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Introduction

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Location

Full time: 12 months

Course Length

Full time: 12 months

Why choose this course?

Course structure


Modules cover specialist automotive subjects, including Advanced Powertrain Engineering and Electric Vehicles. You’ll learn to analyse and fully diagnose components and assemblies, discover the management techniques crucial for engineering, and design, test and model vehicles in crash scenarios.
Your dissertation gives you the opportunity to study an area of automotive engineering that you’re passionate about at an in-depth level. And you’ll develop research, planning and project management skills along the way.

Industry-sponsored projects are available from national and international companies, including McLaren, MAN, and Artic Truck. Or you can undertake your own project and work closely with a research or commercial organisation of your choice.

Overview

Prepare for a career in automotive engineering with a combination of theory and practical, hands-on experience. Our ecosystem of automotive labs doubles as your research and learning space. You’ll have access to facilities including our High Voltage Energy Storage lab, driving simulator, the Joining Technology Research Centre, and #OxfordMetaverse, our virtual reality space.

During your time studying Automotive Engineering with Electric Vehicles, you can engage with activities and research groups through your dissertation and extra-curricular activities.

Visiting speakers from the industry help you get a fresh perspective on what’s going on in the profession of automotive engineering. They’ll share their expertise and experiences in technology, production methods, processes, and management techniques. This course is accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).

Modules

Compulsory modules

• Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) (20 credits)

This module looks at the analysis, quantification, characterisation and diagnosis of the noise, vibration and harshness of automotive components and assemblies.

• Advanced Powertrain Engineering (20 credits)

This module provides an understanding of areas such as powertrain system requirements, energy flow in the driveline, engine and powertrain modelling concepts for evaluating the performance of Powertrain systems.

• Engineering Business Management (20 credits)

This module provides you with an understanding of the management skills and knowledge that are important in engineering industries.

• Advanced Vehicle Dynamics (20 credits)

This module will give you a thorough understanding of the relevant theoretical and practical considerations associated with optimising vehicle performance. You will learn to apply advanced vehicle dynamic analysis techniques such as the derivative method and learn how to optimise suspension on our four-post rig.

• Electric Vehicles (20 credits)

This module develops comprehensive understanding of electric vehicles with the focus on advanced vehicle propulsion technology. The module covers the analysis, modelling, simulation and control of various electric vehicle architectures with the focus on the powertrain and associated electronics.

• Composite Design and Impact Modelling (20 credits)

This module will give you an understanding of material, component and structural behaviour when subjected to medium-to-high-impact events. This includes the design, testing and modelling of motorsport and automotive vehicles.

Final Project

Compulsory modules

• Dissertation (60 credits)

This is an individual project on a topic from automotive engineering, offering an opportunity to develop a high level of expertise in a particular area of automotive engineering, including use of industry-standard software and/or experimental work, the module will also provide you with research skills, planning techniques, project management. Whilst a wide range of industry-sponsored projects are available (e.g. MAN (Germany), VUHL (Mexico), McLaren (UK), AVL (Austria), Arctic Truck (Iceland) etc.), students are also able undertake their own projects in the UK and abroad, to work in close co-operation with a research, or commercial organisation.

Research

The emphasis in our research groups is producing high-quality research for the real world. Staff have close links with industry through research projects and consultancies.

Our engineering research is organised into three cross-cutting, interdisciplinary themes. Research in this area is supported by the UK Research Councils and the European Commission, industry and charitable foundations.

 Sustainable Engineering and Innovation
 Low Carbon Vehicles
 Simulation, Modelling and Systems Integration.

The results of the most recent REF (2014) exercise showed that 96% of research in the department is internationally recognised, and 57% was judged to be of world leading quality or internationally excellent, compared with 45% in 2008. More specifically, 50% of the impact case studies returned were judged to be internationally excellent, and 72% of the research outputs were judged to be internationally excellent or world leading.

Entry Criteria

ENTRY REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Home Office Share Code
For EU students only.

IF no Qualification
Please provide CV with at least 2 years of work experience, and employee reference letter.
Entry requirements

Specific entry requirements

You should normally hold a first degree equivalent to at least a British lower second-class bachelor's degree in mechanical, automotive or motorsport engineering or a related discipline. Applicants with relevant professional experience will also be considered.

Our standard entry requirement is three A-levels or equivalent qualifications. In some cases, courses have specific required subjects and additional GCSE requirements. In addition to A-levels, we accept a wide range of other qualifications including:

 the Welsh Baccalaureate
 the Access to Higher Education Diploma
 a BTEC National Certificate, Diploma or Extended Diploma at a good standard and in a relevant subject
 the International Baccalaureate Diploma
 the European Baccalaureate Diploma
 Scottish qualifications – five subjects in SCE with two at Higher level or one at Advanced Higher level, or three subjects in Scottish Highers or two at Advanced Higher level
 a recognised foundation course
 T-levels*.
 * T-levels are a relatively new qualification but are already included in the UCAS tariff. We welcome prospective students who are taking this qualification to apply. For some programmes with specific required subjects, particular subject areas or occupational specialisms may be required.

English language requirements



If your first language is not English you will require a minimum IELTS score of 6.0 overall with 6.0 in all components.
OR
An equivalent English language qualification acceptable to the University.

The university’s English language requirements in IELTS levels are as follows:

Course IELTS level
All other undergraduate courses 6.0 overall with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking
Law, Architecture, Interior Architecture, English Literature (including combined honours), English Literature and Creative Writing 6.5 overall with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking
Health and Social Care courses 6.5 or 7.0 overall with 6.5 or 7.0 in all components (see individual entries for course details)
Nutrition BSc (Hons) 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each component
Built Environment Foundation,
Computing Foundation,
Engineering Foundation 6.0 with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking
International Foundation Business and Technology,
International Foundation Arts, Humanities and Law 5.5 overall with 5.5 in all skills
International Foundation Diploma 5.0 overall with 5.0 in all skills
If you need a student visa you must take an IELTS for UKVI test.
International Foundation Diploma (Extended pathway) 4.5 overall with 4.5 in all skills
If you need a student visa you must take an IELTS for UKVI test.

Assessment

ASSESSMENT METHODS

1. INTERNAL ENGLISH TEST if you don't have an English accredited certificate
2. Academic Interview
Learning and teaching

You will be taught by staff from the department of mechanical engineering and mathematical sciences. You'll receive further input from visiting speakers from business and industry.

Assessment

Details of the assessment methods used for this course will be included here soon.

Career Opportunities

Careers

Many of our engineering students have found success in their fields, in the UK and abroad. Graduates work with Mercedes HPP supporting development of Mercedes Formula E team and Williams Advanced engineering, supporting Jaguar Formula E team. Recent graduates are working for companies including:

 BMW,
 Jaguar Land Rover,
 Aston Martin Lagonda,
 McLaren Automotive,
 Tata Technologies,
 Koenigsegg Automotive,
 Porsche.

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