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Type

Degree Programme

Access mode

Programmed

Length

3 years

Location

Modena

Language

Italian

Department

"Enzo Ferrari" Department of Engineering

The Degree Course in brief

WHY SHOULD YOU ENROL
The Bachelor’s Degree Programme is intrinsically connected with the automotive industries operating in the area and beyond.
Thanks to their cross-cutting and broad spectrum training, graduates may access any industrial sector, even if not strictly connected with the automotive, motorcycle, and off-road sector.

The global demand for young automotive engineers is quite strong and occupational levels are high.

The curriculum is complemented by the Master's Degree programme in Vehicle Engineering and a PhD programme.
Graduates in Vehicle Engineering can also enrol without educational deficits in the Master's degree programmes in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering and Advanced Automototive Engineering (in English).
The teaching staff is stable, easily reachable by students and well introduced in research at national and international level.
The teaching facilities have several laboratories, as well as libraries and study rooms.
The programme also offers the opportunity to carry out ‘learning by doing’ activities, including the design and construction of racing vehicles that take part in international competitions involving universities from all over the world, to carry out study periods abroad and to come into contact with the world of work even before graduating, by carrying out in-company training internships.

PROGRAMME CONTENTS
The first part of the programme provides the fundamentals of mathematics, physics and chemistry.
Starting from the first year, they are combined with specific teachings that are essential to properly address general vehicle engineering themes: mechanical drawing, thermodynamics and heat transmission, energy conversion systems, fluid machinery, electrical engineering, electric machines, sensors, machinery and mechanism design, mechanic technology, materials science.





In addition to the classic classroom lessons, teaching is also divided into laboratory activities in which students can put into practice and verify the skills acquired. - basic concepts relating to endothermic engines, propulsion systems in general and the integration of endothermic engines and electric motors in hybrid powertrains Participants are asked to design and build, under the guidance of lecturers, a series of vehicles with which they can take part in international student competitions (Formula SAE/Student, MotoStudent). Four vehicles are currently being built: a car with a combustion engine (Formula Student Combustion), a car with a hybrid engine (Formula Student Hybrid), a self-driving car (Driverless) and an electric motorbike (MotoStudent). An effective aid to individual study is constituted by the presence of an incisive tutoring action, carried out by teachers and senior students, and by the possibility of finding, on the Department's website, all the updated information and teaching material of each teaching.

JOB OPPORTUNITIES
At the end of the three years, students become Automotive Engineers. The main employment sector is the automotive industry and its satellite activities. The professional profile of the Automotive Engineer is based on sound technical and scientific fundamentals, together with a broad overview of the vehicle system. The Automotive Engineers are able to assist in designing and developing the main vehicle sub-systems, as well as take part in the development and management of technological and manufacturing processes. In addition to technical and engineering skills, automotive engineers boast soft
skills aimed at communicating the technical contents, planning the management of project activities, and continuously refining the theoretical and practical skills through a “learning by doing” approach. These functions will be carried out when working both in manufacturing industries and engineering companies.
The degree programme allows students to access the Master’s Degree in Vehicle Engineering and the new Master’s Degree in Advanced Automotive Engineering (in English), but also the master degree programmes in Mechanic Engineering and Materials Engineering. Access to these degree programmes is ensured with no educational debits.

Info

Law: D.M. 270/2004
Department: "Enzo Ferrari" Department of Engineering
Degree class: L-9 - Industrial engineering
CFU: 180
Didactic method: PRESENCE

Study plan

Teachings

Study plan

Year of study: 1
Required
  • CALCULUS 1
    9 CFU - 101 hours - First Half-Year Cycle
  • CALCULUS 2
    9 CFU - 101 hours - Second Half-Year Cycle
  • CHEMISTRY
    6 CFU - 72 hours - First Half-Year Cycle
  • ENGLISH
    3 CFU - 0 hours - First Half-Year Cycle
Attività di debito
Year of study: 2
Required
Year of study: 3
Required
Year of study: 1
Required
  • CALCULUS 1
    9 CFU - 101 hours - First Half-Year Cycle
  • CALCULUS 2
    9 CFU - 101 hours - Second Half-Year Cycle
  • CHEMISTRY
    6 CFU - 72 hours - First Half-Year Cycle
  • ENGLISH
    3 CFU - 0 hours - First Half-Year Cycle
Attività di debito
Year of study: 2
Required
Year of study: 3
Required
Year of study: 1
Required
  • CALCULUS 1
    9 CFU - 101 hours - First Half-Year Cycle
  • CALCULUS 2
    9 CFU - 101 hours - Second Half-Year Cycle
  • CHEMISTRY
    6 CFU - 72 hours - First Half-Year Cycle
  • ENGLISH
    3 CFU - 0 hours - First Half-Year Cycle
Attività di debito
Year of study: 2
Required
II anno scelta (15 CFU)
Year of study: 3
Required
Year of study: 1
Required
  • CALCULUS 1
    9 CFU - 101 hours - First Half-Year Cycle
  • CALCULUS 2
    9 CFU - 101 hours - Second Half-Year Cycle
  • CHEMISTRY
    6 CFU - 72 hours - First Half-Year Cycle
  • ENGLISH
    3 CFU - 0 hours - First Half-Year Cycle
Attività di debito
Year of study: 2
Required
II anno scelta (15 CFU)
Year of study: 3
Required

More information

Prerequisites for admission.

