Automotive Engineering MEng/BEng (Hons)
Course Code
UCAS Code: H343
International Code: EECU089
Location
Coventry University (Coventry)
Study mode
Full-time
Sandwich
Duration
BEng:3 years full-time4 years sandwich
MEng:4 years full-time5 years sandwich
Start date
September 2022
January 2023
Course overview
Study level: Undergraduate
If you have a passion for cars, an enthusiasm for engineering and design, together with excellent maths and IT skills, then this professionally accredited course could help you make a real difference in this vital industry.
- The automotive industry is going through some of the biggest changes since the introduction of the internal combustion engine. Automotive manufacturers and designers are using cutting-edge technology to solve the transport and sustainability issues of the future.
- Focusing on how engineering is used in automotive applications, this course provides you with the opportunity to qualify first at Bachelor level, then if you choose to follow the MEng pathway, at master’s degree level. The MEng route could be ideal for those seeking leadership positions in the development of new technologies and design of future vehicles.
- Successful graduates of Automotive Engineering should be able to apply their comprehensive understanding of vehicle engineering in a wide variety of roles in the automotive industry and beyond.
- Free Student Membership of the IMechE.
- Free student membership of the Women’s Engineering Society. This is an inclusive society and welcomes all engineers regardless of gender identity.

Global Ready
An international outlook, with global opportunities
Teaching excellence
Taught by lecturers who are experts in their field
Employability
Career ready graduates, with the skills to succeedWhy you should study this course
Automotive engineers are involved in every stage of the design, testing and development of vehicles and their components, from concept to production. This course has been designed to equip engineers of the future with the skills and knowledge needed to fill a wide variety of roles in an ever-changing industry and beyond.
With current extensive links to well-known automotive companies like Jaguar Land Rover and Lotus, Coventry University has a long and prestigious automotive, transport and engineering heritage.
You will benefit from access to modern facilities, a reputation for teaching excellence in the engineering field and our current strong links with local industry, which aim to help ensure our course reflects current thinking, the latest technologies, design systems and testing processes.
You will be taught by current academics with wide ranging experience in the automotive fields. Our current academics are actively involved in commercial and academic research, whose expertise could further-enrich your learning and enhance your understanding of the challenges facing engineers today.
You could work with staff on real-world problems from industry*, commerce and research groups, as you would in professional practice; this means that you could be provided the opportunity to develop professional skills at the same time as you learn the technical content of your degree. (Please note that staff are subject to change).
of our automotive engineering students go on to work and / or study within 15 months after the course.
Discover Uni, 2021
Accredited by:

Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE)
BEng/MEng Automotive Engineering is 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.
- The accredited BEng (Hons) will meet, in part, the exemplifying academic benchmark requirements for registration as a Chartered Engineer and Students will need to complete an approved format of further learning pursuant to the requirements of UK-SPEC.
- The accredited BEng (Hons) will also automatically meet in full, the exemplifying academic benchmark requirements for registration as an Incorporated Engineer (IEng).
The accredited MEng fully meets the exemplifying academic benchmark requirements, for registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng).
Coming to Coventry university as an automotive engineering student has given me the opportunity to use some amazing facilities to help with my development. I have enjoyed my time at Coventry due to the people I’ve met and the excellent teaching and lecturing staff.

My placement at Boutsen Ginion Racing
Automotive Engineering student Oleg Karchevskyy shares his experiences of undertaking a placement year with a Belgian racing team currently competing in Touring Car Cup Europe and GT World Challenge series.
Read Oleg's story

