Automotive Engineering BEng (Hons)

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.

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Learning, teaching and assessment in 2021/22

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.

IET_Accredited_Programme_RGB

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
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
You have the opportunity to take part in Sunderland’s Formula Student project

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.

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)

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)

Facilities

You will be based at the David Goldman Technology 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:

Qualification	Minimum grade
High School Diploma along with one of the following at the required grade: SAT I and SAT II, ACT or Advanced Placement	GPA 3.0 or above and: Sat score of 1100/1600 from SATs AP (Grades 3+ in at least 2 subjects) ACT (score of 26+)

If you don't meet our standard entry requirements, you can take one of the foundation pathways at our partners ONCAMPUS Sunderland. Find out more information and whether your course is eligible on our ONCAMPUS page.

If your qualification is not listed above, please contact the Student Administration team at studentadmin@sunderland.ac.uk for further advice.

If English is not your first language, please see our English language requirements.

Is your qualification not displaying here? For international qualifications, search our full list of international entry requirements for this course.

Fees and finance

The annual fee for this course is:

£9,250 if you are from the UK/*Europe
£13,000 if you are an international student

*European Union (EU), EEA (European Economic Area) and Swiss nationals are classed as international, however 21/22 entrants will receive a European student fee scholarship and will pay the (undergraduate) home tuition fee rate of £9,250 for the duration of their studies. The discounted fee will be reflected in your offer letter. Learn 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.

This information was correct at the time of publication.

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

Career ready

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.

Formula Student

If you’re looking for extra-curricular opportunities, why not join the University of Sunderland’s Formula Student motorsport team? Each year the team work together to design, build and test a single-seater racing car in preparation for the IMechE Formula Student competition held annually at Silverstone, the home of the British Grand Prix.

The competition encourages many different skills and talents. These include: engineering, management, production, administration, accounting, marketing, advertising, public relations, as well as teamwork and co-operation. It’s ideal for helping to prepare for life after university in any career path, and the team welcome not just engineers but anyone who has an interest in motorsport and wants to improve their skills.

Meet the students

People too often think of engineers as working on a production line and that simply isn’t true.

Dan Thompson

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

View Programme Specifications for the Faculty of Technology.

Page last updated: 12 November 2021

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