BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering (Automotive) Bachelor's degree at the University of Birmingham
BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering (Automotive) at University of Birmingham. Mechanical Engineering (Automotive) BEng at the University of Birmingham is built around one clear focus: applying mechanical engineering fundamentals specifically to the vehicles and automotive technologies that will shape how we move in…
About this course
Mechanical Engineering (Automotive) BEng at Birmingham. This course covers core Mechanical Engineering concepts and the expertise/knowledge to develop and implement new automotive technologies. From the provider’s course page.
BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering (Automotive) is a Bachelor's degree (BEng (Hons)) at the University of Birmingham, based in Edgbaston campus. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For Mechanical engineering graduates from this provider, 86% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 90% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £32,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Engineering, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Moderate evidence Published sample: 45; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 86% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 85% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 8 modules
- Electrical Engineering 120 credits
- Engineering Materials10 credits
- Engineering Mathematics 120 credits
- Fluid Mechanics and Energy Transfer20 credits
- Integrated Design Project 1A10 credits
- Integrated Design Project 1B10 credits
- Introduction to Computing for Engineers10 credits
- Mechanics 120 credits
Year 2 6 modules
- Engineering Mathematics 220 credits
- Integrated Design Project 220 credits
- Mechanical Design A20 credits
- Mechanics 220 credits
- Mechatronics and Control Engineering20 credits
- Thermodynamics and Fluids20 credits
Year 3 6 modules
- CFD and FEA (Computational Fluid Dynamics and Finite Element Analysis)20 credits
- Individual Engineering Project (BEng)30 credits
- Integrated Design Project 3 (BEng)20 credits
- Mechanical Design B20 credits
- Powertrain and Vehicle Engineering20 credits
- Sustainable Energy and the Environment10 credits
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
The degree is structured to take you from foundational engineering science through to specialist, self-directed work, with content generally falling into a few broad strands rather than a rigid checklist of topics. Early study concentrates on core theory: the mathematics, mechanics, materials science and thermodynamics that underpin all mechanical engineering, alongside an introduction to how these principles apply to vehicles specifically. You'll also be introduced to research & methods, the analytical, computational and experimental tools engineers use to test ideas and validate designs, which matters in automotive work where safety and performance both have to be demonstrated rigorously. As you progress, teaching shifts towards applied practice, where theory is worked through in the context of real engineering problems, often involving design, simulation or laboratory-based investigation. You'll also encounter specialist options, such as areas connected to vehicle dynamics, propulsion systems or automotive design, allowing you to steer your studies towards the parts of automotive engineering you find most engaging. The independent project gives you the chance to investigate a substantial automotive or mechanical engineering question on your own, applying everything you've learned to produce a piece of work that reflects both technical competence and your own judgement. Running alongside the technical content, professional skills are built in throughout, communication, project management and the kind of workplace-relevant competencies that engineering employers expect graduates to already have some grounding in.
Who it's for
This course suits people who are genuinely curious about how vehicles work, not just interested in cars as objects, but keen to understand the engineering reasoning behind why a chassis behaves the way it does, why an engine is designed a certain way, or how a component's material affects its performance. If you enjoy taking things apart mentally (or literally) to understand how they fit together, and you're comfortable with mathematics and physics as tools for solving practical problems, you'll find the course's approach familiar and rewarding. You should expect a demanding academic pace: lectures and problem sets are relatively rare weeks without some coursework, and lab or design-based sessions will ask you to apply theory under real constraints rather than just recite it. Most students who join this kind of course come in having studied A-levels or equivalent, and many join with UCAS tariff scores in a fairly typical range for engineering degrees, so you don't need to be exceptional, just prepared to work steadily and engage with technical material from the outset. It also suits people who like a mix of independent thinking and teamwork. Some of your strongest learning will happen in group design projects, where you'll need to communicate technical ideas clearly to others, a skill that matters as much as the engineering itself once you're working professionally. If you're the sort of person who wants a degree that feels tangibly connected to an industry, rather than abstract theory alone, and you're motivated by the idea of contributing to how future vehicles are designed and built, this course is likely to feel like a good fit.
