Automotive engineering is a field closely related to mechanical engineering that involves the design, development, and manufacturing of cars, buses, and similar vehicles. Since Carl Benz patented an automobile powered by a gas engine in 1886, the industry has gone through dramatic changes. Today, electrification, connected vehicles, and automated-driving technologies are important areas of development.
The fact that there is still plenty of room for improvement in the automotive industry despite its being more than a century old is a testament to its reach and importance in daily life. Although dedicated automotive engineering degree programs are not available at every university, many institutions offer mechanical engineering degrees, automotive concentrations, or mobility-focused graduate programs.
In the guide below, we discuss several universities with relevant automotive engineering study options.
Top Automotive Engineering Schools in the World
1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers undergraduate and graduate programs through its Department of Mechanical Engineering. Its Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering combines engineering fundamentals with design and analysis. Students interested in vehicle-related work can study subjects such as Thermal-Fluids Engineering, Engineering Systems Design, and Elements of Mechanical Design.
MIT is also home to the Sloan Automotive Laboratory, which was founded in 1929 as an automotive research laboratory. Its current work combines physics-based modeling, experiments, and data-driven methods to support more sustainable internal-combustion-engine technology, including research related to engine lubrication and oil consumption.
2. Stanford University
Mechanical engineering at Stanford University combines analytical study with practical design and laboratory experience. Its undergraduate curriculum covers topics such as materials, structures, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, heat transfer, dynamical systems, control, and design methods.
Stanford undergraduates may apply to the coterminal program, which allows them to work toward a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in parallel. Stanford states that most engineering coterminal students complete both degrees within five years.
Stanford is also home to the Center for Automotive Research at Stanford, or CARS. The center brings together researchers, students, industry representatives, government officials, and community members to support human-centered mobility. Its activities include educational experiences, research infrastructure, and events that connect the campus with the broader mobility community.
3. Delft University of Technology
Delft University of Technology, or TU Delft, offers a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering. The bachelor’s program provides a broad foundation for students who may later pursue work in a variety of engineering fields.
Students interested in automotive topics may want to review TU Delft’s Intelligent Vehicles course, which appears in the university’s mechanical engineering course materials. The course focuses on technologies relevant to future vehicles.
Prospective Ph.D. candidates at TU Delft generally apply for specific advertised Ph.D. positions rather than enrolling in a single flexible automotive engineering doctoral program.
4. Tsinghua University
In 2025, China produced 34.53 million motor vehicles, compared with 10.24 million in the United States. This scale makes China an important location for students interested in automotive and mobility engineering. Tsinghua University offers relevant study options through its School of Vehicle and Mobility.
For international students, the school lists an English-taught Master’s Program in Vehicle and Mobility. It also lists Chinese-taught master’s programs in Mechanical Engineering and Energy and Power Engineering, as well as doctoral programs. Separately, Tsinghua and RWTH Aachen offer a joint master’s program with track options that include Automotive Engineering.
5. University of Michigan
The University of Michigan offers automotive-focused graduate study through more than one campus. At the University of Michigan-Dearborn, the Master of Science in Engineering in Automotive and Mobility Systems Engineering prepares students for careers involving the design, development, and manufacturing of automotive systems. The program can be completed in person, fully online, or through a combination of delivery formats.
The University of Michigan-Dearborn also offers a Doctor of Engineering in Automotive Systems and Mobility. Separately, the University of Michigan’s Ann Arbor campus offers a 30-credit Master of Engineering in Automotive Engineering that is available on campus or online.
6. Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Institute of Technology is an option for students who want to study automotive engineering topics at the undergraduate level. Its Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering offers an optional Automotive Engineering concentration consisting of 15 credit hours. The concentration includes Introduction to Automotive Engineering and elective options such as Internal Combustion Engines and Hybrid Vehicle Powertrains.
Georgia Tech’s George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering also lists cooperative education, international cooperative education, internship, and study-abroad opportunities for students who want to complement their classroom work with practical experience.
7. RWTH Aachen
RWTH Aachen is based in Germany, which is home to major automotive manufacturers. For international applicants seeking automotive-specific graduate study, its English-taught Master of Science in Automotive Engineering is a relevant option.
The three-semester master’s program covers the conception and development of passenger and commercial vehicles. Its modules address topics such as chassis, vehicle bodies, drivetrains, safety, and driver-assistance systems. Students complete coursework during the first two semesters and a 22-week master’s thesis during the third semester.
RWTH Aachen also offers a bachelor’s-level vocational teacher-training option in automotive technology in combination with machine technology. Doctoral study is available through faculty institutes, which determine doctoral research topics. RWTH Aachen also lists a Tsinghua double-degree option in production engineering and automotive engineering.
Automotive engineering is a challenging but potentially rewarding field for students interested in mobility systems. In the United States, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment of mechanical engineers will grow by 9% from 2024 to 2034, which is faster than the average for all occupations. Students interested in automotive work should compare each program’s curriculum carefully. Check out the 5 Best Automotive Engineering Schools in Europe.
We hope that you found this article on automotive engineering schools informative and helpful. Make sure to also check out the Available Programs for International Students to learn more about studying abroad!
