COURSE CURRICULUM

The MSc in Virtual Prototyping for Vehicle Structures provides a comprehensive education in the design, analysis, and simulation of vehicle structures, combining theoretical knowledge with hands-on experience. The program begins with an introduction to automotive engineering, covering team working, project management, communication skills, and ethics, while familiarising students with key facilities and resources. Students then explore vehicle design, propulsion, and performance, learning to analyse driveline systems, predict resistances, assess vehicle performance, and integrate alternative powertrain options within regulatory frameworks. Experimental mechanics develops skills in material characterisation and testing using both traditional and optical full-field methods, while vehicle passive safety focuses on crashworthiness, energy absorption, and simulation of metallic and composite structures. Vehicle dynamics addresses ride, handling, suspension, steering, and tyre modelling, linking theoretical models to practical design considerations. NVH and durability examines structural fatigue, modal analysis, and testing protocols to ensure component longevity, and vehicle materials and manufacturing covers material selection, processing, joining techniques, and failure analysis for automotive structures. Vehicle structures modules integrate all aspects of design, load analysis, finite element modelling, and safety evaluation. The program culminates in simulation of composite structures, equipping graduates with the advanced skills needed to optimise, validate, and innovate vehicle designs, enhancing performance, safety, and reliability across the automotive and motorsport industries.