Automotive design courses, so many!

[carter711]

Hey,

(Mods please feel free to move this thread to a more specific section, I tried looking for an education forum but failed!)

I am very seriously thinking of going to University next september at the grand old age of 25.
I have tried a finance career in the City for the last 3 years but came to the realisation that I don't enjoy it and there's no point in doing something I don't enjoy (and I got made redundant )

I do enjoy cars and there is no question about that!

I haven't been to Uni as I went to work after my A levels, (I have got an A level in design grade B) and at the moment I can't think of anything I'd rather do than do and study cars for a couple of years, I do it everyday anyway

Having a look on the UCAS website there seems to be loads of automotive design type subjects but how do you know which one will suit you the best? A few I've looked at ask for an A level in maths which I haven't got so I can rule those ones out.

I've seen that the Sheffield Hallam one looks quite good with a years paid work experience included at a manufacturer.

http://prospectus.shu.ac.uk/CourseEntry.cfm?Course...

Has anybidy done/doing this course?

Any help on would be greatly appreciated, I'm guessing pistonheads would be a good place to ask about something like this!

[Steamer]

I heard and seen great things about the Coventry, their end-of-year shows are always worth a look... but I think you might have to do a foundation in design technology first + also have some form of portfolio to be considered.

[monthefish]

I would think long and hard about specialising in 'automotive design' if I were you. Would you not be better doing a more general 'Design/enginering' course, but specialising in automotive projects as and when you can.

(Speaking from experience here - this is what I did)

[PhillT]

An awful lot of the car designers I've met either went to or have high regard for Coventry.

(Endited fro spilleng)

Edited by PhillT on Thursday 10th September 14:32

[BarnatosGhost]

I think Coventry is the one.

Don't forget though, you'll be up against people who've been doodling cars non-stop since they could hold a pen.

You're going to need some real talent to get a job at the end of it. The stuff the guys in colleges produce is out of this world - sadly very little of it makes it to dealerships, but their talent is incredible.

Not to pour cold water on it, but car design isn't like accounting or medicine, there aren't agreed rules that you can learn and regurgitate - its, for want of a better phrase, a 'gift'.

That said, I look forward to sitting in your first design when you've made me eat my words!