Program Overview

Motorsports Engineering

BEng (Hons)

Attendance

• Full-time
• Part-time

Campus

• Preston Campus

Start

• September 2025

Duration

• 3 years

UCAS Code

• H331

Delivery

• In-person

Foundation year available

• Yes

Placement option

• Yes

Course Description

Get set for a thrilling career working on some of the most technically-advanced vehicles in the world, at the highest level in motorsports and engineering, with our BEng in Motorsport Engineering.

You’ll develop skills in design and development processes through a combination of project-based learning, masterclasses, and short courses; culminating in the design and build of a Formula Student race car later in the course.

Engineering science, including engineering analysis, mechanics, and fluid dynamics, underpin much of the design and manufacturing activities on the course. In other Year 1 modules, you will learn to use modern manufacturing equipment in our exceptionally well-equipped workshop, and you will be introduced to CAD.

Later in the year, you will produce design drawings, and manufacture components as part of the IMechE Challenge project – a national design competition. Additionally, there are modules to develop your analytical skills, and to introduce you to concepts such as thermodynamics and fluid dynamics.

Through live projects and Motorsport Club, you’ll gain real motorsport engineering experience and develop skills such as presenting and project management.

This course is absolutely focused on delivering top-flight motorsport engineering professionals. And you’ll benefit from our new £35 million Engineering Innovation Centre (EIC).

Why Study with Us

• This course is ranked 2nd in the UK with 95% of students satisfied with the learning resources (National Student Survey 2020)
• You’ll travel to internationally renowned events, including Formula Student and the Shell Eco-Marathon, building up great contacts.
• Produce design drawings, and manufacture components as part of the IMechE Challenge project – a national design competition.

What You'll Do

• You’ll work on personal and team projects to understand the design-development-manufacture cycle and the strategies associated with developing vehicles and products.
• There’s a dedicated workshop catering for Formula Student, Formula Ford race cars, and the eco-marathon cars, here you can build and prepare the cars for test and race events.
• Present your work to people from industry, as well as current and former students, at our annual Engineering Expo event.

Study in Our Engineering Innovation Centre (EIC)

During your studies with us, you’ll benefit from our new £35 million EIC building, which provides an integrated teaching space in state-of-the-art facilities.

Modules

Year 1

• Design and Sustainability
• Engineering Analysis
• Engineering Practice
• Fundamentals of Engineering Science (S1)
• Mechanical Engineering Science
• Race Car Anatomy

Year 2

• Applied Instrumentation and Control
• Design and Manufacture
• Thermo-fluids
• Motorsport Mechanics
• Operations Management A

Year 3

• Motor Sport Design
• Motor Sports Vehicle Development
• Motor Sports Systems
• Project

Optional Modules

• Computer Aided Design and Simulation
• Further Engineering Mathematics applied in CAD and Simulation
• Computational Fluid Dynamics
• Advanced Computer Aided Design
• Engineering Simulation

Accreditations

• Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE)
• Institution of Engineering Designers (IED)

Entry Requirements

• UCAS: 104 points at A2 including grade C in A-Level Maths and Physics or STEM
• BTEC Extended Diploma: DMM in Engineering including Merit in Maths units
• BTEC Diploma: DD - DD* in Engineering including Maths units
• Pass Access Course: 104 points including 15 level 3 credits in Maths and Physics or STEM at Merit
• International Baccalaureate Diploma: Pass with 104 points from Higher Level subjects including Higher Level 5 Maths and Physics or STEM
• T Level: M including Maths and Physics
• IELTS: 6.0 with no component lower than 5.5
• GCSEs: 5 at grade C/4 including Maths and English or equivalent

Fees and Funding

• UK: £9,535 per year (full-time), £1,623 for the placement year, £1,587 per 20 credits (part-time)
• International: £17,325 per year (full-time)

Scholarships and Bursaries

• Care Leaver Bursary
• Estranged student support
• Dependants Bursary
• Financial support package

Future Careers

• Huge demand for engineering graduates
• Opportunities in motorsport, aerospace, automotive industry, Ministry of Defence, and research development
• Graduates working in Red Bull Racing, McLaren Racing, McLaren Automotive, Ginetta, Mercedes AMG Motorsport, Williams F1, Haas F1, Tom Tunstall Racing, M-Sport, and Century Motorsport

Learning and Assessment

• A three-year degree qualification is typically 360 credits and each 20 credits (a standard module) equates to 200 hours of study
• Assessments are by traditional examinations, formal reports, interviews, presentations, and commentaries on portfolios

Formula Student Vehicle Design Project

• Develop and increasingly integrate the subject matter around the processes required for successful innovative and technical design and manufacture
• Design and manufacture, with other students, almost the entire car in-house

Motorsport Club

• Opportunities to participate in extra-curricular activities that will complement the learning you do as part of the course
• Develop additional skills and experience to enhance your employability

Progression onto MEng Course

• You would typically graduate with a BEng (Hons) degree after completing three years of full-time study
• Should you choose to undertake an additional year of advanced study and graduate with an MEng (Hons) degree instead, you will need to make this decision before the start of your third year of study.