Everything you need to know...
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What is the fee?
Home: £9,535 per year (£1,200 for placement year)
International/EU: £17,155 per year (£1,200 for placement year) -
How long will I study?
4/5 Years
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Where will I study?
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What are the entry requirements?
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What is the UCAS code?
A027
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When do I start?
September 2025
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Placement year available?
Yes
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Course summary
- Understand key technologies such as electric and autonomous vehicles.
- Explore the economic, environmental and social implications of automotive production.
- Engage in professional and sustainable practices right from the beginning.
- Experience live projects, simulations, aerodynamics and diverse disciplines.
- Prepare for the full degree with an extra foundation year at the start.
The course prepares you for a range of roles in the automotive industry, providing you with the right environment, facilities, skills and training to be successful in the industry. You’ll explore various aspects of automotive design, development, testing, manufacturing, electronics and performance analysis – emerging as a highly skilled graduate ready to solve current and future problems in the industry.
This foundation year course is for those who don't meet the entry requirements for our BEng (Hons) Automotive Engineering course, or would like extra preparation before starting degree-level study.
How you learn
This course is designed for you to gain experience as a professional engineer from day one, where you’ll develop technical and professional skills from the very start.
You’ll experience and engage in a variety of learning activities as you progress through the course. We’ve designed a balanced mix of activities to help challenge you to think creatively, build knowledge and understanding, while also developing your professional skills and employability. These include practical laboratories and computer simulations to enhance your learning – with lab experiments designed to reinforce your learning of theoretical concepts.
You learn through:
- Diverse lectures emphasising peer collaboration.
- Tutorials to practise and apply your knowledge ahead of assessments.
- Hands-on lab experience including computational modelling and simulation.
- Q&A and discussions for self-assessment and understanding.
- Support sessions for receiving feedback and preparing for assessments.
- Teamwork activities for collaboration in an innovative environment.
- Multidisciplinary project-based learning to apply knowledge, creativity, design, critical analysis and professional skills to real-world projects.
Course topics
This course provides an in-depth study of the underpinning principles and practices involved in automotive engineering. It covers various aspects of automotive design, development, testing, manufacturing and performance analysis.
The course combines theoretical knowledge with practical hands-on experience while core modules cover the key aspects of automotive engineering. These range from electric, hybrid and internal combustion propulsion to automotive powertrains and vehicle systems, performance, dynamics, aerodynamics and styling. You’ll also explore sustainable materials, manufacturing and production – plus numerical methods, modelling and simulation.
Course-level support
You’ll be supported in your learning journey towards highly skilled, graduate level employment through a number of key areas. These include:
- Access to our Skills Centre with one-on-ones, webinars and online resources, where you can get help with planning and structuring your assignments.
- Access to our student support triangle comprising an academic adviser, an employability adviser and a student support adviser who will help with your personal, academic and career development.
- The Engineering Café, a weekly drop-in session where you can ask questions and get advice from academics.
- A dedicated Maths and Stats Support drop-in session that runs twice a week.
Course leaders and tutors
Tim Spencer
Research FellowTim's research at MERI involves the application of theory and simulation techniques for the predictive modelling of real life systems that involve fluids.
Applied learning
Work placements
You’ll have the opportunity to arrange a year-long work placement in between your second and third years. This gives you real-world experience to prepare you for your future career – and allows you to graduate with an Applied Professional Diploma to add to your CV.
Although optional (and competitive), a placement is actively encouraged to significantly improve your employability at the end of the degree. Previous students have undertaken placements at BorgWarner, Cummins and Forvia Faurecia.
Live projects
Throughout the course, you’ll gain practical experience working on live projects set by our industry partners. You’ll also have the opportunity to get involved in the SHU Racing Team – applying your skills and knowledge to build, test and design race cars. Here you’ll experience what it’s like to collaborate with engineers from different disciplines and solve complex automotive challenges.
Previous students have also worked on live projects with McLaren, Red Bull, Nissan and Jaguar Land Rover (JLR).
Field trips
You’ll have the opportunity to visit leading automotive engineering companies such as Bentley Motors, Morgan and Toyota. Explore the full spectrum of the automotive sector, delving into the operations of both specialist companies and international manufacturers. Gain invaluable insights into the diverse facets of automotive engineering in real-world settings.
Networking opportunities
Throughout the course you’ll have numerous opportunities to engage with career management, career fairs and workshops, employer presentations, visits, and professional advisers. You’ll gain professional engagement and real-world learning from guest speakers, practising tutors, and work placements.
