Mechanical Engineering / Automotive Engineering (MEng) at University of Southampton

About

Discover how automobiles are designed, built and tested. Learn the specialist science and engineering behind the industry, then design and create your own. You'll have the chance to specialise in areas of motor vehicle engineering that interest you, from race cars to vehicle electronics. This degree will prepare you for a career in automotive mechanical engineering.

This course provides a solid foundation in mechanical engineering and you'll learn the core principles of:

vehicle dynamics
structural design
propulsion
automotive electronics

Then you can specialise in subjects, including composite engineering.

As part of this course you can:

use our range of engineering facilities and gain practical experience with our design workshops and studios.
get a solid introduction to relevant subjects such as mathematics and mechanics
take a work placement to boost your academic performance and career prospects
showcase your work in our annual Engineering Design Show
study management modules to explore a variety of career paths
go on site visits to experience engineering in practice

You can also join our Formula Student team. You'll help design, build and race a car in competitions.

We're a designated university for the Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme (DTUS).

Year in industry

Enhance your employability by taking this course with a paid industrial placement year.

Apply using:

Course name: Mechanical Engineering / Automotive Engineering with Industrial Placement Year
UCAS code: H3H3

You'll spend this extra year at an engineering firm, applying the skills and knowledge you've learned so far.

The fee is 20% of the standard annual tuition fee.

We regularly review our courses to ensure and improve quality. This course may be revised as a result of this. Any revision will be balanced against the requirement that the student should receive the educational service expected. Find out why, when, and how we might make changes.

Our courses are regulated in England by the Office for Students (OfS).

Requirements

Entry Requirements

For Academic year 202526

A-levels

A*AA including mathematics (minimum grade A) and physics (minimum grade A), with a pass in the physics Practical (where it is separately endorsed).

A-levels additional information

A pass in the science Practical is required where it is separately endorsed. Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking. Applicants who have not studied mathematics and/or physics at A-level can apply for the Engineering/Physics/Mathematics Foundation Year

A-levels with Extended Project Qualification

If you are taking an EPQ in addition to 3 A levels, you will receive the following offer in addition to the standard A level offer: AAA including mathematics and physics, with a pass in the physics Practical (where it is separately endorsed) plus grade A in the EPQ

A-levels contextual offer

We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.

or

International Baccalaureate Diploma

Pass, with 38 points overall with 19 points required at Higher Level, including 6 at Higher Level in Physics and 6 at Higher Level in Mathematics (Analysis and Approaches) or 7 at Higher Level in Mathematics (Applications and Interpretation)

International Baccalaureate Diploma additional information

Applicants who have not studied the required subjects can apply for the Engineering/Physics/Mathematics Foundation Year

International Baccalaureate contextual offer

We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.

International Baccalaureate Career Programme (IBCP) statement

Offers will be made on the individual Diploma Course subject(s) and the career-related study qualification. The CP core will not form part of the offer. Where there is a subject pre-requisite(s), applicants will be required to study the subject(s) at Higher Level in the Diploma course subject and/or take a specified unit in the career-related study qualification. Applicants may also be asked to achieve a specific grade in those elements. Please see the University of Southampton International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme (IBCP) Statement for further information. Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.

or

BTEC

D in the BTEC National Extended Certificate plus grades A*A in A-level mathematics and physics (the A* can be in either subject), with a pass in the physics Practical (where it is separately endorsed).
or
D* in the BTEC National Extended Certificate plus grades AA in A-level mathematics and physics, with a pass in the physics Practical (where it is separately endorsed).

We will consider the BTEC National Diploma if studied alongside A-levels in mathematics and physics.

We will consider the BTEC National Extended Diploma in Engineering if studied alongside A-level mathematics.

RQF BTEC

We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.

Additional information

Applicants who have not studied mathematics and/or physics at A-level can apply for the Engineering/Physics/Mathematics Foundation Year

QCF BTEC

D in the BTEC Subsidiary Diploma plus A*A in A-level mathematics and physics (the A* can be in either subject), with a pass in the physics Practical (where it is separately endorsed).
or
D* in the BTEC Subsidiary Diploma plus AA in A-level mathematics and physics, with a pass in the physics Practical (where it is separately endorsed).

We will consider the BTEC Diploma if studied alongside A-levels in mathematics and physics.

We will consider the BTEC Extended Diploma in Engineering if studied alongside A-level mathematics.

