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Automotive Engineering (With Foundation Year)

Course details
  • BEng (Hon)
  • 4 Years
  • Full-time
  • 09/2026
  • Undergraduate
Course location
Luton Campus

Course summary

This degree offers the in-depth technical training and hands-on experience you need to build industry-ready skills and thrive in the fast-paced automotive industry. You first gain a broad basis of knowledge before specialising in rapidly developing areas such as automotive systems and electric vehicles, all while benefiting from practical collaboration with industry leaders. In addition, you develop the problem-solving and critical-thinking skills needed to succeed in this progressive field.

Foundation Year
In the Foundation year you will study three days per week. The focus will be on academic writing skills and numeracy, plus subject-specific content to fully prepare you for entry to an Undergraduate degree. It provides a balance between content related to your chosen subject and the range of wider skills required for undergraduate study. This is an integrated four-year degree, with the foundation year as a key part of the course. You will be required to pass the foundation year in order to progress to the first year of your degree. This course is ideal for those who do not meet our standard entry requirements or those with a non-standard educational background. It will allow you to graduate with a full undergraduate degree in your chosen subject in four years.

Course Accreditation/Industry Endorsement

  • This course has been designed to meet the requirements of the Institution of Mechanical Engineering (IMechE), enabling you to apply your skills in the modern automotive engineering industry, especially in hybrid and electric vehicles.

Facilities and Specialist Equipment

  • Contemporary STEM building with high-tech general engineering and electronic engineering labs, providing you with a vibrant and supportive learning environment.

  • Industry-standard engineering software suites such as AutoCAD; Ansys; MATLAB; ChassisSim; and COMSOL Multiphysics.

  • Specialist automotive engineering lab with state-of-the-art technology, including advanced automotive engine demonstrators, 3D printers and experimental facilities.

Partnerships and Collaborations

  • Take on real-world work projects in collaboration with industry partners such as The Welding Institute and Jaguar Land Rover.

Your Student Experience
-Start by learning alongside our other engineering students, benefiting from the sharing of ideas and knowledge, then specialise in rapidly developing topics at the forefront of your field.

  • Study under the guidance of academic staff who have worked in the motorsport and automotive industries, and whose active roles in research and consultancy ensure the course is always up-to-date with the latest developments in industry.

  • Collaborate with local companies either on campus or in nearby company workshops.

  • Learn from sector-leading enterprises such as Jaguar Land Rover and TWI through industry visits and interactive demonstrations.

  • Enter competitions and get involved in opportunities such as the prestigious Formula Student Racing Car project, designed to enhance your analytical, creative thinking and project management skills.

  • Benefit from the support of our dedicated academic success tutors.

Modules

Areas of study include:

  • Engineering Design and Manufacture
  • Engineering Mathematics
  • Introduction to Software Development
  • Mechanics and Heat Transfer
  • Engineering Structure, Materials and Analysis
  • Fluid Dynamics, Thermofluids and Modelling
  • Vehicle Dynamics and Chassis Technology
  • Vehicle Electronics and Control
  • Automotive Systems and Design
  • Research Methodologies and Project Management
  • Vehicle Powertrain Technology
  • Undergraduate Automotive Engineering Special Project

Every effort is made to ensure this information is accurate at the point of publication on the UCAS website. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to our website.

How to apply

Apply by
14 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
H331
Institution code:
B22
Campus name:
Luton Campus
Campus Code:
D

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Foundation

Open days

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

UCAS Tariff - 32 - 48 points

A level - C - B

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

32 - 48 UCAS Tariff Points

Access to HE Diploma

Successfully completed Access Diploma course

Applicants with other qualifications and/or work experience will be considered. If you would like to check that your qualifications will be accepted please contact the university.

Historical entry grades data BETA

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

No fee information has been provided for this course

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

For information on the 2026 fees please refer to our website, https://www.beds.ac.uk/howtoapply/money/fees/

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