Careers & job market
Mechanical Engineering graduates, nationally across Engineering courses, tend to move into strong employment or further study outcomes: 90% of graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduating, and 80% of those in work are in roles classed as highly skilled. These figures relate to Engineering graduates nationally rather than being specific to this course or university, but they give a useful sense of the sector's overall trajectory. On pay, national Graduate Outcomes and LEO data show starting salaries (15 months after graduation) typically ranging between £29,000 and £35,000. This isn't a guaranteed figure for any individual graduate, and outcomes vary by role, employer and location, but it offers a benchmark. Looking further ahead, national data shows earnings after three years ranging between £26,775 and £37,800, and after five years between £33,150 and £46,800, again, national figures across the field rather than specific to Birmingham graduates. It's also worth noting that continuation rates, the proportion of students who remain enrolled or complete their first year, sit at 88% nationally for comparable courses, which is a reasonable indicator of how manageable the transition into this kind of demanding technical degree tends to be for most students. An automotive specialism within a mechanical engineering degree is likely to be relevant to employers working across vehicle design, manufacturing, propulsion systems and related engineering sectors, given the direct alignment between course content and industry need.
University & format
The University of Birmingham is a public, Russell Group university founded in 1900, with a student body of 30,832 across all courses. This BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering (Automotive) degree (UCAS code H302) is studied full-time over three years at the university's Edgbaston campus, taught in English. The university holds a Silver award for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023 assessment. As a recognised UK degree-awarding body, degrees are nationally recognised, and membership of the Russell Group reflects its status as part of a group of research-intensive universities. The university also offers bursaries and scholarships; it's worth checking the university's own funding pages for current eligibility and amounts, as these can change year to year. Typical entrants to this course held A-levels or equivalent (80% of accepted students in recent years), with the most common UCAS tariff band among accepted students falling between 144 and 159 points, this reflects what entrants actually held rather than a fixed minimum requirement, so it's useful as a guide rather than a strict cut-off.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 80% |
| Other | 20% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Accepted students typically held strong UCAS tariffs. Check how your predicted grades compare and whether a contextual offer applies.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code H302). One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Provider fee page (England 2026/27 cap where not stated).
Check fees at University of Birmingham →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Engineering graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £32,000 | £30,000 – £35,500 | 45 |
| 3 years after | £33,000 | £27,000 – £36,500 | 100 |
| 5 years after | £39,500 | £33,000 – £47,500 | 110 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 45; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in engineering · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Engineering nationally
National figures for Engineering graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 45; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Engineering courses at the same study level.
Compared with 2,256 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Engineering professionalsSOC 2020 212 · 65% of published destinations · ASHE median £50,325
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 125; response rate: 60%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Is BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering (Automotive) worth it?
Yes, for most students BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering (Automotive) is well worth it. On its graduates’ median earnings, the course is worth about +£125,630 more over the first ten years of work than going straight to a job, after the fees you pay.
Cumulative earnings vs. going straight to work at 18, counting tuition and 3 years of wages given up while studying. The line clears zero around year 10.5. This is a simplified gross-earnings comparison, not a forecast of cash loan repayments.
Model: this course’s own median graduate earnings (Graduate Outcomes / LEO) above the £24,000 non-graduate baseline (ONS), net of £9,790/yr over 3 years (published course home fee). Eligible England-domiciled students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan; repayments are 9% only on income above the threshold, with anything left written off after 40 years. That makes the cash flow different from conventional commercial debt. Opportunity cost assumes £18,000 gross earnings forgone in each study year; figures are nominal and exclude tax, living costs, investment returns and loan interest. A simplified estimate. Earnings and actual fees vary by graduate, provider, fee status and UK nation.
Job market & outlook
How Engineering graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Engineering graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Engineering & manufacturing firms
- Automotive & aerospace
- Energy & utilities
- Defence & consultancies
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Engineering graduates.
Engineering Surveyor (Machine Control)BAM UK & IrelandEngineering Operations Project ManagerFdo Consulting LimitedEngineering ManagerVerto PeopleEngineering ManagerRobert WaltersEngineering ManagerPremier Technical RecruitmentEngineering ManagerRedline Group LtdIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
Published home tuition is £9,790/year for this course. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
Where graduates go
86% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £32,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 8.4 out of 10: NSS 82.1% · in work or study 86% · continued 85%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
The University of Birmingham
Engineering and technology across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Edgbaston campus
1,313 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Engineering right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to University of Birmingham from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by University of Birmingham; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check University of Birmingham’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with University of Birmingham and gov.uk before you apply.
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Common questions
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