Automotive Engineering BEng(Hons) with integrated foundation year

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Top reasons to choose this course

• Foundation year that opens up opportunities in engineering if you don’t hold the required qualifications, are changing career or returning to study
• Exciting project work that mirrors industry
• Learn with researchers with expertise in novel engine concepts, electric vehicles, and combustion of sustainable fuels
• Student-led Sustainable Technology and Engineering Projects (STEP) lab – projects to problem-solve energy challenges
• Specialist facilities include flight and car simulators, wind tunnel, prototyping labs and workshops, CNC machines, robotics and VR labs
• Progress to a degree accredited by IMechE and IET
• Guest lectures from professionals
• Gain work experience on placement on the BEng(Hons) degree.

Foundation year 

Modules

• Core Mathematics

  Core Mathematics enables you to develop the mathematical knowledge that you need to study engineering. You’ll explore key concepts from arithmetics and algebra to quadratic equations and logarithmic functions through lectures, tutorials and computer-based workshops.

• Core Science

  Core Science introduces you to the concepts and applications of physics and electricity and helps you to build the study skills needed on an engineering degree. You’ll learn basic experimental techniques, measurements and technical report writing.

• Engineering Mathematics

  This module builds on the concepts learned in Core Mathematics and further develops the mathematical skills needed to study an engineering degree. You’ll be introduced to concepts including calculus, complex numbers and matrix algebra. 

• Engineering Science

  Building on the skills learned in Core Science, this module introduces further key physical concepts including light, heat, sound and electromagnetism. As well as taking attending lectures and taking part in tutorials, you’ll take part in practical classes and workshops in the lab.

• Mechanics

  Mechanics introduces you to the key concepts of classical mechanics used across different branches of engineering which you will then use to analyse the behaviour of simple mechanical systems. Content includes equations of motion, Newton’s law of motion, momentum and its conversion and resolving forces into components.

• Foundation Year Project

  The foundation year project is your opportunity to develop study skills including time management, research methods, problem-solving and presentation techniques. You’ll work in a small team to produce a technical report and a formal presentation.

On successful completion of the foundation year, students will transfer to the Automotive Engineering BEng(Hons).

Making sure that what you learn with us is relevant, up to date and what employers are looking for is our priority, so courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis. When you have applied to us, you’ll be told about any new developments through Student View.

Year 1

In your first year, you will be introduced to the principles of mechanical engineering and develop skills such as computer-aided design (CAD). A major design project will combine knowledge gained in conceptual design, manufacturing and testing and put it into practice.

Modules

• Engineering Mathematics

  In this module you will learn to apply mathematical concepts and software tools to solve engineering problems. On completion you will be able to use analytical techniques and software tools to solve simple algebraic problems, develop mathematical models of engineering systems and apply an appropriate analytical method or software tool to solve a mathematical model.

• Engineering Practice

  On this module you will develop your engineering skills using projects as the focus of your learning. You will work on group projects, applying engineering skills such as reflection, organisation, planning, design, communication and planning. You will be introduced to concepts across a range of engineering specialisms as part of a problem-based approach.

• Mechanical Design

  This module introduces you to the principles of mechanical design and communicating engineering design intent. You will acquire skills in drawing and Computer Aided Design (CAD) drawing software package such as SolidWorks, and basic concepts of mechanical design and machine components.

• Energy Systems

  This module will provide you with an introduction to energy production, conversion, storage, conservation and coupling. This will be achieved utilising basic applied concepts relating to fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, heat transfer and engineering economics.

• Design Project

  In this module you will be in a team of engineers tasked with designing and manufacturing a functional product. Each team member will have to apply a range of engineering skills and knowledge to realise the design. You will gain experience of working within a team, planning and managing the design project.

• Materials and Manufacture

  This module introduces you to materials and their properties, a range of manufacturing processes and environmental considerations used to make components from various materials. Content includes manufacturing processes for plastic components, joining processes, classes of materials, material selection for design, eco-properties of materials and life cycle analysis.

Year 2

You will be introduced to the principles of engineering designs and systems and begin to specialise in automotive engineering.

Modules

• Dynamics and Control

  This module introduces concepts to describe the dynamic behaviour of practical engineering systems. You'll learn to build mathematical models for engineering systems that can be used to analyse and predict the dynamic behaviour of mechanical systems. You'll also explore design and simulation methodologies for systems to control the dynamic behaviour of engineering systems. 

