Pit Stop Challenge
The Pit Stop Challenge is an activity-led assessment completed by first year undergraduate automotive and motorsport students as part of their Engineering Design module.
Overview
Motorsport is a dynamic, highly competitive industry reliant on the skill and expertise of engineers to optimise all aspects of the design, build and testing of racing cars and bikes. In excess of 41,000 people were employed in the UK motorsport industry in 2018.
This BEng and MEng integrated master’s course, which is currently accredited by the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), has been designed to respond to the demand for Motorsport Engineers with strong analytical and problem-solving skills to ensure the industry remains at the cutting edge of innovation.
Coventry University has a long and prestigious automotive, transport and engineering heritage with current extensive links to well-known automotive companies like Jaguar Land Rover, Tata and Lotus, Coventry
Initially, you will be enrolled onto the BEng (Hons) programme. At the end of the second year, you may be offered the opportunity to progress to the MEng pathway depending on your academic performance (typically a 2:1 or above in your second year). This allows you the time and support to grow in your engineering discipline and maximise your access to the integrated MEng qualification.
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 succeedTeaching Excellence
Taught by lecturers who are experts in their fieldCourse essentials
A degree which offers you more, at no extra costAccreditation & Professional Recognition
This course is accredited and recognised by the following bodies:
Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE)
These degrees are accredited by the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) up to and including the 2025 intakes under licence from the UK regulator, the Engineering Council. Accreditation is a mark of assurance that the degree meets the standards set by the Engineering Council in the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC). An accredited degree will provide you with some or all of the underpinning knowledge, understanding and skills for eventual registration as an Incorporated (IEng) or Chartered Engineer (CEng). Some employers recruit preferentially from accredited degrees, and an accredited degree is likely to be recognised by other countries that are signatories to international accords.
Students completing an IMechE accredited degree are deemed to have met part or all of the academic requirements for registration as a Chartered or Incorporated Engineer, and are in a strong position to move on to achieve professional engineering status after a period of initial professional development in industry.
My placement at Boutsen Ginion Racing
Automotive Engineering student Oleg Karchevskyy shares her experiences of undertaking a placement year with a Belgian racing team currently competing in Touring Car Cup Europe and GT World Challenge series.
Our Facilities
Chassis Fabrication Facility
This area is used by our motorsport students for any welding, cutting and shaping of materials requirements. It is used mainly for the fabrication of components or chassis design and build.
Cruden F1 simulator
The simulator provides a realistic experience of working for a race team in a high pressured and realistic environment. The simulator includes the same software and calculations used by professional racing teams.
Metals Workshop
Participate in technical work in a hands-on way. The workshop includes lathes, milling machines, fabrication equipment for sheet metal work, CNC machines, work benches, welding lines and a fitting assembly area.
What our students say...
Motorsport Engineering is a great hands-on course, which pushes me to be a great engineer, team worker and pushes me to be the most employable graduate I can be.
Course information
Successful motorsport engineers may work on the design, testing and production of performance vehicles or become part of a racing team responsible for improving performance before, during and after a race.
Alongside the Motorsport specialisations you will study, you will also have the opportunity to develop your broader Mechanical Engineering and professional skills. Consequently, our Motorsport graduates are highly sought after across a broad range of engineering industries.
The course offers you the chance to specialise in performance engineering, covering design for performance, construction and operation of competition vehicles, alongside related aspects of materials science, aerodynamics, structural analysis, vehicle systems. We also aim to provide you with a sound understanding of the commercial context of motorsport engineering, together with the commercial and technical risks associated with innovation.
The IMechE Formula Student project provides an all-round experience – from undertaking full cost analysis and producing the business and manufacturing case to designing a vehicle and planning a limited production run. Working to a set of international rules with fixed delivery targets and deadlines, you should gain practical experience in planning, executing and reporting on a motorsport project. You will also have the opportunity to improve your digital literacy by submitting CAD models, technical drawings, design posters, as well as a couple of technical reports on their designs.