Competitions
You’ll get the opportunity to take part in national and international engineering competitions.
These include Formula Student – where you design and build a race car and race it at Silverstone, home of the British Grand Prix. There’s also the Heavy Lift Challenge – which involves designing and building a remote-controlled aircraft.
Future careers
- Manufacturing
- Design research and development
- Production
- Automotive transport
- Building services
- Medical engineering
- Sport equipment design
- Power generation
- Alternative energy
- Automation and robotics
- Product testing
- Project management
- Aerospace
Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work for:
- BMW Manufacturing
- Caterpillar
- Cummins
- DJ Engineering Services
- EDF Energy
- General Motors
- Intertec UK
- Jaguar Land Rover
- Kongsberg Automotive
- LUK (UK)
- Nissan
- Prospec
- Reckitt Benckiser
- Rolls-Royce
- Severn Controls
- Triumph Motorcycles
- Unilever
- ZF TRW
Where will I study?
You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
City Campus
City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.
City Campus map | City Campus tour
Adsetts library
Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreLearn more about your department
Engineering and Maths Facilities Tour
Take a look around the Engineering and Maths facilities at Sheffield Hallam University.
Entry requirements
All students
UCAS points
- 80
This must include at least 32 points from one A level or equivalent BTEC qualifications. For example:
- CDD at A Level.
- MMP in BTEC Extended Diploma.
- Pass overall from a T level qualification with C from core
- A combination of qualifications, which may include a maximum of one AS level, EPQ and general studies
You can find information on making sense of UCAS tariff points here and use the UCAS tariff calculator to work out your points.
GCSE
- English Language at grade C or 4
- Maths at grade C or 4
- Science at grade C or 4
*GCSE Equivalents
- Level 2 Literacy or Functional Skills Level 2 English
- Level 2 Numeracy or Functional Skills Level 2 Maths
• Access - an Access to HE Diploma with at least 45 credits at level 3 and 15 credits at level 2. At least 15 level 3 credits must be at merit grade or above from a QAA-recognised Access to HE course, or an equivalent Access to HE certificate.
We may also accept you, if you have no formal qualifications but can show evidence of ability and a genuine commitment to studying the subject.
Some applicants may be invited to attend an informal interview with the course leader to ensure that the programme is suitable for themselves and their aspirations.
UK students may be able to claim financial support for the course.
If English is not your first language, you will need an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills, or equivalent. If your English language skill is currently below IELTS 6.0 we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English score.
Additional information for EU/International students
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.
For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.
Learn more about your department
As part of SHU Racing you can design and build a car, then race against other universities at Silverstone. Team Principal Max Vollans talks about what's involved.
Equipment and facilities
On this course, you’ll have access to our cutting-edge teaching spaces, laboratories and workshops, including:
- Rapid prototyping equipment to create accurate prototypes of product designs from CAD-generated information
- A 5-axis machining centre which completes the CAD/CAM cycle
- Computer simulations
- A robotics laboratory to study computer-controlled manufacturing equipment
- An automotive workshop for engine testing
- A wind tunnel for aerodynamic studies
- A steering and suspension test rig for vehicle technology and dynamics
Media Gallery
Modules
Important notice: The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.
You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.
Year 1
Compulsory modules
Engineering And Mathematics In Practice
Foundation Mathematics, Mechanics And Electronics 1
Foundation Mathematics, Mechanics And Electronics 2
Fundamentals Of Materials And Manufacturing
Year 2
Compulsory modules
Automotive Engineering Fundamentals
Materials, Manufacturing And Design For Transportation
Maths And Engineering Science For Transportation
Sustainable Engineering And Interdisciplinary Practice
Year 3
Compulsory modules
Applied Automotive Engineering
Numerical Methods And Applications
Systems Modelling And Simulation
Vehicle Technology, Systems And Performance
Year 4
Optional modules
Placement Year
Final year
Compulsory modules
Advanced Automotive Engineering
Project: Implementation
Project: Management And Scoping
Vehicle Design And Production
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students on full-time undergraduate degree courses in 2025/26 is £9,535 per year. These fees are regulated by the UK government and therefore subject to change in future years. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.
We are currently reviewing our tuition fees for the foundation year stage of this course following the Government announcement of fee changes for some foundation year courses and will confirm fees as soon as possible.
If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
International students
Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £17,155 per year. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.
Financial support for home/EU students
How tuition fees work, student loans and other financial support available.
Additional course costs
The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
General course additional costs
Additional costs for School of Engineering and Built Environment (PDF, 142.7KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
