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Automotive Engineering

Entry requirements


A level

A*,A,A

A*AA including Maths and Physics, with A* in Maths or Physics

This qualification is accepted in combination with other qualifications. For details please contact Loughborough University

We recognise the benefit of the Extended Project in developing independent research and critical thinking skills. We would consider this as evidence of motivation to study a specific subject in more depth, and while we do not generally include it as part of our offer conditions, it may be used to further consider an application upon receipt of final examination results. www.lboro.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/apply/entry-requirements/

GCSE/National 4/National 5

GCSE English Language Grade 4/C

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

38

38 (7,6,6 HL) including Maths and Physics at HL, with 7 in HL Maths or Physics

We accept a wide range of international qualifications for entry as outlined on our website – please view the individual course typical offers on our website and choose Ireland in the Country/region drop down field for more information.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)

D

BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate Grade Distinction PLUS A Level Grades A*A to include Maths and Physics.

Scottish Advanced Higher

A,A

AA including Maths and Physics, plus Highers at A grades

For 2024 entry, the following T Levels are currently being considered on a case by case basis. More information can be found on our website at https://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/apply/entry-requirements/

Applicants taking the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma will be asked to achieve the A level requirements for their course as part of their qualification. The Skills Challenge Certificate will be accepted alongside two A levels providing individual course entry and subject requirements are met. www.lboro.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/apply/entry-requirements/

UCAS Tariff

112-152

We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.

About this course


Course option

4years

Full-time | 2024

Subject

Automotive engineering

Automotive technologies have changed dramatically over the last five years, with electrification and connectivity being central to the future of the industry. Manufacturers are modernising engineering activities accordingly, with significant pressure to reduce development time and cost through digitisation of the engineering process. The Automotive Engineering programme at Loughborough will enable you to specialise in subjects that are directly relevant to a rapidly changing industry and the future of ground transportation.

Our dedicated Department of Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering (one of only two in the UK) has been teaching Automotive Engineering and working with major UK industry for over fifty years. Our course is based on our heritage of working alongside industry, and from the outset we make use of automotive specific examples in teaching the engineering fundamentals, an approach that differs from many other automotive engineering courses in the UK. Our ongoing exchange of knowledge with industry ensures that our taught courses are immediately relevant to the problems faced by industry, today.

From topics related to new powertrain architectures, to specialist modules including Battery Technology and Machine Intelligence, the course also includes more foundational topics such as Aerodynamics, Materials, Structures and Experimental and Computational Fluid Dynamics. These provide you with a comprehensive knowledge of the underlying and unchanging physics of automotive systems essential to modern automotive engineering.

As an automotive engineer, you will make extensive use of your theoretical and analytical skills, but it is also important for you to be able to appreciate the more practical aspects of engineering. Practical activities are integral to our course, for example, by spending a week at HORIBA MIRA proving ground you will learn how to collect and analyse vehicle handling, off-road dynamics, noise measurement, braking performance and wet weather driving data. This and many other ‘hands-on’ activities will enable you to put the theory you have learned into practice.

Teamwork and management skills are critical to you as you develop your career and move to more senior positions. During the course you will have many opportunities to develop these skills including working as part of a team to design a vehicle of the future. In your final year you will manage your own original research project to solve a real-world engineering problem.

As these courses are taught within a Department of Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering, our teaching staff are engaged in exciting research into air and ground transport which helps keep our course up-to-date. We bring together outstanding facilities, superb teaching, and strong links with industry to make sure you are completely ready for your future career.

**What's the difference between MEng and BEng?**

The first two years of the BEng and MEng Automotive Engineering degree share the same format and structure, with a high level of fundamental engineering and automotive specific subjects from day one and examples tuned to your interest. The MEng courses differ from the BEng by offering the opportunity to study topics in more detail with the option to study a modern language.

You can choose whether to take a placement year. The MEng course takes four years to complete, or five years with a placement year, while the BEng takes three years, or four years with a placement. The placement is normally taken after the second year, but MEng students can opt to take it after the third year.

It is possible to transfer from a BEng to an MEng up to the end of the second year, providing that the transfer progression criteria have been met.

Modules

For a full list of areas studied, see the 'What You'll Study' section of the course page on our website.

Assessment methods

You are assessed by a mixture of coursework and written examinations, the percentage of which varies from module to module. Design-orientated work is assessed by oral presentations, project work and group assignments. The individual project is assessed by oral and poster presentations and a written report. Digital skills and social media development is encouraged.

Tuition fees

Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:

England
£9,250
per year
EU
£27,250
per year
International
£27,250
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,250
per year
Scotland
£9,250
per year
Wales
£9,250
per year

The Uni


Course location:

Loughborough University

Department:

Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering

Read full university profile

What students say


We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.

80%
Automotive engineering

How do students rate their degree experience?

The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Production and manufacturing engineering

Teaching and learning

70%
Staff make the subject interesting
84%
Staff are good at explaining things
84%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
81%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

89%
Library resources
81%
IT resources
97%
Course specific equipment and facilities
66%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

89%
UK students
11%
International students
93%
Male students
7%
Female students
83%
2:1 or above
9%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

A
B
A

After graduation


The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Production and manufacturing engineering

What are graduates doing after six months?

This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.

£26,500
med
Average annual salary
98%
med
Employed or in further education
83%
med
Employed in a role where degree was essential or beneficial

Top job areas of graduates

33%
Engineering professionals
21%
Design occupations
6%
Architects, town planners and surveyors

Graduates are in significant demand, so unemployment rates are well below the national graduate average and starting salaries are well above average. Much the most common industries for these graduates are now vehicle manufacture - there are not enough people with these degrees to go round and so the big employers tend to take the lion's share at the moment. But pretty much anywhere there is manufacturing, there are production engineers. Bear in mind that a lot of courses are four years long, and lead to an MEng qualification — this is necessary if you want to become a Chartered Engineer.

What about your long term prospects?

Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.

Production and manufacturing engineering

The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.

£27k

£27k

£34k

£34k

£39k

£39k

Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.

Explore these similar courses...

Higher entry requirements
Brunel University London | Uxbridge
Automotive Engineering
MEng (Hon) 4 Years Full-time 2024
UCAS Points: 128-160
Lower entry requirements
Heriot-Watt University | Edinburgh
Mechanical Engineering
MEng (Hon) 5 Years Full-time 2024
UCAS Points: 104-136
Nearby University
Coventry University | Coventry
Automotive Engineering
MEng (Hon) 3 Years Full-time 2024
UCAS Points: 120

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This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

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Course location and department:

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Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):

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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).

This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.

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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.

You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.

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Post-six month graduation stats:

This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.

It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.

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Graduate field commentary:

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show

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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?

Have a question about this info? Learn more here