Introduction
Study our Automotive Engineering BEng degree course and join one of the select UK Universities to take part in Formula Student events at Silverstone. Now is a fascinating time to study automotive engineering as you’ll have the chance to be at the forefront of developments within the industry.
What's covered in this course?
Our Automotive Engineering course is designed to develop you as an engineer able to make a significant contribution to this industry as it goes through an important period of transition in the UK and globally.
Our engineering courses focus on project-based activities, giving you lots of opportunities to work in teams on projects from design to implementation. This will give you practical experience in applying engineering science to real-world problems, working in multidisciplinary teams to develop your interpersonal skills, and preparing you for a key aspect of modern engineering practice.
You will develop key technical skills, enhance your creative thinking and learn from industry experts. As well as gaining knowledge and application skills in stress analysis, powertrain systems, suspension, body engineering, design and management.
We will provide a stimulating environment with lots of opportunities to collaborate with your colleagues, enhance your creativity and develop the attributes you need to stand out from the crowd.
Our automotive engineering degree is structured so that its themes have direct relevance to the industry’s current and expected future needs, and upon graduating you will have the intellectual, technical and personal qualities necessary to successfully implement new technologies.
Throughout your course, you will benefit from our strong industry links with companies such as the Morgan Motor Company, Westfield Sportscars, Siemens, and GKN.
You will also have the opportunity to join our BCU Formula Student racing team, which designs and builds a single-seater racing car each year to race in July at the IMechE-sponsored event at Silverstone.
Professional Placement Year
This course offers a professional placement year. This allows you to spend a whole year with an employer, between the second and third years of your degree and is a great way to find out more about your chosen career. Some students even return to the same employers after completing their studies.
The University will draw on its extensive network of local, regional and national employers to support you in finding a suitable placement to complement your chosen area of study. If you do not find a suitable placement, you will be automatically transferred back to the standard, non-placement version of the course.
Please note that fees are payable during your placement year, equivalent to 20% of the total full-time course fee for that year (£1,850 for UK students).
Why choose us?
- Accredited course - This course is accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and Technology (IET) and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).
- Industrial placement year option - Gain desirable employability skills and work experience with the option of an industrial placement year, that will take place between your second and final year of the course.
- Employable graduates - Our graduates have progressed into roles with leading companies such as Jaguar Land Rover, Ford Motor Company and Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd.
- State-of-the-art facilities - You will be based at our Millennium Point campus in City Centre, where our facilities have undergone a £6.5 million investment with a new maker area, engineering labs/equipment and IT equipment to provide you with the very best learning experience.
- £1.1 million investment in new facilities from the IoT – The Institute of Technology (IoT) has invested in brand-new equipment and facilities, including an Electric Vehicle (EV) Test Rig, an Additive Manufacturing Machine (3D printer) and a material testing-split zone furnace - all industry grade technology that will advance your skills, making you more employable.
- Formula Student events at Silverstone - We are one of the select UK universities with access to take part in our international Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) Formula Student event at Silverstone.
Curriculum
First Year
In order to complete this programme you must successfully complete all the following core modules (totalling 120 credits):
- Engineering Principles 1
- Mathematical Modelling 1
- Engineering Practice
- Engineering Principles 2
- Mathematical Modelling 2
- Integrated Engineering Project
Second Year
In order to complete this programme you must successfully complete all the following core modules (totalling 120 credits):
- Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics
- Numerical Analysis
- Design and Materials
- Leading Engineering Endeavours
- Design and Manufacturing
- Mechanical Science
Professional Placement (Optional)
In order to qualify for the award of BEng (Hons) Automotive Engineering with Professional Placement Year you must successfully complete the following module.
- Professional Placement Year
Final Year (BEng)
In order to complete this programme you must successfully complete all the following core modules (totalling 120 credits):
- Computer Aided Engineering
- Vehicle Electronics and Control
- Body and Chassis Performance
- Powertrain and Hybrid Vehicles
- Individual Honours Project
Career Opportunities
Enhancing your employability skills
Our course is highly respected by the industry. Our graduates typically enter work with blue-chip engineering companies and are expected to progress to Chartered Engineer status.
When you study with us you’ll learn all the key aspects of automotive engineering that will help you to get a job and you’ll have the intellectual, technical and personal qualities needed to implement new technologies in the automotive engineering sector.
Wherever possible, we involve employers in curriculum planning and many of our lecturers come from and maintain their links with industry, ensuring they maintain their knowledge of the latest developments.
This strong partnership means you benefit throughout your time with us because you have access to some of the world’s leading car companies, including Bentley, Morgan, Jaguar Land Rover and Ford.
It’s why many of our graduates have gone on to start very successful careers in a wide variety of roles in the industry, in areas ranging from development or design and performance engineering to automotive marketing.
Placements
We aim to have you employer-ready by the time you graduate, and as part of this commitment, we encourage you to further enhance your career prospects by including an industrial placement in your course.
You will do your placement after the second year of study, which will extend the duration of your course to four years if you are studying on a full-time basis, and you’ll be supported throughout your time away.
Thanks to our excellent partnerships and strong relationships with the industry, you could join the ranks of our students who have gained exceptionally high-quality work experience at companies including Bentley.
A step on the career ladder
Thanks to our methods of teaching and learning, as well as our strong industry links and academic staff that can draw on years of relevant industry practice, our graduates typically go on to start careers in the motorsport, aerospace, and automotive industries. Your skills will be in high demand from SMEs working in the supply chain up to multinational companies.