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Studies & Degrees in Motorsport Engineering

Motorsport engineering is the branch of mechanical engineering that deals with the design, construction, testing and running of competition vehicles. It applies the same science as any mechanical engineering degree (mechanics, materials, thermodynamics and fluid dynamics) to racing cars, where low weight, aerodynamics, reliability and short development times decide results.

Students learn engineering analysis, computer-aided design (CAD) and simulation, manufacturing, instrumentation and data acquisition, vehicle dynamics and powertrains, and project management. Most of the learning is project based. Teams of students design, build and test a car and run it in student competitions.

Qualifications and levels

Dedicated motorsport degrees are mainly a British speciality. The standard qualifications in the United Kingdom are these:

  • BEng (Hons). A three-year bachelor's degree. A three-year degree is typically 360 UK credits, and each 20-credit module equals 200 hours of study, according to the University of Lancashire.
  • MEng (Hons). A four-year integrated master's degree that extends the BEng with additional group and individual projects.
  • Foundation year and placement year. Some universities add a foundation year for applicants without the required grades, and an optional placement year of up to 12 months in industry.

The level of the degree matters for professional registration. In the United Kingdom, engineering degrees can be accredited by engineering institutions licensed by the Engineering Council. For Chartered Engineer (CEng) registration, the Engineering Council names as the standard academic route either an accredited integrated MEng degree or an accredited bachelor's degree with honours plus an accredited master's degree or equivalent further learning. Ask each university whether its course is currently accredited, and by which institution.

Outside the United Kingdom the usual route is a bachelor's degree in mechanical or automotive engineering, followed by a specialised master's degree or by experience in a racing team.

Where to study

SpainExchange lists one active school for motorsport engineering: the University of Lancashire in Preston, in the North West of England. It offers Motorsports Engineering as a BEng (Hons) of three years and as an MEng (Hons) of four years, both taught in person and in English at the Preston Campus, with a foundation year and a placement year as options.

The course starts with design, engineering analysis, engineering science and a module on the anatomy of racing cars. The second year covers instrumentation and control, design and manufacture, thermo-fluids applied to aerodynamics and engines, and motorsports mechanics. In the final year students work on vehicle design and development through live projects such as Formula Student and the Shell Eco-marathon. Facilities listed by the university include a motorsports workshop, engine build and dynamometer workshops and a wind tunnel laboratory. The university states that the course is designed to meet the requirements of the Engineering Council's AHEP4 standard for the purposes of professional registration.

Admission and costs

For the BEng, the University of Lancashire asks for 104-112 UCAS points at A2 including Maths, and Physics or another STEM subject at grade C, or equivalent qualifications from other countries. The English requirement is IELTS 6.0 with no component lower than 5.5. Tuition fees for 2026/27 are £9,790 per year for UK students and £18,750 per year for international students.

International students normally need a Student visa. According to the UK government, applicants must be 16 or over and have an offer of a place from a licensed student sponsor. The earliest date to apply from outside the UK is six months before the course starts, and the application fee is £558 (checked October 2026).

Careers

Graduates work as design, development, test, data and race engineers in racing teams and at their suppliers. The University of Lancashire states that many of its graduates go into motorsport, from Formula 1 and other single-seater categories to sportscars, GT and touring cars, and that others work in aerospace, the automotive industry, defence and research and development. The degree is a mechanical engineering qualification with a specialisation, so graduates are not limited to racing.

There are no separate official employment statistics for motorsport engineers. For mechanical engineers as a whole, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment in the United States to grow 11 percent from 2025 to 2035, and it lists auto research engineers, who work to improve the performance of cars, as one type of mechanical engineer.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between motorsport engineering and mechanical engineering?

Both rest on the same engineering science. A motorsport degree applies it to competition vehicles from the first year, with modules on race car design, aerodynamics and vehicle development, and with projects such as Formula Student.

How long does a motorsport engineering degree take?

At the University of Lancashire the BEng (Hons) takes three years and the MEng (Hons) four years. A foundation year or a placement year adds one year each.

Which subjects do I need to be admitted?

Mathematics and a science. The University of Lancashire asks for 104-112 UCAS points including Maths, and Physics or another STEM subject, plus IELTS 6.0 for applicants whose first language is not English.

Can I become a Chartered Engineer with this degree?

Chartered Engineer registration requires an accredited integrated MEng, or an accredited bachelor's degree with honours plus further learning to master's level, together with professional experience. Check the current accreditation of the course with the university.