The Student Room Group

Mechanical vs Automotive

Basically im really into the idea of doing enginnering at uni, im expecting to get AAB or more likely ABB in my a levels with Physics, maths mechanics and computing and i have a strong interest in mechanicaly type stuff such as bikes and anything like that, probs cars soon as well cause im just starting to drive :smile:.

Basically im confused as what are the main difference in the courses are and what sort of job you could be expecting at the end of it and also the differnce in pay, cause i dont want to do a 4/5 year course and end up as a bog standard mechanic in a garage, by all means i would love to work on cars and stuff but as a high end type one.

Any help would be appreciated :smile:
Reply 1
I think it would be more design based than hands-on. Theres a common misconception that engineers are just like mechanics or whatever.

edit: take a look at this site, its good. Heres a link to automotive engineer typical job description - Clicky

also, take a look at aerospace engineering too, that might interest you. Its gonna be my course at uni from september :p:
From what I understood, the courses are very similar. But with the Automotive course there's a greater focus on (obviously) the automotive side of mechanical engineering.
Such as engines, gearboxes, and what have you.
Personally I would go for a mechanical course as it's broader. An automotive course is going to be very focussed on design of cars - possibly more design-based and less theoretical?

I'm not sure how easy it is to go into automotive with a mechanical degree or into other mechanical with an automotive degree... to be honest there probably isn't much in it as the courses will have a lot of overlap. And the important thing is at a decent uni they'll both be accredited by IMechE.
Reply 4
If you really want to work in the auto industry then do the automotive course, it will set you up with a much better knowledge. The Auto eng course will get you ready for a job as an engineer (design/development/test etc) NOT as a workshop mechanic. Starting salary for someone with a decent auto eng degree can range between £22k and £30k depending on experiance. Will be similar for a mech eng graduate as well though, just it could be slightly harder to get into an auto industry company if your course has been too broad..
Reply 5
prodriven
If you really want to work in the auto industry then do the automotive course, it will set you up with a much better knowledge. The Auto eng course will get you ready for a job as an engineer (design/development/test etc) NOT as a workshop mechanic. Starting salary for someone with a decent auto eng degree can range between £22k and £30k depending on experiance. Will be similar for a mech eng graduate as well though, just it could be slightly harder to get into an auto industry company if your course has been too broad..


I don't think its too much different, was checking in F1 and most of the top engineers there have mechanical engineering as their Beng/ Meng degree rather then straight automotive although that might be due to age of degree. plus be careful with Automotive as some places still have not had there automotive degree acreditted yet.

Mike Coughlan (former ferrari and mclaren senior engineer before disgracing himself) did mech. eng at Brunel.

Martin Whitmarsh (mclaren F1 CEO) did mech. eng

Simon Roberts (mclaren F1 operations director) did mech. eng. at manchester.

Andrew Shovlin (F1 driver Jenson button's senior race engineer) did mech . eng at Leeds.

the list goes on so I don't think doing mechanical engineering will disadvantage much (if at all) from a career in the automotive industry.

In some universities you are allowed to do an "elective" e.g you main degree is mech. eng masters, but in your fourth year you focus on a specialist subject which is reflected in your degree, this could be automotive engineering: "Meng in mechanical engineering, with automotive engineering"
Reply 6
Veecee
I don't think its too much different, was checking in F1 and most of the top engineers there have mechanical engineering as their Beng/ Meng degree rather then straight automotive although that might be due to age of degree. plus be careful with Automotive as some places still have not had there automotive degree acreditted yet.

Mike Coughlan (former ferrari and mclaren senior engineer before disgracing himself) did mech. eng at Brunel.

Martin Whitmarsh (mclaren F1 CEO) did mech. eng

Simon Roberts (mclaren F1 operations director) did mech. eng. at manchester.

Andrew Shovlin (F1 driver Jenson button's senior race engineer) did mech . eng at Leeds.

the list goes on so I don't think doing mechanical engineering will disadvantage much (if at all) from a career in the automotive industry.

In some universities you are allowed to do an "elective" e.g you main degree is mech. eng masters, but in your fourth year you focus on a specialist subject which is reflected in your degree, this could be automotive engineering: "Meng in mechanical engineering, with automotive engineering"


Certainly not a disadvantage! But alot of the guys you have mentioned above did Mech Eng because auto eng courses weren't around then... Simon Roberts is actually my old boss and he helped my decide to go the auto route...