Top 10 universities for mechanical engineering

One can say that Mechanical Engineering is the mother of all engineering disciplines. It is seen everywhere around you from mere motion to manufacturing. For the pace in which the world is developing, the technology is limitless and constantly changing. Therefore, if you believe in technology, mechanical engineering is the path for you. To help you find the right schools and make the most prospective decision, we have shortlisted the top 10 universities for mechanical engineering around the world and what they require for admissions. 

Some of the common requirements are:

• For IB students, all colleges require you to take up Math AI or AA HL along with Physics at HL too. However, the 3rd HL can either be computer science, chemistry or design technology depending on the school or where your interests may lie. Nevertheless, having either of them will not impact your application as all three subjects are considered to be equally relevant to engineering  in its own way. My advice would be to choose the subject you’re good at and where you think you can score well.
• Next, all colleges will require you to submit letters of recommendation. However, the number of letters may vary according to the university. But, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered there. Keep reading to know more.

#1: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

MIT is perhaps the most renowned and one of the best universities for Mechanical Engineering  in the world. They are known for their cutting edge ideas and philosophies on engineering education. Their mechanical engineering department offers three different undergraduate programs, all with specific occupational trajectories in mind and eight different graduate programs, including doctorate of science.

Here are their requirements:

• MIT requires 2 letters of recommendations. One recommendation should be from a math or science teacher, and one should be from a humanities, social science, or language teacher, although this is not a hard requirement.
• The MIT applications also require you to write multiple short essays in order to get to know you. This is not a writing contest, therefore, be authentic, open and honest.
• MIT has also updated their requirements for the admission cycles – they require the SAT or the ACT for both prospective first year and transfer students. Read more about how we came to this decision. However, they do not require the ACT writing section or the SAT optional essay.
• MIT requires you to have a minimum grade of 6 or 7 for IB Mathematics HL, a grade 7 for IB Physics HL and a grade 7 for a Humanities, Arts and social Sciences subject.

Below are the recommended scores for the standardized tests:

Test	Minimum Score	Recommended Score
TOEFL	90	100
IELTS	7	7.5
SAT	1500	1580
ACT	34	36

#2: Stanford University

Stanford university is another highly ranked and comes among the top universities for mechanical engineering degrees. It is best known all over the world for its entrepreneurially oriented engineering achievements. An undergraduate major in Mechanical Engineering can lead to one of three degrees – Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Product Design or Biomechanical Engineering. 

Here are their requirements:

• Stanford requires 2 letters of recommendations from 2 teachers and an additional letter from the college counselor. They also expect a personal statement or multiple essays or both.
• Stanford recommends you pursue a reasonably challenging curriculum, choosing courses from among the most demanding available at your school. If you’ve taken a curriculum like the one below, you are suited for Stanford’s college academics:
  • English: four years, with significant emphasis on writing and literature.
  • Mathematics: four years of any rigorous mathematics incorporating a solid grounding in fundamental skills (algebra, geometry, trigonometry).
  • History/Social Studies: three or more years, with courses that include the writing of essays.
  • Science: three or more years of laboratory science (including biology, chemistry and physics).
  • Foreign Language: three or more years of the same foreign language.
• Stanford remains to keep the ACT and SAT test optional due to the ongoing challenges created by the Covid 19 pandemic for the 2022-2023 admissions cycle.
• Stanford requires you to have a minimum grade of 6 for IB Mathematics HL, and a grade 6 for IB Physics HL.

Below are the recommended scores for the standardized tests:

Test	Minimum Score	Recommended Score
TOEFL	100	Anything above 100
IELTS	7	Anything above 7
SAT	1520	1550
ACT	31	35

#3: University of Cambridge

The University of Cambridge is one of the oldest universities in the world and one of the largest in the United Kingdom. They are known for their outstanding academic achievements worldwide and also reflect the intellectual achievement of its students. University of Cambridge is renowned for world-class original research carried out by the staff of the University and the Colleges. 

They aim at providing young mechanical engineers with all the analytical, design and computing skills that are needed in the modern engineering practice. Additionally, they also encourage creativity and problem-solving skills.

Here are their requirements:

• Cambridge requires you to submit one or two school/college essays – which may then be discussed at an interview later on. Most applicants are required to take a subject-specific written admission assessment to assess skills, such as writing and language skills, and levels of knowledge and understanding relevant to your course.
• University of Cambridge requires you to get a total IB score between 40-42 out of 45 points with 2 7’s and a 6 or 7 for the HL subjects. IB applicants are also expected to take IB Higher Level ‘Analysis and Approaches’ in Mathematics.

Below are the recommended scores for the standardized tests:

Test	Minimum Score	Recommended Score
TOEFL	100	Anything above 100
IELTS	7	Anything above 7

#4: University of California, Berkeley

UC Berkeley is one of the top public universities for mechanical engineering degree in the world. They offer undergraduate as well as graduate programs in the field, with specializations and more focuses in ocean engineering, mechatronics, energy and environment, manufacturing, bioengineering, computation and MEMS and NANO.

Here are their requirements:

• UCB gives you the option of submitting 2 letters of recommendation as it is not fully considered for the application of admission.
• UC Berkeley remains to keep the ACT and SAT test optional due to the ongoing challenges created by the Covid 19 pandemic for the 2022-2023 admissions cycle.
• UCB requires a minimum IB score of 37 out of 45.

