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Motorsport Engineering

BEng (Hons) or MEng

UCAS code: H334 BEng H337 MEng

Start dates: September 2023 / September 2024

Full time: BEng: 3 years, or 4 years sandwich; MEng: 4 years, or 5 years sandwich

Part time: BEng: up to 8 years; MEng: up to 9 years

Location: Wheatley

Department(s): School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

Overview

Our motorsport engineering degree will help you become a design engineer for the motorsport industry. And we work with the local and global motorsport industry to shape course content. 

The course combines theory with practical, hands-on experience, to give you a well-rounded introduction to motorsport. Our research facilities are also your learning spaces. You’ll have full access to these, whenever you need them. And with a focus on electric vehicles, you’ll be prepared for the future of work in this profession. 

The course has 2 pathways: BEng and MEng. Whichever you pick, you’ll be on your way to receiving industry accreditation, improving your future job prospects and unlocking opportunities for postgraduate study. At the end of the BEng course, you can choose to study for an extra year to gain the MEng qualification.

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Why Oxford Brookes University?

  • Join a community

    Join Oxford Brookes Racing, Formula Student Team - who’ve been the top UK team and won the design award more times than any other UK university, and develop skills in designing, building and racing vehicles.

  • Earn while you learn

    Boost your career prospects by going on a paid industry work placement.

  • Hear from experts

    Formula One professionals teach on the course, and pass their knowledge on to you.

  • Flexible programme

    Change to a different engineering course if your interests and career goals change before the end of your first year.

  • Meet recruiters

    As part of our Industrial Lecture series, you can meet prospective employers and Oxford Brookes alumni to make vital industry connections.

  • Free language courses

    Free language courses are available to full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students on many of our courses, and can be taken as a credit on some courses.

  • Accreditation(s)

    The BEng is accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as an Incorporated Engineer and partly meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer. The MEng is accredited by IET for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer. Both pathways are also accredited by The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).

    • Engineering Council
    • Institution of Engineering and Technology
    • Institution of Mechanical Engineers

Course Details

Course Structure

You’ll work with other engineering students in year 1 to design a Stirling Engine. It’s your responsibility to draw the parts, understand the physics and test the thermodynamics, dynamics, and stress analysis. Then you’ll market and sell your product in a global digital marketplace. You’ll also have the flexibility to switch to another engineering course in time for year 2. 

In your second year, modules such as Engineering Thermo-Fluids and Mathematics and Modelling will help you sharpen your analytical skills. You’ll work on more group design tasks and use engineering analysis software. 

Before starting year 3, you can go on a paid work placement. After you come back, you’ll see how you can apply everything you learn here to your third year projects. And you’ll have picked up experience that looks impressive on your CV. Students have gone on placements with Formula One teams including Alpine, Mercedes and Williams. 

Students in the engineering workshop

Learning and Teaching

Teaching and learning methods include:

  • seminars
  • lectures
  • practical work in the laboratory, at a computer or in a workshop. 

In many of the modules, teaching is based around the use of engineering software.

You'll have access to a broad range of up-to-date facilities, including:

  • computer equipment
  • audio and video media facilities
  • software for Computer Aided Design and analysis.

We also have the following well-equipped engineering laboratories and workshops:

  • Mechanical Engineering Workshop and Projects Lab 
  • Joining Technology Research Centre (JTRC)
  • Stress and Materials Laboratory 
  • Dynamics Laboratory 
  • Fluid Mechanics Laboratory
  • Automotive Laboratory 
  • Thermodynamics Laboratory.

Assessment

All modules taken in your first year have an element of continuous assessment.

Modules taken in your second and final years are assessed largely on the basis of written examinations, although some modules rely solely on coursework.

As part of this course you will be given an opportunity to gain a Monitored Professional Development Scheme (MPDS) accreditation by IMechE through a work placement with one of the University's industry partners. 

Study modules

Year 1

Compulsory modules

Mathematics and Modelling I (double) (30 credits)

Design and Practice I (double) (30 credits)

Introduction to Thermo Fluids (15 credits)

Introduction to Materials (15 credits)

Introduction to Stress Analysis (15 credits)

Introduction to Statics and Dynamics (15 credits)

Year 2

Compulsory modules

Thermo-Fluids (15 credits)

Design and Practice II (double) (30 credits)

Materials Engineering (15 credits)

Stress Analysis and Dynamics (double) (30 credits)

Engineering Mathematics and Modelling II (15 credits)

Automotive Electronics (15 credits)

Optional modules

Independent Study in Mechanical/Automotive/Motorsport Engineering (15 credits)

Control Technology (15 credits)

Stress and Dynamic Systems(double) (30 credits)

Year 3 (optional placement year)

Optional modules

Optional placement year

Our work placement programme has been commended by professional bodies as a model of excellence. We have placement opportunities with local, national and international Engineering companies. We provide support and guidance in applying for placements. Placements are highly valued by prospective employers, helps with consolidating your understanding of mechanical engineering and gives you the opportunity to apply your knowledge in an industrial environment. Students usually have to arrange their own accommodation during their placement year and will have to cover their own transport and living costs. Previous students have gained placements with companies such as: Red Bull Racing Mercedes AMG HPP Nitron Racing Systems AP Racing Ltd Sahara Force India F1 X-Trac Ltd Lotus F1 Mercedes AMG Petronas Williams Grand Prix Engineering We have an excellent record of graduates gaining full-time employment with their industrial placement-year company.

