assured, you will not be expected to have learned everything before you start the course.
