机械工程最常与大型机械（例如摩托车，一级方程式赛车或飞机）相关联，但实际上，所有人造产品都具有由机械工程师设计和开发的机械特征。它与工程行业没有联系，因此是工程领域中最广泛的领域，并且其毕业生拥有任何学科中最具挑战性，最有意义和最多样化的职业机会。这些范围包括设计最新的公路车辆和开发新的可持续材料形式，一直到寻找替代能源和开发纳米技术。
Mechanical Engineering is most often associated with large machines such as motorcycles, Formula 1 cars or aircraft, but virtually all man-made products have mechanical features that are designed and developed by mechanical engineers. It is the broadest of the engineering professions as it is not linked to a specific industry, and its graduates have some of the most challenging, rewarding and diverse career opportunities of any discipline. These range from designing the latest road vehicles and developing new sustainable forms of materials, through to the search for alternative energy sources and the exploitation of nanotechnology.