Automotive Engineering

Automotive engineering is a branch of engineering that involves integrating elements of mechanical, electrical, electronic, software, and safety engineering to design, manufacture, operate, and maintain vehicles or find ways to improve technology and systems present in machines.

This specialization is rare to find in both private and government universities. However, fortunately, Turkey is a country that has revolutionized the automotive industry, leading to a clear focus on developing the field of automotive engineering within its universities. Turkey provides all the necessary equipment, technologies, and highly qualified faculty members to teach this specialization efficiently. Therefore, Turkey is your ideal choice if you are interested in studying this field.

Introduction to the Automotive Engineering Program

The automotive engineering program focuses on learning how to design and develop cars and other vehicles. It includes designing electrical, mechanical, electronic, and thermal components, control circuits, lighting, visibility, safety, and all other elements related to cars for manufacturing high-performance vehicles with low fuel consumption that meet safety and environmental standards. Studying this field requires significant technical knowledge, creativity, innovation, logical engineering thinking, and practical testing to ensure the reliability, safety, and efficiency of vehicle systems and components.

This field is not limited to designing new cars but also includes improving and modifying already manufactured vehicles. It involves studying motion systems, design, and technology and integrating elements of robotics, software design, and others for continuous field development. Projects are an integral part of the automotive engineering curriculum to enhance academic study and bridge the gap between theoretical and practical aspects of engineering, enabling students to design prototype vehicle models and gain hands-on experience in creating a valuable part of a car or even a complete vehicle.

Types of Automotive Engineering Projects

• Vehicle Design
• Fuel Technology
• Powertrain Systems
• Materials Science

Automotive Engineering Fields

Automotive engineering can be divided into three main fields: design, Research and Development (R&D), and Manufacturing. These three fields allow modifications that improve vehicles’ speed, weight, and reliability.

1. Design

The initial stage of automotive engineering involves planning and implementing ideas that can be integrated into working prototypes. This may include designing the car, its performance characteristics, and safety features, preparing materials, cost estimates, timing, reports, and design specifications. Design drawings, diagrams, computer programs, and specialized tools are created during this stage.

2. Research and Development

The designs’ safety, cost, and environmental impact are analyzed and tested during the research and development stage. Automotive engineering relies on computer simulation programs that allow engineers to study the performance of their designs practically.

Examples of computer simulation programs include:

• Testing the aerodynamics of vehicles.
• Simulating car driving in a virtual environment.
• Conducting virtual crash tests.

3. Manufacturing

After the design undergoes its various stages of development and comprehensive research, it must undergo rigorous testing to ensure it meets all industry standards for quality control before regulatory bodies approve mass production.

Studying Automotive Engineering in Turkey

Turkey is one of the leading countries in the Middle East in car manufacturing. Over 200,000 people work in this sector in Turkey, and cars manufactured in Turkey are exported to many countries worldwide. The automotive industry in Turkey focuses on developing sustainable and environmentally friendly car manufacturing technologies, making car production in Turkey more sustainable and less harmful to the environment. This has made Turkey a distinctive destination for studying automotive engineering, as it has prioritized this field within its universities, attracting many international students to study there, mainly due to the scarcity of this study program in other countries’ universities.

Requirements for Admission to Turkish Universities

• Payment of application fees.
• Health insurance that covers the duration of the study.
• Proof of financial status to cover the student’s study and living expenses in Turkey throughout the study period.
• Proficiency in the language of instruction.
• If studying in English, pass the TOEFL or IELTS with a score specified by the university.
• If studying in Turkish, passing the TOMER Turkish language test, or attending a preparatory year.

Required documents:

• Valid passport.
• Recent passport-sized photo.
• High school diploma.
• Translated transcript in English or Turkish.
• Student visa.
• Receipt of application fees.