Throughout your study of this course, you have the opportunity to develop an awareness of the wider responsibilities to society, especially in terms of issues relating to ethics, health, safety and sustainability. We will share the corporate context of engineering, alongside the commercial and technical risks associated with innovation, enabling you to deal with new and unusual challenges in automotive engineering.
We will encourage you to use imagination and creativity to provide innovative solutions, so that you have the opportunity to graduate with a set of skills which could enable you to progress rapidly to positions of responsibility providing technical, managerial and entrepreneurial leadership in specialist or interdisciplinary projects.
Course specification
Download PDF
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.
3rd
Our mechanical engineering courses are ranked 3rd in the UK by the Guardian University Guide 2020.
In more detail...
Upon successful completion, this professionally accredited degree aims to equip you with the necessary skills and expertise to make a significant early contribution to motorsport engineering and embark on your professional journey to become a Chartered Engineer.
Coventry University is recognised as a renowned centre for motorsport and performance engineering. Our current close relationship with the UK performance engineering industry helps to ensure course content reflects current trends and challenges, as well as the latest technologies, design systems and testing processes in this fast-paced, ever-evolving industry.
Teaching is highly practical, focused on providing a thorough understanding of the fundamental principles of motorsport engineering and, more importantly, how this knowledge is applied in the industry. You will have the opportunity to work with staff on real-world problems from industry, commerce and research groups, as you would in professional practice*.
We will provide the opportunity for you to apply for professional placements with a wide variety of motorsport and engineering companies, as well as a study year abroad.* You could also take part in exciting projects, such as Shell Eco-marathon or the Institution of Mechanical Engineer’s Formula Student project, which is the biggest student motorsport competition in the world. We have many vehicles and systems available for you to study and test, together with lots of experimental equipment, such as a wind tunnel, four post shaker rig, damper dyno and engine dyno.
You will be taught by academics with wide ranging industrial experience including, for example, automotive and race car deign with AEG, JLR and BMW. Many are actively involved in cutting-edge commercial and academic research in areas such as vehicle dynamics, electric vehicle technology, light weighting, advanced simulation, future concepts and crash protection.
*Please note that we are unable to guarantee any field trip, event, placement or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities 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.
- Regular free to attend lectures delivered by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) (subject to availability)
- Close links with employers in the performance engineering industry, including Red Bull Racing, the Auto-Cycle Union, Lotus Cars, Penske Racing and Triumph Motorcycles.
- Study in our modern Engineering and Computing building, which features two Cruden F1 6DoF simulators, a ¼ scale Mercedes AMG designed wind tunnel and a full CNC manufacturing centre.
- Opportunity to participate in field trips which have included observing crash tests at the GM Milford site and a tour of the Ford F150 factory in Detroit, USA and a visit to the Professional Motorsport World Expo in Cologne, Germany, which has included a visit to the Toyota Motorsport Group facility*
* Please note that we are unable to guarantee any fieldtrip, event, ± placement or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities 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. - On and off site access to commercial engineering software, such as 3D CAD, Finite Element Analysis, Computational Fluid Dynamics and Multibody Systems for design and simulation, as well as training in industry standard Catia, HyperWorks, STAR-CCM+, SIMPACK software
- 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, civil engineering specialist testing equipment, a range of CNC machinery and a laser workshop
- Free student membership of the IMechE
- Free student membership of WES, the Women’s Engineering Society which is an Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity society open to all regardless of gender identity.
Ranked 3rd best in the UK for ‘Mechanical Engineering’ in the Guardian University Guide 2020.
Your main study themes are:
- Design: The innovative resolution of design problems focused on commercially viable solutions.
- Analysis: You will have the chance to learn to use industry standard software to model, analyse and validate vehicle behaviour, components and systems.
- Management: The application of principles and practices utilised to assure effective business operation.
- Sustainability: An ethical approach to work by protecting the best interests of life and the environment.
- Practical: Investigation and analysis using laboratory, workshop and computer-based techniques.
