Motorsport 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

Get hands-on with motorsport technology as you explore how race cars are tested and improved using both real-world and virtual experiments. Study key vehicle systems and learn how they behave under different conditions. Carry out your own experiments, analyse the results, and write a short report explaining what you did and what it means. This helps you connect what you learn in class with what happens in practice.

Explore standard motorsport experiments and technologies, including:

• wind tunnel aerodynamics
• powertrain and dynamometer testing
• control systems
• 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

• 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 a motorsport 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 for all pathways

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 Motorsport 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.

• Race Engineering and Performance Simulation – 30 credits
  Leads to the MEng Motorsport Engineering (Race Engineering Pathway)
  Build the skills you need to plan, manage, run and analyse experiments used in motorsport, with a particular focus on the role of a race engineer. Explore how all aspects of a vehicle’s setup and components are tested and refined at a circuit or simulated environment, gaining the tools and experience to run a car effectively during a test or event.

  Learn how to use industry-standard data analysis software to assess both vehicle and driver performance, helping you identify areas for improvement. Work with professional lap-time simulation tools, learning how to tailor them to specific vehicles and circuits to enhance setup decisions.

  As part of this, explore how changes to a vehicle’s dynamics, aerodynamics and powertrain affect its performance in a simulated environment. Apply this knowledge by planning and running a test session—either using the Cruden 6DoF simulator or at a real track—developing a clear understanding of what it takes to improve performance from a race engineering perspective.

• Motorsport Systems Engineering – 30 credits
  Leads to the MEng Motorsport Engineering (Motorspot Systems Pathway)
  Get introduced to the subject of systems engineering and develop the understanding of data acquisition systems and their integration into a motorsport vehicle.

  As more and more vehicle systems become electronically controlled, the need to understand the full vehicle electronics, control and the ability to interact with the data from these systems is important for any track-side or factory-based motorsport systems engineer.

  As such, this module focuses on the electronic side of vehicle systems, their integration and data analysis for fault-finding from wiring harness design and sensor calibration to hardware in the loop modelling.
  Module content includes:

• examining various data acquisition systems, their uses and suitability for the specific systems and getting hands on experience of data analysis software you are likely to see in the workplace
• looking at network solutions for the integration of multiple different systems and developing skills in both writing and decoding files for CAN communication
• investigating different sensor types to capture the required data and understand the differences in terms of precision, cost, durability etc to ensure that the sensors can withstand the harsh motorsport environment and to ensure their correct calibration to have trust in acquired data
• looking at vehicle wiring harness design and manufacture and appreciating the ways to optimise this for use in motorsport
• examining powertrain and chassis systems calibration strategies in real life with the use of vehicle laboratories using the hub dynamometers.

Availability of optional modules may vary depending on student demand.

Optional

Build and advance your knowledge of the subjects of vehicle dynamics, aerodynamics and powertrain by considering specific applications relating to the motorsport operational objectives.

Topics include vehicle dynamics, aerodynamics and powertrain and their interactions with one another. Explore advanced simulation and analysis built on data from practical tests in the labs to validate models, prove fidelity and understand where compromise in design is needed to ensure design targets are met for a range of different applications.

Critically evaluate to understand the impact different targets will have on the design, creating a guide for any future developments.

Compulsory

An important part of any project setup is to clearly define the scope, to understand and evaluate potential constraints and risks, to understand current industry best practice and latest research and to define how it will be progressed and delivered.

Work in groups to formulate a project proposal based on the research and/or development of an innovative design for a product, system, component or process that will fulfil new needs.

Assess current industry practice, review background literature, formulate an appropriate approach, evaluate and mitigate risk and establish the proposed work scope and deliverables. Select and apply appropriate project management techniques that will enable you to successfully deliver their project.

Demonstrate an ability to conduct research and/or development of an innovative design for a product, system, component or process that aim to fulfil new needs. The research and/or development must address a key question or requirement and incorporate where appropriate the most advanced technical and mathematical concepts from both your past knowledge and that acquired during the course. Develop a professional working relationship with a client and deliver a solution to the industry standard along with due consideration to limitations and recommendations for future work.

Compulsory

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

Advanced Vehicle Structures and Refinement (Analysis Pathway) – 30 credits
Delve further into the aspects of vehicle structure to assess its static and dynamic properties in relation to vehicle refinement, durability and reliability. Being able to relate real world problems to theory, investigate through practical experiments and design structures suitable for manufacture is an essential part of any engineer’s capabilities.

Examine vehicle refinement through noise vibration and harshness (NVH) considering the impact of dynamics and acoustics required in NVH design analysis, testing and development. Examine practical elements such as modal analysis to ascertain the limitations of theory and practice to identify how uncertainty can be managed through the design process.

Software techniques and the application of Finite Element Analysis (FEA) in modern engineering design and analysis will be examined more deeply using industry standard FEA software to model, analyse and simulate structural components and systems. The module focuses on vehicle structures and the complex nature of non-linear problems like the interaction between mass optimisation and structural integrity.

Advanced Race Engineering and Performance Simulation (Race Engineering Pathway) – 30 credits
Build your skills in planning, managing, running and analysing real-world motorsport tests—both virtual and physical—just like a race engineer. Take control of vehicle setup, specify components and predict performance for test sessions at a race circuit or using the Cruden 6DoF simulator.

Use industry-standard data analysis software to assess both vehicle and driver performance, identify areas for improvement and apply changes based on real data. Explore lap-time simulation tools, learning how to adapt them for specific vehicles and circuits to gain a competitive edge.

Through simulation, see how changes to vehicle dynamics, aerodynamics and powertrain systems affect performance. Plan and run full test sessions, gaining insight into what it takes to develop a vehicle from a race engineering perspective.

Go a step further by building your own lap-time simulator to fine-tune performance for a particular vehicle and driver combination, putting theory into practice and preparing you for future roles in motorsport performance engineering.

Advanced Motorsport Systems Engineering (Motorsport Systems pathway) – 30 credits
Deepen your understanding of systems engineering and explore how advanced data acquisition systems are integrated into modern motorsport vehicles. As vehicles become increasingly controlled by electronics, it’s essential to understand how these systems work together and how to interact with the data they produce—whether you're trackside or in a factory environment.

Focus on the design and integration of advanced electronic systems, learning how to develop a complete system architecture from a hardware-in-the-loop perspective. Examine different types of data acquisition systems, gain hands-on experience with industry-standard data analysis software and explore how to apply these tools in real motorsport scenarios.

Learn how to integrate multiple vehicle systems using network solutions and gain key skills in writing and decoding CAN communication files. Investigate various sensor types and specialist measurement techniques, understanding how to choose the right sensor for performance, durability, and cost, especially in demanding motorsport environments.

Look at how to design and manufacture vehicle wiring harnesses, learning to balance weight, performance and reliability. Using hub dynamometers in vehicle labs, test and refine calibration strategies for powertrain and chassis systems.

Build and apply your own mathematical tools for data analysis and create hardware-in-the-loop systems that allow you to test real components in a virtual environment without needing to run the car. This prepares you for high-level roles in motorsport electronics, systems design and simulation.

Optional