Automotive Engineering MEng/BEng (Hons)

Take your understanding of mechanical science to the next level as you deepen your knowledge of how rigid bodies move and how materials respond to forces. Learn to apply solid mechanics to real world design problems, building skills that will prepare you for more advanced study and professional practice.

Develop knowledge in both dynamics and statics. In dynamics, investigate how things move and vibrate, from analysing plane mechanisms and gear systems to balancing rotating parts and using differential equations to study vibrations. In statics, focus on how materials withstand forces, including torsion in shafts, shear stresses in beams. Learn how to calculate stresses, strains, and deflections in structures using methods such as Macaulay's and unit load.

Importantly, explore failure theories, experimental testing and be introduced to finite element analysis (FEA), a powerful computer aided simulation tool used by engineers worldwide. Learn how to apply 1D, 2D, and 3D elements to model how components behave under load and solve static problems with confidence.

Compulsory

Explore the core principles of thermodynamics and fluid mechanics that power modern engineering. Learn to apply the first and second laws of thermodynamics to real world systems, from engines and power plants to refrigeration and air conditioning. Study thermodynamic cycles such as Otto, Diesel, Brayton and Rankine, and see how they drive everyday technologies.

Understand the complexities of fluid flow, including laminar and turbulent behaviour, viscous effects, boundary layers and forces like lift and drag. Use dimensional analysis to simplify complex problems and apply continuity, momentum, and energy equations to practical engineering situations.

Additionally explore topics such as one-dimensional isentropic flow, entropy, heat engines and irreversible processes. By the end of the module, you should know how to calculate the performance of ideal and real engine cycles, analyse refrigeration and heat pump systems and understand how air-conditioning processes impact human comfort.

Compulsory

This module is designed to help you develop the skills needed to innovate and improve mechanical or automotive products. Learn to manage the design process using a systems-based approach, work in teams and apply creativity and technical knowledge to solve real-world problems. Starting with an existing design, identify potential failure points and suggest improvements by considering materials, manufacturing methods, and customer needs. Throughout the project, focus on key themes like sustainability, quality and cost-efficiency.

Explore how engineering decisions can impact society, the environment and the economy. Analyse existing products to assess their performance and life cycle impact. Learn how to use tools and techniques to improve design efficiency, utility and sustainability, while also understanding what drives sustainable business practices, including legislation, industry standards and marketplace expectations.

Gain practical experience in using CAD/CAM software to produce professional drawings and bills of materials and understand how tolerances affect the overall quality of assemblies. Design verification and validation methods will be used to ensure your solutions meet performance goals. Gain hands-on experience by creating a working prototype to present to a client.

Compulsory

Explore how vehicles work and get hands-on with the tools and experiments used in the automotive industry. Study different types of vehicle technology and carry out practical experiments that help you understand how design choices are made. This could include:

• testing how cars perform in a wind tunnel
• measuring powertrain performance on a dynamometer
• creating and testing control systems
• investigating vehicle dynamics.

By the end of this module, understand how theory links to the real world, and how small changes or errors can affect the design and performance of a vehicle.

Compulsory

This module² provides you with an opportunity to reflect upon and gain experience for an approved placement undertaken during your programme. A placement should usually be at least 26 weeks or equivalent; however, each placement will be considered on its own merits, having regard to the ability to achieve the learning outcomes. 

Optional

This module² provides you with an opportunity to reflect upon and gain experience for an approved international study/work placement undertaken during your programme. A work/study placement should usually be at least 26 weeks or equivalent; however, each placement will be considered on its own merits, having regard to the ability to achieve the learning outcomes. 

Optional

Take a closer look at what makes a vehicle move and perform the way it does. Explore the key forces that help or resist motion and three key systems-aerodynamics, vehicle dynamics and powertrain. Learn how these systems work together to affect handling, speed and efficiency-giving you a solid understanding of how to design and improve high-performing vehicles.

