Search

Select location

Select type

Popular searches

Student Services

International Guide

Useful links

Student Payment Portal

Suggested courses

Start typing to see suggestions...

Automotive and Transport Design BA (Hons)

Undergraduate

A student working on creating a model of a vehicle

Create innovative design work while challenging conventions and responding to cutting-edge themes and contexts at the forefront of automotive and transport design.

Year of entry

2025-26 2026-27

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time
Sandwich

Duration

3 years full-time
4 years sandwich

Course code

WHG3

Start date

September 2026

Book an Open Day

Download a prospectus

Register for updates

Course overview

Create innovative design work while challenging conventions and responding to cutting-edge themes and contexts at the forefront of automotive and transport design.

Aimed at aspiring designers, this course delves into the latest developments in automotive and transport design, emphasising conceptual projects and real-world applications.

Explore design principles specific to the automotive and transport sectors.
Engage with industry-standard tools and technologies.⁴
Drive innovative projects focused on sustainable mobility and exceptional user experiences in automotive and transport design.

A star in the centre of a rosette.

Rated Gold Overall

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023

Five stars in a speech bubble.

5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

Top 5 Student City in England (Coventry)

QS Best Student Cities Index 2026

Why you should study this course

Stay ahead with a curriculum informed by current industry trends and best practices in automotive and transport design.
Gain practical experience through a variety of conceptual and real-world design projects that aim to develop your creative and technical skills.
Learn from experienced staff who bring valuable industry insights and professional expertise to support your development.
Develop a professional portfolio showcasing innovative design solutions that demonstrate your readiness for the design sector
Get fully prepared for a successful career in the automotive and transport design industries with our targeted career support and guidance.

About the School of Arts and Creative Industries

Our hands-on, practitioner-led approach is rooted in project-based learning. This creates opportunities for cross-disciplinary working and engagement with external collaborators. Where appropriate, you may work with peers from other courses, bringing specialist skills to interdisciplinary projects in ways that reflect the collaborative nature of creative studios and agencies in the creative industries.
Our learning and teaching mirror the needs of the creative industries, so you have the opportunity to develop the skills and attributes needed to become an industry specialist, leader and innovator.
Our studio culture seeks to ensure you are socially responsible in our creative community and develop critical thinking in research and making processes.
Our global initiatives aim to give you skills to become a collaborative communicator and make you culturally competent.
Our industry links typically enable us to host an exciting programme of guest speakers covering topics such as design case studies, careers and innovation workshops.²
Past students have worked on projects from electric scooters to ocean-going super yachts and everything in between.

Graduate Showcase 2025

Check out what our School of Arts and Creative Industries students produced for their final projects to showcase at Coventry University's Graduate Festival.

Attended by hundreds of industry professionals, family and friends, across multiple weeks, our students' work was showcased at our very own Phoenix Film Festival, live performances from our theatre and music students and an on-campus exhibition.

What you'll study

This course has a common first year.

The common first year enables you to work alongside students doing similar courses to you, to widen your knowledge and exposure to other subject areas and professions. You will have the opportunity to collaborate with other students, so you can share your insights and experience which will help you to develop and learn.

If you discover an interest in a specific subject you have studied, 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 and Transport Design BA (Hons)
Graphic Design (BA Hons)
Product Design (BA Hons)

Modules

Designer – 30 credits

Design isn’t decoration - it’s a series of choices, and every applied creative decision brings with it meaning. How do historical, contemporary and emerging design approaches inform what we do? Through disruptive idea generation and by considering informed creative options, explore how history and currency can be mobilised to enable your personal design approach. The module explores the history of the discipline, encourages appreciation of contemporary contexts, fosters the ability to relate practice to context, develops skills in debating and articulating understanding, and introduces the fundamentals of writing and the importance of understanding audiences.

You should learn to:

identify how cultural and contextual factors influence project opportunities and outcomes
select and curate information to support the conceptualisation and refinement of audience-specific creative outcomes in design
engage with emerging debates, information and observations to inform personal responses and directions.

Compulsory

User – 30 credits

Designing for people means understanding people - the receivers of our work. Who are they? How will they engage with the things we make? How do we tailor work to give audiences the best user experience? Working within real-world contexts, you will learn that creativity thrives on constraints and that innovation is about nuance. Simple but not easy - ready for a challenge?

You should learn to:

apply problem-solving capabilities to define, develop and refine creative ideas
recognise and respond creatively to real-world challenges within your design
engage with creative thinking techniques and experimental processes to develop personal understanding and practice.

