The content of this course for September 2022 entry is still being updated. The information on these pages relates to September 2021 entry and is for guidance only. Please revisit this course page for updated information.
Overview
Electric and Hybrid Electric Vehicles constitute a modern and timely area in engineering, one expected to expand very quickly in the next few years.
Climate change and the consequent need to reduce CO2 emissions has progressively led to major advances in many modern developments of power engineering such as in photovoltaics, wind turbines and biofuels. The next step, which strongly affects our daily lives, is transportation. Electric vehicles minimise pollution whilst increasing power efficiency. Moreover, areas such as autonomous vehicles and smart transportation grids are beginning to become reality. As a result, the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee has recommended the government develop EV-specific qualifications for mechanics and engineers.
Coventry has a long history in the automotive and transport industries. Coventry University plays a significant role in shaping the future of modern transportation and has been a valuable partner in various projects and collaborations with industry and academia in the area of transportation, with significant experience and technical know-how. Furthermore, the Institute for Future Transport and Cities research centre has been established by Coventry University to organise and promote state-of-the-art research activities in the technological field of clean transportation.
Our postgraduate course in electrical automotive engineering aims to provide the expertise required to meet the modern transportation market demands. Carefully planned, it consists of a balanced mix between electric power, electronics and communications. Our vision is to create experienced and specialised engineers who will be highly sought after by the electrical automotive engineering market.
Work placement option
This master's programme provides you with the additional option to apply for a 'work placement' opportunity during your first semester with us. The 'work placement' is designed to further develop your skills, knowledge and professional experience with the aim of maximising your employability prospects. Please note that the optional placement modules incur an additional tuition fee of £4,000.
Please note that we are unable to guarantee any placement or study abroad opportunities and that any such opportunities referred to on this webpage may be subject to additional costs (e.g. travel, visas and accommodation etc.), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the requirements in this regard, please contact the International Office for further details if you are an EU or International student.
Find out more about the work placement option.
Why Coventry University?
An award-winning university, we are committed to providing our students with the best possible experience. We continue to invest in both our facilities and our innovative approach to education. Our students benefit from industry-relevant teaching, and resources and support designed to help them succeed. These range from our modern library and computing facilities to dedicated careers advice and our impressive Students’ Union activities.
COVID-19
The University may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via emerging online technologies and methods across all courses. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are prepared for courses due to start in or after the 2020/2021 academic year to be delivered in a variety of forms. The form of delivery will be determined in accordance with Government and Public Health guidance. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.
Due to the ongoing restrictions relating to COVID-19, some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) and some non-academic offerings (particularly in relation to international experiences), may vary from those advertised and may have reduced availability or restrictions on their use.
Global ready
An international outlook, with global opportunitiesEmployability
Career-ready graduates, with the skills to succeedStudent experience
All the support you need, in a top student cityAccreditation and Professional Recognition
This course is accredited and recognised by the following bodies:
Chartered Management Institute
As part of this course you will undertake a professional development module which is currently accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) for the 2021-22 intake. Upon successful completion of the module, you will gain the CMI Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice at no additional cost. Further details can be found under the ‘course detail’ tab and on the Professional Development module homepage.
Coventry University’s accreditation with CMI is currently ongoing for the relevant modules and is regularly reviewed and monitored by the CMI through their quality systems. Whilst Coventry University anticipates that these reviews will continue to be successful, if they were to be unsuccessful, the relevant module in this course would no longer be accredited and we would notify applicants and students of this change as soon as possible.
What our students say...
After a phase of working as an Engineer, I was determined to revamp my skills and make myself ready for the upcoming trend in Automotive sector. The reason I chose to do my master’s in Electrical Automotive Engineering is because I thoroughly enjoy the subject and it fits perfectly with my career aims. The entire course at Coventry University is digitalized and has a centralized software hub, so you don’t need to always be at the university to have access to your course materials and high end software.
Course information
This course seeks to provide a postgraduate education covering the main theoretical and practical aspects of the field.
The overall aim of the course is to:
- Provide a deep and comprehensive understanding of the current electric/hybrid electric vehicles technology, concepts and challenges.
- Develop academic and practical skills in electric power related areas such as electrical machines and drives, power electronics and batteries, covering all aspects of the vehicle’s powertrain.
- Develop a solid background on vehicle electronics, signal processing and communications needs and challenges.
This course aims to educate graduates, typically from a mechanical/automotive engineering background, in the modern area of electrical automotive engineering and provides a valuable qualification for this growing and expanding market.
Graduates in electrical and electronic engineering, computer hardware and software engineering and other related technical subjects such as mathematics or physics would also have the required background to study this course and re-focus their know-how in automotive technology.
