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Automotive Engineering with Business Management MSc

1 year, starting in September 2025

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Combine specialist knowledge in engineering with advanced business skills to impact the future of vehicle engineering in the automotive sector.

Our course allows you to develop more in-depth knowledge in automotive engineering and combine this with business management skills.

You’ll advance your technical knowledge in areas such as propulsion systems and how they'll influence the future of vehicle engineering. You'll explore the impact of a range of applications and technologies, analysing past failures and predicting future challenges. Using a systems-thinking approach, you’ll look at wider issues affecting the automotive sector including moral, ethical and sustainability.

A topical automotive theme is set at the start of the course and carried through to group projects. This ensures that subject-based units are relevant to professional practice in industry. It also gives you the benefit of a personalised learning pathway.

Alongside engineering studies, you'll learn about business and management in industry, focusing on the automotive sector. This includes resource management, business processes and theory, and change management. All this will help you to develop skills useful for your future career, whatever that might be.

Creating a collaborative and transdisciplinary learning environment is key to our course. We do this through group projects where you'll work with with students across our suite of automotive courses. Our consultancy project also allows you to work on a real engineering management challenge with an industrial partner.

Learn from experts in the field

We’ve carried out research in the automotive sector for over 40 years so you'll learn from academics contributing to the latest research in automotive engineering. They're dedicated to applying this knowledge to your learning experience so you get the benefit of their expertise. As well as academic support, you’ll benefit from our links with industry. Your consultancy project is sponsored by a company with a real problem they want you to solve and an industrial mentor to help you.

Use specialist facilities

Throughout the course, you'll attend laboratory sessions run on our bespoke facilities that demonstrate the principles of current and future vehicles. You'll also draw on the staff expertise and facilities of our Institute for Advanced Automotive Propulsion Systems (IAAPS).

Start your future here

Supporting you to graduate ready to advance your career is important to us. As part of your course, you’ll study professional development to build your research, communication and project management skills.

We expect graduates from this course to go on to work as managers in the automotive industry. They'll work in roles that draw upon both their technical expertise and ability to manage resources at large vehicle manufacturers, tier 1 suppliers and large consultancies. Our past engineering graduates have secured jobs as:

  • Calibration engineer, Ford Motor Company Ltd
  • Product engineer, Renault
  • Engineering consultant, D'Appolonia

Play our alumni spotlight videos to hear from some of our automotive graduates

2025/26 Academic Year

Before you apply for a course, please check the website for the most recently published course detail. If you apply to the University of Bath, you will be advised of any significant changes to the advertised programme, in accordance with our Terms and Conditions.

We understand that you will want to know more about the shape of the academic year. We work hard and plan for different scenarios, to be able to welcome you to the University of Bath at the start of each semester.

Course structure

This course lasts 1 year. It starts in September 2025 and ends in 2026. Welcome week starts on 22 September 2025.

Occasionally we make changes to our programmes in response to, for example, feedback from students, developments in research and the field of studies, and the requirements of accrediting bodies. You will be advised of any significant changes to the advertised programme, in accordance with our Terms and Conditions.

Year 1

Semester 1

Compulsory units

  • Agile and effective working practices

    5 credits

  • Future intelligent vehicle platforms

    10 credits

  • Towards zero emission propulsion

    10 credits

Semester 2

Compulsory units

  • Automotive systems thinking

    10 credits

  • Project and change management in a rapidly evolving sector

    5 credits

  • Propulsion systems group project

    15 credits

  • The business of automotive innovation

    5 credits

Summer

Compulsory units

  • Industry-linked business consultancy project

    30 credits

Learning and assessment

Learning

  • Research project
  • Design projects
  • Laboratory sessions
  • Tutorials
  • Workshops

Assessment

  • Coursework
  • Presentations
  • Written examination
  • Other

These lists are to give you an idea of some, but not all, of the learning and assessment methods used on this course. They are not exhaustive lists and methods are subject to change.

Recognition of professional qualifications

As well as being recognised as a higher academic qualification, a number of our degrees are also accredited by professional bodies in the United Kingdom. An accredited degree may entitle you to work in a specific profession within the UK, and abroad (where there are reciprocating arrangements with professional bodies in other countries).

The requirements to practise a profession vary from country to country. If you wish to practise your profession outside the United Kingdom, you are advised to confirm that the UK professional qualification you seek is valid in the country in which you are intending to work.

‘I want to be part of the change so that's why I enrolled for this course.’
— Ashwin Prakash MSc Automotive Engineering with Electric Propulsion (Graduating year, 2022)

Entry requirements

Origin of qualifications

British qualifications

You should have a Bachelor’s honours degree or international equivalent, typically a high 2:2 or above.

To apply for this course, you should have an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, automotive engineering and vehicle engineering.

We may make an offer based on a lower grade if you can provide evidence of your suitability for the degree.

If your first language is not English but within the last 2 years you completed your degree in the UK you may be exempt from our English language requirements.

English language requirements

  • IELTS: 6.5 overall with no less than 6.0 in all components
  • The Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic): 62 with no less than 59 in any element
  • TOEFL IBT: 90 overall with a minimum 21 in all 4 components

You will need to get your English language qualification within 24 months prior to starting your course.

If you need to improve your English language skills before starting your studies, you may be able to take a pre-sessional course to reach the required level.

Fees and funding

Fees and funding information for Automotive Engineering with Business Management MSc

Fees

Your tuition fees and how you pay them will depend on whether you are a Home or Overseas student.

Learn how we decide fee status

Tuition fees

See the most recent fees for postgraduate courses.

Extra costs

If you receive an offer, you will need to pay a non-refundable deposit of £1,000 when you accept to secure your place. This will be deducted from your tuition fee when you register.

How to pay

Tuition fee loans

If you are studying a postgraduate course, you may be able to take out a loan for your tuition fees and living costs.

Read more about tuition fee loans

Scholarships and bursaries

You could be considered for a bursary or scholarship to help you study at Bath. You do not have to pay it back.

Read more about bursaries and scholarships

Other payment options

You can pay your tuition fees by Direct Debit, debit card, credit card or bank transfer. You may also be eligible for a student loan to help you pay your fees.

Read more about your payment options

Budgeting

You will need to budget at least £100 for the cost of photocopying, printing and binding. You will also need to budget for the cost of textbooks.

Some courses involve visits away from campus and you may be required to pay some or all of the costs of travel, accommodation and food and drink.

If you’re on a placement, you’re responsible for your own travel, accommodation and living costs. You should also consider the financial implications if you go on an unpaid or overseas placement.

Application information

  • Course title
    Automotive Engineering with Business Management
  • Final award
    MSc
  • Mode of study
    Full-time
  • Course code
    TDUME-AB01
  • Department
    Department of Mechanical Engineering
  • Location
    University of Bath
    Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY
  • Home application deadline
    31 August 2025

    We recommend you apply early as we may close applications before the deadline if a course is full.

  • Overseas application deadline
    31 July 2025

    We recommend you apply early as we may close applications before the deadline if a course is full. We may consider late applications but if you need a Student Visa to study in the UK, you will need time to apply for and receive your visa to be in the UK by the start of the course.

  • Application eligibility
    Home and Overseas students are eligible to apply
  • Regulator
    The Office for Students (OfS)

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