Racing Engine Systems
MSc
Start dates: September 2025 / January 2026 / September 2026
Full time: 12 months for September start, 17 months for January start
Part time: 24 months for September start, 29 months for January start
Location: Headington
Overview
Train for advanced design roles with engine manufacturers and their supply chains. Our Racing Engine Systems postgraduate degree meets industry requirements and is the only one of its kind in the world. You’ll study race engine theories and learn how to design winning engines. And you’ll discover how to build the hybrid and electric engines of the future.
Many high-performance engines are designed in the UK’s motorsport valley. Being in Oxford means you’re right in the middle of it. This gives you unrivalled access to the industry - insight you can use during your studies.
You’ll be taught in state-of-the-art laboratories, in a specialist engineering building, by some of the best minds in the engineering business. And our experts will help you prepare for your career.
Why Oxford Brookes University?
-
Great location
Oxford is home to many high-tech businesses and we have good links with the industry.
-
Industry approved
The Racing Engine Systems module meets the FIA Formula One Powertrain Regulations.
-
Brand new facilities
All Engineering and Motorsport courses have moved to brand new, custom designed buildings at our main Headington site. These buildings open in the 2024/25 academic year. You'll benefit from state-of-the-art facilities and equipment including a VR cave and material science labs, composite lab, autodynamics workshop and wind tunnel, as well as social learning spaces, teaching rooms and cafe space.
-
Work with professionals
You’ll be learning from industry experts, and their advice can help shape your research and career direction.
-
Good job prospects
Many of our graduates on this course secure employment before completing their dissertation. You can gain hands on experience and develop skills in designing, building and racing vehicles with Oxford Brookes Racing. Our Formula Student Team has been the top UK team and won the design award more times than any other UK university. Watch more about how the OBR car is designed.
-
Accreditation(s)
This course is accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) for the purpose of meeting the further learning requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer. This course is also accredited by The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). We are seeking re-accreditation with IET and IMechE in October 2025.
Course details
Course structure
The modules you study combine practical experience, theory, and simulation to help prepare you for working in the industry. These include Racing Engine Systems, Advanced Powertrain, and Electric Powertrain. You’ll learn to review powertrain performances, understand the business requirements behind engineering and how to predict engine fracture and failure.
For your dissertation, you’ll study a specific topic of your choice at an in-depth level. They will help shape your research, planning and project management skills too.
You could take an industry-sponsored project from the likes of Ford, AVL, or a local racing team. Or you may prefer to work on your own project in the UK or abroad, and collaborate closely with a research or commercial organisation of your choice.
Start this course in January or September
You can start this course in January if a September start doesn't suit you or is not currently offered for this course.
If you start in January you will study a range of modules between January and May. During the summer months of June, July and August you will study further modules and begin work on your dissertation. Between September and December you will complete your final modules and focus on your dissertation.
Study modules
Please note: As our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, the modules you can choose from may vary from those shown here. The structure of the course may also mean some modules are not available to you.
Research
The emphasis in our research groups is producing high-quality research for the real world. Our industry focused research includes an award-winning project with Yasa Motors and BMWi development.
Staff have close links with industry through research projects and consultancies. You can find out more on our department research pages.
The results of the most recent REF (2014) exercise showed that 96% of research in the department is internationally recognised, and 57% was judged to be of world leading quality or internationally excellent. More specifically, 50% of the impact case studies returned were judged to be internationally excellent, and 72% of the research outputs were judged to be internationally excellent or world leading.
Careers
Many of our students secure work before completing their dissertation. They now have careers with motorsport companies, Formula One teams and their suppliers, and research laboratories. They’re working on developing next generation engines.
Our careers support system is available to help you with advice and to support you with your career.
Student profiles
Entry requirements
Specific entry requirements
You should normally hold a first degree, equivalent to at least a British lower second-class bachelor's degree, in mechanical, automotive or motorsport engineering or a related discipline. Applicants with relevant professional experience will also be considered.
Please also see the University's general entry requirements.
English language requirements
If your first language is not English you will require a minimum IELTS score of 6.0 overall with 6.0 in all components.
OR
An equivalent English language qualification acceptable to the University.
Please also see the University's standard English language requirements.
Pathways courses for international and EU students
We offer a range of courses to help you meet the entry requirements for your postgraduate course and also familiarise you with university life in the UK.
Take a Pre-Master's course to develop your subject knowledge, study skills and academic language level in preparation for your master's course.
If you need to improve your English language, we offer pre-sessional English language courses to help you meet the English language requirements of your chosen master’s course.
English requirements for visas
If you need a student visa to enter the UK you will need to meet the UK Visas and Immigration minimum language requirements as well as the University's requirements. Find out more about English language requirements.
Terms and Conditions of Enrolment
When you accept our offer, you agree to the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.
International qualifications and equivalences
Tuition fees
Questions about fees?
Contact Student Finance on:
Tuition fees
Fees quoted are for the first year only. If you are studying a course that lasts longer than one year, your fees will increase each year.
The following factors will be taken into account by the University when it is setting the annual fees: inflationary measures such as the retail price indices, projected increases in University costs, changes in the level of funding received from Government sources, admissions statistics and access considerations including the availability of student support.
How and when to pay
Tuition fee instalments for the semester are due by the Monday of week 1 of each semester. Students are not liable for full fees for that semester if they leave before week 4. If the leaving date is after week 4, full fees for the semester are payable.
- For information on payment methods please see our Make a Payment page.
- For information about refunds please visit our Refund policy page
Additional costs
Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course are detailed below.
Optional costs
| Additional costs | Amount (£) |
|---|---|
If you are considering bringing your own computer, most of the software we use is on Windows machines though there is some use of Linux. We do not use Apple MacOS and their use is not required but some students do choose to bring MacOS machines so a Mac can be a viable choice if you so wish.
|
£500-1200 |
It’s your responsibility to cover print / binding costs where coursework submission is required. Please note that a lot of the coursework is now submitted online. |
From £30 |
| You may choose to purchase books to support your studies. Many books on our reading lists are available via the Library, or can be purchased secondhand. | £20-60 per book |
Accommodation fees in Brookes Letting (most do not include bills) |
£94-265 per week |
Accommodation fees in university halls (bills included, excluding laundry costs) |
£122-180 per week |
Graduation costs include tickets, gowning and photography. Gowns are not compulsory but typically students do hire robes, starting at £41. |
Typically £0-200 |
Students are responsible for their own travel to and from university for classes. BrookesBus travel is subsidised for full-time undergraduate students that are on a course with a fee of £9,250 or more, or living in an Oxford Brookes hall of residence. There is an administration fee for the production of a BrookesKey. |
From £10 |
Funding your studies
Financial support and scholarships
Featured funding opportunities available for this course.
All financial support and scholarships
Programme changes:
On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been
published on the website. For more information, please visit our
changes to programmes page.