As provided for by applicable legislation, access to this Bachelor’s Degree Programme requires a high-school diploma or other qualification obtained abroad and officially approved.
A good knowledge of the Italian language, both written and spoken, along with logical reasoning skills, as well as the knowledge and ability to make use of the main results of basic mathematics and the fundamentals of experimental science are required to access this Degree Course. Further information on the procedures carried out to verify the knowledge required for accessing the course, along with any additional educational obligations performed on students is available in the Education Regulation of the Study Programme.

Admission procedures

The Degree Programme in Vehicle Engineering has a programmed number of 260 students. All information on access, criteria, enrolment procedure, will be announced in the announcement of admissioncall for applications.
Those students who have been accepted to the Degree programme with a failed TOLC-I test (overall test score lower than 16 and Mathematics score lower than 10) are assigned specific additional credit obligations (below referred to as OFA) to be complied with within the first year of study according to the following procedures: by taking specific Compensation Tests for OFAs, the content of which relates to basic mathematics, organised during the entire university year.
Non-European students who live abroad, except for those clearly indicated as exempt in the access regulations of foreign students to university courses provided for by the MIUR (Italian Ministry for Education, University and Research), must pass a test assessing their knowledge of the Italian language before enrolling.

Skills associated with the function

Vehicle engineer for design and development activities linked with the vehicle industry and its turnover
The main skills gained by graduates relate to drawing and mechanic design, manufacturing technologies, vehicle setup, vehicle mechanics, calculation activities (mainly structural), material behaviour, electrical engineering and electrical machines, electronics and sensor devices.
Graduates will be able to work autonomously in operationally defined contexts, and interact in work team even of a multidisciplinary nature.

Function in a work context

Vehicle engineer for design and development activities linked with the vehicle industry and its turnover
The professional profile of the Automotive Engineer is based on sound technical and scientific fundamentals, together with a broad overview of the vehicle system. The Automotive Engineers are able to assist in designing and developing the main road vehicle sub-systems, as well as take part in the development and management of technological and manufacturing processes.

The main functions carried out are:
-the design and development of products and processes, taking part into groups of development of subsystems and components such as: thermal, hybrid and electric powertrain; modelling of subsystems and components for optimisation and assessment purposes; road vehicle architecture (chassis, suspension and gears).
- the support and management of production: choosing mechanical processing and manufacturing technologies, setting the production systems, organising production
- the technical and commercial support to sales structures: manuals management, aftersales assistance.
In addition to technical and engineering skills, vehicle engineers must have interdisciplinary skills aimed at communicating the technical contents, planning the management of project activities, and continuously refining the theoretical and practical skills through a learning by doing approach.

These functions will be carried out when working both in manufacturing industries and engineering companies.

Employment and professional opportunities for graduates.

Vehicle engineer for design and development activities linked with the vehicle industry and its turnover
The main employment opportunities are represented by manufacturing companies, service companies or engineering businesses dealing with the vehicle field and its industrial chain. In such companies, graduates will be dealing with product and process development, design, production planning and programming, complex system management.

Employment opportunities are also available in companies operating in the mechanical, electrotechnical, chemical and automation sectors.
They may also work as self-employed professionals (after passing a State exam and registering in the Order of Engineers in section A, Senior Engineer, Industrial sector) or be employed in public institutions with technical functions.

Educational goals

The Bachelor’s Degree Programme in Vehicle Engineering is mainly aimed at providing graduates with an adequate mastery of general scientific methods and contents, which are useful to complete their own professional development profitably through subsequent training programmes, and to continuously keep up-to-date and adapt to the fast technological evolution typical of Mechanic Engineering, as well as of the production sectors it applies to.

