BA (Hons) Automotive & Transport Design (with a placement year) Bachelor's degree at Staffordshire
BA (Hons) Automotive & Transport Design (with a placement year) at Staffordshire. You'll study core theory, research methods, applied practice and specialist options, culminating in an independent project.
About this course
Get to grips with the rapidly changing landscape of future mobility, exploring the trends in the way we travel on our unique Transport Design course, designing vehicles for land, sea and air; from ideation and concept creation to manufacture and operations. From the provider’s course page.
BA (Hons) Automotive & Transport Design (with a placement year) is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at Staffordshire, based in Stoke on Trent Campus. It runs 4 years, studied full-time.
For Design studies graduates from this provider, 87% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 54% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £23,500. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Sport & Exercise Science, 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)
Limited evidence Published sample: 20; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 87% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 87% (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 4 modules
- Cad Modelling & VisualisationCompulsory30 credits
Module details
This module introduces you to CAD (computer-aided design) and digital visualisation, showing how digital tools are used to create and develop design ideas. Youll learn different 3D modelling techniques, including NURBS, polygon and subdivision modelling, to create high-quality vehicle concepts. The module helps you develop smooth surfaces, good proportions, and clear design ideas through rendering, animation, and presentation, while also preparing models for 3D printing. Youll also learn how car
- Concept To PrototypeCompulsory30 credits
Module details
Bring your ideas to life through hands-on making and experimentation. In this module, youll move from concept to prototype as you explore a wide range of workshop practices used across the creative industries. Youll work with materials such as wood, ceramics, metal, automotive clay, and resins, alongside digital processes including 3D printing and laser cutting. By testing, refining, and evolving your ideas through prototyping, youll gain the confidence and practical skills needed to turn creati
- Creative Cultures: Making, Research & ReflectionCompulsory30 credits
Module details
This introductory contextual module enables you to explore diverse cultural identities and examine how they influence creative expression. You will choose a topic related to your discipline and undertake guided research that informs the development of a creative artefact or technical output using materials and processes of your choice. Through investigating and celebrating cultural identities, you will develop a stronger understanding of the relationship between culture and creative practice, su
- Sustainability, Society And ImpactCompulsory30 credits
Module details
How can creative practice respond responsibly to the challenges facing society today? This module introduces you to key social issues and explores how culture and creative work can reflect, question, and respond to them. You may investigate topics such as sustainability and climate change, inequality, representation, migration, or social justice. Working in a small group, you will create a sustainable and ethical creative project informed by research and contextual understanding. Through reflect
Year 2 13 modules
- Car Design StudioCompulsory30 credits
- Collaborative Creative Industries ProjectCompulsory30 credits
Module details
How do creative teams tackle real-world problems together? In this module, youll collaborate in interdisciplinary teams to explore themed, problem-based projects that respond to contemporary social and cultural challenges. Youll develop collaborative, reflective and creative thinking skills through teamwork, co-design and professional-style project processes. By engaging with diverse perspectives and working across creative disciplines, youll gain insight into your own strengths and contribution
- Concept Vehicle Design For Games & FilmCompulsory30 credits
Module details
In this module, youll explore how creative sketching, CAD, game engines and VR support the design process. Youll engage with game and film content for inspiration, before creating your own exciting vehicle concept for a virtual world. Through practical work, youll build your creative and technical skills, learning about narrative and storytelling to visualise and present exciting concept vehicles through video content. Youll learn about the responsible use of AI in design and broaden your unders
- Art TrailOptional30 credits
- Colour & Surface: Print, Texture & Material ExplorationOptional30 credits
Module details
How can print, colour, and surface transform the way you communicate ideas? In this hands-on module, youll explore creative printmaking and surface techniques, including screen print, relief print, monoprint, colour mixing, and 3D materials processes such as surface and structural manipulation. Youll experiment with colour, texture, and form across flat and dimensional surfaces, developing confident material and visual thinking. Designed for students across art and design, this module supports y
- Creative HeritageOptional30 credits
- Digital Journeys: Ux & Ui DesignOptional30 credits
Module details
Designing intuitive and engaging digital experiences is central to todays creative industries. Youll explore user experience (UX), user interface (UI) and digital design through industry-informed creative briefs. Youll investigate user behaviour, journeys and emotional responses, applying principles of psychology, flow and interaction design. Through hands-on prototyping and workshops, youll develop digital concepts across a range of contexts.
