Motorsport Engineering with foundation year,MEng

Course overview

Why you should study this course

Foundation year

• Supports you to gain the academic skills required for degree-level study.
• Provides a grounding in key areas of engineering and mathematics.

Degree

• Our current close relationship with the UK performance engineering industry helps to ensure course content reflects current trends and challenges, as well as the latest technologies, design systems and testing processes in this fast-paced, ever-evolving industry.
• Teaching is highly practical, focused on providing a thorough understanding of the fundamental principles of motorsport engineering and, more importantly, how this knowledge is applied in the industry. You will have the opportunity to work with staff on real-world problems from industry, commerce and research groups, as you would in professional practice².
• Opportunity to participate in field trips which have previously included observing crash tests at the GM Milford site and a tour of the Ford F150 factory in Detroit, USA and a visit to the Professional Motorsport World Expo in Cologne, Germany, which has included a visit to the Toyota Motorsport Group facility².
• Access to extensive cutting-edge facilities in our High Performance Engineering Centre, which houses a 20% scale model wind tunnel (designed and built by the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 team), composites lab, metrology lab, flow lab, AVL engine test cell, automotive workshop, fatigue and tensile testing (Instron), a full size Harrier Jet, three further simulators, civil engineering specialist testing equipment, a range of CNC machinery and a laser workshop⁴.
• On and off site access to commercial engineering software, such as 3D CAD, Finite Element Analysis, Computational Fluid Dynamics and Multibody Systems for design and simulation, as well as training in industry standard Catia, HyperWorks, STAR-CCM+, and SIMPACK software⁴.

Careers and opportunities

A BEng and MEng Motorsport Engineering student who successfully completes the course will be able to do the following:

• Apply the necessary study and research skills to support the analytical, critical, and reflective requirements of written, oral and group assessments.
• Contribute to a team with the necessary planning, reviewing, adaptability, drive and leadership to achieve the required objectives and observe work schedules.
• Design, optimise and communicate the performance of a vehicle, though the application of vehicle systems knowledge to achieve the low volume and high-performance requirements of the Motorsport industry.
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the principles, theories and practices found in engineering management and leadership, consultancy and entrepreneurship.
• Develop independent learning and problem-solving skills appropriate to current and future study and employment.

Students undertaking BEng Motorsport Engineering who successfully complete the course will also be able to do the following:

• Apply engineering principles, science, mathematics, processes, materials, design and management to solve problems of increasing complexity.
• Apply engineering analysis methods when solving complex problems and develop extended experience in solving problems related to a broad range of engineering systems and components.
• Generate design solutions through the application and understanding of the engineering design processes.
• Critically assess data and information using practical laboratory skills, experimentation and research, and establish the effect on design.
• Understand risk assessment and the need for professional and ethical conduct in commercial and social contexts, informed by a knowledge of sustainable development and the regulations/legislations governing engineering activities.
• Understand and evaluate a range of appropriate engineering materials, components and systems, identifying their limitations and developments.

Students undertaking MEng Motorsport Engineering who successfully complete the course will also be able to do the following:

• Apply a comprehensive understanding of Motorsport specific engineering principles together with a critical awareness of current issues at the forefront of the specialism.
• Apply and evaluate engineering analysis methods when solving complex problems and assess their limitations, especially when applied to new or unfamiliar technology.
• Generate and appraise innovative design solutions through the application and comprehensive understanding of the engineering design processes.
• Critically appraise management, business and ethical practice and their limitations informed by a knowledge of sustainable development, customer requirements and the regulations/legislations governing engineering activities in a commercial, social and international contexts.
• Critically evaluate a range of current and emerging engineering materials, components and systems, identifying their limitations and developments/adaptations together with commercial and industrial constraints.

Upon graduation, career options may include becoming a race mechanic or race engineer or roles as a manufacturing assistant engineer, composites laminator, design engineer, dimensional management engineer or operations manager in motorsport engineering or related industries.

This degree-level course is designed to meet an identified need for graduate level professionals to work in specialist areas such as vehicle/component design, powertrain and chassis development and testing, as well as supervisory and business roles. Our past graduates have secured positions with teams such as Red Bull, Williams, Ducati, Triumph, Pilbeam Racing, McLaren and Prodrive.

Coventry University is committed to preparing you for your future career and giving you a competitive edge in the graduate job market. The university’s Talent Team provide a wide range of support services to help you plan and prepare for your career.