We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.

or

Entry requirements filter options

Show more entry requirements

Access to HE Diploma

Irish Leaving Certificate

Scottish Qualification offers

Cambridge Pre-U

Welsh Baccalaureate

T Level

Access to HE Diploma

Not accepted for this course. Applicants with an Access to HE Diploma in a relevant subject should apply for the Engineering/Physics/Mathematics Foundation Year

Irish Leaving Certificate

Irish Leaving Certificate (first awarded 2017)

H1 H1 H1 H2 H2 H2 including mathematics, applied mathematics and physics

Irish Leaving Certificate (first awarded 2016)

A1 A1 A1 A2 A2 A2 including mathematics, applied mathematics and physics

Irish certificate additional information

Applicants who have not studied the required subjects can apply for the Engineering/Physics/Mathematics Foundation Year

Scottish Qualification

Offers will be based on exams being taken at the end of S6. Subjects taken and qualifications achieved in S5 will be reviewed. Careful consideration will be given to an individual’s academic achievement, taking in to account the context and circumstances of their pre-university education.

Please see the University of Southampton’s Curriculum for Excellence Scotland Statement (PDF) for further information. Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.

Cambridge Pre-U

D2, D3, D3 in three Principal subjects including mathematics (minimum grade D3) and physics (minimum grade D3)

Cambridge Pre-U additional information

Cambridge Pre-U's can be used in combination with other qualifications such as A levels to achieve the equivalent of the typical offer, where D2 can be used in lieu of A-level grade A* or grade D3 can be used in lieu of A-level grade A. Applicants who have not studied mathematics and/or physics can apply for the Engineering/Physics/Mathematics Foundation Year

Welsh Baccalaureate

A*AA including mathematics (minimum grade A) and physics (minimum grade A), with a pass in the physics Practical (where it is separately endorsed) or A*A from two A levels including mathematics and physics (the A* can be in either subject), with a pass in the physics Practical (where it is separately endorsed) and A from the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Skills Challenge Certificate

Welsh Baccalaureate additional information

A pass in the science Practical is required where it is separately endorsed. Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking. Applicants who have not studied mathematics and/or physics at A-level can apply for the Engineering/Physics/Mathematics Foundation Year

Welsh Baccalaureate contextual offer

We are committed to ensuring that all applicants with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise an applicant's potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.

T-Level

Not accepted for this course. Applicants with a T level Technical Qualification in a relevant subject can apply for the Engineering/Physics/Mathematics Foundation Year

English Program Requirements

Find the equivalent international qualifications for our entry requirements.

English language requirements

If English isn't your first language, you'll need to complete an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) to demonstrate your competence in English. You'll need all of the following scores as a minimum:

IELTS score requirements

overall score: 6.5
reading: 6.0
writing: 6.0
speaking: 6.0
listening: 6.0

We accept other English language tests. Find out which English language tests we accept.

Career

Careers

Our mechanical engineering courses are fully accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, and offer a route to chartered status.

We're also a designated university for the Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme (DTUS).

Our collaboration with Lloyd's Register at our Boldrewood Innovation Campus allows our students to gain industry experience through projects and placements.

As a mechanical engineer with an automotive specialism, your skills and knowledge will be in demand in many industries. You could be involved in testing vehicle components or incorporating the latest emissions guidelines into new designs.

Recent mechanical engineering graduates have gone on to work at organisations including:

Aston Martin Lagonda
Babcock
Dyson
ExxonMobil
Rolls-Royce
Siemens
Formula 1 teams

Roles you'll be suited for include:

automotive engineer
mechanical engineer
CAD technician
control and instrumentation engineer
maintenance engineer
nuclear engineer

You'll develop transferable skills that are highly sought after in careers outside engineering. These include:

problem-solving
teamwork
communication
IT

Careers services at Southampton

We are a top 20 UK university for employability (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022). Our Careers, Employability and Student Enterprise team will support you. This support includes:

work experience schemes
CV and interview skills and workshops
networking events
careers fairs attended by top employers
a wealth of volunteering opportunities
study abroad and summer school opportunities

We have a vibrant entrepreneurship culture and our dedicated start-up supporter, Futureworlds, is open to every student.

Work in industry

You can take an Industrial Placement Year as part of this course.

This is an opportunity to apply what you have learned so far on your course, try out a potential career, and develop new skills and experience that will help you stand out to future employers.

Fee Information

Tuition Fee

GBP 31,000

Application Fee

GBP

Mechanical Engineering / Automotive Engineering (MEng)

University of Southampton

University of Southampton

Key Facts

Start & Deadlines