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Postgraduate Automotive Engineering Programs

Find postgraduate programs in AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING

Automotive Engineering

The automotive industry is what keeps society surging forward on its wheels! With the ever-changing market and sophisticated technology, including the massive growth in electric vehicles, the demand for skilled automotive engineers is on the rise.

Postgraduate automotive engineering programs are for graduate engineers who wish to become thorough professionals in the worldwide automotive sector. The course aims to empower students with emerging technologies like electric and hybrid vehicles, utilise modern methodologies, and use their imagination and creativity to rise to the challenge of constant innovation and competition.

Completion of an MSc degree in automotive engineering opens up lucrative career prospects in the global automotive sector, which also includes autosports. Furthermore, being accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineering (IMechE), Studying automotive engineering and motorsport engineering can provide a UK-based chartered engineer status to its candidates. A masters student in automotive engineering can also pursue a doctorate at a leading international universities, opening up further career opportunities that span the globe.

Studying an MSc in automotive engineering

An MSc in automotive engineering will provide an in-depth study of automotive engineering technologies and the latest trends in engineering subsystems. This is achieved through exposure to diverse interdisciplinary skills such as design, mechanics, electronics, electrical, safety and software engineering, as applied to the manufacture and operating systems of vehicles.

Students will usually be exposed to academic input, laboratory practice, research expertise and hands-on industrial experience during the program. Good universities in the UK are linked up with automotive giants, such as Jaguar Land Rover and Ford.

Automotive engineering study modules

In most universities, the automotive engineering course will be split into compulsory modules, dealing with the core aspects of automotive engineering and a further range of optional modules, based on personal interest and area of excellence.

Design, aerodynamics, advanced chassis engineering, sustainability, reliability, performance and advanced engineering management are likely to be some of the core themes. Whereas optional modules could include vehicle crash engineering, advanced vehicle aerodynamics, advanced materials engineering and advanced powertrain engineering. There could also be a module specialising in CAD/ CAM that develops skills in using state-of-the-art design and manufacturing software.

The University of Bath’s MSc in Automotive Engineering with Electric Propulsion features four core topics that focus on the advancement of our world – these are:

  • Agile and Effective Working Practices
  • Future Intelligent Vehicle Platforms
  • Propulsion Systems Group Project
  • Towards Zero Emission Propulsion.


Nowadays, courses also often have a big focus on AI, aerospace, and furthering our ability to live sustainably. This can be seen reflected in courses like the University of Bedfordshire’s MSc in Automotive Engineering for Electric Vehicles and the Modern Vehicle System module offered at the University of Huddersfield’s MSc in Automotive Engineering – this encompasses the move to lower-emission road transportation and its many considerations.

An automotive engineering masters degree will culminate in an MSc project designed to consolidate the knowledge acquired from the modules, and provides an opportunity for developing on-the-job skills such as issues of management, resourcing, planning, scheduling, documentation and communication. This important aspect of the course demands individual responsibility, critical awareness and creative thinking.

How long is a masters in automotive engineering?

Studying a masters degree in automotive engineering in the UK takes 12 months of full-time study or 24 months to complete on a part-time basis. One example of is the MSc in Automotive Engineering at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David. This course takes 12 months to complete and students will study modules including

  • Aerodynamics of Ground Vehicles
  • Alternative Fuels and Combustion Modelling
  • Energy Storage and Control Systems
  • Materials and Life Cycle Analysis


Students will also need to complete a dissertation.

Entry qualifications

To be eligible to study a masters degree in automotive engineering, students should hold a first or second class honours degree in automotive, mechanical or autosports engineering or any related discipline such as mathematics, physics or applied science.

Some universities also consider applicants with relevant professional experience and academic qualifications, which will usually be assessed on an individual basis.

Basic English language knowledge is almost a prerequisite for the course. For international students who do not have English as their first language, proof of a minimum IELTS score of 6 or a TOEFL score of 80 must be provided.

Automotive engineer graduate case study

Automotive engineer student case studyWith a booming automotive industry and looming environmental challenges for the sector, an automotive engineer can expect a dynamic and rewarding career. Dan Thompson, a chassis design engineer, says that people are often wrong when they envisage engineers as people who are usually working on a production line, or are people clad in oily boiler suits with a spanner in hand. He says: “My dream job was to become a design engineer for a proper automotive manufacturer. At Nissan Cranfield, that is exactly what I do now, working for an organisation that makes real changes in the world."

Automotive engineering salaries

Automotive engineers are involved in the entire production cycle of vehicles, right from initial conceptualisation to final delivery.

Typical starting automotive engineering salaries range from £26,000 to £30,000, depending on the employer and the class of degree.

With experience and expertise, one can expect to earn between £26,000 and £48,000, and this can further rise to £80,000 plus for senior positions, according to the UK Government’s website and Glassdoor.

Find postgraduate programs in AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING

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