Automotive Engineering MEng/BEng (Hons) with foundation year

Study level: Undergraduate
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If you have a passion for cars and enthusiasm for engineering and design, together with excellent maths and IT skills, then this course could help you make a real difference in this vital industry.  

Year of entry

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time
Sandwich

Duration

BEng
4 years full-time
5 years sandwich

Course code

H343 / H345

Start date

How to apply
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Course overview

Our degree with foundation year could be the stepping stone you need to achieve your goals. The foundation year aims to prepare you for degree-level study and is a great way to build the confidence, skills and knowledge needed to succeed on your degree course. The degree with foundation year is only available for the BEng option.

Foundation year

This foundation year aims to provide you with the fundamental knowledge and skills needed in mathematics, as well as the theories and concepts of electrical, electronic and mechanical engineering.

Degree

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.

  • This BEng in Automotive Engineering aims to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of automotive engineering and develop knowledge, skills and expertise that can be applied to the engineering sector.
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Rated Gold Overall

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023
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5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings
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Top 5 Student City in England (Coventry)

QS Best Student Cities Index 2025

Why you should study this course

Foundation year

  • Supports you to gain the academic skills required for degree-level study
  • Provides a grounding in key areas of engineering and mathematics.

Degree

  • Opportunity to participate in field trips2.
  • 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 the opportunity for training in industry-standard software4.
  • 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. (Please note that staff subject to change)
  • You will benefit from access to modern facilities4 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.
  • 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.

Accreditation and professional recognition

The degrees are accredited1 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.

Institution of Mechanical Engineers

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).

IMechE Membership Partner

We are a Membership Partner with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).

Working in collaboration with the IMechE we aim to ensure our engineers and technical teams meet industry-recognised standards of engineering excellence.

We are committed to the professional development of everyone within our organisation, and recognise that professional registration and recognition are crucial in helping our employees and business grow and excel.

I first joined McLaren straight out of university and got that offer right at the start of my final year so was a guaranteed job. The grounding and understanding that the course gave me is absolutely crucial to the role I have now as it would be difficult to do it without that background and empathy.

Ian James, Automotive Engineering MEng/BEng (Hons) quoted May 2023, graduated in 2001
Ian James

What you'll study

This course has a common first year.

In the first year, the curriculum is shared across related courses allowing you to gain a broad grounding in the discipline before going on, in the second and third years, to specialist modules in your chosen field. 

We want your degree to fit around you, so upon successful completion of your first year, you could swap degrees with another course in your common first year (subject to meeting progression requirements).  

Common first year courses

  • Automotive Engineering MEng/BEng (Hons)
  • Mechanical Engineering MEng/BEng (Hons)
  • Motorsport Engineering MEng/BEng (Hons) 

In the first year, the curriculum is shared across related courses allowing you to gain a broad grounding in the discipline before going on, in the second and third years, to specialist modules in your chosen field. 

Modules

In year two, you will develop more advanced knowledge and skills to do with design and sustainability, thermofluid mechanics, and analytical modelling, amongst others. 

Modules

There’s no better way to find out what you love doing than trying it out for yourself, which is why a work placement2 can often be beneficial. Work placements usually occur between your second and final year of study. They’re a great way to help you explore your potential career path and gain valuable work experience, whilst developing transferable skills for the future. 

If you choose to do a work placement year, you will pay a reduced tuition fee3 of £1,250. For more information, please go to the fees and funding section. During this time, you will receive guidance from your employer or partner institution, along with your assigned academic mentor who will ensure you have the support you need to complete your placement.  

Modules

Year three aims to bring you to the level to enter the world of work by consolidating your knowledge and skills from previous years. You will develop more advanced knowledge and skills to do with automotive product innovation, electrical vehicles, and material analysis, amongst others. 

Modules

The fourth year allows you to build on your knowledge and experience and study subjects in more depth.

Modules

The foundation year offers an introduction to your chosen subject and supports you to develop the skills required for degree-level study.

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.

How you'll learn

The foundation year programme is focused on applied learning geared to high-intensity teaching and study throughout the programme, requiring full commitment from students. The delivery of course content is a blend of lectures, tutorials and online learning.