Compulsory

Co-Creator – 30 credits

What drives great design? Curiosity, conviction and a deep understanding of its impact. Build on these foundations by discussing and exchanging feedback on your work and that of other students, which should also help you enhance your communication skills and design abilities. This is where your creative identity begins to take shape, where you start to uncover what truly motivates you. Develop your ability to articulate goals and intentions, reflect on your own experiences in relation to practice, work effectively with others, communicate decisions clearly and document your practice through archiving and recording.

You should learn to:

express your creativity through various outcomes in design
evaluate project experiences and activities to shape your individual practice
develop interpersonal skills and capabilities by collaborating with stakeholders, contributing to negotiation and project development.

Compulsory

Maker – 30 credits

Your discipline is one of making - whether through traditional analogue methods or modern digital techniques. In this module, you will explore and apply specialist tools that bring design to life in the pursuit of deeper and more immersive audience experiences. Combine your ideas and practical skills to create a design that capitalises on the best of both.

You should learn to:

develop ideas and practical solutions through specialist making techniques and processes in design
respond to practical challenges and reflect on their relative value in the context of your developing professional/codes of practice
reflect on and refine ongoing project work by exploring personal interests and identifying potential career goals.

Compulsory

Modules

Design Expertise - 30 credits

Integrate cultural and contextual factors relevant to automotive and transport design into creative project outcomes. Analyse information to refine concepts and engage in debates and observations to shape personal perspectives and directions. Examine contemporary trends, user engagement and the global context of the discipline while fostering reflective practice, professional development and critical evaluation of individual capabilities. Develop research, writing and investigative techniques, engage with specialist debates and learn to work effectively with diverse audiences using critical thinking strategies.

Compulsory

Experiment and Innovate - 30 credits

Cultivate innovative outcomes through experimental techniques and processes. Reflect on and challenge personal practice through discipline-specific responses to projects or themes. Continuously refine project work with a focus on career aspirations and creative exploration.

Compulsory

Design Communication - 30 credits

Communicate and implement intentions to shape and strengthen creative outcomes. Reflect on project experiences to enhance personal automotive and transport design practice through negotiation, and utilise interpersonal skills in stakeholder engagement, project negotiation and development. This module supports professional development by focusing on understanding and interpreting briefs, developing narratives and enhancing presentation techniques, while fostering practical decision-making, personal process recording, teamwork, idea sharing and inclusive communication.

Compulsory

Transform and Development - 30 credits

Transform ideas into practical automotive and transport design outcomes using selective techniques. Critically reflect on personal practice through discipline-related projects and refine ongoing work to align with career aspirations and pathways. This module encourages the use of selected analogue and digital techniques to explore ideas within automotive and transport design. It aims to support critical reflection on personal practice, project development and career-oriented goals through discipline-relevant tasks and professional development activities.

Compulsory

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.

Modules

UK Work Placement – 0 credits

This module provides you with an opportunity to reflect upon and gain experience for an approved placement² 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

International Study/Work Placement – 0 credits

This module provides you with an opportunity to reflect upon and gain experience for an approved international study/work placement² 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

Modules

Design Specialisation - 30 credits

Integrate a critically informed personal vision and ethos into automotive and transport design-related project opportunities. Challenge information to enhance the conceptualisation and development of creative outcomes and develop informed positions and personal ethos through inclusive and responsible cultural debates linked to your personal specialism. This module introduces approaches to brief writing, responsible research and contextual critical thinking, while encouraging you to explore professional development, define personal principles for practice and consider how to engage and create audiences.

Compulsory

Concept Creation - 30 credits

Develop and refine outcomes using your unique creative approaches. Address real-world problems by critically engaging with traditions and conventions to find innovative solutions and establish creative practice principles that define and expand your identity in line with future ambitions. This module offers opportunities to explore and challenge personal creative approaches, consider individual positioning within the discipline and develop a specialist focus, while reflecting on practice in evolving industry contexts and trends.

Compulsory

Design Transformation - 30 credits

Strategically apply intentions to guide automotive and transport design-related creative outcomes. Reflect on project experiences to enhance practice and manage interpersonal skills during stakeholder engagement. Design development will be supported by research into aesthetics, user factors, operational sense and functional appreciation, addressing cultural, political, environmental, technological, social and legislative contexts. Engage in peer review and evaluation within creative design development while exploring aspects of project management, storytelling, user needs, team roles and effective communication, including negotiation and presentation skills.

Compulsory

Prototype and Visualise - 30 credits

Transform automotive and transport design-related ideas into practical solutions using specialist techniques. Make deliberate responses to practical challenges, critically assess their value and articulate, and reflect and refine personal practice in the context of continuously evolving discipline environments.

Compulsory

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

Teaching and learning methods may include:

lectures
seminars
tutorials
presentations
group projects
workshops
practical studio sessions
practical workshop sessions.