• Engineering Systems

  Engineering Systems is an opportunity to work in groups with students from different disciplines to solve complex real-world engineering problems, including legal, ethical and environmental issues. Alongside developing your skills in fully integrated sub-systems, the group work will enhance your professional working practice skills.

• Mechanics of Materials

  This module covers the foundations of mechanics of materials and failure analysis, including crack propagation and fatigue failure. You’ll explore stress analysis under axial, torsional and flexural loading and for pressurised vessels as supported by relevant failure theories; concepts of stress concentration and stress intensity factors; and deflections of beams in bending and buckling instability. 

• Thermofluids

  This module introduces the fundamentals of thermodynamics, internal flows, heat transfer and the principles of energy conversion cycles, together with the design of thermal devices, rotodynamic machines and heat exchangers. You'll test out the theories in the lab with an experimental analysis of energy and fluid devices.

• Engineering Design

  On this module you’ll develop the knowledge and skills needed to undertake and apply engineering theory to design practice. You’ll work in multidisciplinary groups on the design and manufacture of an engineering project – from market research to product ideation, development and launch – ending with a competitive test of the product’s functionality.

• Manufacturing Engineering

  This module introduces the manufacturing elements of product development at the component level, including manufacturing processes and their associated tooling systems, design for manufacture and assembly, quality control and inspection for mass-produced products. You will learn how to choose manufacturing processes for a product and how to evaluate and control the quality of manufactured products.

Placement year

A placement year offers you a great opportunity to:

• build knowledge of real-world businesses and organisations
• develop existing skills and discover new ones
• make contacts in industry and commerce
• increase your confidence
• improve your time management.

You will also gain the appropriate amount of work experience to reach Engineering Technician (EngTech) status.

Our students have been on placement with companies including:

• BMW Mini
• Cummins
• Ricardo UK Ltd.

Final year

Areas of study include vehicle design and advanced fluid dynamics. You will also undertake an individual project, often supported by industry.

Modules

• Control Systems for Automotive Applications

  This module enables you to design and evaluate engineering control systems for automotive applications. You'll be introduced to classical and modern control theory, control systems design and compensator methods to improve system performance, and to relevant hardware in the field. You'll also explore the practical applications of digital simulation software used to build models to evaluate and analyse modern automotive powertrain and vehicle control systems.

• Vehicle Design

  This module will further develop your ability to design vehicles. Using a project-based approach, you will build your understanding and apply engineering techniques that underpin automotive design. You will also explore the management and professional techniques used when releasing automotive designs into the marketplace.

• Automotive Computational Fluid Dynamics

  This module enables you to reduce complex engineering problems to simpler problems and to apply theoretical concepts in fluid dynamics to your solution. You'll achieve this by applying potential flow theory, flow around bodies and boundary layer theory, turbulence modelling, compressible flows, heat and mass transfer theory and computational fluid dynamics technique (theory and practice). 

• Automotive Powertrain and Sensor Technology

  On this module you will consider the selection of propulsion systems and sensor technologies for road vehicles, thinking about customer and broader legislative and societal factors. Using industry-standard techniques such as the house of quality, you’ll explore how performance attributes are translated to engineering requirements. You’ll also examine modern automotive sensors in engine and vehicle sub-systems alongside the application of standards to vehicle design.

• Individual Project

  In this module you’ll be both technical expert and project manager of your major individual project which investigates a technical problem in significant depth. You’ll work independently, with a member of academic staff acting as project adviser, building your confidence and competence in project management. The project enables you to bring together the skills you’ve learned during your degree, such as research, analysis and engineering application.

Course fees

This course offers a professional placement (sandwich) year in year 3. If you choose to take this placement you will pay a reduced fee during this year. For students starting their undergraduate degree in the 2025–26 academic year, the fee for the professional placement year is £1,500 for UK students and £1,850 for international students. This fee may be subject to small increases in line with inflation.

The fees listed here are for the first year of full-time study if you start your course in the academic year 2025–26.

You will pay fees for each year of your course. Some fees may increase each year.

UK undergraduate and some postgraduate fees are regulated by the UK government and increases will not be more than the maximum amount allowed. Course fees that are not regulated may increase each year by up to 5% or RPI (whichever is higher).

If you are studying part-time your fee will usually be calculated based on the number of modules that you take.

Find out more

• Brighton Boost – cost of living help for our new undergrad students. Find out about how we can help with your study, accommodation or travel costs and more...
• Fees, bursaries, scholarships and government funding info for UK and international undergraduate students
• Student finance and budgeting while studying
• Read our student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf) for more on University of Brighton tuition fees.

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