Automotive Engineering
- 4 years
- English
- Bachelor
- Full-time
Get to know us
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- Meet us on campus
- And more...
About Automotive
Our programme teaches you to design, manufacture and test vehicles in a rapidly changing and demanding world. Technical developments – certainly in the field of mobility – are happening at lightning speed. You’ll become a specialist who isn’t afraid to push the boundaries. During your studies, you’ll develop your technical skills and learn how challenging development and research projects lead to innovative products and solutions.
Why study Automotive at Fontys?
- Work with businesses to create innovative and useful products
- Close cooperation with automotive companies in the Brainport Region
- In a brand new building on the TU/e campus, learn in a high tec automotive lab.
- Full attention for your passion, and personal guidance to get the best out of you
What are you going to learn?
The automotive engineer of the future is an “out of the box” thinker who can connect complex and different professional disciplines. Our programme prepares you to be the best! After your studies, you’ll be able to understand, interpret, connect and integrate the complex challenges of transport concepts, sustainability and technology.
- You will get a mix between theory and practice.
- Cooperation with companies
- Hard and soft kills: you’ll learn to design, collaborate, plan and think creatively and respectfully in a multi-cultural environment.
- Various and diverse subjects are included, such as: mechanics, thermodynamics, electrical engineering, measurement and control technology, engine dynamics, vehicle dynamics, vehicle electrical engineering, materials and engine management systems.
Welcome to our building: Nexus
Come and have an look!
How does your week look like?
Studying is hard work. And that’s not a bad thing, as long as there’s variety. Automotive offers everything you’re looking for:
- One moment you’re in the classroom (we pride ourselves on small class settings for maximum interactions)
- Next, you’re working on a vehicle in our state of the art workshops
- Or you’re busy creating mobility solutions for a company
- Work with your fellow students and under the guidance of our teachers
How does your study time looks like at Fontys School of Engineering?
Click on the video and we will explain it to you in detail!Courses
The first year is primarily focused on orienting your studies and future profession. You’re introduced to the automotive engineer’s broad domain and you establish an initial theoretical basis that will enable you to start working as an automotive engineer in the future. The lectures cover the theory which you can immediately apply in practical assignments and projects. Examples of the subjects covered:
- motor dynamics
- vehicle dynamics
- control engineering
- mechanics
- materials science
Mathematics is a common thread throughout your studies. We’ll help you with additional lectures should you require any help with mathematics. From the very first day of the Automotive introduction week, there is the Pressure Cooker Week. During this week, you will be introduced to the Automotive Project Courses (APJ), where you will work in a small team of students. There are a total of 8 project modules within the first two years of the programme.
Starting in the second academic year, you’ll expand your automotive knowledge and engineering skills, and you’ll increasingly gain insight into the connection between certain subjects. The thinking process becomes more abstract and projects become more complicated, but they challenge you to engage in creative, out-of-the-box thinking.
You’ll do all of this in collaboration with your fellow students. In addition to taking specific automotive subjects in the engineering domain – including motor dynamics, vehicle dynamics, vehicle electrical engineering and motor management systems – you’ll also learn more about mechanics, thermodynamics, electrical engineering and process control systems.
From the third academic year onwards, you’ll specialise in several ways to focus on your specific interests.
Internship
One half of the third academic year, you’ll spend 20 weeks doing an internship. This is the perfect opportunity for you to put into practice what you have learned during your study programme. You’re really entering the job market! You’ll complete an internship at a company in the Netherlands or abroad. Of course, we will assist you in choosing your internship.
Minor
One half of this academic year, you’ll follow a minor programme. All Fontys full-time bachelor’s degree programmes consist of a major and a minor. The major is the core of the programme and serves as your main study field, whereas your minor is an elective programme of one semester. As a full-time student, you can choose for a Fontys minor in any discipline or for a minor offered by Automotive, Electric Drive or Motorsport Engineering. Minors outside of Fontys UAS and/or abroad are also possible. The choice is yours!
In the first semester of the fourth year, the programme focuses on AutomotiveNL, the cluster organisation for the Dutch automotive industry, mobility sector and automotive education sector:
- Smart mobility (traffic safety and vehicle systems, advanced driver assistance systems)
- Future power trains (hybrid drives, electrical drives, motors with exhaust after treatment systems)
The second semester of the final year will be your graduation internship period. You’ll work and study at a company and write a bachelor’s thesis as a concluding project. At the end of the programme, you’ll have achieved 240 credits and be granted a Bachelor’s of Science degree.
Related courses
In addition to Automotive, Fontys University of Applied Sciences offers the technical programmes Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Mechatronics and Mechanical Engineering.
