Have you watched the famous film series Fast & Furious, which features racing and high-performance cars? Are you fascinated by cars, how they are designed, and how they work? If you are passionate about building and designing cars and other vehicles, then a degree in automotive engineering may be suitable for you.
The development of passenger cars, trucks, buses, motorbikes, and off-road vehicles is part of the daily work of automotive engineers. They design new equipment and products or modify current ones, and they troubleshoot and solve engineering problems related to vehicle transport. Automotive engineering is closely connected to vehicle engineering and mechanical engineering.
This field of study continues to grow and evolve, especially as vehicles become more advanced, efficient, connected, and sustainable. As a result, automotive engineering remains a relevant field for students interested in mobility, manufacturing, design, research, and transport technology. With that said, here is a list of a few notable automotive engineering schools in Europe that aspiring students may find helpful:
Top Automotive Engineering Schools in Europe
1. RWTH Aachen University
RWTH Aachen University, or Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen, is a prestigious German public research university in the city of Aachen, in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It is one of Germany’s leading technical universities, with around 45,000 students and a broad range of academic programs.
RWTH Aachen University does not list an English-taught bachelor’s degree specifically named Automotive Engineering. Related bachelor-level routes include Transport Engineering and Mobility, as well as Mechanical Engineering with later automotive-related specialization options; these routes are taught in German. At the master’s level, RWTH offers Automotive Engineering as an English-taught Master of Science program. The program is three semesters long and includes two semesters of coursework followed by a master’s thesis. RWTH also lists a related German-taught master’s program, Automotive Engineering and Transport.
The English-taught Automotive Engineering master’s program covers real-world vehicle requirements, market trends, legislative limits, industrial design methods, and research topics. The course is hosted by RWTH Aachen University’s Institute for Automotive Engineering and is closely connected to vehicle engineering research and industry-oriented mobility topics.
2. University of Hertfordshire
Located in Hertfordshire, United Kingdom, the University of Hertfordshire offers a wide variety of programs for students. It provides automotive engineering options at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, including BEng, MEng, and MSc routes. An aspiring student in this program may find it appealing because of the university’s industry links, career-focused teaching, and strong motorsport connections.
Ever heard of Formula One, or F1? It is widely recognized as the highest class of international racing for single-seater formula racing cars. The University of Hertfordshire is home to UH Racing, described by the university as the United Kingdom’s most successful Formula Student team. The team designs, manufactures, and competes with a single-seat race car in Formula Student competitions. The university also states that every Formula One racing team includes at least one University of Hertfordshire automotive engineering graduate. The school has long-established links with companies such as BMW, Nissan, and McLaren, which support work placements, careers fairs, and practical workshops.
3. Coventry University
Coventry University is located in Coventry, England. The university offers automotive-related courses at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, including Automotive Engineering MEng/BEng and Automotive Engineering MSc. It also offers automotive design routes, including Automotive and Transport Design.
This university has strong facilities for automotive engineering students. These include a Cruden Full Motion Driving Simulator, a Metals Workshop, and the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Scale Wind Tunnel, which supports aerodynamic testing and design work. In terms of career opportunities, Coventry states that graduates from its automotive courses have worked with employers such as Jaguar Land Rover, Tata Technologies, Lotus Cars, Mercedes F1, Aston Martin, Ford Motor Company, Honda UK, Stellantis, Volvo Cars, Gordon Murray Automotive, AVL, and Multimatic.
4. KTH Royal Institute of Technology
The KTH Royal Institute of Technology, abbreviated KTH, is a Swedish public research university and one of Sweden’s leading technical universities. For students seeking automotive-related study in English, KTH offers Vehicle Engineering as a master’s program. Another closely related English-taught master’s program is Transport and Geoinformation Technology.
The Vehicle Engineering program at this excellent automotive engineering school in Europe is a two-year, 120-credit master’s program taught in English at KTH Campus in Stockholm. It covers vehicle design, function, construction, operation, testing, and simulation, and students can specialize in Automotive Engineering or Railway Engineering. It is a research-intensive program, and students can learn through KTH’s cooperation with the Swedish vehicle industry, key manufacturers, and the Swedish Transport Administration. Recent alumni examples listed by KTH include roles at Bugatti-Rimac, Saab, Zeekr Technology Europe, and Scania Group.
5. Vilnius Gediminas Technical University
- Study Program
- Location: Lithuania | Degrees Offered: Bachelor’s, Master’s
This public university is located in Vilnius, Lithuania. Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, also known as VILNIUS TECH, is another notable automotive engineering school in Europe. The university emphasizes technology, engineering, and connections with business and industry. It offers a bachelor’s program in Automotive Engineering and a master’s program in Automotive Engineering and Management.
The undergraduate program is in the field of transport engineering and offers specialization options such as Automotive Transport Engineering, Autonomous Transport, Railway Transport Engineering, Mobile Machinery Engineering, and Vehicle Engineering. The master’s program is available in Lithuanian or English and includes specialization options such as Automotive Transport Engineering, Railway Transport Engineering, Transport Engineering Management, Vehicle Engineering, and Maritime Transport Engineering and Logistics. Graduates may pursue opportunities with transport, logistics, vehicle, and public-sector organizations, including AB Via Lietuva, LTG Group, the Lithuanian Transport Safety Administration, and Vilniaus viešasis transportas.
FAQs about Studying Automotive Engineering
Which Country is Best for Studying Automotive Engineering?
There is no single official answer to which country is best for studying automotive engineering, since the right choice depends on a student’s preferred language, budget, degree level, career goals, and specialization. However, Germany is a strong option because of its well-known automotive industry, technical universities, and focus on engineering and mobility. Students interested in this field should compare programs carefully, especially language of instruction, tuition, curriculum, internship options, and industry connections. Currently, there is no information on these specific courses, but you can search through our list of available courses to find something that can pique your interest.
We hope that you found this article on the best automotive engineering schools in Europe informative and helpful. Make sure to also check out the Available Programs in Europe!
