University of Huddersfield

Automotive and Motorsport Engineering BEng(Hons)

The automotive industry is a hugely rewarding sector to get into, if you’re looking to take your place at the forefront of engineering, working on future developments in a thriving, global industry, this could be the ideal start. With industry focus now progressing to more environmentally friendly vehicles, for example, battery, electric, hybrid and fuel cell vehicles, as well as the increasing demand for new technologies, products and materials, there are plenty of career paths you could chose to take within this STEM subject, whilst planning for your future.

We want to help you make the most of all the exciting opportunities the rapidly modernising automotive industry has to offer. So we’ve designed this course to give you the chance to prepare for the next step. You could build up the skills and knowledge to go on to a great future in all manner of careers. With a wealth of expertise in automotive engineering, developed through research and consultancy, we enjoy relationships with companies such as Nissan, Toyota, BMW, Jaguar, Cummins Turbo Technologies, Eaton Transmissions and BBA Friction, to name a few.

From designing components for high-performance cars, through to working as a trackside team engineer, or even developing the next generation of mass produced vehicles that don't damage the planet. You could be working on new technology, or tasked with reducing emissions to protect the environment for the future, and making a difference to the world we live in, it’s all possible, your skill set will also be transferable to other related industries, for example, rail, aerospace and marine. And it all starts here. Engineering-related problem solving and project work are important elements of the course, previous students have undertaken projects that gave them the opportunity to access our:

Full vehicle four post ride simulator
Two wheel engine and transmission test rig
Engine and electric motor test beds
Dynamic monitoring equipment
Specialist computer packages
Wind tunnel facilities
Electric machine and drive laboratory
Railway locomotive test facility
We’ll give you the chance to develop some fundamental skills in automotive engineering, and then apply them to real-world scenarios in the projects you work on. You could get involved in all sorts of different ways. For example, you could join our racing team, Team HARE, and get hands-on with the design, development and build of a single-seat Formula Student car (or comparable automotive design and build team project). You could then go even further and be part of the team competing at international events held in places like Spain and Germany.

From your second year onwards you’ll be able to work in a fully equipped automotive laboratory with expert technicians and tutors on hand to guide you through your practical work. In addition, our Institute of Railway Research (IRR) within our Department of Engineering have been awarded the Queen's Anniversary Prize for ‘innovative research in railway engineering to improve safety and efficiency through technological developments'. This is one of the most coveted distinctions in UK Higher Education.

The course is accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), which means it goes towards helping you get Incorporated Engineer status (IEng).

While you’re here you could take advantage of our strong links with the automotive industry to get a real feeling for how things are done in the real-world. And we’ll give you the chance to go on a year-long placement, gaining some really useful experience to help impress employers – not to mention the chance to make lots of contacts that could help kick-start your career.