We work together with a whole range of companies to offer you experiences—from projects to placements—to enhance your studies. Our collaborators offer competitions, portfolio surgeries, speaker events and workshops.². In the past, our collaborators have offered competitions, portfolio surgeries, speaker events and workshops. The scope of involvement may change from year to year and varies from provider to provider. Our collaborators may include:

Aston Martin
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR)
SAIC/MG
Nissan
TATA
Winch Design – Superyachts
BSA motorcycles
Design consultancies
Autodesk
Gravity Sketch.

The scope of involvement may change from year to year and varies from provider to provider.

Teaching contact hours

As a full-time undergraduate student, you will study modules totalling 120 credits each academic year. You will normally study one 30-credit module at a time. A typical 30-credit module requires a total of 300 hours of study made up of teaching contact hours, guided and independent study.

Teaching hours

Teaching hours may vary depending on your year of study and selected modules. During your first year, you can expect 12-15 teaching hours each week. You will also have the option to attend additional sessions, including time with a progress coach or to meet with staff for advice and feedback. As you progress through your studies, teaching hours may reduce.

Guided and independent study

Throughout your studies, you will be expected to spend time in guided and independent study to make up the required study hours per module. You’ll be digging deeper into topics, review what you’ve learned and complete assignments. This can be completed around your personal commitments. As you progress through your studies, you’ll spend more time in independent study.

Online learning

As an innovative university, we use different teaching methods including online tools and emerging technologies. So, some of your teaching hours and assessments may be delivered online.

Assessment

This course is assessed using methods that vary by module. These approaches are intended to prepare you for the complex and evolving contexts of professional practice.

Assessment methods may include:

artefacts
practical coursework
digital coursework
individual work
group work
live/video/poster presentations
projects
individual assignments.

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.

Entry requirements

Typical entry requirements:

Requirement	What we're looking for
UCAS points	112
A level	BBC
GCSE	GCSE maths and English at grade 4 / C or Functional Skills Level 2, or other equivalent Level 2 awards
BTEC	DMM
IB Diploma	27 points
Access to HE	The Access to HE Diploma. Plus GCSE English at grade 4 / C or above.

Portfolio

You may be required to attend a portfolio showcase, activity session or audition or submit a portfolio via email (as is appropriate to your course), either virtually or face to face, as is practical to arrange. Invites for these sessions will be sent directly to your contact email.

Each application will be considered on its merits.

Other qualifications and experience

Our students come from a variety of backgrounds, each with a unique story. We recognise a breadth of qualifications. If your qualifications differ from the above, contact our Admissions Team who will be happy to discuss your qualifications and routes into your chosen course.

Contextual/Fair Access Offers

If you meet the criteria for our Fair Access Offer, you could automatically receive a contextual offer which is 16 UCAS points lower than our standard entry requirements. View the criteria for our Fair Access Offer.

Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:

South East Asia

You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

Portfolio

You may be required to attend a portfolio showcase, activity session or audition or submit a portfolio via email (as is appropriate to your course), either virtually or face to face, as is practical to arrange. Invites for these sessions will be sent directly to your contact email.

Each application will be considered on its merits.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.0 overall, with no component lower than 5.5.

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

Fees and funding

Student	Full-time	Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man	2026/27 fees TBC 2025/26 fees: £9,535 per year	Not available
EU	2026/27 fees TBC 2025/26 fees: £9,535 per year with EU Support Bursary 2026/27 fees TBC 2025/26 fees: £19,850 per year without EU Support Bursary	Not available
International	2026/27 fees TBC 2025/26 fees: £19,850 per year	Not available

If you choose to study this course with a professional placement² or study abroad year, you will need to pay a tuition fee³ to cover your academic support throughout your placement year. Students commencing their professional placement in the academic year 2027/28 will pay £1,500 if they are paying UK fees, or £1,800 if they are paying international fees.

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.

The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permits an increase in tuition fees, the university 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.

If you choose to study this course with a professional placement, the University will charge the tuition fees stated above for those on a placement during Academic Year 2027/28. The University will review professional placement tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study, but such that it will be no more than 5% above inflation.

For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

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.

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).

*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.

**EU Support Bursary

Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.

How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.

If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.

Facilities

Our purpose-built Delia Derbyshire creatives building will be your primary learning location. We have generous studio and making spaces⁴. Our studio environment allows you to experience working practices that are typical in industry, and our workshops are equipped so that you can use a large variety of different materials and processes to make physical models.

For digital work we have PC labs equipped with high performance machines that can handle digital modelmaking, visualisation and animation. We make sure we have the latest industry compatible software packages.

