Overview

In the modern world of vehicle design and manufacture, companies require engineers who are highly qualified and possess specialised skills. If you have an interest in innovative road vehicles and a mechanical or automotive background, this course could provide you with technical and managerial skills and expertise that are highly sought after by the automotive industry.

This highly focused course has been developed in consultation with our impressive network of industry partners, including Jaguar Land Rover and Aston Martin. It also draws on the industrial experience of academics and research activity which covers the major specialisms such as functional safety, optimisation techniques, propulsion systems, vehicle dynamics, human factors, connected and autonomous vehicles simulation and testing

We aim to equip you with the know-how to design and test vehicles that are more fuel efficient, refined and safe, by studying industry desired principles of design, operation, performance, safety and optimisation of automotive systems, as required to engineer a Connected Autonomous Vehicle. This could lead to a career as an automotive engineering specialist in a wide range of engineering, manufacturing, and service organisations.

Work placement option

This master's programme provides you with the additional option to apply for a 'work placement' opportunity during your first semester with us. The 'work placement', which if secured, can be carried out in the second year and is designed to further develop your skills, knowledge and professional experience with the aim of maximising your employability prospects. Please note that the optional placement modules incur an additional tuition fee of £4,000 payable on completion of ‘work placement’.

Course information

This course is designed to further your knowledge of the key aspects related to the automotive sector, with a focus on engineering of Connected Autonomous Vehicles (CAV). Content has been selected with industry demands in mind, aiming to provide you with desirable skills including optimisation techniques, functional safety of systems, understanding the challenges of CAV as well as CAV application in collaboration with our research institutes.

It aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of design processes and the ability to generate innovative designs for products, systems, components or processes. You will have the chance to develop, learn and apply new theories, concepts and methods in novel and challenging situations, analysing emerging technologies, analytical techniques and assessing their limitations. We aim to equip you with the skills and knowledge to analyse and assess commercial risks, management and business practices associated with the introduction of innovation in new situations and environments.

Career prospects

The course has a strong focus on the current demands of the automotive industry and will provide you with an opportunity to gain the skills and knowledge required to be able to start making a positive contribution to the company you work for from day one.

Industry-related projects aim to give you a feel of what the demands and expectations could be at your future workplace, as well as enabling you to practice and apply your skills to real engineering projects. You can also gain practical, hands-on experience in preparing, running and analysing results from experimental testing and numerical analysis.

The faculty enjoys close links with employers in the performance engineering industry, including Red Bull Racing, the Auto-Cycle Union, Lotus Cars, Penske Racing and Triumph Motorcycles, as well global manufacturers Jaguar Land Rover, Prodrive, MIRA, Whale Tankers and BAE Systems.