Automotive Engineering BEng (Hons)

How will I learn during this course?

Automotive Engineering at Northumbria endeavours to promote an inclusive learning environment that focuses on engagement and the development of higher-level learning objectives that prepare students with the skills necessary to succeed in a competitive industry. 

The key learning objectives the programme intends to foster are the development of problem solving and critical thinking strategies, and the application of foundational concepts and theoretical knowledge to practical real-world situations.

Consistent with industrial practice, learning activities will enable students to work collaboratively through the development of teamwork, communication and leadership skills, and the encouragement of creative thinking to solve engineering problems.  You will learn by applying the knowledge and skills you gain from active learning sessions and independent study to contemporary engineering issues and Global challenges. 

As the level of study progresses, assessment tasks allow for more open-ended discovery, evaluation, and reflection.  This culminates in a significant self-led investigative project, guided by academic and technical support staff, that allows you to pursue your individual areas of interest within the programme.  Interactive sessions, core to the delivery and ethos of the programme, give opportunity for hands-on learning and authentic discussion and evaluation of understanding to provide regular and meaningful formative feedback that will enable you to actively develop as a critical thinker, reflective practitioner, and independent learner. 

The programme showcases links with industry through the presentation of guest lectures that are closely connected with subject themes.

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Who will teach me during my course?

You will be taught by tutors who have many years of experience working in an engineering industry or technical development role. Their experience, combined with their on-going active research, will provide an excellent foundation for your learning.

Our reputation for quality is reflected by the range and depth of our collaborations with industry partners. We’ve built up numerous industrial links during the 50+ years that we’ve been offering engineering courses. These links help ensure high quality placements and collaborative projects.

Northumbria also has the advantage of being in the North East of England, which is a centre of manufacturing and technical innovation. As well as Nissan, there is a strong concentration of companies in the automotive, engineering design and analysis, and manufacturing supply chain providing opportunities for graduates.  

During the programme, you will be assigned a member of academic staff as a personal tutor. Your personal tutor will provide you with advice and support in relation to your academic, personal, and professional development throughout the programme. The University also has a well-structured range of support services providing specialist assistance for academic and non-academic needs.

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Where will I learn during my degree?

The Department has invested heavily in laboratory and workshop facilities to support your academic learning.  We have specialist laboratories for engine testing, aerodynamics, control and instrumentation, smart materials and composites, engineering systems and fluids and thermodynamics.

Our rapid prototyping room will make it easy for you to bring your design projects to life, and our workshop offers tools and specialist equipment for modelling your designs.

These facilities are utilised to provide an authentic, practice-based learning environment.  The programme modules are constructively aligned to offer use of our specialist facilities allowing technical staff to provide support and insight into real life engineering application.  The electronic learning platform (eLP) provides a comprehensive resource for integrated learning incorporating learning materials and reading lists that will facilitate directed and self-directed learning.  Contact with academic tutors and your peers outside formal teaching hours is encouraged through an open-door policy, discussion boards and messaging systems within the eLP. 

Enquiry based activities are undertaken in our purpose-built Activity Centres.  The Zone offers space to facilitate individual study and collaborative computer-based work. It also provides areas for informal meetings and discussion. And our award-winning library is a valuable resource for engineering literature and also provides additional IT, collaboration and quiet study facilities.

How is research applied to the teaching on this course?

The Automotive Engineering programme seeks to promote a research rich learning environment where students develop their skills, from first learning how to conduct and evaluate research via problem-solving activities, through to planning and managing their own investigative research project. 

The department of Mechanical and Construction Engineering is ranked 25th for research power in the UK out of 89 submissions (REF, 2021).

Subject experts provide meaning to fundamental engineering knowledge by structuring the curriculum around their research skills, interests and experiences.  This research embedded environment makes the learning process engaging, developmental, personal, and meaningful.

As you progress through the programme, you are encouraged and supported to work with increasing independence in your study to tackle more complex challenges and take greater responsibility for your own learning journey.  This allows you to identify and pursue individual topics of interest within the wider scope of Automotive Engineering and research-led enquiry.

Research opportunities are designed into each module throughout the programme, so that you are prepared and equipped to take on challenging problems. You will develop and practice vital skills of time management, critical and reflective thinking, whilst through increasing academic literacy you will draw on the latest research in the field to analyse and evaluate contemporary engineering topics that have a global impact on society.

How does this course prepare me for my future career?

Employability is embedded at all years within the Automotive Engineering programme at Northumbria.  Our teaching focuses on the authentic application of professional knowledge and skills through independent enquiry-based learning approaches and collaboration with industry and professional bodies.

Enhancing your employment prospects and developing links with industry are important aspects of the Automotive Engineering programme.  Between your second and third years of study you will have the opportunity to undertake an industrial placement, or to study abroad, which provide you with invaluable industrial or international experience.

Academic staff will work with you to help you understand and explore the different types of careers suited to a graduate engineer and assist you in identifying possible avenues for you to explore. Our dedicated Careers and Employment Service will also support you in finding and securing part-time employment during your studies, placement opportunities, and full-time employment on completion of your programme.

Upon graduation, you will be in an excellent position to become a practising automotive engineer with the skills for progression into both technical and engineering management roles.