Course summary

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. Who is it for? 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. Why this course? 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. Informed by Industry The MSc in Virtual Prototyping for Vehicle Structures is directed by an Industrial Advisory Panel comprising senior engineers from the automotive and motorsport sector working in CAE and structures departments. This maintains course relevancy and ensures that graduates are equipped with the skills and knowledge required by leading employers to join their CAE and structural design team. You will have the opportunity to attend classes from academics at Cranfield University and meet with key practitioners from leading automotive and motorsport companies as they offer lectures and seminars. You will also present your work as part of selected modules and the group design project to gain insightful feedback and engagement from leading figures in the field of advanced structural simulation. Your career Our postgraduate Virtual Prototyping for Vehicle Structures course provides you with the necessary skills for a career in the CAE and structures departments of automotive and motorsport companies. Cranfield’s graduates have an excellent employment record and they have secured jobs in the Vehicle Structures and Body CAE departments of leading automotive and motorsport companies. Graduates of this MSc can aspire to roles such as:

• Structures Analyst,

• CAE Engineer,

• Structural Simulation Engineer,

• Vehicle Design Engineer,

• Crash Safety Engineer.