Automotive engineering at university

[flattyre]

I saw that there was another topic similar to this only a little further down, but I don't want to hijack his topic so I thought I'd make my own

Anyway, I'm 17 going on 18 in a couple of weeks, and I've recently applied for some engineering courses at some unis. I've applied to:

Hertfordshire
- Automotive engineering (H330)
- Automotive engineering with motorsport (H335)
Oxford Brookes
- Auromotive engineering (H330)
Kingston
- Automotive engineering design (H330)
Manchester Metropolitan
- Automotive engineering (H330)

I don't really want to go to Manchester, I only applied to that to fill up the fifth application. I've got conditional offers from all of the others. My first big idea was to go to Hertfordshire - it sounds like a fantastic place. I'm visiting some of these universities soon on open days. But what does everybody here think? Does anybody know the reputations of each of these places? Which of them sounds like the best?

Second question... I've applied for two courses, H330 and H335. Obviously due to my interests, the 'with motorsport' H335 course sounds much more interesting. But, if I were to take this course, would I still be able to potentially get a job in other automotive areas in the future? i.e. not be limited to just motorsport?

Just so you know, I'll probably be using Kingston as the backup choice, so if I don't manage to reach the grades, I'll be off there. Yay or nay?

Thanks in advance everyone

[Scotracer]

The actual differences between the degrees (such as the differences between pure Mechanical Engineering and Automotive Engineering) don't really mean much until the real later years of your degree. You still have to learn engineering science (Statics, Dynamics, Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics) as well as such things as Material science.

When you get into your later years you will branch off (even perhaps to some degree in the early years) to things that are more directly relevant to the automotive industry (but are still fundamentally just mech eng sciences). Personally, I have a degree in Automotive Engineering (H330) but am currently in my final year...and it was possible even at this late stage to switch to Mechanical Engineering. I did so because the choices are more flexible in Mech Eng (I wanted to specialise in Aerodynamics and Thermodynamics). So, in terms of future jobs you will have no problem with whichever you choose.

In hindsight I wish I had waited until I was your age before going to uni...but hey, life's a bitch!

I don't have much knowledge of the reputation of those universities as I am in Scotland and mostly hear about Scottish unis.

I wish you all the best - you have a long road of frustrating algebra and calculus ahead of you!

[NDR008]

Hi, I am on a motorsport degree, and currently working DENSO Powertrain Engine Management Systems R&D for a year and offered to come back here or Germany or Japan.

Personally my advice to you is go visit the universities, and don't get too bought in by their 'flash'. I am biased against one of those universities.

Auto degrees - beware of ex-polyies (before anyone attacks me, I am at an ex-poly), some are proper degree level, i.e. loads of theory, others are slightly too hands on making them a glorified technician course.

By the way, I did 2 years of Mechanical Engineering and quit university before starting again. As said the content in terms of discipline is very similar, but the flavour is more interesting, and you are guaranteed a class of like-minded people.

Good luck

[Callum]

Hey flattyre, i'm in the exact same situation, i have unconditionals at

Edinburgh
Glasgow
Heriot-watt and
Strathclyde

-uni's

i don't know where to go?!?! I live in Edinburgh. Does anyone have any experiance with these uni's?

p.s i've been told that the "motorsport" degrees arnt really worth it as you don't get a broad enough knowledge of engineering.

[SpookTheHamster]

They might not look quite so interesting to you, but it's definitely worth doing a mechanical engineering course rather than limiting your self to motorsport. A lot of the motorsport courses around really teach you how to be a glorified mechanic, rather than an engineer. A mech eng course will give you proper engineering knowledge.

That said, the course I'm studying at Brunel is labelled motorsport engineering. In reality it's the mech eng course, we even share all the same lectures (aside from one or two modules).

I'm currently on placement at an F1 team, and a couple of other students from Brunel have also made it to the same team in the past for placements.