More information about related coursesFor students of other nationalities, who followed the British curriculum, the minimum requirements are:
| 1. BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma with Mathematics and Physics or |
| 2. Access to HE Diploma or |
| 3. General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) in 4 subjects (with grade A to C or 9 to 4) + a General Certificate of Education (GCE) with 2 relevant subjects (Mathematics and Physics) at AS level (with grade A-C). A total of 6 different subjects, preferably including English and Mathematics or |
| 4. General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) in 4 subjects (with grade A to C or 9 to 4) + General Certificate of Education (GCE) with 2 relevant subjects (Mathematics and Physics) at A level (with grade D/E). A total of 6 different subjects, preferably including English and Mathematics or |
| 5. General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) in 3 subjects (with grade A to C or 9 to 4) + General Certificate of Education (GCE) with 3 relevant subjects (including Mathematics and Physics) at A level (with grade A to C). A total of 6 different subjects, including English and Mathematics. |
For students who are in possession of an IB diploma:
We accept HL and SL results and these students can be exempted from the English language requirement.
Physics and Mathematics are mandatory subjects (regardless of the level, HL or SL). The minimum score is 24 points (IB diploma awarded).
For students with other secondary education/ high school diplomas:
As soon as your application is visible in Studielink we will contact you by e-mail and ask you to send us your documents for the diploma assessment.
If you are curious whether your secondary school diploma is equivalent to Dutch standards and offers access to higher education in the Netherlands, please check the website of the Dutch foreign credentials evaluation center, Nuffic: https://www.nuffic.nl/en/subjects/diploma/education-systems
Fontys University will act according to the Code of Conduct
Language requirements
For all course programmes a minimum level of proficiency in the English language is required. Read more detailed information.
For students of other nationalities, who followed the British curriculum, the minimum requirements are:
| 1. BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma with Mathematics and Physics or |
| 2. Access to HE Diploma or |
| 3. General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) in 4 subjects (with grade A to C or 9 to 4) + a General Certificate of Education (GCE) with 2 relevant subjects (Mathematics and Physics) at AS level (with grade A-C). A total of 6 different subjects, preferably including English and Mathematics or |
| 4. General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) in 4 subjects (with grade A to C or 9 to 4) + General Certificate of Education (GCE) with 2 relevant subjects (Mathematics and Physics) at A level (with grade D/E). A total of 6 different subjects, preferably including English and Mathematics or |
| 5. General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) in 3 subjects (with grade A to C or 9 to 4) + General Certificate of Education (GCE) with 3 relevant subjects (including Mathematics and Physics) at A level (with grade A to C). A total of 6 different subjects, including English and Mathematics. |
For students who are in possession of an IB diploma:
We accept HL and SL results and these students can be exempted from the English language requirement.
Physics and Mathematics are mandatory subjects (regardless of the level, HL or SL). The minimum score is 24 points (IB diploma awarded).
For students with other secondary education/ high school diplomas:
As soon as your application is visible in Studielink we will contact you by e-mail and ask you to send us your documents for the diploma assessment.
If you are curious whether your secondary school diploma is equivalent to Dutch standards and offers access to higher education in the Netherlands, please check the website of the Dutch foreign credentials evaluation center, Nuffic: https://www.nuffic.nl/en/subjects/diploma/education-systems
Fontys University will act according to the Code of Conduct
Language requirements
For all course programmes a minimum level of proficiency in the English language is required. Read more detailed information.
Visa
As a non-EU/EEA student, the Netherlands will require an Entry Visa* (MVV) and a Residence Permit. Fontys will apply on behalf of its students for these documents. We recommend you start the process early, i.e. approximately three months before you plan to enter the Netherlands.
*except nationals from Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, South Korea, the USA and Vatican City State.
Diploma
for students with a Dutch secondary school diploma
Havo:
- Economics and Society with Mathematics B and Physics
- Nature and Health with Physics or NLT
- Nature and Technology
Vwo:
- Economics and Society with Physics
- Nature and Health with Physics or NLT
- Nature and Technology
Mbo:
- Level 4
Language
As an applicant with a Dutch mbo-4, havo- or vwo-diploma you will be exempted from taking the language proficiency test.
Fontys University of Applied Sciences will act according to the Code of Conduct
Costs
The tuition fees indicator helps you to determine the tuition rate for your situation. The information and tuition rates from this indicator are without engagement.
Statutory tuition fees and institutional tuition fees
A distinction is made between statutory tuition fees and institutional tuition fees. Only if you satisfy all statutory requirements regarding your nationality and if you have not yet been awarded a degree, will you be eligible for statutory tuition fees. Via the tuition fees indicator, you can secure an indication of the type of tuition fees that will be applicable in your situation. To do so, please make use of the indicator above.
Distinctions are made between the following types of Institutional Tuition Fees:
- Low institutional tuition fees
- High institutional tuition fees
Different types of tuition fees and Exemption Regulations
These different types of tuition fees and the Exemption Regulations are fully detailed in the:
The amount to be paid may vary in accordance with the following situations:
- If you have enrolled in more than one course programme (at Fontys and/or elsewhere), it is possible that you may only be obliged to pay one set of statutory tuition fees.
- If you believe that you may be eligible to pay only the statutory tuition fees on the basis of information that may be unknown to us, please report this to your Course Department.
