Step into the role of an automotive engineer, exploring the environmentally sustainable vehicle technologies of today and preparing to create solutions for the future of the industry, with a foundation year to prepare you for the course.
Understand key technologies such as electric and autonomous vehicles.
Explore the economic, environmental and social implications of automotive production.
Engage in professional and sustainable practices right from the beginning.
Experience live projects, simulations, aerodynamics and diverse disciplines.
Prepare for the full degree with an extra foundation year at the start.

The course prepares you for a range of roles in the automotive industry, providing you with the right environment, facilities, skills and training to be successful in the industry. You’ll explore various aspects of automotive design, development, testing, manufacturing, electronics and performance analysis – emerging as a highly skilled graduate ready to solve current and future problems in the industry.

Work placements

You’ll have the opportunity to arrange a year-long work placement in between your second and third years. This gives you a real-world experience to prepare you for your future career. Although optional (and competitive), a placement is actively encouraged to improve your employability at the end of the degree significantly.

Competitions

You’ll get the opportunity to take part in national and international engineering competitions, including

• Formula Student – where you design and build a race car and race it at Silverstone, home of the British Grand Prix
• the Heavy Lift Challenge – which involves designing and building a remote-controlled aircraft 
• Engineers Without Borders – a competition to find an engineering solution to a problem in the developing world

All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.

The course is suitable if you don’t meet the entry requirements for our BEng (Hons) Automotive Engineering course, or you want extra preparation before starting degree-level study. You share the first year with other engineering, maths and physics foundation year students, then move on to the degree.

You’ll experience and engage in a variety of learning activities as you progress through the course. We’ve designed a balanced mix of activities to help you build knowledge and understanding, while also developing your professional skills and employability. We use practical laboratories and computer simulations to enhance your learning – with lab experiments designed to reinforce your learning of theoretical concepts.

You learn through:

• lectures
• tutorials
• seminars
• engineering workshops
• laboratory work

This course prepares you for a career in

• manufacturing
• design research and development
• production
• automotive transport
• building services
• medical engineering
• sport equipment design
• power generation
• alternative energy
• automation and robotics
• product testing
• project management
• aerospace

Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work for

• Jaguar Land Rover
• ZF TRW
• LUK (UK)
• Caterpillar
• Intertec UK
• DJ Engineering Services
• Prospec
• AMETEK
• Nissan
• Bentley Motors 
• BMW Manufacturing
• EDF Energy
• General Motors
• Kongsberg Automotive
• Rolls-Royce
• Cummins
• Severn Controls
• Triumph Motorcycles
• Unilever
• Reckitt Benckiser

 

UCAS points

• 80

This must include at least 32 points from one A level or equivalent BTEC qualifications. For example:

• CDD at A Level.
• MMP in BTEC Extended Diploma.
• A combination of qualifications, which may include a maximum of one AS level, EPQ and general studies

You can find information on making sense of UCAS tariff points here and use the UCAS tariff calculator to work out your points.

GCSE

• English Language at grade C or 4
• Maths at grade C or 4
• Science at grade C or 4

• Access - an Access to HE Diploma with at least 45 credits at level 3 and 15 credits at level 2. At least 15 level 3 credits must be at merit grade or above from a QAA-recognised Access to HE course, or an equivalent Access to HE certificate.

We may also accept you, if you have no formal qualifications but can show evidence of ability and a genuine commitment to studying the subject.

Some applicants may be invited to attend an informal interview with the course leader to ensure that the programme is suitable for themselves and their aspirations.

UK students may be able to claim financial support for the course.

If English is not your first language, you will need an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills, or equivalent. If your English language skill is currently below IELTS 6.0 we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English score.

Please note the University will only admit students who are aged 18 or over at the point of enrolment.

Important notice:

The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.

You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.

 

Year 1 Compulsory modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
Engineering And Mathematics In Practice	20	Coursework
Foundation Mathematics, Mechanics And Electronics 1	40	Coursework
Foundation Mathematics, Mechanics And Electronics 2	40	Coursework
Fundamentals Of Materials And Manufacturing	20	Coursework

 

Year 2 Compulsory modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
Automotive Engineering Fundamentals	40	Coursework Exam
Materials, Manufacturing And Design For Transportation	40	Coursework Practical
Maths And Engineering Science For Transportation	20	Coursework
Sustainable Engineering And Interdisciplinary Practice	20	Coursework

 

 

Year 3 Compulsory modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
Applied Automotive Engineering	40	Coursework Exam
Numerical Methods And Applications	20	Practical
Systems Modelling And Simulation	20	Coursework
Vehicle Technology, Systems And Performance	40	Coursework Practical

 

Year 4 Optional modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
Placement Year

 

Final Year Compulsory modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
Advanced Automotive Engineering	40	Coursework Exam
Project: Implementation	20	Coursework
Project: Management And Scoping	20	Coursework
Vehicle Design And Production	40	Coursework Practical