Program Overview

Introduction to the Advanced Motorsport Mechatronics MSc

The Advanced Motorsport Mechatronics MSc is designed to provide students with a sound understanding of the fundamental scientific, engineering, and managerial principles involved in motorsport. The focus is on the "mechatronics" aspect of the discipline, involving the engineering of advanced control systems, multi-domain computer modeling, in-vehicle communication networks, electromechanical and embedded systems, hardware-in-the-loop validation, and systems integration.

Overview of the Course

• Start date: September
• Duration: One year full-time
• Delivery: Taught modules 40%, Group project 20%, Individual project 40%
• Qualification: MSc
• Study type: Full-time
• Campus: Cranfield campus

Course Details

The MSc course consists of nine one-week taught modules, a motorsport mechatronics group design project, and an individual thesis project.

Course Delivery

• Taught modules 40%
• Group project 20%
• Individual project 40%

Modules

The following are the compulsory modules for the course:

1. Motorsport Introduction: An introductory non-assessed module that sets the scene for both the Advanced Motorsport Engineering and Advanced Motorsport Mechatronics MSc courses.
2. Motorsport Powertrains: Provides an understanding of the engineering principles on which engine design and development depend.
3. Motorsport Electronics and Data Acquisition: Provides an understanding of the electronic and data acquisition systems integral to the modern motorsport vehicle.
4. Motorsport Vehicle Dynamics: Provides fundamental information on vehicle dynamics, focusing on limit behavior with explanations and derivations from first principles.
5. The Business of Motorsport: Applies management techniques to the context of motorsport, building awareness of the specific management challenges faced in this sector.
6. Mechatronics Modelling for Vehicle Systems: Provides a fundamental understanding of physical modeling applied to vehicles' mechatronic systems.
7. Advanced Control and Optimisation: Provides knowledge of advanced control engineering theory and techniques and their application to automotive control.
8. Embedded Vehicle Control Systems: Critically evaluates the different technologies and methods required for the efficient vehicle implementation, validation, and verification of the automotive mechatronic system.
9. Vehicle Control Applications: Covers a range of applications of Control Theory and Artificial Intelligence techniques in different components of a modern vehicle.

Teaching Team

The course director for this programme is Dr. Kim Blackburn, and the teaching team includes:

• Dr. Efstathios Siampis, Senior Lecturer
• Dr. Stefano Longo, Reader in Automated Vehicles
• Professor James Brighton, Professor of Automotive Engineering
• Professor Daniel J. Auger, Professor of Electrification, Modelling and Control
• Dr. Marco Cecotti, Lecturer in Driving Automation
• Dr. Tom-Robin Teschner, Senior Lecturer in Computational Fluid Dynamics
• Dr. Anderson Ramos Proenca, Lecturer in Aerodynamics
• Dr. Aaron Costall, Senior Lecturer in Electric and H2 Automotive Propulsion Systems

Accreditation

The Advanced Motorsport Mechatronics MSc is accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) on behalf of the Engineering Council as meeting the requirements for further learning for registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng).

Career Opportunities

Motorsport is a highly competitive sector, and studying at Cranfield provides access to motorsport companies and practitioners. Past graduates have taken roles such as Braking Calibration Engineer, Race Engineer, Motor Control Specialist, and more, in companies including Sauber Motorsport AG, McLaren Automotive Ltd, and AVL Powertrain UK Ltd.

Fees and Funding

• Home (Full-time): ｣13,005, with a deposit of ｣1,000
• Overseas (Full-time): ｣29,025, with a deposit of ｣3,000
• Funding opportunities include the FIA Motorsport Engineering Scholarship, Master's Loan from Student Finance England, Royal Academy of Engineering MSc Motorsport Scholarship Programme, and more.

Entry Requirements

• A UK lower second-class undergraduate degree with honors, or equivalent international qualification, in engineering, including electronics, or a relevant STEM discipline.
• UK A-Levels in mathematics and physics, or their international equivalent.
• English language requirements must be met, with approved tests including IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge Assessment English, and more.

English Language Requirements

• IELTS: 7.0 overall, with minimum skill component scores of 6.5 reading, 6.5 listening, 7.0 speaking, and 7.0 writing.
• TOEFL: 100 total, with minimum skill component scores of 22 reading, 22 listening, 25 speaking, and 24 writing.
• Other accepted tests include Cambridge Assessment English, Duolingo, Kaplan, LanguageCert, Password, Pearson PTE, Skills for English SELT, and Trinity College London.