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A young female university student in coveralls working on an electric vehicle powertrain in a university automotive workshop, with diagnostic screens and vehicle components visible in the background, representing the hands-on technical focus of Automotive Engineering degrees

DEGREE GUIDE

Automotive Engineering

What do Automotive Engineering degrees involve?

Automotive Engineering degrees teach you how to design, build, test, and improve cars and other road vehicles, combining science, mathematics, and advanced engineering. You will explore key areas such as powertrain and propulsion (including hybrid and electric systems), vehicle dynamics and control, aerodynamics, materials and manufacturing, electronics, and safety and emissions. These courses help you develop strong problem-solving, data analysis, and systems thinking skills while using industry-standard CAD/CAE tools, engine and chassis dynamometers, and simulation software. You’ll also gain hands-on experience through labs, design-and-build projects, wind tunnel testing, and often group projects inspired by real industry briefs (for example, Formula Student). With opportunities for industrial placements and collaboration with UK automotive and motorsport companies, you’ll graduate ready for careers in vehicle design, R&D, manufacturing, motorsport engineering, and the fast-growing electric and autonomous vehicle sectors

     Example
Modules

  • Engineering Mathematics: Build essential maths skills for modelling mechanical and electrical systems, using algebra, calculus, and differential equations.


  • Vehicle Systems and Components: Gain an overview of key automotive systems, from engines and transmissions to braking, steering, and suspension components.


  • Materials and Manufacturing: Explore the materials used in vehicle production, including metals, polymers and composites, and how they're formed, joined, and tested.

Common Degree Names

💼 Placement years are widely offered, especially with car manufacturers, engineering firms or motorsport teams.
🌍 Study abroad is available at some universities through international engineering exchanges.



BEng (Hons) Automotive Engineering
BSc (Hons) Automotive Engineering
MEng Automotive Engineering
BEng (Hons) Automotive Engineering with Electric Vehicles
BEng (Hons) Automotive Engineering and Motorsport


Automotive Engineering is usually a BEng or BSc. MEng is a four-year integrated Master’s degree that combines undergraduate and Master’s level study in one course.

A car engine cutaway model alongside an electric vehicle battery module, diagnostic tablet, CAD drawings and suspension components, illustrating the mechanical and electrical vehicle systems studied in Automotive Engineering degrees

Level 3 (A-level / IB Diploma (HL) / Scottish Highers)


Automotive Engineering is about designing and developing vehicles, from engines to electric powertrains to autonomous systems. The degree is mathematically demanding, requiring strong foundations in Maths and Physics.


You'll need:


  • Maths – essential for all Automotive Engineering courses

  • Physics – essential or strongly preferred


Subjects that strengthen your application:


  • Further Maths (or IB AA HL)  – highly recommended for theoretical programmes

  • Design & Technology or Computer Science – useful for CAD, programming, and control systems


Maths and Physics together are the foundation you need. Adding Further Maths (if available) keeps the most competitive courses open.


Universities may also accept:


  • BTEC Extended Diplomas in Engineering or Manufacturing with strong maths/physics content; some courses may also ask for Maths A-Level

  • BTEC National Extended Certificates or National Diplomas alongside A-levels that meet the subject requirements above

  • T-Level in Engineering and Manufacturing (Design and Development pathway) may require A-Level Maths and Physics

  • IB Career-related Programme (IBCP) with Maths and Physics at Higher Level among your IB subjects (minimum two, ideally three), alongside your Career-Related Study; an Engineering pathway would be directly relevant


Entry expectations, especially around Maths, Physics, and Further Maths, vary by university, so always check the specific subjects and entry criteria on each university’s website.

Level 2 Qualifications (GCSE / MYP / National 5)


Most courses ask for:


  • GCSE English Language, Maths and Science at grade 4/C or above, or equivalents such as National 5s or MYP


📘 A strong foundation in GCSE (or equivalent)  Maths and Science will help with mechanics, electronics, and problem-solving.

Is this degree right for you?

Members can explore whether this degree fits who they are:

  • Skills you'd develop and whether they match your strengths

  • How this aligns with your interests, motivators and values

  • Career paths and where graduates end up

Full access to all self-discovery tools and guides. Cancel anytime.

Skills you would develop in X degree
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Is this a good fit for you?

Use the tabs to explore the kind of person that this would be a good fit for. Do you share the Interests, Motivations, Values, Work identity and skills that people who thrive in this course tend to have?

Not sure what these things are?  Explore your Identity Tree with us first.

Interests that connect well with an Automotive Engineering degree

Students who enjoy this degree often share these interests. You don't need to feel strongly about all of them, and interests develop over time. If one or two catch your curiosity, or sound like something you'd like to know more about, that's a good sign.

Machines, Structures & How Things Are Engineered: This sits at the core of Automotive Engineering. You'll study how vehicles are designed, how powertrains deliver motion, how chassis and suspension systems behave, and how a complete machine comes together from first principles to working prototype.


The Environment & Sustainability: Sustainability runs through modern Automotive Engineering: electric and hybrid powertrains, battery technology, and low-emission propulsion as the industry shifts toward cleaner transport. The focus is on making vehicles cleaner, rather than the broader environmental science that suits a dedicated Environmental Science or Sustainability degree.


Mathematics, Patterns & Data: Mathematics runs continuously through the degree. You'll use calculus, differential equations and numerical methods to model mechanical, thermal and dynamic vehicle systems. If you enjoy using maths to understand how real things work, that's the kind of maths you'll meet throughout the degree.

Careers an Automotive Engineering degree could lead you to

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