Course Specification
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Modules
We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.
In more detail...
As the area of electrical automotive engineering is under continuous development by manufacturers, industry and academia, it is necessary to enhance this MSc course with strong research elements and deliver a research-oriented teaching culture. For this purpose, academics and professionals from overseas and other UK institutions are invited to deliver seminars and lectures on timely research topics and advancements in the area of electrical automotive engineering.
For this purpose, academics and professionals from overseas and other UK institutions are invited to deliver seminars and lectures on timely research topics and advancements in the area of electrical automotive engineering (subject to availability). Furthermore, you should also will benefit from research-oriented individual projects and will be encouraged to participate in national and international conferences and workshops to present work (which may be subject to an application process, additional costs, availability and/or meeting applicable visa requirements.)
The delivery of this course will consist of a balance between theory, simulations and laboratory testing, creating an ideal teaching and learning environment. The aim is to cultivate not only a strong foundation in electrical automotive engineering, but also critical and original thinking. Students will have the opportunity to benefit from our modern teaching environment and infrastructure, practical hands on laboratory equipment and specialised modern simulation tools adopted by industry. The teaching activities are partially industry and research focused with the aim of motivating and promoting engineering development and originality among our students.
- Coventry has received the prestigious ‘Gold award’ in the 2017 Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).
- Well-equipped dedicated electronics laboratory and CISCO laboratory, featuring a variety of microprocessors and field programmable gate array platforms.
- On and off-site access to engineering software such as MATLAB/Simulink, Proteus Design Suite, NI Multisim™, Catia and HyperWorks for design and simulation.
- Coventry University is taking the lead in cross cutting research developing new forms of transport, with a strong portfolio of world-leading research through various research centres such as Institute for Future Transport and Cities, National Transport Design Centre, Centre for Connected and Autonomous Automotive Research (CCAAR), Centre for Advanced Low Carbon Propulsion Systems C-ALPS and the Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Institute (AME).
- Current strong links with various stakeholders such as Unipart and Horiba MIRA.
- Study in our modern £50m Engineering and Computing building, with access to extensive cutting-edge facilities in our High Performance Engineering Centre, which houses a 20% scale model wind tunnel (designed and built by the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 team), composites lab, metrology lab, flow lab, AVL engine test cell, automotive workshop, fatigue and tensile testing (Instron), a full size Harrier Jet, three further simulators, a range of CNC machinery and a laser workshop.
- The faculty’s existing facility is complimented by our new £25m Beatrice Shilling building which opened in late 2020. The new building features a range of unique spaces including a gaming and virtual reality studio, a specialist area for 3D printing and rapid prototyping, a laser facility, and physics and electronics laboratories.
Your main study themes are:
- Power semiconductors and converters
- Sensor and measurement technology
- Automotive electronics and embedded systems
- Energy storage and high voltage systems
- Automotive cybersecurity
- Automotive networking and signal processing
- Electrical machines
- Entrepreneurship
This course can be studied on a full-time and part-time basis. Whilst we would like to give you all the information about our part-time offering here, it is tailored for each course each year depending on the number of part-time applicants. Therefore, the part-time teaching arrangements vary. Please request information about studying this course part-time.
The course will be taught by lectures, laboratory practical hands-on exercises and simulated laboratory exercises. In semester three, you will undertake an individual project.
This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module. Assessment methods include coursework and examinations.
The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes. Assessments may include exams, individual assignments or group work elements.
On successful completion, you will be able to:
- Develop learn and apply new theories, concepts and methods.
- Critically evaluate, model and test the operation of electrical systems and components for automotive applications.
- Demonstrate a thorough understanding of electrical power conversion and power flow.
- Analyse the degradation mechanisms and ageing process of the automotive electrical and electronics systems.
- Gain an awareness of current standard and specifications of the on-board electronics and networking system to design and assess systems and components.
- Develop extensive knowledge and understanding of a wide range of computer modelling and simulation software.
- Conduct rigorous and ethical research / formal enquiry into related issues that require familiarity with a range of research sources and appropriate methodologies.
- Demonstrate awareness and ability to critically evaluate risks, including health and safety when conducting design and tests.
15-credit module will typically have around about 30 hours of contact time associated with it. This will include a combination of, but may not be limited to, lectures, small-group sessions, laboratory sessions and support sessions. In addition, you will be expected to undertake significant self-directed study each week, depending on the demands of individual modules.
The contact hours may be made up of a combination of face-to-face teaching, individual and group tutorials, and online classes and tutorials. As an innovative and enterprising institution, the University may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the University may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.
Internationalisation is an important aspect of this course, mainly due to the international interest and focus of the worldwide market on electrical vehicles.