There are no end of year exams. Instead, learning is assessed through coursework and phase tests, which is more reflective of our learning model. The learning outcomes of modules, assignments and projects will be clearly stated. Your work will be marked according to how well you achieve these learning outcomes and your final feedback will refer to each outcome, as well as providing an overall percentage grade.

Teaching contact hours

You can expect up 20 hours of learning activities per week, made up of face-to-face teaching, individual and group tutorials, online classes and independent learning.

Additionally, you will be expected to undertake significant self-directed study of approximately 30 hours each week, depending on the demands of individual modules.

Assessment

Assessment methods vary and may include practical class and project performance, written practical reports, project thesis, oral presentations, tutorial tasks and assessments which generally take place at the end of each six-week block.

Our innovative ‘Activity-Led Learning’ (ALL) approach means you will be given opportunities to work with staff on real-world problems from industry (subject to availability), commerce and research groups, as you would in professional practice.

This provides you with an opportunity to develop professional skills at the same time as learning the technical content of your degree.

Practical project work may, for example, involve manufacturing prototypes with 3D printing, reverse engineering of current and past products to produce 3d scanning to create engineering data and geometry to create design models, which can then be used through CAM software to generate CNC machining programs, ready to produce physical products4.

If you choose to start this course in January it will be run as a condensed programme. You’ll start your course in January and finish your first year in August. Upon successful completion of Year 1, you will progress onto Year 2 in September and then continue to start subsequent years of your course in September, completing your degree at the same time as the September starters unless you opt to do a placement year.

Teaching contact hours

We understand that everyone learns differently, so each of our courses will consist of structured teaching sessions, which includes: 

  • On campus lectures, seminars and workshops 
  • Group work 
  • Self-directed learning 
  • Work placement opportunities2.

If you would like more information, you can request information about teaching hours.

Part of university life is undertaking self-directed learning. During a typical week you will have time that allows you to work independently to apply the skills and knowledge you have learnt in taught or facilitated sessions to your projects or assignment briefs.  This self-directed learning allows you to use your research skills, consolidate your knowledge or undertake collaborative group work. 

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.

Since COVID-19, we have delivered our courses in a variety of forms, in line with public authority guidance, decisions, or orders and we will continue to adapt our delivery as appropriate. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.

Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module.

Assessment methods include:

  • Individual coursework
  • Group coursework
  • Exams
  • Tests
  • Presentations
  • Reports
  • Projects
  • Vivas
  • Core assessments (these are pass/fail and can be attempted multiple times)

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.  

International experience opportunities

The university is committed to providing a global educational experience2. We aim to invite international guest speakers (subject to availability). 

We also provide opportunities to participate in field trips. 

Entry requirements

Typical offer for 2024/25 entry.

80 UCAS tariff points. All foundation courses require 5 GCSEs at A-C/4-9 including Maths and English, and at least one A2 level or a BTEC equivalent qualification.

If you don’t fulfil the entry criteria your application may be considered on an individual basis, taking into account any work experience, other qualifications and/or any training you have completed. Speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

Contextual offers and Fair Access Scheme

If you meet the criteria for our Fair Access Scheme, you could automatically receive a contextual offer that may be up to 24 UCAS points lower than our standard entry requirements. View the criteria for our Fair Access Scheme.

Fees and funding

2024/25 tuition fees.

Foundation year

Student Full-time Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man £7,950 Not available
International/EU Not currently available*** Not available

Degree

Student Full-time Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man £9,250 per year Not available
International/EU Not currently available*** Not available

Please note: UK (home) tuition fees for the degree course years will be charged at the current Coventry University UK (home) degree fee level. This was set at £9,250 for the 23/24 academic year.

If you choose to do a work placement2, you should consider travel and living costs to cover this. There is also a tuition fee3 of £1,250 that will cover your academic support throughout your placement year.

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.

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.

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).

Foundation year funding

In order to receive funding for degree with foundation year courses, you will need to complete a four-year degree programme which includes the integrated foundation year, otherwise you may be responsible for your foundation year fees. For further information, please refer to the 'Tuition Fee Loan' details in the 'Funding your undergraduate course' section of our 'Fees and finance' page.

*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.

**This course with foundation year is not currently available to international students. If you do not meet the entry requirements to directly join year 1 of the degree, please take a look at our International Pathways Programme for additional options.

