Automotive Engineering BEng (Hons)

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See past the aesthetics of a vehicle and learn about the mechanical beauty of how it works. Learn how to change the future of motor vehicles and the current environmental challenges the industry faces in today's commercial climate. Equip yourself with the skills needed for a wide range of careers in the automotive industry.

Apply for a Clearing place

Overview

This course will equip you with the skills you need to be an accomplished Automotive Engineer. In your first year you'll develop an excellent foundation in engineering, and then from the second year you will specialise in vehicle systems.

We host the Institute for Automotive and Manufacturing Advanced Practice (AMAP) which has allowed us to forge excellent links with many local industrial companies including the Nissan plant and its supply chain, among others.

Please contact us to discuss part-time options.

Why us?

  • 93.4% of our graduates are in employment, further study or training within six months of graduating, according to DLHE 2016/17 (based on full-time, first degree, home leavers)
  • You will be supported by staff with a wealth of academic and industrial experience
  • You have the opportunity to take part in Sunderland’s Formula Student project
  • According to the National Student Survey 2018, our Mechanical, Production and Manufacturing Engineering courses are ranked 3rd in the UK for Assessment and feedback and Academic support, 5th for Organisation and management, 9th for The teaching on my course and Overall satisfaction, and are in the top 25% for Learning resources and Student voice
  • Automotive Engineering is accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) as partially fulfilling the educational requirements for Chartered Engineer (CEng) status
  • Strong track record of graduates gaining employment in the automotive and associated sectors

Course structure

Teaching methods include lectures, seminars, group work, laboratory projects and e-learning. We encourage you to develop independent study skills. You will also have opportunities to present ideas to other students and develop concepts within groups.

As well as assessments that count towards your degree, there are also on-going assessments for feedback and consolidating your learning. Assessment methods include exams, coursework and projects.

Year 1 (national level 4):

  • Electronic and Electrical Principles (20 credits)
  • Applied Mechanics (20 credits)
  • Design, Drawing and Practical Skills (20 credits)
  • Engineering Mathematics (20 credits)
  • Manufacturing and Materials (20 credits)
  • Energy Conversion (20 credits)

 

Some modules have prerequisites. Read more about what this means in our Help and Advice article.

Read more

Year 2 (national level 5):

  • Vehicle Chassis Engineering (20 credits)
  • Computer-Aided Engineering (20 credits)
  • Engineering Mechanics (20 credits)
  • Thermofluids and Engines (20 credits)
  • Design Methods and Applications (20 credits)
  • Automation for Manufacturing (20 credits)
Read more

Year 3:

Work placement (optional)

Final year (national level 6):

  • Automotive Design and Materials Selection (20 credits)
  • Manufacturing Systems Design (20 credits)
  • Project (40 credits)
  • Automotive Dynamics and Control Systems (20 credits)
  • Professional Management Techniques (20 credits)
Read more

The David Goldman Informatics Centre,
Sir Tom Cowie Campus,
St Peter's Way,
Sunderland,
SR6 0DD

54.912323,-1.373368

  • Our specialist facilities include laboratories for electronics and electrical power, and robotics and programmable logic controllers. We also have advanced modelling software that is the latest industry standard.

    In addition, the University is the home of the Institute for Automotive and Manufacturing Advanced Practice (AMAP), which builds on Sunderland’s role as a centre of excellence in the manufacturing and assembly of cars.

    Engineering facilities - automotive

  • Formula Student is Europe's most established educational motorsport competition, run by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Backed by industry and high profile engineers such as Patron Ross Brawn OBE, the competition aims to inspire and develop enterprising and innovative young engineers.

    Students are challenged to design, test, build and race a 600cc single-seat racing car against other universities in the Formula Student contest. The University of Sunderland's Formula Student Team is supported by industry and we are currently working with companies such as Wurth and Alice Racing. We operate a number of test vehicles and have access to the test track adjacent to Nissan MMUK in Sunderland.

    Formula Student / SU Racing

  • We’ve got thousands of books and e-books on engineering topics, with many more titles available through the inter-library loan service. We also subscribe to a comprehensive range of print and electronic journals so you can access the most reliable and up-to-date academic and industry articles.

