Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering
We are regarded as one of the UK's leading departments to study Aeronautical or Automotive Engineering. There are many exciting challenges facing air and road transport, from sustainability and dramatically reducing emissions, to increasing use of autonomous vehicles. Our courses prepare graduates to meet these challenges. We bring together outstanding facilities, superb teaching, and strong links with industry to make sure you are ready for your future career.
Aeronautical Engineering and Automotive Engineering at Loughborough
You will gain the best of both worlds when studying fundamental engineering subjects combined with inspiring aeronautical or automotive engineering specialist areas. Our courses equip graduates with excellent skills that are highly sought after by a range of aerospace and automotive employers, from jet engine manufacturers to Formula One racing teams. But the skills learnt are not just valued in these industries, they are also highly sought after, in many other engineering sectors and beyond, in areas such as finance. You can expect high-quality teaching informed by the latest thinking in the aircraft, aerospace, and automotive industries.
Specialise in Aeronautical or Automotive Engineering from day one
The automotive industry is changing rapidly, with an emphasis on digital engineering, electric propulsion and increasingly autonomous driving using artificial intelligence. Similarly, there are many exciting challenges facing aviation, from finding environmentally sustainable methods of propulsion, to increasing automation that allows unmanned aircraft to do an ever-increasing range of tasks. This course will prepare you for a career tackling these challenges.
The course introduces these concepts, as well as the fundamentals underpinning them, from year one, allowing you to go into greater depth in specialist subjects later in the course compared to a general mechanical engineering course. We work hard to make sure our courses are up to date with the latest technology, with modules recently added on Sensor Fusion, Battery Technology and Machine Intelligence.
Specialist sponsorship
Students studying Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering degree courses, who intend to take up a career in the Armed Forces or Civil Service, may be eligible for financial support under the Defence STEM Undergraduate Scheme.
Our courses
Links with industry
Our team of international experts bring their cutting-edge research directly into the taught curriculum. Our teaching staff collaborate with industry in exciting research into air and ground transport which ensures our courses are relevant and up-to-date, with a real-world focus. We are home to the National Centre for Combustion Aerothermal Technology and have long term research relationships with companies such as Rolls-Royce and Caterpillar.
Placement year
You could spend one year on an approved industrial placement between your second and third, or third and fourth years. Having strong ties with industry, the department provides considerable assistance with obtaining suitable placements, although the ultimate responsibility for arranging your placement lies with you.
Facilities
We are based in the Stewart Miller building, where many of our facilities are based. However, our students also use facilities elsewhere on campus.
We have extensive laboratories and facilities, including wind tunnels, anechoic chamber, indoor UAV testing, structures testing facilities, gas-turbine engines, eight purpose-built automotive engine test cells, Hawk aircraft, 6-axis of motion road and aircraft simulator, chassis dynamometer, high and low temperature fuel cell testing facilities and numerous instrumented test vehicles.
Here some of our students show you around some of the things we have to offer…
Accreditation
Our Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering courses are accredited by both the Institute of Mechanical Engineers and the Royal Aeronautical Society. This puts you on the path to a career as a Chartered Engineer.
Career opportunities
The department has particularly close links with BAE Systems, Bentley, British Airways, Ford Motor Company, Jaguar Land Rover, JCB, MIRA, Perkins Caterpillar, Rolls-Royce and many tier one automotive suppliers. With an average starting salary of £28,000* (Graduate Outcomes Survey, 2018 graduates) many of our graduates go on to hold senior positions in major companies.
* Average salary 15 months post-graduation – UK domiciled, first degree students completing Aeronautical Engineering and Automotive Engineering degrees.
Our students
Gain hands-on experience
Design, build and race a Formula Student car
The department supports a team to design, build and race a Formula Student car. All students can join the Loughborough Formula Student Team, working in their spare time. If you choose to study the MEng in Automotive Engineering, you can participate in a project which involves the research and development of a Formula Student car as part of your studies. Students can also focus on the car within selected further modules.
Vehicle testing weeks
As part of the course, Aeronautical Engineering students gain experience of testing and flight procedures by undertaking a flight test course, which includes up to four flights in an aircraft equipped as a flying laboratory.
Automotive Engineering students take part in vehicle testing at the HORIBA MIRA proving ground, learning how to analyse vehicle handling, off-road dynamics, noise certification, braking performance and wet weather driving.