Bachelor Automotive Engineering

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

HAN University of Applied Sciences

Program Overview

The Automotive Engineering program at HAN prepares you to design, develop, and innovate the vehicles of tomorrow—from electric cars to autonomous systems. Over four years, you'll combine hands-on projects with solid technical theory, working alongside 40+ industry partners to gain the skills employers are actively seeking

Curriculum Structure

First Year: Building Your Foundation

Your first 1.5 years focus on developing core automotive knowledge through technical subjects like Mathematics, Mechanics, and Analyzing Vehicle Systems, alongside commercial subjects such as Build My Company and Making It Sell. This balanced approach ensures you understand both the engineering and business sides of the automotive industry, setting you up for the specialized work ahead.

Second and Third Years: Specialization & Real-World Experience

From your second year onward, you take control of your learning path by choosing specializations tailored to your interests. You can focus on Mobility, Energy and Business; Vehicle Design and Technology; or Vehicle Systems and Control—or even branch into areas like Structural Design, Vehicle Electronics & Control, or Manufacturing. During this phase, you'll apply your theoretical knowledge through exciting competitions like Formula Student and Eco Marathon, where you design, build, test, and race real vehicles.

Final Year: Internship and Graduation Project

Your fourth year brings everything together through a professional internship and graduation project, giving you direct experience in research and development, manufacturing, or sales within the automotive industry. This capstone experience bridges your studies and your career, ensuring you're ready to step into a professional role from day one.

Focus Areas

Learning Outcomes

You'll gain thorough technical grounding in electrical and electronic systems, mechanics, and vehicle dynamics—plus the ability to design, test, and innovate automobiles and their components across cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles, and special vehicles. Beyond engineering skills, you'll develop management, communication, and business acumen to lead projects and drive the automotive industry forward.

Professional Alignment

The program is accredited by NVAO (Accreditation Organization of the Netherlands and Flanders), meaning your degree is internationally recognized and respected by employers worldwide.

Reputation & Employability

HAN's Automotive Engineering program boasts a 96% employment rate within one year of graduation, backed by 70+ years of expertise in automotive education. The program's strong industry connections—including an annual career day featuring 40+ companies—ensure direct pathways to internships, graduation projects, and jobs across the global automotive sector.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At HAN's Bachelor in Automotive Engineering, you'll dive straight into hands-on learning from day one, turning theory into real-world skills through projects on energy-efficient cars, super-fast race cars, and future mobility concepts. You'll work closely with classmates, lecturers, industry pros, and companies on practical challenges like car electronics, DC motors, and switching phenomena—first prepping with on-demand videos, then getting your hands dirty in labs and workshops. This builds your expertise in specializations like Vehicle Design and Technology, Vehicle Systems & Control, or Mobility, Energy and Business, all while sharpening teamwork, project management, and presentation skills.

Here's how our experiential learning ramps up your automotive edge: you'll tackle group projects, internships, and research tied directly to industry needs, using top-notch tools and facilities at the Arnhem campus.

- Group projects throughout: Collaborate on real-life assignments for automotive companies, from defining project scopes and requirements to creating research reports and presentations—covering manufacturing, measurement, design, modeling, and algorithm design.
- HAN Formula Student team (HFS): Design, build, and race a high-performance vehicle from scratch, honing skills in aerodynamics, driver systems, and more while competing against Europe's best universities.
- HAN Automotive Rally Team (HART): Jump into a student-led team enhancing and racing real rally cars in official Dutch championships—hands-on engineering, sponsorships, and driving from day one.
- Internships in year 3: Gain pro experience at automotive firms, applying your skills in real workplaces and diving deeper into specializations like powertrain or vehicle electronics.
- Research projects at HAN Automotive Institute: Work with researchers, lecturers, and companies on applied research in business management, manufacturing, powertrain, structural design, vehicle technology, and vehicle electronics/control.
- Video-based digital learning tools: Study car electronics, DC motors, and more at your own pace via videos, then apply them directly in practical sessions—no more dusty books.
- Modern Arnhem campus facilities: Access lecture halls, study/multimedia centers, labs for automotive practicals, libraries, and more tailored for engineering hands-on work.

Progression & Future Opportunities

At HAN's Automotive Engineering bachelor's program, you'll dive straight into hands-on learning from day one, turning classroom theory into real-world skills through projects that mimic industry challenges—like designing energy-efficient cars or super-fast race cars. You'll work in teams on practical assignments covering car electronics, DC motors, switching phenomena, and future mobility concepts, using video-based learning to prep before getting your hands dirty in labs and workshops. This project-based approach builds your expertise in areas like management, communication, and energy conservation, all while specializing in your second year in fields such as Mobility, Energy and Business, Vehicle Design and Technology, or Vehicle Systems and Control.

Here's how our experiential learning sets you up for success:
- Team projects throughout: Collaborate with classmates on real-life research for automotive companies, tackling topics like Powertrain, Structural Design, Vehicle Technology, and Vehicle Electronics and Control alongside lecturers, researchers, and industry partners at the HAN Automotive Institute.
- Internships and professional experience: In your third year, land a hands-on internship at an automotive company to apply skills and gain in-depth knowledge, plus a graduation project for even more real-world impact.
- Student racing teams: Join the HAN Formula Student team (HFS) to design, build, and race a high-performance vehicle, honing skills in aerodynamics and driver systems against top European universities—or hop on the HAN Automotive Rally Team (HART) to engineer and race a real rally car in Dutch championships.
- Dedicated research and facilities: Work in the HAN Automotive Institute on applied research projects for the auto sector, with access to the Arnhem campus's modern lecture halls, study and multimedia centers for video learning and practical prep.