This course typically attracts students from across the globe. There are opportunities for students to work collaboratively during practical hands-on laboratory testing activities. This could offer you the opportunity to develop the international character of your team working and collaboration skills.
What our students say...
It has been a good experience studying Electrical Automotive Engineering at Coventry University. Lecturers here are very good and experienced and give me a lot of help on learning and living. The lectures are well arranged and we have useful labs in our excellent Laboratory. Coventry is a beautiful city and you will have a pretty good study life here!
Entry Requirements
What our students say...
As a full-time working engineer, I chose the Coventry University Electrical Automotive Engineering MSc to broaden my current qualification and to gain new skills. The course is focused on discovering to-date trends in world-wide automotive electrical engineering and offers the skills necessary for shaping the future of the automotive sector.
In my view, the course outlines all the necessary aspects and offers good preparation and confidence in this very narrow and specific branch of engineering. I can recommend it to all those who wish to be a successful electrical automotive engineer.
Tuition Fees
We pride ourselves on offering competitive tuition fees which we review on an annual basis and offer a wide range of scholarships to support students with their studies. Course fees are calculated on the basis of what it costs to teach each course and we aim for total financial transparency.
Course essentials – additional costs
This course may incur additional costs associated with any field trips, placements or work experience, study abroad opportunities or any other opportunity (whether required or optional), which could include (but is not limited to) travel, accommodation, activities and visas. This course may incur additional costs associated with any equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire.EU student fees
EU nationals starting in the 2020/21 academic year remain eligible for the same fees as home students and the same financial support. Financial support comes from Student Finance England, and covers undergraduate and postgraduate study for the duration of their course, providing they meet the residency requirement.
For tuition fee loans
EU nationals starting in the 2020/21 academic year must have resided in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland for the three years prior to the start of their course. The purpose of that three year residency should not have been mainly for the purpose of receiving full time education.
For maintenance loans
EU nationals starting in the 2020/21 academic year must have resided in the UK and Islands for the five years prior to the start of their course. The purpose of that five year residency should not have been mainly for the purpose of receiving full time education.
What our students say...
As a full-time working engineer, I chose the Coventry University Electrical Automotive Engineering MSc to broaden my current qualification and to gain new skills. The course is focused on discovering to-date trends in world-wide automotive electrical engineering and offers the skills necessary for shaping the future of the automotive sector.
In my view, the course outlines all the necessary aspects and offers good preparation and confidence in this very narrow and specific branch of engineering. I can recommend it to all those who wish to be a successful electrical automotive engineer.
Career prospects
Graduate Immigration Route visa
Based on current information from the UK Government, international students whose study extends beyond summer 2021 may be eligible for a visa under the UK Government’s Graduate Immigration Route, which will enable students to stay and work, or look for work, in the UK at any skill level for up to two (2) years. Check the most up to date guidance available to check your eligibility and any updates from the UK Government before making an application or enrolment decision.
Electrification of transportation is one of the most rapidly expanding markets, while manufacturers are seeking appropriately educated engineers to cover the needs in all aspects of electrical and electronic engineering focusing on electric vehicles.
Specialisation in this particular area could significantly enhance your career prospects and may provide excellent opportunities for a challenging, well paid and interesting job.
Coventry University is committed to preparing you for your future career and giving you a competitive edge in the graduate job market. The university's Talent Team provide a wide range of support services to help you plan and prepare for your career.
Where our graduates work
Our vision is to create experienced and specialised engineers who will be highly sought after by the electrical automotive engineering market.
What our students say...
As a full-time working engineer, I chose the Coventry University Electrical Automotive Engineering MSc to broaden my current qualification and to gain new skills. The course is focused on discovering to-date trends in world-wide automotive electrical engineering and offers the skills necessary for shaping the future of the automotive sector.
In my view, the course outlines all the necessary aspects and offers good preparation and confidence in this very narrow and specific branch of engineering. I can recommend it to all those who wish to be a successful electrical automotive engineer.
Disclaimer
By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the 2021/22 Contract can be found here. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.
The tuition fee for the course that is stated on the course webpage and in the prospectus for the first year of study will apply. We will review our tuition fees each year. For UK and EU students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, we may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation. Following the UK’s exit from the European Union, EU students should be aware that there may be a change to UK laws following the UK’s exit, this may change their student status, their eligibility to study part time, and/or their eligibility for student finance. We will act in accordance with the UK’s laws in force in relation to student tuition fees and finance from time to time.
For International students the tuition fee that is stated on the course webpage and in the prospectus for the first year of study will apply. We will review our tuition fees each year. For international students, we may increase fees for each subsequent year of study but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation.
