Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering
We are a top department in the UK for Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering. We tackle challenges in the air and road transport industries, making them more eco-friendly and using self-driving vehicles. Our courses get you ready to face these challenges. We have fantastic facilities, great academic tutors, and strong connections with the industry to prepare you for your future career.
Aeronautical Engineering and Automotive Engineering at º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ
Our courses offer the best of both worlds. You will build a strong foundation in engineering with specialist knowledge in aeronautical or automotive. You can expect teaching informed by the latest thinking in the aircraft, aerospace, and automotive industries. Upon graduation, you will have valuable skills that are in high demand not only in the aviation and road industries but beyond in areas such as finance.
Specialise in Aeronautical or Automotive Engineering from day one
The automotive industry is changing fast with a focus on digital engineering, electric power, and self-driving cars powered by artificial intelligence. Likewise, aviation sees challenges like moving towards eco-friendly power and expanding self-driving for unmanned aircraft like drones. We develop our courses so that you are ready to enter the industry with the expertise to find solutions to these challenges.
From year one, our course covers these concepts and their foundations. This allows you to explore specialised subjects in more depth compared to a general mechanical engineering course. We keep our courses current with the latest technology, including recent additions like Sensor Fusion, Battery Technology, and Machine Intelligence modules.
Specialist sponsorship
Students studying Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering degree courses, who intend to take up a career in the Armed Forces or Civil Service, may be eligible for financial support under the Defence STEM Undergraduate Scheme.
Our courses
Links with industry
Our team of international experts bring their cutting-edge research directly into the taught curriculum. Our teaching staff collaborate with industry in exciting research into air and ground transport which ensures our courses are relevant and up-to-date, with a real-world focus. We are home to the National Centre for Combustion Aerothermal Technology and have long-term research relationships with companies such as Rolls-Royce and Caterpillar.
Placement year
You can spend one year on an approved industrial placement between your second and third, or third and fourth years. We have strong ties with the industry and provide considerable assistance with obtaining suitable placements. Although, the ultimate responsibility for arranging your placement lies with you.
Facilities
We are based in the Stewart Miller building, where many of our facilities are based. Our students also use facilities elsewhere on campus including STEMLab, the Library and West Park Teaching Hub.
We have extensive laboratories and facilities, including wind tunnels, an anechoic chamber, indoor UAV testing, structures testing facilities, gas-turbine engines, eight purpose-built automotive engine test cells, Hawk aircraft, a 6-axis of motion road and aircraft simulator, chassis dynamometer, high and low-temperature fuel cell testing facilities and numerous instrumented test vehicles.
Here some of our students show you around some of the things we have to offer…
Accreditation
Our Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering courses are accredited by both the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and the Royal Aeronautical Society. This puts you on the path to a career as a Chartered Engineer.
Career opportunities
The department has particularly close links with BAE Systems, Bentley, British Airways, Ford Motor Company, Jaguar Land Rover, JCB, MIRA, Perkins Caterpillar, Rolls-Royce and many tier-one automotive suppliers. With an average starting salary of £32,000* (Graduate Outcomes Survey, 21-22 graduates) many of our graduates go on to hold senior positions in major companies.
*Average salary 15 months post-graduation – UK-domiciled, first-degree students completing Aeronautical Engineering and Automotive Engineering degrees.
Our students
Gain hands-on experience
Design, build and race a Formula Student car
The department supports a team to design, build and race a Formula Student car. All students can join the º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ Formula Student Team, working in their spare time. If you choose to study the MEng in Automotive Engineering, you can participate in a project which involves the research and development of a Formula Student car as part of your studies. Students can also focus on the car within selected further modules.
Vehicle testing weeks
As part of the course, Aeronautical Engineering students gain experience in testing and flight procedures by undertaking a flight test course, which includes up to four flights in an aircraft equipped with a flying laboratory.
Automotive Engineering students take part in vehicle testing at the HORIBA MIRA proving ground, learning how to analyse vehicle handling, off-road dynamics, noise certification, braking performance and wet weather driving.