BEng(Hons) Automotive Engineering
This course is open for applications
Page last updated 5 February 2024
Introduction
Get your career off to a strong start with this IMechE accredited degree, by gaining experience through factory visits, professional briefings and testing your designs using our modern automotive simulator.
Accreditations and partnerships:
Why study automotive engineering?
The automotive industry is set for global growth over the next decade. Engineers play a role in designing cleaner and more efficient vehicles to address environmental challenges, while urbanisation is driving a need for better transport solutions.
These contemporary issues will create demand for professionals with knowledge and skills in automotive design and manufacture. If you're always asking questions, exploring different alternatives, and thinking creatively - then you're who we're looking for.
Why UWE Bristol?
Our new inclusive, problem-based curriculum will broaden our engineering audience, enabling students from a wider range of backgrounds to pursue a career in engineering. To date, we're the first university in the UK to transform our curriculum alongside constructing a new engineering building.
You'll be taught in our new state-of-the-art School of Engineering designed to revolutionise the way engineering is taught. Featuring engine test cells, dedicated collaborative learning spaces and all of the latest high-tech equipment, it's purpose-built to support a wide range of engineering disciplines.
Investigate engineering problems that interest you and gain hands-on experience by testing designs for automotive projects. You'll tackle real world issues through live projects and learn to take risks as you develop solutions in our state-of-the art labs.
Where can it take me?
As a student engineer, you'll start your professional journey towards becoming an incorporated or chartered engineer from day one. You'll learn by doing, applying and revisiting your early skills through embedded project weeks and development of digital and physical prototypes, just as you would in practice.
Choose from a range of career options in automotive design, manufacturing, and maintenance, enabling you to contribute to the next wave of green and sustainable transport technologies. You'll increase your employability too, thanks to our local industry links with some of the biggest names in engineering.
Take a look at the Engineering building
Step inside our new School of Engineering building at UWE Bristol.
Structure
Content
The optional modules listed are those that are most likely to be available, but they may be subject to change.
Year one
You will study:
- Engineering Practice 1
- Solid Mechanics, Materials and Manufacturing
- Dynamics Modelling and Simulation
- Thermofluids
- Applied Electrical Technology.
Year two
You will study:
- Engineering Practice 2
- Engineering Research
- Structural Mechanics
- Applied Thermofluids
- Dynamics
- Systems Design.
Placement year (if applicable)
If you study on the four year sandwich course, you'll spend a year away from the University on a work placement after Year two.
You'll complete a placement learning module.
See the Placements and Fees sections for more information.
Year three (Final Year for BEng)
You will study:
- Engineering Project
- Group Design and Integration Project
- Vehicle Design Fundamentals
- Automotive Manufacturing
- Emerging Automotive Technology 1
- Vehicle Dynamics
- Professionalism for Engineers (You will not study this module if you have completed the placement year).
Plus, one optional module from the following:
- Advanced Manufacturing Technology
- Control Engineering
- Materials and Structures for Special Applications
- Composite Engineering
- Integrated Electro-mechanical Systems
- Advanced Heat Transfer
- Engineering and Society.
The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved, we will inform you.
"I developed the skills I'd need for the automotive industry, such as computer-aided design (CAD), which was useful for my work in the Formula Student team. I now apply this real-world experience in my career as a Senior Project Engineer for Jaguar Land Rover SVO." Jordan, 2017 Automotive Engineering graduate
Learning and Teaching
Learn through a mix of lectures and tutorials, experimental laboratory work, engineering fabrication, drawing and design, computing and application-based mini projects.
Attend regular talks with professionals from organisations such as McLaren, Triumph and Jaguar Land Rover.
See automotive engineering in action at facilities such as Castle Combe, Jaguar Land Rover's manufacturing facility and Nissan's technical research and development centre.
Get involved in national competitions and initiatives to boost your skills and experience. Our UWE Formula Student team represents disciplines across UWE Bristol. Reflecting real-world practice, the team work on the business, marketing and costing of their race car, as well as the engineering.
Showcase your work to employers and the public at our annual degree show.
See our full glossary of learning and teaching terms.
Approximate percentage of time you'll spend in different learning activities*:
| Year | Scheduled learning and teaching study | Independent study | Placement study |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 29% | 71% | 0% |
| 2 | 24% | 76% | 0% |
| 3 | 19% | 81% | 0% |
*Calculated from compulsory and optional modules (where applicable) each year
Assessment
You'll be assessed through a mix of examinations and assignments. Some modules will include formal presentations as part of the assessment.
Learn more about assessments.
Approximate percentage of marks awarded by each assessment method*:
| Year | Written exam assessment | Coursework assessment | Practical exam assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 67% | 28% | 5% |
| 2 | 58% | 41% | 1% |
| 3 | 50% | 46% | 4% |
*Calculated from compulsory and optional modules (where applicable) each year
Features
Professional accreditation
This course is accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).
The accredited BEng (Hons) will meet, in part, the exemplifying academic benchmark requirements for registration as a Chartered Engineer and Students will need to complete an approved format of further learning pursuant to the requirements of UK-SPEC.
Placements
Students who go on work experience tend to graduate with better degrees. Experience also hones your skills, industry knowledge and professional network, making you a sought after graduate.
On a work placement, you will be able to apply your engineering knowledge at a choice of stages in the automotive industry.
Past students have completed placements with JCB, Prodrive, Nissan and Vauxhall as well as smaller dynamic companies in and around the region. Work with these can range from product development, vehicle dynamics and design, to manufacturing.
Study facilities
Our new engineering building is designed to inspire the engineers of the future. Built for hands-on investigation, with engine test cells, wind tunnels and collaborative learning spaces. An ideal environment for encouraging you to explore, take risks and discover ways to change the world for the better.
