Automotive and Transport Design MDes/BA (Hons)

" Automotive and Transport Design MDes/BA (Hons)

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— Cov Uni Art & Design (@CovArtDesign) February 9, 2015 OVERVIEW

This course runs in 2016/17.

Automotive and Transport Design at Coventry University is recognised by the automotive industry as the leading undergraduate course in the UK. It is responsible for producing senior design professionals all over the world. As well as cars, it offers the opportunity to design transport for all applications.

WHY CHOOSE THIS COURSE?

This course is designed to give you the skills and understanding to work as a designer in all fields of Automotive and Transport Design, including cars, motorbikes, boats, luxury yachts, construction vehicles and vehicle interiors, as well as emerging areas such as electric vehicles and personal mobility devices.

Many current production vehicles can be attributed to our graduates who have left to work around the world for companies including: Aston Martin, Bentley, BMW, Citroen, Ford, Jaguar Land Rover, JCB, Lotus, Mazda, Mercedes Benz, Nissan, Porsche, Renault, Rolls Royce, Toyota, Qoros, VW and Volvo.

Automotive and Transport Design aims to develop individuals who can apply a high level of innovation and creative thinking to their studies and there is a particular focus on understanding how society and new technology will lead to more sustainable transport solutions in future.

If you choose this course you will benefit from:

• the opportunity to study in a school which was awarded ‘Best Design School’ in the World Automotive Design competition in 2004, was the winner of the Sir Misha Black Award for Innovation in Design Education 2007 and the winner of Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education 2008;
• a teaching team that includes design professionals with many years of experience in the automotive and transport design business;
• strong associations with the industry offering excellent placement opportunities and employment prospects.

WHAT WILL I LEARN?

This course offers the options of a three-year BA (Hons) degree, a four year MDes or a four year BA (Hons) degree that includes the third year ‘Professional Enhancement’.

In your first year you will learn 2D design skills and be introduced to 3D techniques, the theory and analysis skills needed to underpin design work plus an understanding of packaging and ergonomic requirements for successful design solutions. This year acts as a diagnostic of your aptitudes and interests.

In the second year you will develop your design process, modelling, and presentation skills, learn how to evaluate your work, and develop your knowledge of ergonomics and engineering in individual and group activity.

The Professional Enhancement Year, the third year of the four-year degree, involves entry to a national or international competition, and involvement in collaborative projects with industry. There are opportunities to secure placements in the industry, with which the Coventry Automotive and Transport has close connections, which will strongly enhance your experience and skills whilst improving your network of industry contacts.

The final year of your three or four year BA(Hons) may include entry to a national design competition, while the final year for the MDes qualification (4th year) includes research and design management modules. Both BA (Hons) and MDes qualifications conclude with a major design project. At the end of their degree students are expected to exhibit in our prestigious Degree Show.

HOW WILL THIS COURSE BE TAUGHT?

You will study in a base studio with your year group colleagues, which is where you will learn through design exploration, discussion, sketching and making. There will also be a series of lectures with associated seminars and workshop practical classes. In addition, your personal tutor will review and discuss your progress with you and will be available for advice.

Students will work on collaborative projects with industrial partners whilst based in the University. Recent student collaborative projects were carried out with: Bentley Motors, GM North America, MG/SAIC, Ricardo, Aston Martin, Ferrari, Bowler, Land Rover, and the Formula Student racing car and Eco-marathon car (in collaboration with CU Motorsport Engineering).

Fees and Funding

Please note that tuition fees will be payable in each of the four years of the 4 year MDes or 4 year BA (Hons) with work placement courses. You can take an optional placement year during the MDes course (making the course length 5 years in total) without a requirement to pay tuition fees for the optional placement year.

HOW WILL I BE ASSESSED?

An estimated percentage breakdown of how your final grade is assessed is as follows: coursework, tests, essays 20%; practical or project work 45%; group
work etc.10%; presentations, posters etc.15%; other e.g. placements etc.10%.

A compulsory Add+vantage module must also be completed: please see the page on the Add+vantage scheme for more details.

TEACHING CONTACT HOURS

In a typical week you will have up to 18 contact hours of teaching and this will break down as:

Personal tutorial/small group teaching: 4 hours of tutorials each week

Medium group teaching: 4 hours of medium group lectures and seminars each week

Large group teaching: 10 hours of lectures and supported studio practice each week

Personal study: 20 hours of studying and practical work in your own time each week

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