Module topics include:

• aerodynamics - apply experimental and numerical techniques to generate the necessary data to analyse the aerodynamic performance of vehicles and critically evaluate your findings.
• vehicle dynamics - develop your capability in analysis and design of a typical four-wheel automotive chassis as used in automotive applications. Study the dynamics of vehicles covering the essential areas of tyre behaviour, tyre modelling, suspension analysis and the prediction of the full vehicle ride and handling characteristics
• powertrain - focus on the different propulsion and drivetrain systems-and the system requirements-in order to meet the technology demands as well as the current and future legislation. Explore the energy management of propulsion system and sub-system for developing efficient solutions using advanced control strategy theories.

Compulsory

Develop your capability in undertaking an Automotive product innovation process, working individually to produce a technical review and managing organisation and planning as a member of a team to deliver a complete project.

This module is about taking a design concept and moving it through a development process to finally realising the design-considering costs, simulation and analysis, materials and manufacturing processes. The ability to work at a technical level within a team or group is an important requirement within the motorsport sector as many OEMs are multi-national and multi-discipline.

Compulsory

Choose one of the following optional modules to complete the BEng. For those studying the MEng, module selection here will decide your master's year specialist pathway.

Vehicle Structures and Refinement - 30 credits
Leads to the MEng Automotive Engineering (Analysis Pathway)

Explore how vehicle structures influence comfort, durability and reliability, and learn how to enhance them through advanced design and analysis techniques. Examine how static and dynamic properties affect vehicle refinement, with a focus on noise, vibration and harshness (NVH), and how these factors are considered in modern vehicle design, testing, and development.

Gain practical experience with industry-standard Finite Element Analysis (FEA) software, using it to model, analyse, and simulate vehicle structural components. Investigate common NVH challenges and solutions and consider how structural responses over time can impact component durability and potential failures, helping you to develop highly valued skills for careers in automotive, motorsport, rail and aerospace, transport industries.

Explore vehicle safety, including occupant injury assessment, safety-related legislation, impact modelling and crash testing. Study FEA fundamentals, including static stress and modal analysis, and work with beam, shell and solid elements, applying industry best practice to ensure realistic computer modelling of components

Additionally, explore safety test regulations, crash test data analysis and Body-in-White (BIW) design technologies. Through practical testing and analysis, deepen your understanding of material performance and NVH theory, including vibration isolation, acoustics and how structural and airborne factors influence vehicle sound quality and passenger comfort.

Motorcycle Design and Development - 30 credits
Leads to the MEng Automotive Engineering (Motorbike Development Pathway)

The motorcycle industry presents many different design challenges when compared directly to the automotive industry. Explore how motorcycle design differs from car design. Learn how to design and test motorcycle powertrains and chassis and understand the unique challenges involved. Look at how different bikes are built and tested and develop the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in the motorcycle industry.

Autonomous and Electric Vehicle Systems - 30 credits
Leads to the MEng Automotive Engineering (Autonomous Pathway)

Get an introduction to the core safety, design and operational principles behind electric vehicle (EV) powertrain technologies. Explore how different systems work together and why sustainable, cross-disciplinary collaboration is essential to design and engineer the EVs of the future. Start to understand how autonomy and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) are becoming integrated into modern vehicles.

Begin with a high-voltage safety overview, exploring the precautions required when working with EV systems. Look at ISO26262 functional safety standards for EV powertrain control and how different modules, like the Vehicle Control Unit (VCU) and motor inverter, communicate with each other. Materials used for electrical isolation will also be covered.

Dive into battery chemistry, examining current and future trends, and get an introduction to the Battery Management System (BMS), its operation, communication protocols and safety features. Explore what goes into designing a safe battery, including its structure, packaging, cooling systems and electrical protections. Learn motor technology and how mechanical power is distributed in an EV, along with power electronics, focusing on key components, operating principles, control strategies and cooling requirements.

Finally, the module introduces the basics of autonomy, ADAS and the electronics and sensors that support these intelligent driving systems.

Availability of optional modules may vary depending on student demand.

