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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

The modules you study combine practical experience, theory, and simulation to help prepare you for working in the industry. These include Racing Engine Systems, Advanced Powertrain, and Electric Powertrain. You’ll learn to review powertrain performances, understand the business requirements behind engineering and how to predict engine fracture and failure.

For your dissertation, you’ll study a specific topic of your choice at an in-depth level. They will help shape your research, planning and project management skills too.

You could take an industry-sponsored project from the likes of Ford, AVL, or a local racing team. Or you may prefer to work on your own project in the UK or abroad, and collaborate closely with a research or commercial organisation of your choice.

Overview

Train for advanced design roles with engine manufacturers and their supply chains. Our Racing Engine Systems postgraduate degree meets industry requirements and is the only one of its kind in the world. You’ll study race engine theories and learn how to design winning engines. And you’ll discover how to build the hybrid and electric engines of the future.

Many high-performance engines are designed in the UK’s motorsport valley. Being in Oxford means you’re right in the middle of it. This gives you unrivalled access to the industry - insight you can use during your studies.

You’ll be taught in state-of-the-art laboratories, in a specialist engineering building, by some of the best minds in the engineering business. And our experts will help you prepare for your career.

Modules

Compulsory modules

• 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 Strength of Components (20 credits)

This module develops knowledge and skills in fatigue and fracture analysis which are used to predict the conditions for fatigue failure and fracture and the life of mechanical components.

• Racing Engine Systems - Thermal (40 credits)

This module will give you a thorough understanding of the theoretical and practical considerations associated with the design and functioning of a racing engine. You will learn to perform advanced design analysis on each area, such as the block, valve-train, head design and thermal management. Practical analyses will be carried out using advanced analysis tools such as GT-Power, ANSYS, and ADAMsEngine.

• Electric Powertrain Systems (20 credits)

This module provides an understanding of areas such as electric powertrain system requirements and modelling concepts for evaluating the performance of electric powertrain systems.

Final project

Compulsory modules

• MSc Dissertation (60 credits)

The dissertation (core, triple credit) is an individual project on a topic from race engineering, offering an opportunity to specialise in a particular area related to high performance engines. In addition to developing your expertise in a highly specialised field, 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. McLaren, AVL, VUHL etc.), students are also able undertake their own projects in the UK and abroad, to work in close co-operation with a research, industrial or commercial organisation.
Research

The emphasis in our research groups is producing high-quality research for the real world. Our industry focused research includes an award-winning project with Yasa Motors and BMWi development.

Staff have close links with industry through research projects and consultancies. You can find out more on our department research pages.

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. 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

Teaching methods include:

 lectures and seminars to provide a sound theoretical base
 practical work to demonstrate important aspects of theory or systems operation.

We also invite visiting speakers from business and motorsport industry to provide valuable insights to your learning.

Assessment

You will be assessed through the following methods:

 coursework exercises
 essays
 presentations
 laboratory exercises
 examinations.

Career Opportunities

Careers

Many of our students secure work before completing their dissertation. They now have careers with motorsport companies, Formula One teams and their suppliers, and research laboratories. They’re working on developing next generation engines.

Our careers support system is available for help and advice with your career.

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