Explore our Smart, Connected and Autonomous Vehicles taught Master's degree.

P-H1SE

MSc

1 year full-time

2 October 2023

WMG (Warwick Manufacturing Group)

University of Warwick

WMG at Warwick has established a legacy of leading automotive research in collaboration with industry. Smart, Connected and Autonomous Vehicles MSc aims to address the knowledge gap in machine learning, automated control strategies, connectivity, cyber-security protocols and much more.

With intelligent vehicles on the horizon of technical advancements, the automotive industry is facing a developmental challenge. How do we develop a robust technical infrastructure to support the anticipated explosive growth in smart vehicular functions, communications systems, and driverless cars? This demands a comprehensive understanding of the technology and a bottom-up approach ensuring robustness and dependability of Electronics, Communications and Control Systems.  

Through this MSc, we aim to address the knowledge gap in the areas of machine learning, automated control strategies, connectivity, and communication infrastructure, cyber-security protocols, emerging automotive networks and robust automotive embedded systems within the context of smart, connected and autonomous vehicles. This programme has extensive industrial support with the Industry Advisory Board consisting of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) and RDM among others.  

This course is pending accreditation by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) on behalf of the Engineering Council as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for registration as a Chartered Engineer. Candidates must hold a CEng accredited BEng/BSc (Hons) undergraduate first degree to comply with full CEng registration requirements.

This course has two components – taught modules account for two thirds of your time and effort and your research project accounts for one third.

For the taught component, we blend lectures with workshops, practical exercises, demonstrations, case studies, problem classes, syndicate exercises, and a review. Modules are delivered in small classes to facilitate and encourage interaction.

Our module leaders have extensive industry experience. Guest speakers from industry also contribute regularly, bringing real-world insight into your learning experience.

In addition to your taught modules, you will undertake a major project as part of your Masters’ degree, which will develop your research and analytical skills and enable you to specialise. This is nominally 600 hours (60 CATS points) of learning, mainly taking place during the Spring and Summer terms. You will be expected to engage regularly with your Project Supervisor and to provide progress updates and drafts of your work to an agreed schedule.

Overall this course can accommodate up to 48 students, divided into two groups of 24 students for most modules.

Module delivery patterns vary, but most will be delivered in a short learning block of up to 4 weeks, allowing your focus to be on one module at a time. Each module nominally accounts for 150 hours, which includes scheduled classroom time and online sessions as well as your independent study and assessments.

WMG runs a SPA module (Study, Professional and Analytical Skills) designed to meet the complex learning and professional needs of postgraduate students. This is a blended module delivered throughout the year alongside your modules. Whilst it is an unaccredited module for SCAV students, your participation in the lectures, workshops and online sessions is strongly encouraged. There may be occasions where you will be required to attend evening or weekend sessions.

Modules are predominantly assessed by way of written Post Module Assignments (PMA), but assessment can also be in other formats. Most modules will also have a degree of In-Module Assessment (IMA), which will vary by module and may take the form of presentations, on-line tests, self-reflection or a range of other methods.

For the research component, you will undertake a major project. Leveraging the close partnerships that WMG has with key organisations within the automotive supply chain, it is envisaged that your project will have an industrial sponsor, enabling you to work in close collaboration with an industry partner. This valuable experience will further your transferrable skills development, and expand your networking opportunities and understanding in a professional research and development environment. Project submission is likely to include both a written and a presentation element, accounting for 33% of your overall academic grade.

Reading lists

Most departments have reading lists available through Warwick Library. If you would like to view reading lists for the current cohort of students you can visit our Warwick Library web pageLink opens in a new window.

Your timetable

Core modules will be allocated to students at the end of the first week of term - you will then be able to view your individual module schedule for the rest of the year via the WMG module selection system.

Elective modules will be bookable through the same system later in the term.

Modules will include scheduled classroom time and online sessions as well as your independent study and assessments, and will usually be delivered within a 4 week timeframe. Occasional classes and study skills sessions may be held at weekends or in the evenings.

As a Masters student, you are expected to manage your own time appropriately. On average, you are expected to commit 38-40 hours of study each week, in order to successfully achieve your Master’s degree.

This is a full-time postgraduate course - undergraduate term dates do not apply. Whilst there are no holidays as such, there will be no teaching scheduled when the University is officially closed, during the two weeks over Christmas and New Year.

2:i undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in STEM subjects, particularly Electronics, Electrical Engineering, Control Systems, Computer Science, Communications, Physics, or Mathematics.

Candidates with a UK 2:ii (or equivalent) may be accepted upon demonstration of relevant professional experience.

• Band A
• IELTS overall score of 6.5, minimum component scores not below 6.0

Candidates with professional experience should include their CV with their application.

Core modules are required modules that all students will complete whilst on this programme. For SCAV, your core modules are:

• Fundamentals of Automotive Research, Development, and Management
• Automotive Sensors and Sensor Fusion
• Robust Automotive Embedded Systems
• Networks and Communications for the Connected Car
• Machine Intelligence and Data Science
• Human-Technology Interaction

Optional modules

One elective module should be selected from a list provided to you at the start of the academic year, to allow you to gain further specialist understanding. Indicative electives modules for SCAV students include:

• Programming and Fundamental Algorithms
• Modelling and Simulation of Systems

Read the module descriptions for this course on WMG's website.Link opens in a new window

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