Graduates in Vehicle Engineering shall be able to:
- interpret and model the phenomena and issues relating to components, mechanic and structural subsystems, electric systems, starting from a sound theoretical and scientific training of mathematics and the other basic sciences, and by means of an interdisciplinary approach;
- identify, formulate and resolve complex engineering issues requiring high-level theoretical and experimental knowledge and skills;
- work in a collaborative way in multidisciplinary groups to conceive, plan, design and manage complex and/or innovative systems, processes and services relating to vehicle engineering, by applying knowledge and skills that are typical of mechanic, electronic, electric and material engineering;

In order to achieve such priority training objective, the Degree Programme in Vehicle Engineering is aimed at providing graduates with a proper training in the following learning fields:

1) Basic sciences;
2) Distinctive engineering subjects;
3) Related and integrating engineering subjects.

In details:

1) Vehicle engineers are provided with a sound preparation in mathematical subjects (Mathematical analysis, Algebra and Geometry), including numerical and computational mathematics, and in other basic sciences (Chemistry and Physics), which are the essential tool to interpret, describe and resolve the issues of engineering, and to develop their methods and technologies. This training programme is part of the first two years, and is aimed at providing students with the bases required for their further training in engineering subjects.

2) Future engineers are provided with a preparation in subjects that are typical of vehicle engineering, aimed at providing the essential knowledge and abilities pertaining to the following disciplines that have been identified as distinctive of the programme: fluid machinery, industrial technical physics, converters and machinery and electric drives, mechanic design and machinery construction, drawing and industrial engineering methods, processing technology and systems, mechanics applied to machinery. Therefore, the training programme gives students the opportunity to gain deeper knowledge in Design, Motor field, Vehicle mechanics, Manufacturing technologies; students will gain both basic skills in industrial and mechanical engineering (such as design methods, manufacturing technologies, thermal aspects, vibration), and specific skills of the vehicle sector (vehicle setting, motors, vehicle mechanics).

3) Vehicle engineers are provided with a proper training in some sectors that are considered similar to Vehicle Engineering, in order for them to gain knowledge that may be helpful and complete their training in mathematical, scientific and engineering subjects, such as rational mechanics, metallurgy and materials science and technology, electric machines, electronics, sensor applications. These related sectors complete the training of vehicle engineers by providing them with the skills useful to deal with themes involving various subjects that are very common in modern industry, and in particular in the vehicle industry.

It should be pointed out that the project of the degree programme and its specific division in the three skill areas described above have taken into great account the suggestions received from the companies consulted, in particular the steering committee that has indicated the following key elements: versatility and reactivity, sound technical and scientific preparation, basic training, broadening of the traditional range of skills of the vehicle engineer towards subjects such as electric machines and electronics.

In general, the Degree Programme in Vehicle Engineering aims to provide its graduates with the ability to carry out experiments and to collect and interpret their data, the ability to report the results of their work, the learning skills required to continue with further studies, availing themselves of a high degree of self-reliance, and continuously update their knowledge.
Within the learning areas and relating to the professional profile of the Vehicle Engineer, the Degree Programme also offers its students:
a) the opportunity to gain further skills in the specific fields of the automotive sector mostly applied to the industry, useful for those graduates who do not wish to continue their studies to immediately enter the job market. To this purpose, those skills have been defined in accordance with the professional roles taken up by graduates (first level) in Vehicle Engineering, with specific focus to local demand;
b) the opportunity to carry out training activities aimed at facilitating the professional choices through the direct knowledge of the employment sector that students can access with this qualification, especially by means of training and guidance internships in companies or project activities to carry out in the laboratories of the university departments or in other public entities;
c) the opportunity to gain further skills in the distinctive and related subjects of the study programme.
d) the opportunity to acquire skills in disciplines that are useful to understand the different application contexts in the vehicle sector;
e) the opportunity to acquire skills in disciplines that are useful to understand the legal, corporate, social and ethical contexts of the engineering profession.

Communication skills.

Graduates in Vehicle Engineering:


1) are able to communicate information, ideas, issues and solutions, both in writing and speaking, to specialist and non-specialist counterparties;

2) are able to effectively participate in workgroups aimed at developing projects or experimental activities within set timeframes.

3) are able to communicate effectively, at least in writing, in English (level B1 of the European Council or Common European Reference Framework), other than in Italian.

The achievement of results in 1) and 2) must be sided by some training activities from the following areas: Basic sciences, Energy engineering, Automation engineering and Mechanic engineering. The training activities planned for preparing the final examination and falling within the ‘Additional training activities’ are also included.
The teaching/learning methods include workshops, training internships in companies, and project activities carried out in specific departments.
The procedures for checking the attainment of results include the assessment of written reports and/or oral presentations of the results achieved.
All training activities of the programme involving written and/or oral tests also contribute to achieve result 1).

The achievement of result 3) includes the training activities aimed at ‘Learning at least a foreign language’. The procedures for checking the attainment of results include written and/oral tests.

Communication skills are achieved and enhanced when studying for the examination tests, presenting the results achieved in the various activities, taking on internships and preparing the final examination.

Making judgements.

Graduates in Vehicle Engineering:

1) are able to collect and interpret data, and to formulate personal opinions on such data;

2) are able to understand the impact of engineering solutions on the social and physical, and environmental context.

Results in 1) are achieved also thanks to some training activities of Basic and Distinctive Sciences, in which different types of approach to the issues are highlighted and the subsequent types of results achieved are discussed. The teaching/learning methods include workshops, training internships in companies, and project activities carried out in specific departments. The procedures for checking the attainment of results include the assessment of written reports and/or oral presentations of the results achieved.

Results in 2) are achieved also thanks to some activities mainly belonging to the following training areas: energy engineering, automation engineering and mechanic engineering. The teaching/learning methods include lessons and practical exercises in the classroom, workshops. The training activities planned for preparing the final examination and falling within the ‘Additional training activities (art. 10, paragraph 5, letter d)’ are also included, as well as any internship taken in companies, design activities carried out in university departmental and/or faculty structures.
The procedures for checking the attainment of results include written and/or oral tests, as well as the assessment of written and/or oral presentations of the results achieved.

Learning skills.

Graduates in Vehicle Engineering:
1) are able to classify, sketch and rework the notions acquired;
2) have developed the learning skills needed to take on further studies with a high degree of independency
3) have developed the learning skills required to keep one’s own knowledge constantly up-to-date.

The attainment of results 1 to 3 is ensured by the training programme as a whole, being it mainly aimed at providing graduates with an adequate mastery of general scientific methods and contents, which are useful to complete their own professional development through subsequent training programmes, and to continuously keep up-to-date and adapt to the fast technological evolution typical of industrial engineering, and mechanic engineering in particular.

Knowledge and understanding.

Basic scientific area
As regards the basic subjects at the end of the study programme, graduates will be able to know and understand:
- the main concepts of mathematical analysis, geometry and linear algebra and how to apply them to engineering problems. In particular: analysis of functions, differential and integral calculus, differential equations, vector spaces, properties of matrices and linear applications, problems with eigenvalues.
- the principles of physics and chemistry: from mechanics to electromagnetism to the composition and properties of matter
- the main concepts of numerical computation and practical application to software development.
Graduates will understand the meaning and limits of the concepts learned and will be able to evaluate their application potential.


Engineering training
Graduates will be able to know and understand:
The methodological and operational aspects of the main subject fields of industrial engineering: mechanical engineering, energy engineering.
More specifically, graduates will gain the following engineering knowledge:
- representation methods and standards used in industrial design,
- the properties of materials and metal alloys
- an overview of the different types of energy conversion systems
- methods for the analysis of heat exchange and its management within energy conversion systems
- an overview of the different types of operating machines (pumps, compressors) and motors (turbines, endothermic engines)
- an overview of sensors, with particular reference to the automotive sector
- methods for the analysis and use of electrical engines in vehicles
- the basics of elasticity theory and applications for structural analysis
- the basics of vehicle mechanics and dynamics and applications to the main sub-systems: suspensions, mechanical transmissions, gearboxes, gears, joints, cams.
- the main production methods in the mechanical field such as mechanical machining
- basic concepts relating to endothermic engines, propulsion systems in general and the integration of endothermic engines and electric motors in hybrid powertrains
As a general rule, graduates will gain knowledge and understanding of the aspects of industrial engineering that are useful in the most relevant automotive field applications for the job opportunities offered in the local productive structure.

Applying knowledge and understanding.

Basic scientific area
Graduates will be able to apply the knowledge and abilities to understand mathematics and other basic sciences to interpret, describe and resolve the problems that are typical of industrial engineering. More specifically, they will be able to apply their mathematical knowledge to deal with distinctive and related engineering subjects, such as resolve equations and mechanical problems relating to the study of mechanisms, thermal and electric machines, complex systems and plant issues, and issues relating to the resistance of materials. Thanks to the knowledge of chemistry, students will be able to deal with issues related to materials and their properties, chemical and electrochemical reactions.

Such skills are assessed within each single subject, in which students are asked to autonomously explore knowledge; assessments include written and/or oral tests.

The Degree Programme features suitable procedures for the assessment of the consistency of methods, tools and educational materials described in the sheets of the single subjects and the expected learning results.


Engineering training
Graduates will be able to apply the knowledge acquired to understand the relevant aspects and resolve issues relating both to industrial engineering in general, and more deeply to vehicle engineering.
They will also be suitably skilled for a professional employment approach, to make up and support arguments and resolve issues, in general, in the industrial engineering field, with specific reference to the automotive sector. The ability to identify, formulate and resolve issues by using up-to-date methods, techniques and tools are developed in this field.