Oxford Brookes University

What you'll study

This masters focuses on technologies and methods used in electric and hybrid racing vehicles as well as high-performance electric road cars. Core themes include electric powertrain design, battery systems and management, electric machines and inverters, power electronics, vehicle dynamics, control systems and software for real-time embedded applications. Teaching mixes lectures with laboratory work, simulation and experimental testing.

• Electric powertrains and hybrid systems – topology selection, sizing, thermal management and integration for motorsport packaging constraints.
• Battery technology and BMS – cell/pack design, state estimation, charging strategies, safety and lifecycle considerations.
• Electric machines, drives and power electronics – motor design principles, inverter architectures, control strategies and efficiency optimisation.
• Vehicle dynamics and control – the interaction of electric power delivery with traction, braking, torque vectoring and chassis tuning.
• Modelling, simulation and data acquisition – multi-domain simulation (controls, thermal, mechanical), hardware-in-the-loop, telemetry and data analysis techniques used in race engineering.
• Systems integration and safety – functional safety, EMC, high-voltage procedures and regulatory considerations relevant to competition and road-legal vehicles.
• Group design and laboratory projects – team-based build, test and validation tasks reflecting industry problems; workshops and test rigs are used for hands-on learning.
• Individual research project or dissertation – an extended piece of research or an industry-linked project allowing specialist focus, typically involving design, simulation and experimental validation.

Modules are delivered through a blend of seminars, practical sessions in dedicated labs and workshops, guest lectures from industry, and project supervision. Assessment mixes coursework, laboratory reports, design reviews, exams and the final research project.

Entry requirements

• A good honours degree (typically a UK 2:1 or equivalent) in engineering, electronic engineering, mechanical engineering, automotive engineering, physics, or a closely related discipline. Applicants with a lower-class degree plus relevant professional experience may be considered.
• Demonstrable competence in core engineering mathematics and fundamentals of electrical machines or vehicle engineering is expected.
• Relevant practical experience or evidence of programming and simulation skills (for example in MATLAB/Simulink, Python, CAD or control software) is advantageous.
• International applicants must show proficiency in English; accepted proof follows the university's language requirements.
• Applicants will normally be asked to submit a CV and a personal statement; references and interviews may be used in the selection process.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared for technical and engineering roles in motorsport teams, technology suppliers and OEMs working on electrification. Typical job titles include:

• Electric powertrain engineer
• Battery systems engineer / BMS engineer
• Control systems engineer
• Vehicle dynamics engineer with an EV focus
• Data engineer / race engineer specialising in electric platforms
• R&D engineer in power electronics, thermal management or energy storage
• Technical consultant or systems integrator for EV and motorsport projects

Graduates often move into roles with professional racing series and teams (including Formula E and electric prototype programmes), Tier 1 suppliers, independent motorsport engineering consultancies and vehicle manufacturers developing high-performance electric vehicles. The course’s practical projects and industry links help build a portfolio of hands-on experience valued by employers.

Why study at Oxford Brookes University

Oxford Brookes has a longstanding reputation for motorsport engineering education and close ties with the racing industry. The university provides workshop and laboratory facilities tailored to vehicle engineering and electrified systems, together with access to test rigs, dynamic testing equipment and data-acquisition hardware used in motorsport research and development.

Teaching staff combine academic expertise with industry experience, and the programme benefits from guest lectures and project briefs provided by engineers working in racing and electric vehicle companies. The university’s location offers good connectivity to the UK’s motorsport cluster, supporting placements, collaborative projects and networking. The course emphasises practical, employable skills and culminates in an individual project that gives students a demonstrable piece of technical work to show future employers.