Smart, Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (MSc)

Course overview

With intelligent vehicles on the horizon of technical advancements, the automotive industry is facing a developmental challenge. How do we develop a robust technical infrastructure to support the anticipated explosive growth in smart vehicular functions, communications systems, and driverless cars? This demands a comprehensive understanding of the technology and a bottom-up approach ensuring robustness and dependability of Electronics, Communications and Control Systems.  

Through this MSc, we aim to address the knowledge gap in the areas of machine learning, automated control strategies, connectivity, and communication infrastructure, cyber-security protocols, emerging automotive networks and robust automotive embedded systems within the context of smart, connected and autonomous vehicles. This programme has extensive industrial support with the Industry Advisory Board consisting of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) and RDM among others.  

This course is pending accreditation by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) on behalf of the Engineering Council as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for registration as a Chartered Engineer. Candidates must hold a CEng accredited BEng/BSc (Hons) undergraduate first degree to comply with full CEng registration requirements.

Teaching

This course has two components – taught modules account for two thirds of your time and effort and your research project accounts for one third. 

For the taught component, we blend lectures with workshops, practical exercises, demonstrations, case studies, problem classes, syndicate exercises, and a review. Most modules are delivered intensively over one full week or two half weeks, with the ‘Fundamentals of Automotive Research, Development, and Management (30 CAT points)’ being a longer introductory module. 

Our module leaders have extensive industry experience. Guest speakers from industry also contribute regularly, bringing real-world insight into your learning experience.

Class sizes

Overall this course can accommodate up to 48 students, divided into two groups of 24 students for most modules.

Typical contact hours

Our courses are modular in structure, with modules generally being taught in intensive one-week blocks from Monday to Friday, 9.00am - 6.00pm. Some modules will be taught over two half weeks or more, and occasionally you may be required to attend weekend sessions.

In addition to the taught component, you will have online pre-module preparation, and a substantial Post Module Assignment (PMA) following each module.

Each module accounts for 150 hours of learning time, divided between pre-work, in-module time, and post module assessment.

Assessment

At the end of each module, you will be given a Post Module Assignment (PMA) based on the learning objectives of that module. This is a piece of assessed written work which should take around 110 hours to complete. Many modules also have some in-module assessed work.

For the research component, each student undertakes a major individual project, which will develop your research and analytical skills and enable you to specialise. This project accounts for 33% of your overall credits and is submitted in the form of a dissertation of approximately 20,000 words, which may be followed by an oral examination or viva at the end of the year.

Leveraging the close partnerships that WMG has with key organisations within the automotive supply chain, it is envisaged that your project will have an industrial sponsor and be closely aligned with overcoming a real-world problem in the areas of vehicle electrification and sustainability. Many of the projects will feed directly into larger research programmes and will require you to liaise directly with senior academics, researchers, and industry partners.

Reading lists

Most departments have reading lists available through Warwick Library. If you would like to view reading lists for the current cohort of students you can visit our Warwick Library web pageLink opens in a new window.

Your timetable

Your personalised timetable will be complete when you are registered for all modules, compulsory and optional, and you have been allocated to your lectures, seminars and other small group classes. Your compulsory modules will be registered for you and you will be able to choose your optional modules when you join us.

Undergraduate: Warwick IFP required. Alternatively IB, A-Levels, APs/SAT IIs will be considered.

First Class:84% (GPA of 3.65/4.0)
2.1: 73% (GPA 3.0 out of 4.0)
2.2: 62%(GPA of 2.5/4.0)

Your career

Graduates from the MSc in Smart, Connected and Autonomous Vehicles will understand a myriad of factors contributing towards the performance and dependability of connected and autonomous vehicles and will be well placed to continue professional work within R&D.

Helping you find the right career

Our department has a dedicated professionally qualified Senior Careers Consultant offering impartial advice and guidance together with workshops and events throughout the year. Previous examples of workshops and events include:

• Warwick careers fairs throughout the year
• WMG Future Fest
• Options in Engineering sector event
• Careers for experienced hires
• Careers in Cyber Security
• Careers in healthcare
• Careers in project management