Optional

Build and deepen your understanding of vehicle dynamics, aerodynamics and powertrain systems by applying these concepts to real-world automotive performance goals.

Explore how these three key systems interact, learning how to analyse and simulate advanced vehicle behaviours using data gathered from practical lab tests. These tests help validate models, assess accuracy and identify necessary design compromises to meet performance targets across different applications, whether it's for speed, efficiency, handling or stability.

Focus on each main area:

• In Vehicle Dynamics, study how a vehicle behaves under different driving conditions and how suspension, steering and tyres contribute to performance.
• In Aerodynamics, investigate airflow, drag, lift and downforce to understand how external forces affect speed and stability.
• In Powertrain, analyse how engines, gearboxes and drivetrains deliver power efficiently and how design decisions influence overall vehicle performance.
• Through advanced simulations and critical evaluation, learn to balance competing design objectives and create well-informed development strategies for future automotive innovations.

Compulsory

Get the chance to experience the full automotive product development process, from concept to completion. Working individually, research and write a technical review. As part of a team, manage and deliver a complete engineering project, just like in the real automotive industry.

Take an initial design idea and develop it through stages such as simulation and analysis, material selection, cost consideration, manufacturing and validation. Alongside technical work, use project management tools and learn how to communicate your solutions clearly through presentations and reports. These are essential skills for careers in global, multi-disciplinary automotive teams.

Key content includes:

• writing a clear problem specification, based on industry regulations
• understanding user needs and developing design concepts
• selecting and refining design ideas using criteria ranking
• creating detailed designs, with attention to materials and manufacturing
• using development tools like CAE (Computer-Aided Engineering), failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA), and value analysis
• building physical components or prototypes
• applying project management techniques
• presenting your final solution professionally through written and verbal formats.

By the end of this module, demonstrate real-world experience of taking a design from concept to reality, all skills highly valued by automotive employers.

Compulsory

Your MEng pathway is dictated by your 'final year' optional module selection.

Advanced Vehicle Structures and Refinement - 30 credits (Analysis Pathway)

Dive deeper into vehicle structures and learn how to analyse their static and dynamic behaviour to improve refinement, durability and reliability. Connect real-world engineering problems to theory, carry out practical experiments and design structures that are both functional and ready for manufacture.

Focus on how vehicle refinement is influenced by noise, vibration and harshness (NVH). Explore how dynamics and acoustics play a role in NVH performance and use hands-on tests such as modal analysis to understand the limits of both theory and practice. Learn how to manage uncertainty in design by applying proven engineering methods.

Using industry-standard Finite Element Analysis (FEA) software, gain experience in advanced simulation techniques. Model, analyse and optimise structural components and full vehicle systems, tackling complex issues like balancing mass reduction with structural strength. Build the critical thinking and technical skills needed for modern automotive engineering challenges.

Advanced Motorcycle Design and Development - 30 credits (Motorbike Development Pathway)

Take an in-depth look into vehicle dynamics, fluid and aerodynamics, and ergonomics when working on motorcycle design. Enhance your knowledge of these areas and apply them on a motorcycle and fully understand the challenges designing for such an application.

Advanced Autonomous and Electric Vehicle Systems - 30 credits (Autonomous Pathway)

Delve deeper into the world of electrification and autonomy, looking at key updates and requirements. Consider current and future trends to ascertain the impact on design choices and where current and future ethical, environmental and safety concerns lie. A greater focus on autonomy will be undertaken to explore the need and requirements behind the levels of autonomy, how we can develop a vehicle to account for this, the environment it is driving around and most importantly make correct choices about how to navigate around the environment it is in.

Module content includes:

• consideration of new and next phase electrical development considering
• a review of Autonomy and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS)
• electronics and sensors
• localisation and mapping
• computer vision for autonomous vehicles
• sensor fusion
• path planning and decision-making
• control systems for autonomous vehicles
• connectivity
• testing and validation of autonomous systems.

Optional