There are a range of facilities that benefit automotive modules taught within the department, that allow a greater depth of understanding and visualisation to the modules content. An example of this can be seen from visualising taught content by using the different wind tunnels available for modules such as Ground Vehicle Aerodynamics, which are also used as part of the coursework assessment. Almost every module will have some form of practical learning element which utilise one of the facilities at the university from the engine test cell laboratories to the CAD labs.
In the first year of study there are multiple industry experts from different automotive companies that come and talk about their work, which was interesting to hear and motivational when considering what a career in the automotive industry can lead to.
The different group projects you get involved with across the course have been enjoyable and allow a good opportunity to collaborate ideas. Engineering is often very much team based in order to solve different problems and allow different ideas to be put into the mix, and to enable greater thinking to the problem that has to be solved to create a successful outcome. Throughout the course there are multiple group projects you undertake in different modules. Not only does this improve your technical knowledge, but it also allows you to greater develop your soft skills.
In the third year of study, you have a week at the MIRA vehicle proving ground, allowing you to experience different tests that can be conducted in industry from drive-by-noise tests to straight line performance tests. This provides you with experience of vehicle testing and an understanding of the processes that are used to evaluate different data, that you can acquire from real-world testing.
My placement year was spent working at Nissan’s European Technical centre based in Bedfordshire in the Marketability, Customer Oriented Engineering department. This role primarily was focused on static and dynamic prototype vehicle evaluation, to ensure the vehicle met project targets and customer expectations, and also involved conducting benchmark activities to ensure product competitiveness within its segment. This was an exciting experience to understand and enabled me to get involved with operations of automotive product development, adding my input to vehicles of the future while still in my studies.
For your final year project, it is also good to have face-to-face sessions throughout both semesters with your academic supervisor in their field of expertise, which in my case was undertaking a project I had no previous experience or study in. This enabled me to understand fundamentals and build upon knowledge of the subject area to produce interesting project objectives and research.
My career ambitions are to secure a graduate role in automotive research and development with an automotive manufacturer; allowing me to add my input to the vehicles of tomorrow when the industry is at such a changing point due to increased sustainability, electrification and connectivity. Technical, analytical and transferable skills I have acquired from the different modules including practical aspects of this course, and the workplace through my placement year should allow me to have a successful application from what I have gained at university.