Automotive Engineering BEng(Hons)

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Why choose Brighton? 

• Exciting project work that mirrors industry.
• Learn with internationally recognised researchers who specialise in areas such as novel engine concepts, electric vehicles and combustion of sustainable fuels.
• Student-led Sustainable Technology and Engineering Projects (STEP) lab – working to solve energy challenges.
• Specialist facilities include flight and car simulators, wind tunnel, prototyping labs and workshops, CNC machines, robotics and VR labs.
• Accredited by IMechE and IET.
• Professional engineers visit to share their experiences in guest lectures.
• Gain a year of work experience on placement.

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. Concepts across a range of engineering specialisms will be introduced 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 teams of engineers have the task of designing and manufacturing a functional product. Each team member has 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.

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 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; 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, and 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'll learn how to choose manufacturing processes for a product, and also how to evaluate and control the quality of manufactured products.

Placement year 

A placement year during the Automotive Engineering degree 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 such as BMW Mini, Cummins and 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 further develops your ability to design vehicles. Using a project-based approach, you'll build your ability to understand and apply the engineering techniques that underpin automotive design, and 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'll 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 skills that you've learned during your degree, such as research, analysis and engineering application.

Course fees

If you choose to take the professional placement (sandwich) year offered on this course you will pay a reduced fee during this year. Our 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.

Brighton Achieves scholarship – Engineering

The Gittins Family Charitable Trust supports this scholarship which offers £1,000 a year for three years of undergraduate study in one of eight engineering courses. Three scholarships are available to students in their first year of study who have a home household income of £25k–£45k. Find out how to apply.

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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