Automotive Engineering
Entry requirements
A level
A*AA including Mathematics and either Physics or Chemistry, with the A* in Mathematics or Physics if presented. Where an A-level Science subject is taken, we require a pass in the practical science element, alongside the achievement of the A-level at the stated grade. Excludes A-level General Studies or Critical Thinking.
Pass 60 credits overall with 45 credits at Level 3, with Distinction, to include Mathematics, Calculus, Further Calculus and Physics or Chemistry.
Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal
D2, D3, D3 including Mathematics and Physics or Chemistry, where the D2 must be in either Mathematics or Physics.
GCSE/National 4/National 5
English Language at grade C (4) or above, or an appropriate English language qualification.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
36 points overall, with 18 points at higher level to include 6 points in higher level Mathematics and Physics or Chemistry.
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
H1 H1 H2 H2 H2 H2, including Mathematics and Physics or Chemistry where a H1 must be in either Mathematics or Physics.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
DDD (RQF) in an Engineering-related BTEC and grade A in A-Level Maths. Please note - there may be different requirements for the older QCF BTEC's, please contact Admissions.
Scottish Higher
AA at Advanced Higher level including Mathematics and Physics or Chemistry, and AAAAA at Higher level.
UCAS Tariff
We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.
About this course
This course has alternative study modes. Contact the university to find out how the information below might vary.
Automotive engineering is concerned with the life-cycle support (including design, manufacture, performance and durability testing) of vehicles; from road and off-road vehicles to race cars, vans and trucks.
This course will give you in-depth knowledge of mechanical engineering through modules common to all our programmes, as well as the specialist knowledge and skills to work in today’s automotive industry. You’ll prepare to meet key challenges, such as designing sustainable vehicles that meet rising safety and performance standards in a cost-effective way. To do this, you’ll develop an awareness of the commercial issues that impact on design and production processes.
Our close links with industry ensure that you’ll be prepared to meet the most pressing needs of the automotive sector, and project work in every year will allow you to put theory into practice and prepare for your future career. You could even have the opportunity to work on our Leeds Formula Student Race Car.
The Uni
University of Leeds
School of Mechanical Engineering
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.
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.
Mechanical engineering
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
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.
Mechanical 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.
Top job areas of graduates
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.
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.
£26k
£31k
£36k
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...





This is what the university has told Ucas about the criteria they expect applicants to satisfy; some may be compulsory, others may be preferable.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
This is the percentage of applicants to this course who received an offer last year, through Ucas.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
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.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
Course location and department:
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.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):
We've received this information from the Department for Education, via Ucas. This is how the university as a whole has been rated for its quality of teaching: gold silver or bronze. Note, not all universities have taken part in the TEF.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
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.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).
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.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
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.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
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
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
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