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Build a better world.

A career in engineering offers fantastic career prospects and great earning potential. But more than that, it’s your chance to make a mark on the world – to find solutions for some of the greatest challenges facing us as a species, from climate change to food production to sustainable transport.

At Solent we go way beyond theory – we’re all about the practical side of things. You’ll develop the essential understanding of engineering principles and theories, yes – but you’ll then test those theories yourself, getting hands-on with the technology, tools and practical principles as they apply in the real world. Explore current challenges and problems. Build your own turbines. Programme your own robot. Get hands-on experience in labs and with our engineering partner organisations.

Why study engineering at Solent?

  • Our hands-on courses let you tackle real-world challenges while exploring everything from aerospace and automotive to yacht design, manufacturing and renewable energy. You’ll dive into cutting-edge tech like nanotechnology, automation and design, getting future-ready from day one.
  • Learn from professionals. Our tutors have real industry experience and connections, so everything you study is up-to-date with the latest trends and skills employers want.
  • Get hands-on with the latest tech. Our specialist facilities are packed with advanced 3D printers, laser cutters, mechanical workshops and pro software like SolidWorks, Granta and PSpice/NI MultiSim. You’ll also work with microcomputer systems, signal generators, FLIR cameras and digital signal processing boards - everything you need to bring big ideas to life.
  • Our hydrodynamic test centre lets you experiment with yacht designs and marine renewable energy tech, turning concepts into real-world innovation.
  • Hear from the experts shaping the industry. You’ll get exclusive talks from big names like the Royal Institute of Naval Architects (RINA), Babcock Engineering, Gurit and Sunseeker, bringing real-world expertise straight into your classroom.
  • Work experience is a cornerstone of our courses, supported by our network of influential industry connections, from world-renowned yacht designers to our successful engineering alumni. These relationships open up unique opportunities to collaborate with industry professionals.
  • Our graduates have secured roles at top companies, including Laurent Giles Naval Architects, Sunseeker Yachts, Monaco Marine, Rolls-Royce, SAAB, Sea Eye, TUV and CooperVision.

Some courses in this subject are accredited or endorsed by:

  • Institute of Engineering and Technology
  • South Coast Institute of Technology logo

Discover our engineering courses

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Graduate stories

Hear from Solent alumni about where their careers have taken them and how studying at Solent prepared them for their future.

Find out more
From my very first year, in my foundation year, I tried to be like a sponge! I absorbed every bit of knowledge I could.

Adam Smelt

Adam Smelt

Mechanical Design Engineer

Learn in state-of-the-art facilities

We’ve invested over £5 million in cutting-edge engineering workshops as part of the South Coast Institute of Technology, ensuring you have access to state-of-the-art facilities to support your learning and innovation.

At Solent, you’ll explore mechanics and manufacturing across sectors such as aerospace, yacht design, automotive, and component production, with a strong emphasis on hands-on learning and industry applications.

Our facilities include state-of-the-art CAD and drawing offices, advanced 3D printing equipment, laser cutters, and a specialist composite workshop. You’ll also benefit from dedicated labs for applied mechanics, materials, electronic engineering, manufacturing, and robotics, a 60-metre towing tank, a yacht design workshop and a four-metre static stability tank - tools trusted by industry leaders to test designs, including America’s Cup racing yachts.

These resources provide an unparalleled opportunity to gain practical experience and develop innovative solutions in your field.

  • Applied mechanics laboratory

    Applied mechanics laboratory

    A purpose-designed and built laboratory equipped with scientific apparatus, enabling students to gain first-hand experience of practical experiments.

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  • Engineering project workshop

    Engineering project workshop

    The workshop is purposely set out to accommodate students and allow them to be taught mechanical engineering, and progress with any ongoing project work.

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  • Library

    Library

    The Library building is open for Solent students and staff to access computers and study spaces, and for browsing the shelves and borrowing items.

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  • Materials testing lab

    Materials testing lab

    Used mainly for the teaching of materials and destructive testing (everything we test, we break!), the lab is also used for some non-destructive testing and students projects.

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  • The Spark

    The Spark

    Solent's £33m Spark building combines interactive teaching spaces with lecture theatres and an atrium with social spaces. Central to The Spark building is the futuristic Pod, which has a full-size lecture theatre and open-topped breakout space.

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  • Towing tank

    Towing tank

    The towing tank is used for testing hydrodynamic lift and drag components for sailing and motor craft, and incorporates a wave motor.

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Come to an open day

Our open days are the very best way to see what Solent can offer – a perfect opportunity to talk to our lecturers and meet current students, discover our facilities and explore our campus.

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