The programme can be studied full-time over three years for BEng and four years for MEng. It is structured to assimilate a variety of academic backgrounds and provide a basic grounding in the key engineering principles in the first year, reinforced with the use of practical laboratory sessions.
We encourage and support you in applying for a year in industry which will add an additional year to your studies. Placements are not guaranteed and are by competitive application; our success rate is high and in 2018-2020 we had over 380 students on placement across our faculty.
The course features a wide range of learning and teaching methods as part of our innovative Activity-Led Learning (ALL) approach. We encourage you to learn through stimulating activity, such as a project, problem, scenario, case study or enquiry in a classroom or laboratory. This practical approach has been proven to engage students and creates challenge, relevance, integration, professional awareness and variety to help you learn technical, personal and professional skills.
You will have the opportunity to dismantle a previous vehicle to learn how to improve your future designs, and to better understand the design of individual motorsport systems. You could work in groups to design and build a single seater racing car in the final year to be entered in the IMechE’s Formula Student competition. Past students have won the Fuel economy event in the competition and been the highest placed UK electric team.
The full range of teaching methods include: lectures with associated practice, laboratory, workshop exercises and tutorials; problem-based learning in groups with tutor or industrial mentor support; group learning; formative modelling exercises; and independent research of library resources, the internet and engineering companies. In addition, your personal tutor will review and discuss your progress with you and will be available for advice.
After the second year, you have the option of spending a year studying abroad or on professional placement*. Previous students worked for McLaren Automotive in software test and evaluation and Cummins Engines on engine development and build.
We aim to organise a range of field trips across all years of study*, which recently led to second year students attending the Autosport International Show in Birmingham and the third year students attending the Professional World Motorsport Expo in Cologne.
* Please note that we are unable to guarantee any field trip, event, placement or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities 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.
This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which could vary depending upon the module. Assessment methods may include coursework, tests, essays, formal examinations, practical or project work, group work and presentations, posters etc.
The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards the achieving the intended learning outcomes.
On successful completion, you will have knowledge of:
- Analysis of the performance of products and systems associated with motorsport by selectively using appropriate engineering science and mathematics.
- Evaluation of the significance of the properties of current and future materials used in automotive engineering, and more specifically motorsport vehicle structures and power plant, to make appropriate material selections.
- Selection of manufacturing processes appropriate to the fabrication and forming of motorsport components and systems.
- Selection of appropriate design tools and methodologies and their use in producing and communicating design solutions.
- The commercial and economic context within which motorsport activities take place, identification of changes within this environment and their effects on viability of motorsport events.
- Constraints and regulations within which motorsport operates, and their influence on vehicle design and safety.
On successful completion, you will be able to:
- Model and analyse established engineering systems using appropriate engineering science and mathematical analysis techniques.
- Synthesise solutions to develop engineering designs appropriate to the application.
- Select appropriate instrumentation and systems to support development and test work.
- Search for and evaluate information sources to identify information essential to solving engineering problems.
- Use test equipment for experimental work to support product development.
- Use commercial software in the solution of engineering problems.
- Communicate graphically the design of a component or system through sketches, CAD, etc.
- Practise general and specific workshop skills to an appropriate standard.
Actual teaching contact hours will vary depending on the level of study and the requirements of a particular semester. In a typical week your contact hours will be divided amongst personal tutorials; medium group teaching in tutorial sessions, lab sessions and workshops; and large group teaching, lectures. In addition, you will be expected to undertake significant self-directed study, approximately 16-20 hours each week, depending on the demands of individual modules.
The number of contact hours may vary from semester to semester, however, on average, it is likely to be around 14 contact hours per week in the first year, second year and third year of the BEng (Hons), and around 15 contact hours per week in the MEng year.
The University is committed to providing a global educational experience and this course aims to produce the world’s best motorsport engineers.