What you'll study
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
This course incorporates a wide range of learning and teaching methods as part of our innovative Activity-Led Learning philosophy. We aim to motivate you to learn through stimulating activity, such as projects, problem-solving, scenarios and case studies; whether in classroom, laboratory or work settings. This has previously been shown to engage students and create challenges, relevance, integration, professional awareness and variety to supporting you in learning and developing technical, personal and professional skills.
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
- Independent research of library resources, the internet and engineering companies
Actual teaching contact hours will vary depending on the level of study and the requirements of a particular semester. In addition, you will be expected to undertake significant self-directed study each week, approximately 16-20 hours per 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 14-16 contact hours per week in in all years.
Assessment
This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which vary depending upon the module. Assessment methods include formal examinations, coursework, tests, essays, practical or project work, group work, presentations and posters.
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.
Job ready
Upon successful completion, you will be able to:
- Apply and demonstrate knowledge of science, processes, materials, design and management to solve problems of increasing complexity.
- Search for and evaluate information sources to identify information essential to solving engineering problems.
- Model, analyse and evaluate innovative automotive engineering systems using appropriate engineering science and mathematical analysis techniques to increase performance and efficiency.
- Synthesise solutions to innovative engineering design problems, selecting appropriate instrumentation for the functional design of innovative engineering products and systems and to support development and test work.
- Use test equipment and machines for experimental work to support product development.
- Use commercial software in the solution of engineering problems and communicate graphically the design of a component or system through sketches, CAD etc.
- Assess the business case for a project, analysing the benefits, uncertainties and risks, including an analysis of stakeholder needs, expectations and their associated impact on the project.
- Critically analyse the engineering results from a problem associated with stress analysis, aerodynamics, dynamics, noise and vibrations.
- Plan and implement a strategy, using selected computer tools, for the modelling, simulation and analysis of typical vehicle performance tests ensuring an efficient and effective contribution to the vehicle design process.
- Understand the requirements of a project, develop work plans, and ensure all the deliverables are met at set deadlines and the project is kept on track from start to finish.
International experience opportunities
The University is committed to providing a global educational experience. We aim to invite international guest speakers (subject to availability). A previous example includes a leading automotive engineering professor at Heilbronn University who gave 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 has 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.
Entry requirements
Fees and funding
2022/23 Tuition fees
Student | Full time | Part time |
---|---|---|
UK | £9,250 per year | Not available |
International | £18,050 per year | Not available |
For advice and guidance on tuition fees and student loans visit our Undergraduate 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. Find out what's included in your tuition costs.
Facilities
The faculty’s £50m Engineering and Computing Building and new £25m Beatrice Shilling Building house an impressive range of industry standard equipment.

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.

Wind Tunnel
Built and tested by the Mercedes AMG PETRONAS Formula One team, our open jet single return wind tunnel has been designed to accommodate 20% scale open-wheel racing car models with a maximum air velocity of 45 m/s.
Careers and opportunities
Fully accredited by the IMechE for 2022-23 entry, this course is recognised by industry, providing credibility of the technical standard of our successful graduates among employers.
Industry-related projects completed during your studies should give you a feel of what the demands and expectations will be in the workplace, as well as supporting you to practice and apply your skills to real engineering projects.
You should also gain practical, hands-on experience in preparing, running and analysing results from experimental testing and numerical analysis. Past students have experienced projects with: Honda, in new product introduction; Aston Martin, in special vehicle projects data acquisition; NP Aerospace, working on the new range of military vehicles; Eaton Trucks, in gearbox design; McLaren Automotive, in software test and evaluation; BMW, in vehicle trim and materials; and Cummins Engines, on engine development and build.
Coventry University is committed to preparing you for your future career and aim to give 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
Recent graduates have found graduate roles in companies including Jaguar Land Rover, Tata Technologies and Mahle Powertrain.
How to apply
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UK Students
Full-time students applying to start in September should apply for this course through UCAS. Part-time students should apply directly to the university. Read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.
If you'd like further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.
Chat with our admissions team
Complete our contact form.
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International Students
Full-time students applying to start in September should apply directly to the university. Read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.
How to applyFor further support for international applicants applying for an undergraduate degree view our International hub.
You can also download our International Guide which contains lots of useful information about our courses, accommodation and tips for travel.
Get in touch with us today for further advice and guidance.
Chat with our admissions team.
Complete our contact form.
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Disclaimer
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 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.
Tuition fees
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.
Accreditations
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). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.
Facilities
Facilities mentioned on this page may not be relevant for every course. 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.
Placements and study abroad opportunities
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.
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), equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas).