Mechanical Engineering with Automotive Design BEng

About the Course

In recent times, the UK automotive industry has invested heavily in CAD and new test facilities. This, coupled with the shift towards automated manufacture, is leading to the adoption of new materials technology. This course will introduce you to these developments and to the field of automotive design as a whole.

All students on the sandwich course receive a Certificate of Recognition of Industrial Training.

About Mechanical Engineering at Brunel

From jet aircraft to air conditioning plant, from tunnelling machines to body-scanners, from technical consultancy to financial services such as insurance, mechanical engineers deal with the design and production of the machines, systems and structures that are taken for granted in the modern world.

The range and diversity of career choice is consequently tremendous. In response to this diversity, we offer a variety of parallel courses, three of which give emphasis in the latter part of the course to a particular specialism. We also offer the Foundations of Engineering course.

The range of courses reflects several of our research interests:

• energy and environmental engineering;
• internal combustion engines and their fuels;
• structures and materials;
• fluid mechanics.

Aims

This course will prepare you to meet the challenge of creating new and improved vehicle systems. You will gain a good grasp of mechanical engineering principles and an understanding of the new materials being used.

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

Related Courses

• Mechanical Engineering BEng
• Mechanical Engineering with Professional Development MEng
• Mechanical Engineering with Aeronautics BEng
• Mechanical Engineering with Aeronautics with Professional Development BEng
• Mechanical Engineering with Aeronautics MEng
• Mechanical Engineering with Aeronautics with Professional Development MEng
• Motorsport Engineering BEng
• Motorsport Engineering with Professional Development BEng
• Motorsport Engineering MEng
• Motorsport Engineering with Professional Development MEng

Special Features

• Much of our research is undertaken with collaborators outside the University, including major oil companies, vehicle manufacturers, and other leading industrial firms.
  
  
• You can enter the course on either the MEng or the BEng route. If you enter on the BEng route, you can transfer to the MEng programme at the end of Level 2 by obtaining an average of 60% at that level.
  
  
• Students benefit from laboratory facilities which are extensive, modern and well-equipped.
  
  
• You have the opportunity to study abroad, either in Europe as an Erasmus exchange student or at Iowa University in the US, during your second year.
  
  
• We have very good links with business and industry in the UK and overseas. This means that:

• Students have the opportunity to be part of the award-winning Brunel Racing Team, which involves designing, building and competing a high-spec racing car. Recent accolades include  6th place overall, and second place amongst UK universities, out of 87 international student teams in the 2009 Formula Student UK competition, held at the Silverstone Circuit.
  
  
• This degree is very popular in industry and consequently our graduates have a good employment record. 

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), which will allow you to train to become a Chartered Engineer in the future.

Fast-track route to Chartered Engineer Status

To become a chartered engineer you must fulfil certain requirements laid down by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. These are:

• An accredited four-year MEng degree or
• An enhanced three-year degree – ie a BEng (a BSc will not do), plus a Matching Section of minimum one-year duration.
• A minimum of two years’ approved industrial training with an appropriate company.
• A minimum of two years’ professional experience as a practising engineer.

This normally takes a total of eight years and can take longer if industrial training is difficult to come by. The provision of training can be expensive for employers, because they will incur costs in providing it, and will lose the use of an employee’s service while training is undertaken.

Brunel’s sandwich courses help smooth the way through this stage because the integrated work experience is approved by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. With a large proportion of industrial training already completed, students are well down the road to registration, even before graduation.

Facts and Figures

The School of Engineering and Design has about 1,900 undergraduate students, 800 postgraduates and around 150 teaching and substantial research staff.

Course Content

Levels 1 and 2 are common to all mechanical engineering degrees and aim to give you a strong grounding in engineering sciences. You will take a module which includes hands-on workshop practice and transferable skills training.

If you progress to an MEng programme you will, in addition, take Level 4, which represents one further year of study.

Languages

Language options are available in the final year of the MEng. Several levels of ability are catered for in French, German, Spanish and Italian.

Design

Design is an integrating subject in that it brings together all the academic disciplines in order to solve typical engineering problems. It is project-based, and often involves working in small groups. This work develops not only your engineering ability but also your communication and graphics skills.

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
• Mechanical Laboratories, Technical Drawing and Workshop Experience

Level 2

• Solid Body Mechanics
• Thermofluids
• Computing, Analytical Methods, Control and Instrumentation
• Professional Engineering Applications and Practice
• Design and Analysis of Mechanical Systems and Components

Level 3

• Major Individual Project
• Fundamentals and Applications of Numerical Modelling
• Business and the Environment
• Analysis of Vehicle Structures
• Vehicle Aerodynamics and Internal Combustion Engines

Level 4 (MEng only)

• Major Group Project
• Strategic Management and Enterprise
• Research Methodology and Innovation
• Advanced Modelling and Design
• Advanced Thermofluids
• Advanced Solid Body Mechanics

Teaching and Learning

Our philosophy is to underpin the industrial experience base of mechanical engineering with a rigorous and relevant programme of studies in fundamental principles and their applications.

Hours

In Level 1, contact between students and academic staff is relatively high at 17 hours per week. This will assist you in adjusting from school/college to university life. As the course progresses the number of contact hours is steadily reduced as you undertake more project-based work.

How will I be taught?

Lectures – These provide a broad overview of the main concepts and ideas that you need to understand, and give you a framework on which to expand your knowledge by private study.

Laboratories – Practicals are generally three-hour sessions in which you can practice your observational and analytical skills, and develop a deeper understanding of theoretical concepts.

Design Studios – In a studio you will work on group projects with guidance from members of staff. You may be required to design and produce an artefact or develop a solution to an engineering problem. These sessions allow you to develop your intellectual ability and practice your teamwork skills.

One-to-one – On registration for the course, you will be allocated a personal tutor whose role is to provide academic and pastoral support during your time at university. You will have one-to-one supervision on all Level 3/4 project work. If you go on an industrial placement, you will also be allocated an industrial tutor who will help you to achieve the training objectives necessary to satisfy the requirements for Chartered Engineer status with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. You will also be visited by a member of the academic staff to monitor the progress of your training.

Assessment

Level 1 does not count towards your final degree mark but you have to pass this year to continue with the course. Students wishing to transfer from the BEng to the MEng must achieve at least 60% at Level 2.

Several methods of assessment are employed on the course. There are written examinations at the end of each term, but work is also continuously assessed throughout. You will undertake projects, assignments, essays, laboratory work and short tests.

In this situation you can develop your management and leadership skills and ensure that all members of the group deliver their best. Group members share the mark gained, so it is up to each individual to get the most out of everyone else.

Employability

Students who study either of the four/five-year thin/thick-sandwich courses will carry out paid work experience as part of the course.

Many placements are with major vehicle and aircraft manufacturers, often in departments concerned with high performance engine development and all types of testing. Students have more than once flown as part of a test team!

One car manufacturer places its students in plants in France, Germany and the US. Other placements involve software development, thermal imaging and biomedical equipment. Some students have worked with Professor Heinz Wolff on space research in Brunel's Institute for Bioengineering.

Students have worked as flying instructors and SAS programmers with organisations such as:

• Fly Light
• GlaxoSmithKline
• R.P.S

Careers

The range of industries in which our graduates choose to work is vast, and includes: aviation and avionics; agricultural machinery; automotive design and manufacture; building services engineering; electronics; gas and water supply; North Sea oil production; mining and mineral processing; nuclear power; work for the water authorities; TV production; accountancy; banking; insurance; patent engineering; financial consultancy; the police; the armed forces; the railways; and the National Health Service.

Graduates have gone on to join prestigious companies such as:

• GlaxoSmithKline
• GE Finance
• Delphi
• Ford
• The Ministry of Defence
• Vodafone
  

Research

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

Placements

Sandwich students undertake high-quality, paid work placements within prominent companies and organisations.

The ethos of the School of Engineering and Design stems from the initial formation of the University as a technological institution in the mid-1960s. Until very recently, all students on the mechanical engineering degree programmes were sandwich students.

This is still the preferred option, although the increase in student numbers in the last few years has unfortunately not been matched by an equivalent increase in available industrial placements. Also, some students prefer to proceed with a straight-through academic programme.

Fees for 2013/14 entry

UK/EU students: £9,000 full-time

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.