    Some of the most important sources for engineers include:

    • British Standards Online which offers more than 35,000 documents covering specifications for products, dimensions, performance and codes of practice
    • Abstracts from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and Institution of Engineering and Technology, including journals, technical reports and dissertations 
    • Science Direct, which offers more than 18,000 full-text journals published by Elsevier, with journals such as ‘Engineering Structures’, ‘Advanced Engineering Informatics’ and ‘Electric Power Systems Research’
    • Archives of publications from Emerald, including over 35,000 full-text engineering and management articles
    Library Services - engineering

Facilities

You will be based at the David Goldman Informatics Centre. Our specialist labs include:

• Product Development Lab
• Electronics Lab
• Automation Lab
• Project Lab
• Material Characterisation Lab
• Formulation Lab
• Thermofluids Lab
• Mechanical Engineering Lab

You will have access to a range of industry leading technologies at the Industry Centre, the home of the Institute of Automotive and Manufacturing Advanced Practice as well as access to industrial standard software to help prepare you for a future career in a digital context.

Entry requirements

Our typical offer is


  • GPA 3.0 or above from High School Diploma along with one of the following at the required grade - SAT I and SAT II, ACT or Advanced Placement

which must include Maths or Physics.

We also require three passes at GCSE grade C or above, which must include Mathematics and English Language, or an equivalent qualification, for example; a minimum of Level 2 Key Skills in Communication and Application of Number. If you have studied for a new GCSE for which you will be awarded a numerical grade then you will need to achieve a grade 4 or above.

If English is not your first language we will require an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with an overall score of 6.0 and at least 5.5 or higher in each component: reading, writing, listening and speaking. An alternative approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) can also be considered if the applicant's element scores are equivalent to those required for IELTS.

Fees and finance

The annual fee for this course is:

  • £9,250 if you are from the UK or EU
    £10,750 if you are from outside the EU

If you are not sure whether you qualify as a UK, EU or international student, find out more in our Help and Advice article.

Take a look at the Your Finances section to find out about the scholarships and bursaries that may be available to you.

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This information was correct at the time of publication.

The Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peter's by night

Employment

Recent graduates have secured graduate jobs that pay around £28,000 a year, with companies such as McLaren Automotive, General Motors and Nissan.

Graduate success

Sunderland has a good reputation with employers. Our recent graduates have gone on to work for companies such as McLaren Automotive, General Motors, Jaguar, Perkins Engines and Parametrics Technology. Other graduates conduct research within major automotive manufacturers such as Ford, Vauxhall and Nissan.

Placements

To further enhance employability we encourage you to apply for a 48-week placement where available between your second and final year. Placements are subject to availability and interviews are required. They are usually paid, with past students having earned an average salary of £14,000-£18,000 a year depending on location.
Placements are an excellent opportunity to put your learning into practice and understand the context for your new knowledge. The contacts made during placements can also be valuable for future job offers.

Examples of companies that have offered placements to Sunderland students include Jaguar, Vauxhall, Nissan, Caterham Cars, Cummins Engines and Tata Steel.

  • People too often think of engineers as working on a production line and that simply isn’t true.
    Dan Thompson, Automotive Engineering

    Dan Thompson

  • The skills I acquired in my degree and as part of the Formula Student Team have proved invaluable.
    John Wood, Automotive Engineering

    John Wood

  • I am two years out of university and one small step away from management level.
    Julie Liddle, Automotive Engineering

    Julie Liddle

  • I chose the University of Sunderland because of its facilities and its connections with industry.
    ThomasCepeSmall

    Thomas Cepe

Meet our academics

Dave Knapton

Principal Lecturer

Kevin Burn

Senior Lecturer in Engineering

Mike Knowles

Senior Lecturer in Engineering

Nida Naveed

Programme Leader for Automotive Engineering

Related courses

Contact

Contact the Student Helpline for further information about studying at the University of Sunderland:

0191 515 3000

student.helpline@sunderland.ac.uk

BEng (Hons) Automotive Engineering - programme specification (.pdf)

Page last updated: 14 August 2018

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