Undergraduate study 2014 prospectus

Course information

The Automotive courses at Loughborough were the first such courses in the UK and have established a national and international reputation for the quality of the courses and the graduates produced.

The courses are unique in that they are run in an Automotive Department by academics working with the Automotive Industry.

Both the MEng and BEng courses allow you to acquire a firm foundation in engineering science as it is applied to automobile design, development and manufacture, with considerable emphasis given to the use of modern analytical and Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) methods.

The strong Automotive focus continues throughout the courses with the continuation of vehicle design ultimately leading to the complete design of a vehicle and the introduction of a broad range of Automotive modules.

Both courses are designed to develop engineers with strong analytical, modelling, experimental and design ability, but also with excellent communication and team working skills.

MIRA Vehicle Test Week

Both courses include a week of vehicle testing at the MIRA proving ground. This experience, unique to Loughborough courses, is an opportunity to put the theory to the test through the correlation of actual vehicle behaviour with simulation models.

The tests include: handling dynamics, straight-line performance, braking, noise and vibration and a vehicle aerodynamics study in the full-scale wind tunnel.

Formula Student Car

The Department supports a student-led team to design, build, test and race a new Formula Student car each year. All students can get involved and in the MEng final year a group project focuses on the design, analysis and building of the Formula Student car.

MEng Course

This extended course has been developed to allow you to broaden your knowledge of automotive engineering, provide the opportunity to study topics of particular interest in more depth and to undertake a substantial individual project.

The first two years are studied in common with the BEng students. In Year 3 MEng students study a wider range of subjects and in the final year the teaching and assessment are conducted at an advanced level with taught material drawing on current research topics and with substantial project work included.

Through exchange schemes there are also opportunities to study for part of the final year at external national and overseas research establishments and universities.

Industrial Placements

Students undertaking an industrial placement will spend one year at an approved Industrial Placement between the second and third, or third and fourth years. Successful completion leads to the additional award of the Diploma in Industrial Studies.

As a result of strong ties with industry, the Department provides considerable assistance with obtaining suitable placements, although the ultimate responsibility for arranging the placement lies with you.

Assessment

Students are assessed by a mixture of coursework and written examinations. Design-orientated work is assessed by oral presentation, project work and group assignments. The individual project is assessed by oral and poster presentations and a written report.

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 Technical Undergraduate Scheme

Selection

Applicants who demonstrate the potential to meet our entry requirements are invited to an interview which provides an opportunity for you to meet staff, see the Department and the campus.

Career Prospects

Graduates are equipped to work primarily in product design and development groups and are sought after by a wide range of Automotive and Motorsport companies.

Many graduates have reached senior positions in their field, including: Chief Engineer, Technical Director and Race Engineer.

Students that wish to pursue other careers are well-equipped to work in other sectors of the vehicle industry, or in other sectors of engineering, finance and business.

Academically gifted students are encouraged to undertake postgraduate studies within the Department.

Course structure

Year 1

• Computing
• Engineering Mathematics
• Engineering Mechanics
• Fluid Mechanics
• Mechanics of Materials
• Structures and Materials
• Thermodynamics
• Vehicle Design, Development and Manufacture
• Vehicle Systems and Design
• Risk Analysis (or for MEng only French or German)

Year 2 (MEng and BEng)

• Control Engineering
• Dynamics
• Electrotechnology
• Engineering Mathematics
• Ground Vehicle Aerodynamics
• Internal Combustion Engines
• Machine Elements and Automotive Materials
• Mechanics of Materials
• Mechanics of Solids
• Powertrain Technologies and Attributes
• Structural Design Project
• Vehicle Design
• Systems Reliability Assessment (or for MEng only, French or German)

It is possible to transfer from the BEng to the MEng variant at the end of year 2, providing grades meet the required standard.

BEng Final Year or MEng Year 3

Final year BEng students undertake an individual project and a vehicle design project. MEng students concentrate on Design Studies, Management and a range of options in Year 3 and may also continue with a language.

Vehicle Design in Year 3 includes a group project to design a vehicle. These projects are supervised by experienced vehicle designers and are often undertaken in conjunction with a manufacturer.

Options include:

• Automotive Noise Control
• Composite Materials and Structures
• Computational Fluid Dynamics
• Crashworthiness
• Finite Element Methods
• Mechanical Vibration
• Signal Analysis
• Stress and Structural Analysis
• Vehicle Dynamics and Simulation
• Powertrain Analysis

MEng Final Year

In the first semester of the final year of MEng (Year 4) students continue with a compulsory group project working on aspects of the design, research and development of a Formula Student Car, together with a module in Advanced Reliability, Availability and Maintainability and further optional modules.

Options include:

• Automotive Flow Modelling Techniques
• Low Carbon Vehicle Technologies
• Sound Radiation from Structures
• Structural Vibration
• Vehicle Handling
• Vehicle Noise, Vibration and Harshness

In Semester 2 students concentrate on an extensive individual research project, which may be undertaken in industry or overseas.

Please note that optional modules are subject to availability and timetable permitting.

UCAS codes and entry requirements

The entry requirements for each course should be read alongside the University’s general entrance requirements, which give further details on acceptable subjects, alternative qualifications and minimum English language requirements.

SQA AHScottish Qualifications Authority Advanced Highers IBInternational Baccalaureate Diploma DPSDiploma in Professional Studies DISDiploma in Industrial Studies DIntSDiploma in International Studies