Automotive and Transport Design

This course offers you the opportunity to develop core skills demanded by design studios or global Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).

• We currently have major industry links, and you should have a chance to show your work to industry leaders. Ultimately, you will be provided with the opportunity to get ahead with our Automotive Design MA.
• Working on studio delivered briefs and 'live' industry projects, you will be taught the underlying theory, 2D and latest 3D techniques used to resolve automotive design challenges within the areas of exterior, interior, colour and trim design. We offer state-of-the-art facilities, including an automotive clay modelling studio, laser cutting, rapid prototyping, 3D printing and a 12-camera motion capture studio for the measurement of human motion, machine interaction and biomechanics.
• Past graduates have gone on to become design directors and chief designers at Jaguar Land Rover, Bentley, Ford, Aston Martin, Lotus, Tata, SAIC, PSA (Peugeot-Citroen), Johnson Controls, Faurecia, and Volvo.
• This master's programme provides you with the additional option² to apply for a professional experience opportunity during your first semester with us. The professional experience opportunity is designed to further develop your skills and knowledge with the aim of maximising your employability prospects.

This course offers you the opportunity to develop core skills demanded by design studios or global Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).

Designed to teach you the skills, knowledge and expertise to produce innovative and visionary automotive designs, this course has been developed with significant input and continuing support from automotive design professionals.

• Our current excellent industry links, with employers such as JLR, SAIC, PSA (Peugeot-Citroen), Ford, Honda and Renault, may provide opportunities for 'live' collaborative projects, industry visits and networking. To broaden and contextualise your understanding of the automotive industry, we also currently have access to the Transport Motor Museum in Coventry and automotive manufacturing at Bentley in Crewe and MINI UK in Oxford.
• Coventry has gained an international reputation for automotive research and teaching covering design, engineering, business and media. A former winner of 'Best Design School' in the World Automotive Design competition, we have hosted major symposiums on the future of transport design, future of automotive design conferences and the ITS-UK Automotive User Interest Group.
• You will be taught by a faculty which currently includes specialists in automotive, transport and broader industrial design with expertise in concept generation, modelling, interior, exterior and design-led development of low carbon vehicles. Their extensive professional experience includes working for well-known companies like Mercedes-Benz, PSA, General Motors, Daihatsu, Nissan and Ford.
• We deliberately strike a balance between traditional hand-processes and emerging technologies. You'll participate in workshops for block material, automotive clay modelling and handwork, while having access to laser cutting, rapid prototyping (5-axis & 3-axis milling) and 3D printing.
• You will develop the advanced knowledge needed to function as critical and effective practitioners, able to demonstrate excellence in visual aesthetics and develop conceptual designs in and from two-dimensions into three-dimensions.

Students who hold a Bachelor’s Degree should have an average grade of 60%.

Students who have achieved an average grade of 70% for the Postgraduate Research programmes with a satisfactory research proposal.

Careers and opportunities

On successful completion, you will have knowledge of:

• The visual, analytical and aesthetic synthesis between 2D images and 3D forms.
• The ways in which designers work and their role in the design and business process, environment and sustainability.
• Issues pertaining to the relationship between vehicle design theory and practice at a practical, advanced and conceptual level.
• The role of the human as a user of the vehicle product and identify critical user issues.

On successful completion, you will be able to:

• Demonstrate the appropriate aesthetic sensibilities through the application of theory and practical knowledge and skills to an automotive design project. 
• Appraise, examine and evaluate the automotive product from a range of critical perspectives.
• Analyse future trends/scenarios and problems of a creative nature and propose original cohesive solutions.
• Evaluate design theory, ideas and solutions against automotive design practices.
• Demonstrate drawing and presentation skills commensurate with professional design studios.

International companies are keen to employ our graduates to acquire their skills and knowledge of the automotive design process. Past graduates have gone on to become design directors and chief designers at Jaguar Land Rover, Bentley, Ford, Aston Martin, Lotus, Tata, SAIC, PSA (Peugeot-Citroen), Johnson Controls, Faurecia, and Volvo.

Career opportunities are considered vast and varied within automotive design, research, teaching and design management. You could start your own business, become a design consultant, modeller, illustrator, CAD professional, design manager or marketing professional.

Our Talent Team is on hand to offer tailored career and enterprise support, or take advantage of professional practice opportunities within course specific industries (subject to availability and application). It provides specialist careers information, advice and guidance to all our students from their first year through to final year and beyond graduation, helping them achieve their desired career outcome.

Through UCAS

If you are applying for an undergraduate course, you may choose to apply through Universities and Colleges Admissions Service UCAS. 

Through a country representative

You can get help with your application from one of our overseas representatives.