Motorsport Engineering

Motorsport engineering is an engineering discipline applied to one of the most technically demanding and competitively intense fields in the world. It encompasses the design, analysis, and development of racing vehicles, drawing on mechanical engineering, aerodynamics, materials science, electronics, and data analysis to extract the maximum performance from systems that must be both technically sophisticated and extraordinarily reliable under extreme conditions. The motorsport industry is a major employer of engineering graduates and a hotbed of technical innovation, and many technologies developed for racing eventually find their way into road vehicles and other industries.

At the University of Derby, this three-year programme approaches motorsport engineering from a broad engineering foundation, ensuring you have the multi-disciplinary skills and knowledge that employers across the sector are looking for. In the first year, you will cover all aspects of engineering to develop this broad grounding before progressing to the specialist motorsport content that distinguishes the degree. You will study vehicle dynamics, aerodynamics, powertrain engineering, data analysis, composite materials, and the design and simulation tools used in the industry, developing both technical depth and the practical competence to apply it.

The programme includes a foundation year, providing an additional year of engineering preparation before the main degree begins. A sandwich year, a year abroad, and a work placement are also included, giving you the opportunity to develop your skills in a professional motorsport or engineering environment and to gain direct experience of the industry.

Graduates from motorsport engineering degrees work in racing teams, automotive manufacturers, aerospace, and advanced engineering more broadly. The technical skills the degree develops are highly transferable, and many graduates build careers in vehicle engineering, product development, systems engineering, and technical consultancy across a range of sectors.