Mechanical Engineering/Automotive with Industrial Placement Year

Mechanical engineering is one of the broadest and most fundamental of the engineering disciplines, concerned with the design, analysis, manufacture, and maintenance of systems that convert energy into useful mechanical work. Automotive engineering applies these principles specifically to the design, development, and testing of road vehicles, encompassing the propulsion systems, structural design, aerodynamics, vehicle dynamics, electronics, and safety systems that determine how cars and other vehicles perform, handle, and protect their occupants. As the automotive industry navigates a profound technological transition towards electrification, autonomous driving, and connected mobility, engineers who combine mechanical understanding with specialist vehicle knowledge are in growing demand.

At the University of Southampton, this five-year full-time MEng with an industrial placement year develops both mechanical and automotive engineering to master's level, with a substantial period of professional experience embedded in the programme. You will study the fundamental principles of mechanics, thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, materials science, and structural analysis alongside specialist automotive content covering engine design, vehicle electronics, chassis dynamics, aerodynamics, and the design and testing of automotive systems. The industrial placement year provides direct experience in the automotive or engineering industry before you complete the final year of the degree, building the professional judgement and workplace awareness that employers value alongside technical qualification.

Options to specialise in areas from race car engineering to vehicle electronics allow you to shape the degree around your specific interests.

Graduates are well prepared for careers in automotive design and development, motorsport, vehicle testing, product engineering, powertrain development, and transport systems engineering. As electrification reshapes the industry, roles in electric vehicle engineering, battery systems, and e-motor development are growing rapidly. Many graduates pursue Chartered Engineer status through the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

Postgraduate research in automotive, transport, or energy systems provides a route for those who wish to develop specialist technical expertise or pursue academic careers.