Intelligent Transport Engineering MSc

Postgraduate

Cross section diagram showcasing the interior components and advanced features of a self driving electric vehicle

Learn the critical skills to produce robust and safe Advanced Driver Automation Systems (ADAS) for autonomous vehicle applications. Topics such as vehicle dynamics and human-machine interactions are covered.

Year of entry

2025-26

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time
With Professional Placement

Duration

1 year full-time
Up to 2 years full-time with professional placement

Course code

EEST013

Start date

September 2025
November 2025
January 2026
March 2026
May 2026
July 2026

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Course overview

Our Intelligent Transport Engineering MSc course is for you if you come from a mechanical, automotive, or similar engineering background.

Course content aims to equip you with the necessary technical skills to engineer the autonomous vehicles of tomorrow. You will explore key topics such as:

Connected Autonomous Vehicle (CAV) dynamics
Optimisation techniques
Powertrain electrification.

5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

Ranked 9th Modern University in UK by the Times

The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025

Ranked 8th for Overall Satisfaction in PTES

Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) 2024

Why you should study this course

This course aims to help you:

combine practical applications with emerging technologies
critically assess the advantages and limitations of current and emerging practices
push boundaries in software and hardware development
advance sustainability in autonomous vehicle technology
safeguard society now and in the future, supporting the goals of the Centre for Connected Autonomous Vehicles.

You will also have the opportunity to gain practical experience and boost your CV with an additional professional placement. See the modules for more details.²

What you'll study

Learn how to apply your engineering knowledge to address the rapid development of AV technology with a special focus on safety, testing and validation of AVs.

The course is designed to develop and nurture vital organisational, planning and policy skills, including presentation and project planning, as well as an applied understanding of AV technology in powertrain electrification and thermal management.

Modules

CAV Cybersecurity, Verification and Validation - 30 credits

Research, understand, and test various aspects of CAV technologies, including both software and hardware. Develop critical knowledge in automotive cybersecurity, verification, and validation, which pose major challenges to CAVs and AVs. This module addresses the broader challenge of increasing digital and software components in connected platforms. You will specifically focus on threat intelligence and engineering aspects of automotive systems. You will also explore issues of policy and personal data while considering the testing and systems engineering lifecycle of CAVs.

Compulsory

CAV Safety and Human Factors - 30 credits

Examine the human-machine interface in CAVs and consider the safety factors involved in using autonomous vehicles. Learn about vehicle safety and how this particularly applies in the context of CAVs and AVs, including its place within the vehicle design and electronic system design processes. You will be introduced to the key principles of human factors when considering autonomous vehicles, specifically the interaction between such systems and the humans using them.

Compulsory

CAV Dynamics and Optimisation - 30 credits

Discover the dynamics and structures in CAVs and consider structural safety, ride and handling of autonomous vehicles. Get an overview of the key theories relating to vehicle dynamics of four-wheeled ground vehicles. The module will work from the ground up, looking into the role of tyres and suspensions and the impact they have on the vehicle response. The module will discuss critical theories and essential models to ascertain the typical system responses and give an overview of how design criteria need to be managed in each vehicle set-up.

Compulsory

Powertrain Electrification and Thermal Management - 30 credits

Study the management of power and performance in CAVs and consider drive cycles and the use of autonomous vehicles. Module content provides an overview of current and future technology concepts of powertrain electrification and vehicle thermal management systems for CAV applications. The module will also cover safety standards associated with powertrain electrification. The fundamental theories of these systems will be covered, providing an understanding of system requirements, design principles and overall development processes.

Compulsory

Master’s with professional placement

If you successfully secure a placement in industry within your first semester, this master’s with professional placement option allows you to extend your 12-month master’s course up to an additional year to complete the placement before starting your final 60-credit module.

Gain valuable industry insights and skills as you apply your academic knowledge and skills to a professional placement.
The placement must be sourced and secured by you during your first semester. Our careers and employability team are available to support you with the sourcing process.
Start your professional placement after completing the first 120 credits of your course.
The professional placement will be integrated into your course learning and outcomes. This will take the form of a reflective diary demonstrating your learning and engagement with the placement experience.
The professional placement option is subject to additional fees, living costs, visa requirements, availability, competitive application and university approval of the placement.²

For full terms and conditions please visit the extended master’s landing page.

Optional

Individual Project - 60 credits

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.

How you'll learn

Teaching and learning methods may include:

lectures
seminars
tutorials
presentations
group projects
workshops
practical laboratory sessions.

Teaching contact hours

As a full-time postgraduate student, you will study modules totalling 180 credits each academic year. A typical 30-credit module requires a total of 300 hours of study. Study hours are made up of teaching contact hours, and guided and independent study.

Teaching hours

Teaching hours may vary, depending on where you are in your studies, but on average you will have between 8 and 12 teaching and learning hours each week. You will also have the opportunity to attend optional sessions including time with a Success Coach or to meet with staff for advice and feedback.

Guided and independent study

Throughout your studies, you will be expected to spend time in guided and independent study to make up the required study hours per module. You will be digging deeper into topics, reviewing what you’ve learnt and completing assignments. This can be completed around your personal commitments. As you progress to the end of your studies, you’ll spend more time on independent learning.

Online learning

As an innovative university, we use different teaching methods, including online tools and emerging technologies. So, some of your teaching hours and assessments may be delivered online.

Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which could vary depending on the module. Assessment methods may include:

reports
tests
practical coursework
assignments
vivas
presentations.

The Coventry University assessment strategy aims to ensure that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.

Entry requirements

Typical entry requirements:

An honours degree 2:2 or above in electronic engineering, mechanical engineering or other relevant discipline, or international equivalent.

We recognise a breadth of qualifications; speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:

You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

Typical entry requirements

An honours degree 2:2 or above in electronic engineering, mechanical engineering or other relevant discipline, or international equivalent.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.5 overall, with no component lower than 5.5.

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

We recognise a breadth of qualifications, speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

Fees and funding

Student	Full-time	Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man	£11,200 per year £1,500 professional placement fee (if placement secured) per year	Not available
EU	£11,200 per year with EU Support Bursary £1,500 professional placement fee (if placement secured) per year with EU Support Bursary £18,600 per year without EU Support Bursary £1,800 professional placement fee (if placement secured) per year without EU Support Bursary	Not available
International	£18,600 per year £1,800 professional placement fee (if placement secured) per year	Not available

For advice and guidance on tuition fees³and student loans visit our Postgraduate Finance page and see the university's Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

Any optional overseas ﬁeld trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

**EU Support Bursary

Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.

How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.

If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.

Facilities

Horiba MIRA

Your teaching will be split between Coventry University and Horiba MIRA. Teaching on the course is expected to occur at the MIRA Technology Institute (MTI), a bespoke global skills centre located on the HORIBA MIRA Technology Campus near Nuneaton.

The MTI houses multiple teaching and training rooms, along with innovative automotive facilities. These include fully equipped engineering workshops and hybrid energy, electric vehicle, and automotive workshops. The institute also offers specialised training and test rigs, such as Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Controller Area Network (CAN) system rigs, as well as facilities for vehicle manufacturing validation and testing.

People walking in front of a building which has a big library sign

Lanchester Library

The library is usually open 24/7, in term-time. It’s where you can access your course’s specialist Academic Liaison Librarian. It’s also home to specialist teams which can support you with your academic writing and maths and statistics questions.

Glass modern building with a spire in the background

The Hub

The Hub is the centre of student life on campus. Facilities include a food court, convenience store, multi-faith centre, medical centre, hairdresser, coffee shops and the Your SU offices. It has fully licensed function spaces and a bar.

Two people working together with a laptop in front of them

Careers and employability

Get one-on-one career and employability guidance lasting up to 36 months from the end of your course. We’ll help you find placements and graduate roles, offer CV and application checks, mentoring, skills workshops, employer events and more.

Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.

Careers and opportunities

On successful completion of the course, you will be able to:

select and apply appropriate systematic analysis methods to critically evaluate and solve complex autonomous vehicle engineering problems
use a combination of general and specialist engineering knowledge and understanding to optimise the application of existing and emerging autonomous vehicle technology
critically assess the use of autonomous vehicles to address and mitigate societal challenges, improving environmental and social welfare
identify autonomous vehicle engineering research activities in a way that contributes to sustainable development
demonstrate the application of legal and ethical requirements associated with autonomous vehicles in an industrial and/or societal context
determine and implement appropriate testing and validation strategies to ensure responsible development practices
apply the necessary study and research skills to support the analytical, critical and reflective requirements of written, oral and group assessments
contribute to a multicultural team demonstrating international competency with the necessary planning, reviewing, adaptability, drive and leadership to achieve the required objectives and work schedules
efficiently communicate research, concepts, solutions and recommendations, and demonstrate a professional approach to written and oral presentations
critically evaluate the principles of developing and proposing a strategy for leading strategic change.

Where our graduates work

Successful graduates may seek positions such as:

Graduate Systems Engineer
CAV Engineer
Functional Safety Engineer.

How to apply

UK students

To apply to study for a postgraduate course at Coventry University, you can apply online. Please read the entry criteria page before applying.

Start your application

For further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.

+44 (0)24 7765 2222

ukadmissions@coventry.ac.uk

Complete our contact form.

International students

Full-time international students should apply directly to the university. Please read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.

How to apply

For further support for international applicants applying for postgraduate degrees view our International hub.

You can also download our international mini guide for an overview of study options and why you should study with us.

Get in touch with us today for further advice and guidance.

+44 (0)24 7765 2152

applications.io@coventry.ac.uk

Complete our contact form.

Disclaimers

Coventry University together with Coventry University London, Coventry University Wrocław, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough, and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the University) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University.

¹Accreditations, partnerships and memberships

The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply. See the relevant body website for more details). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships are subject to successful renewal in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery. If the accreditation, recognition or membership of this course changes, we will seek to notify applicants and students as soon as possible.

Where relevant, the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) module content is undergoing assessment by the CMI to confirm that all criteria are met to the required standard. Whilst it is expected that students who successfully pass the module will be eligible to be considered by CMI for the CMI Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice as an additional qualification, we cannot confirm this until the accreditation is approved. This is a normal part of the continuous improvement process for our courses to ensure they remain up-to-date and reflect best practice.

²UK and international opportunities

Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or international opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be unpaid and/or subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel, public authority guidance, decisions or orders and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand any visa requirements, please contact the International Office.

³Tuition fees

The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University 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.

For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

⁴Facilities

Student Contract

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 current 2024/2025 contract is available on the website for information purposes however the 2025/2026 contract will apply for the 2025/2026 intake. 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.