Virtual Prototyping for Vehicle Structures
Master
In Cranfield
Description
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Type
Master
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Mode of study
Full-time
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Languages
English
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Location
Cranfield
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Duration
12 Months
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Start date
October 2026
other dates
In a rapidly evolving automotive sector, virtual prototyping for vehicle structures is an essential part of the development process of innovative vehicle designs. This course empowers students with the advanced skills and tools needed to reshape vehicle design, focusing on advanced simulation, passive safety and material characterisation. For CAE engineers and their teams, this knowledge is crucial for optimising design processes, minimising the need for physical prototypes, and delivering reliable, data-driven solutions that accelerate development and improve vehicle performance from road vehicles to racing cars.
The MSc in Virtual Prototyping for Vehicle Structures has been developed to provide the Automotive and Motorsport industry with high calibre stress analysts that are equipped with the necessary skills to meet the demands of the structures and CAE department.
Through hands-on experience with advanced simulation tools and industry-leading techniques, students will be inspired to push the boundaries of innovation to contribute to the development of smarter, safer and more efficient vehicles.
The balance between lab experience at the Cranfield Impact Centre and exposure to advanced simulation techniques will provide a comprehensive understanding of both theoretical and practical aspects to analyse prototypes in a virtual environment and refine their concepts through testing.
Facilities
Location
Start date
Start date
Start date
About this course
The MSc in Virtual Prototyping for Vehicle Structures is suitable for graduates in engineering, physics or mathematics, and will prepare you for a career in this exciting field, from chassis, suspension design to crash analysis and NVH.
Students taking the Virtual Prototyping for Vehicle Structures course will benefit from Cranfield University's world-class facilities and expertise, particularly the unique capabilities of the Cranfield Impact Centre (CIC). The CIC is one of the most advanced testing facilities of its kind in the world, offering exclusive access to cutting-edge equipment for crash testing and vehicle safety analysis. This, combined with the advanced mechanical labs at Cranfield University, ensures that students receive hands-on experience with the latest technologies in vehicle design and testing.
This hands-on experience, combined with theoretical learning, gives students a unique perspective on how advanced simulation tools are used to optimise vehicle performance, reduce development time, and improve safety and sustainability in the design of automotive and motorsport structures.
Reviews
Subjects
- Automotive Skills
- Vehicle Design
- Prototyping
- Automotive
- Design
- Simulation
- Industry
Teachers and trainers (1)
Cranfield Course Team
Academic
Course programme
This course comprises eight compulsory taught modules that are assessed via a combination of written exams and individual coursework assignments, a group project and an individual research project.
Compulsory modules
All the modules in the following list need to be taken as part of this course.
- Automotive Engineering Induction
- Vehicle Design, Propulsion and Performance
- Experimental Mechanics
- Vehicle Passive Safety
- Vehicle Dynamics
- NVH and Durability
- Vehicle Materials and Manufacturing
- Vehicle Structures
- Simulation of Composite Structures
Virtual Prototyping for Vehicle Structures