We regularly invite international guest lectures (subject to availability); for example, a leading automotive engineering professor at Heilbronn University recently gave our students a presentation on the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) research and the motion platform driving simulator they have built at Heilbronn. We also provide opportunities to participate in a number of field trips*, which in the past have included test work at the GM proving ground; a tour of the Ford F150 factory in Detroit, USA; a tour of Hirata, a Japanese Tier 1 automotive supplier for Ford, Chrysler and GM; participation on a certificated training course with Altair on Inspire; and visits to Mahle Powertrain, the University of Michigan and Chrysler Building.
You will be encouraged to undertake a placement year or study year abroad after your second year of study* Previously, students have studied at HAN University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands and Esslingen University in Germany. We have also begun an online international learning (OIL) project with FACENS University in Brazil linking the Formula student team with their Brazilian counterparts to discuss designs and implementation of the vehicle.
Please note that we are unable to guarantee any field trip, event, placement or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities 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.
Global ready
Did you know we help more students travel internationally than any other UK university according to data from the experts in higher education data and analysis, HESA?
In 2018/19, we were able to provide a total of 5,469 experiences abroad that lasted at least five days.
Much of this travel is made possible through our Global Leaders Programme, which enables students to prepare for the challenges of the global employment market, as well as strengthening and developing their broader personal and professional skills.
Explore our international experiences1st for
international experiences
Sending more students overseas than any other UK uni 2016/17
5,469
Student experiences
The number of student trips abroad for at least 5 days in 2018/19
12,000
and counting
The number of students we’ve helped travel internationally since 2016
12
global programmes
As well as trips, we offer other opportunities like language courses
What our students say...
Motorsport Engineering is a great hands-on course, which pushes me to be a great engineer, team worker and pushes me to be the most employable graduate I can be.
Entry Requirements
What our students say...
Motorsport Engineering is a great hands-on course, which pushes me to be a great engineer, team worker and pushes me to be the most employable graduate I can be.
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.
For more information, please visit our Finance pages.
Course essentials at no extra cost
We're committed to communicating study costs clearly to make sure you're not faced with having to make any unexpected payments.
This is why our ‘Flying Start’ package provides you with a few course essentials. Your full-time fee for an undergraduate degree will cover the following:
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.
As well as covering UK field trips, key materials and laser print, the fees for this course also include:
- Safety equipment and project materials
The following are additional costs not included in the fees:
- The following are additional costs not included in the fees: Any optional overseas Formula Student/Shell Eco-marathon competitions
- Optional field trips (UK or abroad)
- Placement or internship opportunities (UK or abroad)
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...
Motorsport Engineering is a great hands-on course, which pushes me to be a great engineer, team worker and pushes me to be the most employable graduate I can be.
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.
Fully accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), the course is recognised in industry, providing credibility of the technical standard of our graduates among employers, thus improving your career prospects.
Industry-related projects should give you a feel of what the demands and expectations will be in the workplace, as well as enabling you to practice and apply your skills to real motorsport engineering projects*. You will also have the opportunity to gain practical, hands-on experience in preparing, running and analysing results from experimental testing and numerical analysis.
Careers options may include becoming a race mechanic or race engineer or roles as a manufacturing assistant engineer, composites laminator, design engineer, dimensional management engineer or operations manager in motorsport engineering or related industries.
This degree meets an identified need for graduate level professionals to work in specialist areas such as vehicle/component design, powertrain and chassis development and testing, as well as supervisory and business roles. Our graduates have secured positions with teams such as Red Bull, Williams, Ducati, Triumph, Pilbeam Racing, McLaren and Prodrive.
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.
*Please note that we are unable to guarantee any placement or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities 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.
Where our graduates work
Some examples of our recent graduate positions include: Red Bull Racing, Mercedes HPP in engine design and manufacturing, McLaren Automotive, Renault F1 in composite design and manufacturing, Royal Enfield Motorcycles in chassis design, Triumph Motorcycles, Tata Technologies, JLR and Bosch GMBH.
£26K
Our graduates earn an average salary of £26,000 six months after the course (DLHE 2014/15)
What our students say...
Motorsport Engineering is a great hands-on course, which pushes me to be a great engineer, team worker and pushes me to be the most employable graduate I can be.
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 2020/21 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.