- Experimental FormatsOptional30 credits
Module details
Experimentation is crucial for creativity; it's the engine that drives innovation, helps you discover new possibilities, learn from failures, break norms, and develop a unique voice by testing ideas, exploring different methods, and refining your approach beyond initial assumptions. It transforms ideas into tangible progress, preventing stagnation and leading to fresh, groundbreaking work.Experiential formats take many forms and is so much more than traditional media. It's a multi-disciplinary a
- Experimental Music And Sound ArtOptional30 credits
- Hybrid Production MethodsOptional30 credits
- Still Life Through The LensOptional30 credits
Module details
What stories can objects tell? Youll experiment with still-life approaches across photography and mixed media, exploring how composition, lighting, materials and symbolism work together to create visually compelling images. Through hands-on experimentation and contextual research, youll push your creative thinking and craft. These skills are valuable across visual communication, art direction, and broader creative industries workflows.
- Surround Sound And Multichannel AudioOptional30 credits
Module details
Step into the world of immersive sound with this module on Surround Sound and Multichannel Audio Production! You'll gain hands-on experience with industry-standard tools and techniques for creating powerful, dynamic soundscapes. Explore multichannel mixing, recording, and editing, while learning to design audio experiences that captivate audiences across music, film, and gaming. Perfect for anyone looking to push the boundaries of sound and bring their creative projects to life in stunning deta
- Visual Effects & Motion GraphicsOptional30 credits
Year 3 3 modules
- Contextual And Critical InvestigationCompulsory30 credits
- Final Major Project Of Automotive & Transport DesignCompulsory60 credits
- Professional PracticeCompulsory30 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
This course explores the rapidly changing landscape of future mobility, with a focus on designing vehicles for land, sea and air, from ideation and concept creation through to manufacture and operations. You'll typically start with foundational design principles, technical drawing and materials science. As the course progresses, you'll move into specialised areas such as vehicle dynamics, ergonomics, sustainability and advanced manufacturing techniques. In your placement year, you'll apply your learning in a professional automotive or transport design environment. Throughout, you'll develop both conceptual and technical skills, working on design projects that reflect industry challenges and emerging technologies in transport design.
Who it's for
This course suits those interested in automotive and transport design with a practical bent. Most entrants held A-levels or equivalent qualifications; accepted students typically had a UCAS tariff of 160–175 points. You'll need to be comfortable with both theoretical study and hands-on design work, and ready to engage with a placement year that bridges university and industry. Check the university's funding pages for details on bursaries and scholarships available to you.
University & format
This is a 4-year full-time Bachelor's degree (BA Hons) studied at the University of Staffordshire's Stoke on Trent Campus. The course is taught in English and includes a placement year. The University of Staffordshire is a recognised UK degree-awarding body, and your degree will be nationally recognised. The university holds a Silver award for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023.
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.
With a placement. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
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 | 93% |
| another higher-education qualification | 4% |
| an Access course | 1% |
| a foundation course | 1% |
| No / unknown prior qualifications | 1% |
| Other | 1% |
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 W328). 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 Staffordshire →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 Sport & Exercise Science 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 | £23,500 | £22,000 – £26,000 | 20 |
| 3 years after | £19,000 | £13,500 – £23,500 | 135 |
| 5 years after | £23,500 | £18,000 – £29,000 | 140 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Limited evidence. Published sample: 20; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in sport & exercise science · 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 Sport & Exercise Science nationally
National figures for Sport & Exercise Science 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. Limited evidence. Published sample: 20; treat comparisons cautiously. 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 Sport & Exercise Science courses at the same study level.
Compared with 915 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.
- Web and Multimedia Design ProfessionalsSOC 2020 214 · 25% of published destinations · ASHE median £32,574
- Sales occupationsSOC 2020 71 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £15,975
- Elementary occupationsSOC 2020 9 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £19,087
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: 130; response rate: 61%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Job market & outlook
How Sport & Exercise Science 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 Sport & Exercise Science 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
- Sports clubs & NGBs
- Leisure providers
- Schools
- The NHS
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Sport & Exercise Science graduates.
Sport CoachAspire PeopleSport Science LeadBiolyz FlexCoBTEC Tech Awards Sept 22 - Sport - ExaminerPearsonEquine Vet: Independent Clinic for Leisure & Sport HorsesBritish Veterinary LGBT+Learning Mentor (PE/Sport)Prospero TeachingCasual Youth Worker: Sport, Community Growth & BelongingActive Herefordshire & WorcestershireIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. 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
87% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £23,500. 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 8.6 out of 10: NSS 83.9% · in work or study 87% · continued 87%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
University of Staffordshire
Biological and sport sciences across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Stoke on Trent Campus
1,636 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 Sport & Exercise Science right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to Staffordshire from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £17,085 / year for this course (from the provider’s fee page). 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 Staffordshire’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 Staffordshire and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at Staffordshire
Common questions
How competitive is entry?
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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