You will study vehicle structures, engine performance, aerodynamics using wind tunnel testing, materials and manufacturing strategies applicable to mass car production and specialist vehicle development. You will gain skills in commercial engineering software used in the industry, such as CATIA (a computer-aided design package), as well as finite element analysis and computational fluid dynamics packages.  There is also the opportunity to be involved with the Class 200 Formula Student car, where you will work on developing the previous year's Formula Student entry.

First Year

You will study motorsport and automotive technology, engineering mathematics, engineering applications of mathematics, materials and electrical science, mechanical science, introduction to manufacturing technology, introduction to design, as well as fluid mechanics and thermodynamics.

Second Year

You will study dynamics, thermofluid mechanics, further engineering mathematics, computer-aided engineering (CAE), structural mechanics, automotive electronics and control systems, integrated engineering systems design, and project management and product development.

Third Year

You have the option of taking an integrated one-year professional placement, or you can take the opportunity to study part of your degree abroad through student exchange programmes with other universities in the EU, USA or Canada.

Fourth Year

You will study vehicle engineering design, vibration, noise and vehicle dynamics, vehicle structural analysis and manufacture, manufacturing strategy, mechanics and properties of materials, thermofluid mechanics and heat transfer, and an individual major project.  You will also have an opportunity to be involved with the development of the University's entry to the Formula Student competition.

Final Year (4th or 5th)

This year you will study human resources management, team project, successful project delivery, advanced engine and power systems, finite element analysis (FEA) and applications, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques.  The multidisciplinary team project involves applying your skills to solve a challenging problem, for example, the design and development of an electric-powered car.

Work placement

Graduate with invaluable work experience alongside your degree and stand out from the crowd.  

This course offers you the opportunity to enhance your study and CV with a work placement sandwich year. It’s a chance to explore career possibilities, make valuable contacts and gain sought after professional skills.  

Our dedicated Careers and Employment team are here to help guide you through the process.

If you take up a work placement between your second and third year of study, at the University of Hertfordshire you’ll pay no tuition fee for this year. We’ll ask you to make your decision in your second year, so there is plenty of time to think about it. 

What's next for my career?

This programme prepares you for the many excellent career choices available to a professional chartered automotive engineer. Our placement students sometimes return to their final year studies with sponsorships and already holding job offers. We have links with all the major automotive companies in the UK and many abroad, and most Formula One racing teams have one of our graduates in their design team. There are also opportunities for consultancy work, specialising in vehicle safety.  Many other graduates decide to stay at the University and extend their automotive education at a postgraduate level.