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Mechanical vs motorsport engineering

Wanting to fulfil a career in motorsport, I’m stuck on what to do for uni (or rather how to do it) as I’d like to complete a master’s degree.

Motorsport engineering appeals to me since it’s what I want to do, and mechanical engineering appeals to me because of wider career prospects and I think higher respectability? (and ofc it’s still very interesting).

Does it make more sense to do a bachelor’s in motorsport and a master’s in mech? Or vice versa? Or something else entirely? I’m clueless, I also like the idea of an integrated masters, but obviously I can’t do both in that situation.

The point of this is is that having a qualification in mech eng is good as it’s very respected, and a qualification in motorsport is good for me as it shows I know how to apply mech principles in a certain context.

Any advice is appreciated!!
Original post by par4bolica
Wanting to fulfil a career in motorsport, I’m stuck on what to do for uni (or rather how to do it) as I’d like to complete a master’s degree.

Motorsport engineering appeals to me since it’s what I want to do, and mechanical engineering appeals to me because of wider career prospects and I think higher respectability? (and ofc it’s still very interesting).

Does it make more sense to do a bachelor’s in motorsport and a master’s in mech? Or vice versa? Or something else entirely? I’m clueless, I also like the idea of an integrated masters, but obviously I can’t do both in that situation.

The point of this is is that having a qualification in mech eng is good as it’s very respected, and a qualification in motorsport is good for me as it shows I know how to apply mech principles in a certain context.

Any advice is appreciated!!

As Motorsport Engineering is a specialisation of Mechanical Engineering, and as you want to do a Master's anyway, it seems to make more sense to do a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering (for the wider career prospects) and a Master's degree in Motorsports Engineering (to target the career to which you aspire).
Reply 2
Original post by par4bolica
Wanting to fulfil a career in motorsport, I’m stuck on what to do for uni (or rather how to do it) as I’d like to complete a master’s degree.

Motorsport engineering appeals to me since it’s what I want to do, and mechanical engineering appeals to me because of wider career prospects and I think higher respectability? (and ofc it’s still very interesting).

Does it make more sense to do a bachelor’s in motorsport and a master’s in mech? Or vice versa? Or something else entirely? I’m clueless, I also like the idea of an integrated masters, but obviously I can’t do both in that situation.

The point of this is is that having a qualification in mech eng is good as it’s very respected, and a qualification in motorsport is good for me as it shows I know how to apply mech principles in a certain context.

Any advice is appreciated!!

I agree with @DataVenia: at undergrad, I think it is preferable to study something broad (i.e. one of the main disciplines) as this keeps your options open, enabling both a wider range of careers as well as specialising at masters level. You might also feel different about what you want to do career-wise in a few years. So the vice versa (mech eng BEng and motorsport mastes) makes more sense.
Original post by par4bolica
Wanting to fulfil a career in motorsport, I’m stuck on what to do for uni (or rather how to do it) as I’d like to complete a master’s degree.
Motorsport engineering appeals to me since it’s what I want to do, and mechanical engineering appeals to me because of wider career prospects and I think higher respectability? (and ofc it’s still very interesting).
Does it make more sense to do a bachelor’s in motorsport and a master’s in mech? Or vice versa? Or something else entirely? I’m clueless, I also like the idea of an integrated masters, but obviously I can’t do both in that situation.
The point of this is is that having a qualification in mech eng is good as it’s very respected, and a qualification in motorsport is good for me as it shows I know how to apply mech principles in a certain context.
Any advice is appreciated!!

If you look at the content you will see very little difference - in Motorsport the examples tend to be from that field but the theory is the same.

Go for an integrated Masters as it's easier to get a loan for [one qualification].

Oxford Brookes have the best Motorsport courses - the were the first and were designed with industry. They also have brand-new facilities opening this month.

https://www.brookes.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/mechanical-engineering-beng-or-meng

https://www.brookes.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/motorsport-engineering-beng-or-meng
Original post by par4bolica
Wanting to fulfil a career in motorsport, I’m stuck on what to do for uni (or rather how to do it) as I’d like to complete a master’s degree.
Motorsport engineering appeals to me since it’s what I want to do, and mechanical engineering appeals to me because of wider career prospects and I think higher respectability? (and ofc it’s still very interesting).
Does it make more sense to do a bachelor’s in motorsport and a master’s in mech? Or vice versa? Or something else entirely? I’m clueless, I also like the idea of an integrated masters, but obviously I can’t do both in that situation.
The point of this is is that having a qualification in mech eng is good as it’s very respected, and a qualification in motorsport is good for me as it shows I know how to apply mech principles in a certain context.
Any advice is appreciated!!

Hi,
I am a motorsport engineering student at Coventry University and am doing a 5 year course that includes a placement year in industry and a masters degree also in motorsport. I would recommend joining on a motorsport degree as most universities allow you to transfer between courses like motorsport engineering and mechanical engineering as they have a shared first year so will complete the same first year modules. I would also recommend doing research into potential jobs and careers and looking at what degrees these jobs require for applicants. I would also encourage joining your universities Formula Student as this will provide a valuable insight into how real world race teams operate.
Hope this helps
Dan - Student Ambassador
Original post by par4bolica
Wanting to fulfil a career in motorsport, I’m stuck on what to do for uni (or rather how to do it) as I’d like to complete a master’s degree.
Motorsport engineering appeals to me since it’s what I want to do, and mechanical engineering appeals to me because of wider career prospects and I think higher respectability? (and ofc it’s still very interesting).
Does it make more sense to do a bachelor’s in motorsport and a master’s in mech? Or vice versa? Or something else entirely? I’m clueless, I also like the idea of an integrated masters, but obviously I can’t do both in that situation.
The point of this is is that having a qualification in mech eng is good as it’s very respected, and a qualification in motorsport is good for me as it shows I know how to apply mech principles in a certain context.
Any advice is appreciated!!

Hi! It’s great to hear that you’re considering a career in engineering, and I completely understand your dilemma. Both those degrees are excellent choices, and each has its own advantages.

If you know you want to work in the motorsport industry, then an motorsport degree would give you the specialised knowledge. It’s a direct route into the automotive industry. However, motorsport jobs can sometimes be more niche and highly competitive, and depending on the job market, this may limit your flexibility if you ever want to branch out.

On the other hand, Mechanical Engineering is one of the broadest engineering disciplines. It covers a wide range of industries, including aerospace, automotive, energy, and manufacturing. Many automotive companies hire mechanical engineers because the fundamental principles, such as fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, and structural analysis , and now that I am in third year I took an optional aeropropulsion course just out of interest which you can do to .

Regarding salary, both fields can be highly rewarding in the long run. Aerospace and automotive roles may offer higher salaries in some cases, but career growth, job security, and industry demand matter just as much. If you’re unsure about specialising too soon, Mechanical Engineering with an Aerospace focus ( optional subjects or internships) could be a smart choice.

Ultimately, I’d suggest looking at university course modules to see what modules overlap in both courses . Whichever path you choose, engineering is a great field with plenty of opportunities!

Good luck with your decision! 🚀⚙️

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