Immersive studios provide VR and mixed-reality technologies.
Workshops: state of the art robotic milling, rapid prototyping, desktop CNC milling, 3D printing, digital scanners, large block material workshops, large scale painting facilities, hack spaces and manual workshops.
Specialist design studios: with presentation, VR, pin-up spaces, small group break out areas, Wi-Fi throughout, a dedicated print bureau for 2D outputs up to A0 size, and art supplies shops.
Clay studios: automotive clay is a valuable method to build scale models and evaluate forms. This iterative process is still an effective means to evolve complex automotive surfaces and shapes.

Student using the facilities in the digital design workshop

Workshops

Our extensive workshops will allow you to model in wood, metal, plastics, glass, ceramics and styling clay, with additional facilities for 3D printing, CNC milling and laser cutting. (Location: Delia Derbyshire Building)

Student in a Mac studio

Software suites

Our PC and Mac labs are equipped with the latest 2D and 3D software, including Adobe Creative Cloud. (Location: Delia Derbyshire Building).

Student and lecturer working in studio

Studio Spaces

You will have open access to specialist design studios in which to work and collaborate. (Location: Delia Derbyshire Building)

Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.

Careers and opportunities

Career prospects in automotive and transport design are incredibly varied, offering a wide range of exciting paths after graduation. Graduates have found opportunities in automotive exterior and interior design, user experience, clay and ‘hard’ modelling, digital modelling and surfacing, 3D visualisation and animation, colour and materials design, user interface design, lifestyle products and design research. Roles could include the following:

Design consultant
Modeler
Illustrator
CAD professional
Design manager
Business owner
Marketing professional.

Where our graduates work

Previous graduates have gone on to work for a number of prestigious companies. These include:

Jaguar Land Rover, Bentley, Rolls-Royce
General Motors, GMC, Ford
VW, Audi, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz
Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Mazda
Geely (Lynk&Co, Lotus, Volvo, LEVC), SAIC/MG, Changan
Sunseeker, Winch Design, RWD, Reymond Langton Design
BSA, Royal Enfield, BMW
Kiska, Ariel, Avant, Astheimer, Vital
Lego, Hotwheels-Mattel, Simba-Dickie Toys.

The graduate destinations listed above illustrate potential career paths. You may need to gain additional qualifications or practical experience, pass professional examinations, complete training, cover associated costs and meet specific visa or immigration requirements to secure employment in these fields.

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.

Two students sat at a desk working on a laptop

Discover Phoenix+

Phoenix+ brings you together with other students to learn, experience and develop essential knowledge and skills. Whatever destination you choose, it's about preparing you for life after university.

Learn more about Phoenix+

How to apply

Institution code

View our courses on UCAS

UK students

Full-time students can apply for this course through UCAS. 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.

+44 (0)24 7765 2222

ukadmissions@coventry.ac.uk

Complete our contact form

International students

International codes:
AHU088

How to apply

For further support for international applicants applying for an undergraduate degree view our International hub.

You can also download our International mini guide for an overview of study options and why you should study with us.

Get in touch with us today for further advice and guidance.

+44 (0)24 7765 2152

ioadmissions@coventry.ac.uk

Complete our contact form

Disclaimers

Coventry University together with Coventry University London, Coventry University Wrocław, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough, and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the University) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University.

¹Accreditations, partnerships and memberships

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. See the relevant body website for more details). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships are subject to successful renewal in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery. If the accreditation, recognition or membership of this course changes, we will seek to notify applicants and students as soon as possible.

²UK and international opportunities

Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or international opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be unpaid and/or subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel, public authority guidance, decisions or orders and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand any visa requirements, please contact the International Office.

³Tuition fees

The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University 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.

If you choose to study this course with a professional placement, the University will charge the tuition fees stated above for those on a placement during Academic Year 2027/28. The University will review professional placement tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study, but such that it will be no more than 5% above inflation.

For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

⁴Facilities

Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.

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 current 2025/2026 contract is available on the website for information purposes however the 2026/2027 contract will apply for the 2026/2027 intake. 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.

You may also like

Smiling student standing in front of a wall covered in art

Browse Art, Design and Fashion courses

Coventry University (Coventry)

Sketches of a product design

Product Design BA (Hons)

Coventry University (Coventry)

Student holding their portfolio in front of a wall of students' graphic design works

Graphic Design BA (Hons)

Coventry University (Coventry)

Woods surrounding a mirrored structure art piece, reflecting the ground, sky and trees

Foundation Art, Design and Media Practice

Your next steps

Fees and funding

Discover Uni stats

University of the year shortlisted

QS Five Star Rating 2023

TEF Gold 2023