Below are the recommended scores for the standardized tests:

Test	Minimum Score	Recommended Score
TOEFL	80	100
IELTS	6.5	7
SAT	1415	1530
ACT	29	34

#5: Delft University of Technology

Delft University of Technology is yet another one of the top universities for Mechanical Engineering as they’re known for teaching the students to think innovatively. They deliver that with their 6 mechanical engineering programs: Biomechanical design, Energy & Process Technology, High- Tech Engineering, Opto- Mechatronics, Transport Engineering and Logistics, Vehicle Engineering.

Here are their requirements:

• TU Delft specifically requires you to take IB Math Analysis and Approaches HL (and only accepts Math AA), Dutch A and Physics HL.
• TU Delft also requires international students to submit a curriculum vitae written in English. Be sure to include the following:
• Name of your Secondary School diploma
• Name of your exam subjects/levels
• In case you miss a mandatory exam subject (Maths, Physics, Chemistry and/or Biology) please indicate as well which relevant exam you are going to take in order to meet the requirement.
• You may also list additional skills, interests, other things that you consider important for the selection committee to know.

Below are the recommended scores for the standardized tests:

Test	Recommended Score	Minimum in each section
TOEFL	100	21
IELTS	7	6

#6: Imperial College London

Another best college for mechanical engineering in the world is Imperial College London. It has remained on the list of top ten colleges & universities for mechanical engineering in the world for many years. The Department of Mechanical Engineering at Imperial College London is one of the largest and most advanced departments in mechanical engineering in the UK and across the world. They were the top-rated Department of Mechanical Engineering in the recent Research Assessment Exercise 2008, held by the UK Government.

Here are their requirements:

• Imperial College requires an IB score of 38 but preferably a 40 out of 45 points. A 7 in IB Chemistry HL, 6/7 IB HL Math (AI or AA), 6 in a third subject at HL – preferably Physics, Biology or Economics.

Below are the recommended scores for the standardized tests:

Test	Recommended Score	Minimum in each section
TOEFL	100	21
IELTS	6.5	6

#7: California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

California Institute of Technology (Caltech) is a well-known mechanical engineering university. It brings together three simple elements: exceptionally talented individuals; an emphasis on fundamentals principles of thermal sciences, fluid and solid mechanics, and mechanical systems; and an atmosphere that inspires one to address the critical technological challenges of the day.

Here are their requirements:

• If you indicate interest to be considered for Caltech, you must provide additional information such as essays and a recommendation letter which will be used for holistic assessment.
• Caltech remains to keep the ACT and SAT test optional due to the ongoing challenges created by the Covid 19 pandemic for the 2022-2023 admissions cycle.
• Caltech requires an IB score of 43 out of 45 points. 

Below are the recommended scores for the standardized tests:

Test	Minimum Score	Recommended Score
SAT	1530	1570
ACT	35	36

#8: ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology)

Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) has one of the best departments of Mechanical and Process Engineering. The Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering educates students for excellence and leadership in science and industry through cutting edge research on an international platform to face all and any kind of challenges in the technology fields.

Here are their requirements:

• Since the primary language of teaching is German, the preparation, timely organization and sitting of the German certification examination is the applicant’s responsibility. ETH Zurich does not provide any German classes or certification.
• ETH Zurich requires an IB score of 24 out of 45 points. 

#9: National University of Singapore

National University of Singapore (NUS) is a comprehensive university offering a broad-based curriculum underscored by multi-disciplinary courses and cross-faculty enrichment. Their department of mechanical engineering at National University of Singapore is known to be one of the best in the world. They also provide mechanical engineering internships during the course of their students’ degrees.

Here are their requirements:

• NUS requires a minimum IB score of 35 or 38 and above out of 45 points.  
• While academic merit plays an important role in your application, NUS also expects achievements in co-curricular activities. You must have attained a very high level of achievement or leadership positions in activities. Some examples include International Science Olympiad medals and exceptional rank in top university entrance exams.

Below are the recommended scores for the standardized tests:

Test	Minimum Score	Recommended Score
TOEFL	92	100
IELTS	6.5	7
SAT	1250	1520
ACT	29	34

#10: Nanyang Technological University

National University of Singapore (NUS) offers great programmes at their School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE), including a ph.D. in Additive Manufacturing. Their curriculum is constantly updated to match various industries’ evolving trends, so NTU MAE graduates have the most modern, relevant, and immediately applicable knowledge at their fingertips. 

Here are their requirements:

• NTU requires a minimum IB score of 37 out of 45 points. NTU requires you to take up Math HL, Physics/Chemistry/Biology/Computer Science HL and Physics SL or an equivalent. They accept both Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches (AA) and Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation (AI) at a Higher Level.
• NTU remains to keep the ACT and SAT test optional due to the ongoing challenges created by the Covid 19 pandemic for the 2022-2023 admissions cycle.

Below are the recommended scores for the standardized tests:

Test	Minimum Score	Recommended Score
TOEFL	80	100
IELTS	6.5	7
SAT	1250	1400
ACT	30	32

 

Also Read –Top 10 European universities requirements for admissions

Now that you have the all-in-one guide for anything you need with respect to the top universities for mechanical engineering, it’s time to get started and work towards your dream university. All the best on your application!