You will apply what you've learnt and develop vital professional skills, using the latest simulation equipment. As well as helping you develop the practical simulator skills demanded by employers, this equipment will enable you to assess performance before concepts are built.
You will test designs on our state-of-the-art driving simulator that utilises a Formula One monocoque and a wrap-around screen and can be programmed to test concepts on any car type and test-drive these on a range of terrains. Plus, test fuelling and ignition systems on our dedicated motorcycle rolling road.
Take a Virtual Tour of the Engineering facilities and see what's on offer here for you.
Start your dream career at UWE Bristol
Life
Accommodation
An excellent range of options for all of the Bristol campuses and the city centre.
Bristol
A stunning city for student living with all the qualities to make you want to stay.
Sports, societies and activities
There is more to your experience here than study. Choose to make the most of it and try new things.
Health and Wellbeing
We provide support in the way you need it.
Campus and facilities
Discover our campuses and the wealth of facilities provided for our students.
Careers
Careers / Further study
Our BEng(Hons) Automotive Engineering will offer you a strong grounding in mathematics, design, manufacturing and mechanical engineering. You'll study critical aspects of the industry, such as automotive manufacturing, engine systems, vehicle dynamics, materials, structures and safety.
Discover how engineering will challenge you and change the way you learn. You'll develop core skills that you'll take with you through your career, such as engineering, project management, report writing skills, innovation, teamwork and creativity.
With green transport technologies a focus of future transport developments, opportunities for eco-minded automotive engineers are predicted to increase. Many of our graduates go on to work in automotive research and development, design, manufacture and maintenance.
You'll benefit from a range of professional opportunities too. Complete work placements in areas such as product development, vehicle dynamics and design, and manufacturing. Compete with our multi-disciplinary team UWE Formula Student, which regularly succeeds at the annual Formula Student competition.
Get inspired
Our award-winning careers service will develop your employment potential through career coaching and find you graduate jobs, placements and global opportunities.
We can also help find local volunteering and community opportunities, provide support for entrepreneurial activity and get you access to employer events.
Visit our employability pages to learn more about careers, employers and what our students are doing six months after graduating.
Fees
Full-time; Sandwich course
Indicative Additional Costs
Supplementary fee information
Your overall entitlement to funding is based on how long the course is that you're registered on. Standard funding is allocated based on the standard number of years that your course lasts, plus one additional year.
You'll apply for funding each year that you study and Student Finance will take into account how long the course is in each year that you apply. So if you register for the four year course and then transfer to the three year course, the number of years you can apply for funding will change. Student Finance will reassess your funding based on how many years you have been in study, not just those years for which you received student finance.
Always seek advice before taking any action that may have implications for your funding.
Additional costs
Additional costs are for items you could need during your studies that aren't covered by the standard tuition fee. These could be materials, textbooks, travel, clothing, software or printing.
Entry
Typical offers
- Tariff points: 112
- Contextual tariff: See our contextual offers page.
- GCSE: Grade C/4 in English and Mathematics, or equivalent.
- English Language Requirement:
International and EU applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 with 5.5 in each component (or approved equivalent*).
* The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades you will need in our English Language section. Please visit our English language requirements page.
- A-level subjects: Grade C in Mathematics plus a pass in one of the following subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Computing/Computer Science, Design and Technology, Electronics, Engineering, ICT, Further Maths, Music Technology, Physics, Statistics.
Maths requirement can also be met by the Cambridge Pre-U Mathematics at Merit 3.
- Relevant subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Computing/Computer Science, Design and Technology, Electronics, Engineering, ICT, Further Maths, Mathematics, Music Technology, Physics, Statistics.
- EDEXCEL (BTEC) Diploma: You must be studying one of the following: Aeronautical Engineering, Construction and the Built Environment, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Engineering, Land-based Technology, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Operations and Maintenance Engineering.
To include Merit in one of the following units: Further Engineering Mathematics or Further Mathematics for Construction. Please list the units you are taking in your application. For further advice on acceptable units please email us.
For information on required Guided Learning Hours please see our minimum entry requirements page.
- Access: 15 Level 3 credits at merit in Mathematics and 15 credits at pass in another science or technology subject.
- Baccalaureate IB: To include a minimum grade of 5 in Higher Level Mathematics and a Pass at Higher Level in one of the following subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Design Technology, Physics, Environmental Systems and Societies.
- Irish Highers: H2 in Mathematics plus a pass in one of the following subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Engineering, Physics, Technology.
- T Levels: Grade C in A-Level Mathematics, in addition to your T Level qualification. If you have or are looking to partially complete your T-Level, you are still required to have the equivalent to 2 full A-Levels as part of our minimum entry requirements. As a result, if you are applying with only the core or occupational specialism, this may be insufficient as a stand-alone qualification.
Entry requirements
If you don't meet the entry requirements, you may be eligible for BEng(Hons) Automotive Engineering (with Foundation Year).
International applicants
For country specific entry requirements please find your country on the country information pages. If you are an international student and do not meet the academic requirements to study this course, you can qualify by completing preparatory study at our International College.
If you are applying to study at UWE Bristol and require additional support to meet our English language requirements, you may be able to attend one of our pre-sessional English courses. Read more about our Pre-Sessional English Programme.
Read more about entry requirements.
How to apply
Read more about undergraduate applications.
Read more about international applications and key international deadline dates.
For further information
- Email:
UK applicants
Admissions@uwe.ac.ukInternational/EU applicants
International@uwe.ac.uk - Telephone:
UK applicants
+44 (0)117 32 83333International/EU applicants
+44 (0)117 32 86644