Year 4 (or year 3 if no placement)

Compulsory modules

Engineering Project (30 credits)

Management Ethics, Energy & Sustainability (30 credits)

Vehicle Aerodynamics (15 credits)

Automotive Engines (15 credits)

Vehicle Dynamics (15 credits)

Motorsport Vehicle Performance (15 credits)

Optional modules

Vehicle Crash (15 credits)

Design of Machines (15 credits)

Independent Study Engineering (15 credits)

Year 5 (MEng)

Compulsory modules

Crash Impact Modelling (20 credits)

Advanced Powertrain Engineering (20 credits)

Engineering Business Management (20 credits)

Group Design Project (40 credits)

Advanced Vehicle Dynamics (20 credits)

Race Engineering and Laptime Simulation (20 credits)

Please note: As our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, the modules you can choose from may vary from that shown here. The structure of the course may also mean some modules are not available to you.

Careers

This course is your chance to join IMechE Monitored Professional Development Scheme before you finish the course. 

Both BEng and MEng courses lead to professional accreditation.  Completing the BEng meets the academic requirements for becoming an Incorporated Engineer, and partly meets the academic requirements for becoming a Chartered Engineer. Completing the MEng fully meets the academic requirements for Chartered Engineer status.

Our graduates go on to have successful careers in the motorsport industry. They work for big names including Ferrari, Williams Advanced Engineering, Tuthill Porsche, plus many Formula One and Formula E teams. 

You’ll also have the option of studying motorsport engineering, or a similar discipline, at a higher level. The BEng can lead to MSc opportunities, and both the MEng and MSc open up PhD routes. 

Our Staff

Miguel Fernandes Ferreira

Read more about Miguel

Entry requirements

Wherever possible we make our conditional offers using the UCAS Tariff. The combination of A-level grades listed here would be just one way of achieving the UCAS Tariff points for this course.

Standard offer

UCAS Tariff Points: 112 - 120

A Level: BBB - BBC or equivalent

IB Points: 30 - 31

BTEC: DDM - DMM

Contextual offer

UCAS Tariff Points:

A Level:

IB Points:

BTEC:

Further offer details

A levels: tariff points must include A level Grade B in Maths, and Grade B in Physics, Chemistry, Electronics, Engineering or another suitable science.  

BEng contextual offer points must include C in Maths and C in Physics, Chemistry, Electronics, Engineering or another science.  MEng contextual offer points must include B in Maths and C in Physics, Chemistry, Electronics, Engineering or suitable science

IB Diploma: 31 points (BEng) or 32 points (MEng) to include minimum grade 5 in Higher Level Maths and Physics

BEng contextual offer points must include 4 in HL Maths and Physics.  MEng contextual offer points must include 5 in HL Maths and 4 in HL Physics

BTEC: tariff points must include BTEC Extended Diploma in an engineering subject, plus a distinction in the Further Mathematics module.

We welcome applications from candidates with equivalent alternative qualifications, and from mature students

International qualifications and equivalences

Tuition fees

Please see the fees note
Home (UK) full time
£9,250

Home (UK) part time
£1,155 per single module

Home (UK) sandwich (placement)
£1,500

International full time
£15,500

International sandwich (placement)
£1,500

Home (UK) full time
£9,250

Home (UK) part time
£1,155 per single module

Home (UK) sandwich (placement)
£1,500

International full time
£16,100

International sandwich (placement)
£1,500

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

Tuition fees

2022 / 23
Home (UK) full time
£9,250

Home (UK) part time
£1,155 per single module

Home (UK) sandwich (placement)
£1,500

International full time
£15,500

International sandwich (placement)
£1,500

2023 / 24
Home (UK) full time
£9,250

Home (UK) part time
£1,155 per single module

Home (UK) sandwich (placement)
£1,500

International full time
£16,100

International sandwich (placement)
£1,500

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

+44 (0)1865 483088

financefees@brookes.ac.uk

Please note tuition fees for Home students may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students in line with an inflationary amount determined by government. Tuition fees for International students may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students.

Oxford Brookes University intends to maintain its fees for new and returning Home students at the maximum permitted level.

Additional costs

Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course are detailed below.

Information from Discover Uni

Full-time study

Part-time study

Full-time study

Part-time study

Programme Changes:

On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been published on the website.

For more information, please visit our Changes to programmes page.