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 Automotive Engineering Fields

Automotive engineering branches introduce subfields, each working with high specialization and precision, integrating them with other major branches. These fields focus on achieving desired goals in the most efficient and effective ways possible. The main fields of automotive engineering include:

1. Automotive Design Engineering: This field involves designing automotive and other vehicle types, including engineering drawings and models, and the development of exterior and interior vehicle designs, as well as the design of internal and external components.
2. Safety Engineering focuses on studying accidents and their causes and reducing their impact on drivers by adding safety features such as seat belts and airbags.
3. Powertrain Engineering: Powertrain engineering is concerned with designing and developing automotive engines and improving their combustion and fuel systems.
4. Tire and Wheel Engineering involves designing and developing tires, wheel systems, and technologies to enhance performance.
5. Electronics and Electrical Engineering: Electronics and electrical engineering focus on designing and developing various electronic and electrical systems used in vehicles, such as speed control systems, emission control systems, and ventilation systems.
6. Safety and Testing Engineering: This field is responsible for developing testing and analysis methods to ensure the safety of vehicles before they are released to consumers.

The subjects taught in an automotive engineering program include:

• Vehicle Design
• Automotive Materials
• Automotive Electrical and Electronics
• Computer-Aided Vehicle Design
• Vehicle Maintenance
• Electric Mobility
• Thermodynamics
• Mechanical Engineering
• Manufacturing Technology
• Fuels and Lubricants
• Combustion Systems
• Strength of Materials
• Internal Combustion Engines and Gas Turbines
• Vehicle Structure
• Vehicle Dynamics

• Automotive Component Design
• Automotive Cooling and Air Conditioning
• Vehicle Maintenance
• Automotive Electromechanics
• Vehicle Structure Engineering
• Emerging Automotive Technologies
• Machine Mechanics
• Statistics and Analysis
• Steering and Brake Systems
• Automotive Electrical Systems
• Fundamentals of Safety and Occupational Health

What the student learns during an automotive engineering program:

• Deep understanding of the roots of engineering and automotive design
• Comprehensive knowledge of technical concepts
• Troubleshooting skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Broad knowledge of applications used in design and production
• Experience working with 3D modeling software
• Knowledge of project management tools like Trello and JIRA
• Familiarity with design software like Corel Sketch Pad and Think Design Engineering
• Business and industrial awareness
• Keeping up with the latest design and engineering technologies
• Effective communication skills
•  Ability to work well within a team
• Ability to work within cost constraints
• Time management skills

Duration of Study for Automotive Engineering Program in Turkey

The duration of studying the Automotive Engineering program in Turkey is four years, divided into eight academic semesters. This is in addition to a preparatory year for language if the student has not passed proficiency tests in English or Turkish.

Prominent Turkish Universities for Studying Automotive Engineering

Turkish universities offering the Automotive Engineering program are renowned for their global and distinguished rankings, equipped with the latest teaching technologies and a comprehensive scientific curriculum in engineering. These universities provide a comprehensive educational approach with various practical and training techniques. They also have academic cooperation agreements with European and American universities, such as Harvard University, allowing the importation of modern equipment and technological devices and the exchange of teaching staff. This makes studying Automotive Engineering in Turkey an academic and training opportunity that cannot be compensated for or obtained in any other country. Here are the most important universities offering Automotive Engineering programs:

Studying Automotive Engineering at Istanbul Okan University

Istanbul Okan University places particular importance on teaching Automotive Engineering to meet the increasing requirements in this field, mainly due to Turkey’s significant advancement in the automotive industry. The university is located near automotive manufacturing companies, which enhances practical and field training opportunities for students. The program’s study is not limited to mechanical parts alone. In the automotive field, it is known that vehicles consist of mechanical and electronic parts that work together through control systems. For this reason, engineers educated at Istanbul Okan University also have comprehensive knowledge of mechatronics.

Benefits of Studying Automotive Engineering in Turkey

• Turkey is one of the leading countries in the automotive industry, and it is dedicated to teaching this program in its universities.
• It is home to many automobile manufacturing companies, such as Toyota and Ford, and numerous spare parts manufacturers, which provides students with opportunities for practical experience and training during their studies.
• Turkey has several engineering and technical universities that offer high-quality automotive engineering programs.
• Turkish universities are known for having the best teaching staff, including highly qualified professors and graduates from top universities worldwide.
• Students receive an excellent education and acquire the necessary skills to practice their profession after schooling efficiently.
• Many Turkish universities offer student exchange programs, allowing their students to study a semester at partner universities.
• Turkey is an international and diverse community that allows students to integrate with peers from different countries and learn about various nationalities and cultures.