Automotive Engineering (Hons) BEng

About the Course

The UK automotive industry is historically known for highly innovative engineering, with various technical centres of excellence recently set up in the UK by global car manufacturers and suppliers. The main challenge set for these engineering centres is to design, develop and manufacture the next generation of road vehicles capable of providing improved environmental impact whilst maintaining acceptable vehicle performance, reliability and cost. The exciting low carbon vehicle technologies being developed within the UK, coupled with significant recent growth within the industry, makes for a highly challenging and rewarding career for talented UK Automotive Engineering graduates.

Automotive Engineering at Brunel aims to equip graduates with the key technical and managerial skills required to excel within industry. Specifically, the programmes of study have been constructed to give good balance between both the fundamental mechanical engineering subjects (including maths and engineering science) and the applied engineering disciplines (such as vehicle design and performance). The overall aim is to provide our graduates with excellent understanding of the fundamentals which, coupled with in-depth knowledge of the technical workings of current and future automotive systems, will allow them to become future technical or managerial leaders.

"The UK automotive industry is leading economic recovery with increased manufacturing output, growing export volumes and new jobs being created on the back of major international investment in the sector. Our engineering expertise, workforce flexibility and renowned motoring heritage, combined with top level collaboration between industry and government, makes the UK an important location for the global automotive industry". Paul Everitt, Chief Executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders

Aims

The BEng (Hons) (three years academic study) programme aims to produce graduates equipped to play leading professional roles in the automotive and related industries.

Enquiries

Mrs Petra Gratton
Admissions Tutor

School of Engineering and Design
Brunel University
Uxbridge
Middlesex
UB8 3PH

Tel +44 (0)1895 266633
Email me-ug-admissions@brunel.ac.uk

Course Content

Both programmes (BEng and MEng) cover the same topics in Levels 1 and 2, allowing students to transfer between them at the end of Level 2. The courses cover the fundamentals of mechanical engineering and design, providing an excellent grounding in key subjects common throughout the mechanical engineering disciplines. The first two years also provide exposure to other related engineering subjects, such as electrical and electronic engineering, and commercially important topics, such as management and related law. At the end of Level 2, students registered on the BEng course may switch to the MEng course if they have achieved an average of at least 60% in their Level 2 modules.

Levels 2 to 4 progressively introduce a greater degree of specialisation. Strong emphasis is placed upon achieving a good balance between practical and theoretical engineering skills, making best use of the excellent facilities available. For example, use of our modern and well equipped laboratories and standard industrial computer software plays a major role in the learning process. The practical aspects of automotive engineering are introduced as early as Level 1 in the form of laboratory experiments on existing vehicle sub-systems, which then lead to more advanced laboratories in Level 2. Advanced computer software in design, structural analysis, dynamics and mathematics are used from Levels 2 to 4, with our laboratory facilities also made available for experiments undertaken by students individually.

Typical modules

Level 1

• Fundamentals of Solid Body Mechanics
• Fundamentals of Thermofluids
• Analytical Methods and Skills
• Engineering Materials, Manufacturing and Electrical Machines
• Introduction to Engineering Design
• Automotive Engineering Laboratories

Level 2

• Automotive Vehicle Design and Performance
• Solid Body Mechanics
• Thermofluids
• Computing, Analytical Methods, Control and Instrumentation
• Professional Engineering Applications and Practice

Work Placement (thick sandwich mode of study)

Level 3

• Major Individual Project
• Automotive Structures, Propulsion and Manufacture
• FEA, CFD and Design of Engineering Systems
• Professional Engineering Practice

Teaching and Learning

Teaching is by a mixture of lectures, laboratories, design studios and one-to-one supervision. There are written examinations in May of each year and some assignments appropriately spread throughout the academic year and designed to aid student learning. In Level 3 all students undertake a major individual project, often involving experimental work and sometimes with industrial support. This is worth a third of the overall marks for the year.

Employability

Strong research and industrial links

Brunel has an excellent reputation in the field of mechanical engineering and the automotive subject discipline is one of our most active areas. Research centres include the Centre for Advanced Powertrain and Fuels, which is one of the best academic research facilities within the UK for advanced automotive powertrain research. Recent research projects have been undertaken in partnership with various industrial partners including Ford, Jaguar Land Rover, Lotus Cars, SAIC (MG), BP, Shell, Ricardo, MAHLE Powertrain and Delphi. The University was also recently awarded a multi-million pound contract from the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council to accelerate the introduction of future low carbon and lightweight vehicle technologies specifically in close collaboration with industry.

Some of our graduates go directly into such sponsored research at Brunel, leading to the award of a Doctor of Philosophy degree (PhD), whilst others spend several years in industry first.

Careers

If you opt for a sandwich course, you will have the added bonus of putting your academic study into practice and developing ideas about future careers. Some graduates are offered full-time graduate posts at the companies where they carried out their work placements. Students who complete the thick-sandwich course will be awarded their degree ‘with Professional Development’.

Many Brunel graduates are currently working in key technical and managerial positions within the automotive industry. Recent destinations have included Jaguar Land Rover, Aston Martin, McLaren Automotive, Bentley Motors, Ford, Nissan Technical Centre Europe, BMW (Mini), Lotus Cars, SAIC (MG), Changan, Tata Motors, BP, Ricardo, MAHLE Powertrain, Cummins, JCB, Perkins and Delphi.

Fees for 2013/14 entry

UK/EU students: £9,000 full-time; £1,000 placement year

International students: £15,000 full-time

We are introducing over 700 scholarships for 2013, meaning that one in five applicants who join Brunel next year will receive financial support from the University. See our fees and funding page for full details

Fees quoted are per annum and are subject to an annual increase.

Entry Requirements for 2013 Entry

• GCE A-level ABB, including Grade B in Maths and Grade B in Physics (General Studies and Critical Thinking not accepted).
• Irish Leaving Certificate AABBB, including Grade B in Higher level Maths and Grade B in Higher level Physics.
• Scottish Advanced Highers ABB, including Grade B in Maths and Grade B in Physics.
• Advanced Diploma Progression Diploma Grade A in Engineering, plus the Specialist Unit in Maths for Engineers at grade C along with 1 AS-level (excluding General Studies) at Grade B for Additional and Specialist Learning.
• BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma D*DD, including Distinctions in Further Mathematics for Technicians, and Further Mechanical Principles or equivalent.
• IBDP 33 points, including 5 in Higher Level Maths and 5 in Higher Level Physics.
• Foundations of Engineering See the course page; for external foundation courses, please contact the Admissions Tutor.
• Access Complete and pass Access to Engineering course with 45 credits at Level 3, of which 30 credits must be at Distinction and 15 credits at Merit or higher. All Maths and Physics units must be Distinctions at level 3.

For all of the above, 5 GCSEs or equivalent at Grade C or above are also required, to include English and Maths (please note that these must have been gained by the time you submit your UCAS application).

English Language Requirements

Brunel also offers our own BrunELT English Test and accept a range of other language courses. We also have a range of Pre-sessional English language courses, for students who do not meet these requirements, or who wish to improve their English.