Dave,
I have just spent the last six years at Brookes!
Having not undertaken any mathematical or science related A-Levels I started with the Foundation Engineering Diploma, which seems like an age ago but took me two years to pass because of my lack of 'pure' mathematical understanding.
From the Diploma I have progressed by undertaking BEng (Hons) Motorsport Engineering, followed by a Masters (MSc) in Racing Engine Design.
Needless to say I know the drill quite well!
If you do undertake any of the Brookes courses, be prepared for a gruelling schedule of what seems never ending coursework deadlines, that cannot be blagged (what I like about engineering - there is a right answer to the question in hand), this is especially true as you enter the latter years. I have to admit I went to Brookes pretty much blind knowing one end of a spanner from a hammer, but my mathematical knowledge was rather limited and for this I did suffer quite significantly.
Lecture time increased as I progressed through the years. In the Foundation I started with ~3-4 days a week with a reasonable amount of practical time. Getting towards my final year, though lectures were not 5 days a week, I was at university 12+ hours a day every day.
Before I put you off completely! I was also a member of the Universities 'Formula Student' team, which is not compulsory, but I would really recommend joining should you venture towards any University - but Brookes is one of the leading UK teams, and as far as im aware the only UK team to participate in the FSAE American competition at Michigan International Speedway (MIS) - we certainly were the only UK entrant when I went over there!
Time you will 'have' to spend at University will include approximately 12-15 hours of lectures per week (on average) with some practicals and a large quantity of coursework on top of that. For the BEng you will sit 5+ exams per year for the first two years, and three in the final year. Time you spend undertaking extra-curricular activities (such as Formula Student), can spend as much or as little as you wish! Though the more time you spend, the more you will learn and in my opinion the better your experience at Brookes. I must stress though, you would need to find a balance as people have ruined their degrees because of Formula Student.
Formula Student is where Students design, build and race a car to a set of rules. You can (if you wish) be involved with anything from chassis and suspension design, engine component design and engine mapping, car setup, race engineering, business proposals to demonstrate that the car is marketable up to maybe even driving the car! This year I held a position within the Brookes Formula Student team that I will most likely never hold with any race team that would employ me, it is very much character building and a rare chance to actually put some of the theory learned in lectures to practice.
Aside from Formula Student practical experience is a little limited (in my view), there are auto lab sessions which are useful where you disassemble and reassemble a race car suspension, properly balance a car, calculate a cars centre of gravity etc... Other labs include engines, electronics and materials labs. But over the years, by comparison to lectures practical time is a little thin if you do not participate in Formula Student.
With regards what you will be taught, modules include: Maths, Mechanics, Dynamics, Stress Analysis, Thermodynamics, Materials, Electronics, Engineering Design, Chassis Dynamics, Engines, Aerodynamics, Product Design etc...
Computer packages you will learn will include CAD, static modelling, dynamic modelling, lap time simulation and CFD analysis.
Within the degree you also have the option to take a 'placement' year (which I did not do) that can enhance your industry experience and Brookes do have ties with some of the Formula 1 teams including Force India and Red Bull. You are not guaranteed a placement and it is up to you to source the placement, but people I know have walked straight into a job within a Formula 1 team because of their performance whilst on their placement years!
Finally the reason for going to University, trying to find a job! I am still unemployed although I only finished my Masters in September. Despite the times so far I have had positive feedback from employers and recruiters about my CV with comments along the lines of 'you have a degree', followed by 'and its from Oxford Brookes' which leads me to believe that it is a well recognised qualification from a respected University. I do now have two interviews next week, one with a company that produce motorsport engine management systems and another with the research centre for a leading automotive company.
I noticed Jamie mentioned the Karting team. Another pro of Brookes I would say. The BUKC (British University Karting Championship) takes place at tracks such as Rye House, Buckmore Park, Whilton Mill, Clay etc... using Club 100 Karts. Last time I raced for Brookes we had three karts (A, B and C karts) and there was some fierce competition between different Universities!
Add the social life of being a Student at Brookes and I would highly recommend it, though if it is engineering you wish to go into be prepared for it not to be all about learning how to make cars go fast, there is a lot of the 'boring' stuff aswel and it is extremely hard work. I really do think they should put a health warning on those things!
Hope this helps, if you want to know anything else, or anything specific about Brookes - just shout!
Regards
Chris Adams
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Motorsport education by 'DBaldwin' (07 Nov 2009 @ 18:37)