Facilities

Our foundation years are taught at CU Coventry’s Mile Lane building, a short walk from the city centre. You’re part of the university from day one, so during your foundation year you’ll have access to the wider facilities at Coventry University. Once you successfully complete your foundation year, you'll transfer over to studying your chosen degree at Coventry University, where you'll be taught on campus in the relevant academic buildings.

Located on our Mile Lane campus, you will have access to our Library and Learning Services (LLS), fully equipped seminar rooms and IT suites4. You can also take advantage of reading rights in Coventry University’s Lanchester Library, make use of sport centre facilities and receive full membership to Your Students' Union.

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Mile Lane

The campus is home to an on-site library with bookable one-to-one academic writing service and library support sessions, fully equipped seminar rooms, open-access study areas, a café and an IT suite. Our labs contain industry-standard equipment so that you learn using the same equipment as many industry professionals.

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The Hub

At The Hub you'll find the Health and Wellbeing Centre, the Students’ Union and Square One (which provides entertainment from quiz nights to live music), the Spirituality and Faith Centre, Tank Studio, Careers Office and a fantastic food court.

External view of the Lanchester Library.

Lanchester Library

Coventry University’s Lanchester Library is open 24/7, 364 days a year and has 1,400 study spaces, including group and silent areas. It also currently offers more than 550 computers and an additional 120 free-to-loan laptops.

 

The engineering and computing buildings house an impressive range of industry-standard equipment. Home to flight and driving simulators, a chassis design assembly and test facility and wind tunnels, the High Performance Engineering Centre (HPEC) also houses a fleet of CNC manufacturing machines, a full-size vehicle shaker rig and a composite material laboratory4.

Cruden F1 simulator

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

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

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

Upon successful completion of the BEng (Hons) and MEng courses, you will be able to:

  • Apply the necessary study and research skills to support the analytical, critical and reflective requirements of written, oral and group assessments.
  • Contribute to a team with the necessary planning, reviewing, adaptability, drive and leadership to achieve the required objectives and observe work schedules.
  • Design, optimise and communicate the performance of a vehicle; though the application of vehicle systems knowledge to achieve the performance, safety, sustainability and cost requirements of the Automotive industry.
  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the principles, theories and practices found in engineering management and leadership, consultancy and entrepreneurship.
  • Develop independent learning and problem-solving skills appropriate to current and future study and employment.
  • Apply engineering principles, science, mathematics, processes, materials, design and management to solve problems of increasing complexity.
  • Apply engineering analysis methods when solving complex problems and develop extended experience in solving problems related to a broad range of engineering systems and components.
  • Generate, and appropriately communicate, design solutions through the application and comprehensive understanding of the engineering design processes.
  • Critically assess data and information using practical laboratory skills, experimentation and research, and establish the effect on design.
  • Understand risk assessment and the need for professional and ethical conduct in commercial and social contexts, informed by a knowledge of sustainable development and the regulations/legislations governing engineering activities.
  • Understand and evaluate a range of appropriate engineering materials, components and systems, identifying their limitations and likely developments.

Additionally, upon successful completion of the MEng course, you will be able to:

  • Apply a comprehensive understanding of Automotive engineering principles together with a critical awareness of current issues at the forefront of the specialism.
  • Apply and evaluate engineering analysis methods when solving complex problems and assess their limitations, especially when applied to new or unfamiliar technology.
  • Generate and appraise innovative design solutions through the application and comprehensive understanding of the engineering design processes.
  • Critically assess data and information that may be uncertain or incomplete and quantify the effect on design using practical laboratory skills and experimental research.
  • Critically appraise management, business and ethical practice and their limitations informed by a knowledge of sustainable development, customer requirements and the regulations/legislations governing engineering activities in a commercial, social and international contexts.
  • Critically evaluate a range of current and emerging engineering materials, components and systems, identifying their limitations and likely developments/adaptations together with commercial and industrial constraint.

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 Lotus Cars, Mercedes F1, Aston Martin, BAE, Meggit, Arrrowsmith, Rolls Royce Aero, Quest, Triumph Motorbikes, Heathrow Airport, IATA Amongst others. 

Further study

You may be entitled to an alumni discount on your fees if you decide to extend your time with us by progressing from undergraduate to postgraduate study.

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