- If it later transpires that you do not meet the requirements for statutory tuition fees, you will be obliged to pay the (higher) institutional tuition fees and if this is the case, you will be notified accordingly.
Some Fontys study programmes offer the Holland Scholarship to their students. Check out the link to see if this study pogramme participates and for more information.
You might also be eligible for other scholarships not provided by Fontys. These can be found on Grantfinder.nl.
Paying in instalments
Collection will take place in a maximum of ten equal instalments on or around the 26th of the month. Depending upon the processing time required after your enrolment, the direct debit may need to be moved to the following month. If so, the amount outstanding will then be divided and added to the remaining instalments to be executed until and including the June instalment.
If paying the full sum in a single payment
If you commence your studies on 1 September, the direct debit pertaining to your Tuition Fees will be executed on or around 25 September. If you commence your studies after 1 September, the direct debit will be executed on or around the 26th of the month in which you commence your studies.
Non EU students
Incoming Non EU students will receive a payment letter from their study department which must be paid before the deadline. In the following academic years payment can be done by direct debit.
Non-Sepa
If you have a Bank account number, of which the bank is not situated in one of the SEPA countries, and you are a national of a country outside the EEA without an address in The Netherlands, then you will receive a paymentletter from Fontys via your course department.
The Dutch currency unit is the Euro (i.e. abbreviated to ‘EUR’ or ‘€’).
The average living expenses per month for a foreign student living and studying in Holland are between EUR 900 and EUR 1,100 per month. These living expenses cover rent, insurance, food, public transportation, books, clothing and other general costs.
Dutch Immigration Service (IND) requires non-EEA students to proof they have access to € 11,520 per year (€ 5,760 per semester)
Costs within the first months upon arrival will be higher than all other months due to a housing deposit, intro week and books. Study books are usually bought at the start of the semester and therefore it is wise to reserve and have direct access to an amount at the start of the semester which can cover the price of all study books and the living expenses for the first two months.
Before starting your study at Fontys, you must find suitable housing. Unfortunately, it is not easy for international students to find accommodation in the Netherlands due to the housing crisis. Start your accommodation search early. Please be aware that finding a place to live is your own responsibility. However, we are happy to assist in any way we can.
Career opportunities
This study programme offers excellent perspective for finding a good job at one of the many automotive companies in the heart of the Brainport automotive sector or organisations abroad! Automotive engineers are currently in high demand everywhere in the world. A few examples of sectors you may work in:
- You might have a client who can use your creativity to provide its customers with vehicles that fully automate the loading process.
- You can contribute to developments in busses so that a bus can easily be steered through traffic via a wireless network (involving challenges in data communication).
- Or you can work on adjustments in vehicles that make them more comfortable for the handicapped.
- You can work in innovative companies like DAF or VDL
Continuing your studies
Of course, you can also continue studying and take a master's course at Fontys or a technical university.
Fontys will offer a master's degree in Digital Technology Engineering as of February 2022. For more information visit fontys.nl/mdte
Together with TU/e, we offer you the opportunity to combine your studies with a preparatory programme for the master’s degree in Automotive Technology. You will not have a transitional year but will work towards obtaining both a bachelor’s degree and a university master’s degree within 6 years.
Automotive Engineering: Your future as an engineer!
Watch the video in which Automotive students talk about how they see their future as engineers.How to apply
All applications for our programmes have to be conducted via www.studielink.nl. Studielink is an online portal that allows applicants to apply and maintain their registration whenever they want to.
Application deadlines
Application deadlines
| September intake EU | 15 June |
|---|---|
| September intake Non-EU | 15 May |
Start your online application
- Log in to Studielink: www.studielink.nl.
- Submit your personal details (please ensure that you enter your names as stated on your passport and/or identity card), ensuring that all details are entered correctly, i.e. capital letters where required.
- Add 'New Enrolment Application': mind you choose the correct intake (September 2023).
- Add your previous education and answer the supplementary questions.
Within Studielink, choose this option:
| Educational institution | Fontys Hogescholen |
|---|---|
| Location of educational institution | Eindhoven |
| Programme | B Automotive - Automotive |
After your enrolment request has been sent, you will immediately receive a confirmation e-mail from Studielink.
Agenda
Sign up for one of our events. There's no better way to find out if this study programme is right for you! Visit a webinar from the comfort of your home or meet us live on campus. Whichever you choose, we hope to meet you soon.
Open Day
November 4 and 5, 2023
Programme
Save the date, so you can experience our campus atmosphere during our upcoming Open Day. Whether you prefer informative presentations or campus tours by our teachers and students, there will be something for everyone. Interested? Let us know, and we will notify you as soon as registration opens.
Save the dates below for our Open Days:
- November 4: Eindhoven and Venlo
- November 5: Tilburg
- November 25: Extra Open Day exclusively for Physiotherapy and Medical Imaging & Radiation Therapy in Eindhoven.
Download the factsheet
In the factsheet you will find the most important information at a glance.