Automotive Engineering

Automotive engineering is the branch of engineering concerned with the design, development, manufacture, and testing of road vehicles, encompassing everything from the mechanical and structural systems that make a car move and handle safely to the electronics, software, and powertrains that define the modern vehicle. The automotive sector is undergoing transformative change, driven by the shift to electric powertrains, the development of autonomous and connected vehicles, and the pressure to reduce emissions and material waste across the vehicle lifecycle. Engineers who understand these systems and can contribute to their development are among the most sought-after graduates in the sector.

At Northumbria University in Newcastle, this four-year full-time Extended Degree programme includes a sandwich placement year, a year abroad, and a work placement, making it one of the most professionally embedded routes into automotive engineering available. The sandwich year and work placement give you extended time working in the industry, developing professional skills and building the experience that employers actively look for in graduate candidates. The year abroad allows you to study at a partner institution in another country, gaining exposure to a different automotive culture and academic tradition, which is valuable in a global industry.

The extended format of the programme gives you additional time compared with a standard three-year degree, allowing you to cover both the engineering fundamentals and the automotive-specific content in greater depth. You will study vehicle dynamics, thermodynamics, materials, electronic systems, and product design processes, alongside the emerging technologies that are reshaping the industry, including electric vehicle systems, autonomous technologies, and sustainable manufacturing approaches.

Graduates of automotive engineering programmes move into roles in vehicle design and development, manufacturing engineering, testing and validation, systems integration, and motorsport. The sector spans passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, specialist and performance vehicles, and a growing range of adjacent transport and mobility technologies.