Automotive Engineering with foundation year

The foundation year of this Coventry University degree will be delivered from our CU Coventry campus. Course delivery from year 1 of the degree onwards will be from Coventry University campus.

Let your passion for cars, engineering and design be the drive to become a professional automotive engineer, ready to innovate in a rapidly evolving, global industry.

Our degree with foundation year could be the stepping stone you need to achieve your goals. The foundation year aims to prepare you for degree-level study and is a great way to build the confidence, skills and knowledge needed to succeed on your degree course. The degree with foundation year is only available for the BEng option.

Foundation year
This foundation year aims to provide you with the fundamental knowledge and skills needed in mathematics, as well as the theories and concepts of electrical, electronic and mechanical engineering.

Degree
With the rise of electrification, autonomous systems and sustainable design, engineers are at the forefront of solving today's transport and environmental challenges.

Ideal for those passionate about shaping the future of mobility, this course blends mechanical engineering fundamentals with automotive applications. It is designed to prepare you for careers in R&D, manufacturing and sustainability.

Key highlights:

• Core engineering and automotive specialism: master vehicle dynamics, aerodynamics, powertrains and autonomous systems.

• Future-focused skills: tackle electrification, sustainability and ethical engineering challenges.

• Transferable expertise: build strong mathematical, problem-solving and design skills applicable across engineering sectors.

Why you should study this course

• Future-focused expertise: study electric and autonomous vehicle systems, lightweight composites, aerodynamics, and propulsion to prepare for the industry's transition to net zero.

• Real-world experience: apply skills through industry placements and collaborative projects. Previous students worked on Shell Eco Marathon and Formula Student vehicle development.

• Contemporary facilities: design and manufacture your own designs using high-performance labs, full-motion vehicle simulators, VR Power wall, composites laboratory wind tunnels, engine dynamometers and 3D immersive tech for advanced prototyping and testing in our High-Performance Engineering Centre and Beatrice Shilling Building.

• Industry connections: located at the heart of the UK automotive industry, benefit from strong links with leading automotive and engineering manufacturers and suppliers. Our employability experts can help support you in securing placements and graduate roles, both in the UK and internationally. Placements are subject to competitive applications.

Please visit our website for the most up-to-date information.

Course Modules

The foundation year seeks to provide opportunities to develop fundamental knowledge and skills in a range of mathematical and business principles, as well as the theories and concepts of electrical and mechanical engineering. Foundation year modules include:
Fundamental Pure Mathematics
Fundamental Applied Mathematics
Electrical and Electronic Engineering. Fundamentals
Mechanical Engineering Fundamentals

In the first year, the curriculum is shared across related courses allowing you to gain a broad grounding in the discipline before going on, in the second and third years, to specialist modules in your chosen field.

Year One Modules
Mechanical Science
Engineering Mathematics
Engineering Design
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Principles

Year Two
In your second year, you can expect to develop more advanced knowledge and skills to do with design and sustainability, thermofluid mechanics, and analytical modelling, amongst others.

Modules
Solid Mechanics and Dynamics
Thermofluid Analysis
Design, Sustainability and Manufacturing
Automotive Vehicle Systems

Sandwich Year
There’s no better way to find out what you love doing than trying it out for yourself, which is why a work placement* can often be beneficial. Work placements usually occur between your second and final year of study. They’re a great way to help you explore your potential career path and gain valuable work experience, whilst developing transferable skills for the future.

Final Year
Your final year aims to bring you to the level to enter the world of work by consolidating your knowledge and skills from previous years. You should develop more advanced knowledge and skills to do with automotive product innovation, electrical vehicles and material analysis, amongst others.

Modules
Further Automotive Vehicle Systems
Automotive Group Project and Dissertation
Optional modules:
Choose one of the following three options:
Vehicle Structures and Refinement
Motorcycle Design and Development
Autonomous and Electric Vehicle Systems

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated. Before accepting any offers, please check the website for the most up to date course content. For full module details please check the course page on the Coventry University website.
*For further information please check the course page on the Coventry University website

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

• Mechanical Engineers, Institution of