Smart, Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (Taught)

WMG at Warwick has established a legacy of leading automotive research in collaboration with industry. Smart, Connected and Autonomous Vehicles MSc aims to address the knowledge gap in machine learning, automated control strategies, connectivity, cyber-security protocols and much more.

Course Overview
With intelligent vehicles on the horizon of technical advancements, the automotive industry is facing a developmental challenge. How do we develop a robust technical infrastructure to support the anticipated explosive growth in smart vehicular functions, communications systems, and driverless cars? This demands a comprehensive understanding of the technology and a bottom-up approach ensuring robustness and dependability of Electronics, Communications and Control Systems.

Through this MSc, we aim to address the knowledge gap in the areas of machine learning, automated control strategies, connectivity, and communication infrastructure, cyber-security protocols, emerging automotive networks and robust automotive embedded systems within the context of smart, connected and autonomous vehicles. Our unique experimental facilities on campus, including the National Automotive Innovation Centre (NAIC), enable academic and industry practitioners to work together to overcome key, strategic challenges in the automotive sector and develop future vehicles and mobility solutions.

This programme has extensive industrial support with the Industry Advisory Board consisting of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) and RDM and other industrial stakeholders. The course receives project and teaching support from a number of additional companies including: ON semiconductor, National Instruments, AVL, IPG Automotive, Lumerical, Shell, CRA Risk Analysis, Konrad Technologies and Jaguar Land Rover. The industry input helps to ensure that the course remains closely aligned with the needs and requirements of the sector, including the skills and knowledge that our graduates need to succeed in their careers.

This course is accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) on behalf of the Engineering Council as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for registration as a Chartered Engineer. Candidates must hold a CEng accredited BEng/BSc (Hons) undergraduate first degree to comply with full CEng registration requirements.

This information is applicable for 2026 entry. Given the interval between the publication of courses and enrolment, some of the information may change. It is important to check our website before you apply.

Core modules
Core modules are required modules that all students will complete whilst on this programme. For Smart, Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (SCAV), your core modules are:

• Fundamentals of Automotive Research, Development, and Management
• Automotive Sensors and Sensor Fusion
• Robust Automotive Embedded Systems
• Networks and Communications for the Connected Car
• Machine Intelligence and Data Science
• Human-Technology Interaction

Optional modules
Alongside the core modules listed above, you will choose one elective. The available options will be confirmed at the start of the academic year, but an illustrative list is provided below. Please note that these options may be subject to change.

• Programming and Fundamental Algorithms
• Automated Systems and Control

The course uses a variety of assessment methods across modules. These may include technical presentations, and labs, reports (both topic based and reflective), essays, critical evaluation case studies, simulations, online tests, and video presentations.

Assessments have been designed not only to assess your achievement in meeting the course learning outcomes in an academically sound manner, but also contribute to preparing you with the requisite competencies required for employment.

For the research component, you will undertake a major project. Leveraging the close partnerships that WMG has with key organisations within the automotive supply chain, it is envisaged that your project will have an industrial sponsor, enabling you to work in close collaboration with an industry partner. This valuable experience will further your transferrable skills development, and expand your networking opportunities and understanding in a professional research and development environment. Project submission is likely to include both a written and a presentation element, accounting for 33% of your overall academic grade.