Car Design Courses: Syllabus, Admissions 2025, Eligibility, Fees, Curriculum

Car Design courses are vibrant and sought-after in many design schools in the world. It focuses on the aesthetics of the car, both internally and externally, its functionality, and most importantly how the design of a car elevates the customer’s experience. Generally, it includes elements from engineering and industrial design.

What is a Car Design Course?

Car Design is an educational course, typically pursued in any design school, that imparts various skills required to design automobiles. From the aesthetics of a car to its functioning capabilities to its ergonomics and user comfort, a car design course considers all factors.

With a dynamic mix of both practical and theoretical classes, a car design course teaches a student about the principles and techniques of car design. Students also get acquainted with some of the fundamentals of engineering as well as industrial design. 3D modeling, material science, ergonomics, etc., are also part of the curriculum.

Car Designing Courses: Highlights

A bachelor’s degree in car design is usually a BDes, typically a four-year-long course. After graduating from BDes, a design student can further pursue an MDes degree in car design for two years. The basics of car design are taught in the initial semesters of a four-year bachelor’s course. It lays the foundation for car design during this time. In the remaining years, the design student learns about the core subjects and gets practical experience in car design.

Here are some of the highlights of a car design course:

1. Sketching

Learning how to draw detailed models of cars with ultimate precision, both physically and digitally. Size, proportions, outlining, shape, style, perspective, etc., all form part of the design language.

2. Ergonomics

Car designers must learn about how users interact with cars, and therefore, design them according to their comfort. Aspects like interior layout, door size, windows, seats, trunk, etc., are all carefully considered with the customer requirement in mind.

3. 3D Modelling and CAD

Computer-aided design or CAD and 3D modeling software form a major part of a car design course. The digital designs are refined and simulated via these tools before finalizing the product.

4. Material Knowledge

A car design student must be knowledgeable about the materials that go into manufacturing a car. Be it plastics, metal, or composites, choosing the right material for parts directly impacts performance, cost, safety, etc. A design student who bears the responsibility for the functionality and efficiency of a car will have to have in-depth knowledge about the materials.

5. Aesthetics

Car Design isn’t just about its performance, but also its visual appeal. The visual appeal of a car plays a major part in determining its price and value in the market. Therefore, car designers bear an important responsibility in paying close attention to the final outlook of the interior and exterior appearance. Shape, line, curvatures, and other styling elements are all carefully crafted.

6. Aerodynamics

The shape of any vehicle directly affects its fuel efficiency, driving quality, and aerodynamics. A car design course teaches how to balance all of these factors without compromising on its aesthetics.

7. Innovation

Modern-age cars are always surviving on the edge of cutthroat competition. Innovation is the key to their survival in the market. Adopting innovative methods such as cutting-edge technology impacts the overall design of a car. Elements like autonomous systems, infotainment setups, and electric vehicles are all part of it.

8. Industry Insights

Learning about the demands of the automobile industry, right from the time a student sets foot in college, is very important. Attending guest lectures, seminars, and workshops from industry professionals helps a car design aspirant connect to the industry. This comes in handy when they make the switch from design school to a corporate job.

9. Sustainability

With the growing concerns about global warming and climate change, all modern-day designs are taught about environmental concerns. Irrespective of its aesthetics or functionality, designs that are impactful to the environment aren’t encouraged anywhere. Instead, designers are learning about eco-friendly methods of incorporating them into their products.

Car Design Course Syllabus

Although the syllabus of a car design course in India varies from one institution to another, here are some of the subjects that are broadly part of a car design course:

1. Design Basics

Introduction to Car Design, An Overview of Car Design History, Basics of Design Processes.

2. Sketching and Visualization

Automotive Sketching and Rendering, Digital Sketching, Visual Proportions, Advanced Drawing.

3. 3D Modelling and CAD

Model Making 101: Physical and Digital, Prototyping, Surface Modelling.

4. Automotive Engineering Principles

Introduction to Engineering, Mechanical Systems, Vehicle Dynamics.

5. Materials and Manufacturing

Three dimensionalities of form, space, and structure, Material Science.

6. Aesthetics

Automotive CMF (Color, Material, Finish), Geometry, Interior Layout Design, Interface Design.

7. Sustainability

Green Design Solutions, Electric Vehicles, Sustainability Mobility Design.

8. Industry Need

Industry Collaborations, Workshops, Internships, Industry Projects.

Car Design Course: Eligibility Criteria

While each design school has set its standard for eligibility to pursue a car design course, there are certain common eligibility criteria for every design aspirant.

A student must pass Class 12 with a bare minimum of 50% aggregate marks or more. It would be preferable if they pass their higher secondary education with Physics and Mathematics as part of their curriculum.

Car Design Course: Admission Process

To get admission into any reputable design school and pursue BDes in car design, one must first and foremost pass Class 12 with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks or more.

After that, they need to appear for their respective college’s entrance exam and then an interview.

Design schools have their entrance exams which are followed by an interview or portfolio review. A student needs to qualify for all of them before getting admission.

For example, the Strate School of Design has its admission test followed by an interview or portfolio review, although it is specifically for ‘Transportation Design.’

The CEED (Common Entrance Examination for Design) is to pursue BDes and MDes from colleges like IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, etc., which offers BDes and MDes in Industrial Design that may include car design as an elective.

Car Design Course Fees

The average fee required to pursue a BDes car design in India is somewhere between INR 5-10 lakhs per year. However, each college has its fee structure. Here are some examples with their total fees:

• Strate School of Design – INR 6.5 Lakhs/year
• Unitedworld Institute of Design Ahmedabad – INR 6 Lakhs/year
• Symbiosis International University – INR 3.5 Lakhs/year
• NID Ahmedabad – INR 3 Lakhs/year

What You’ll Learn in This Car Design Program?

A Car Design education program will teach you about multiple aspects of car design, both from an aesthetic and efficiency outlook. From learning how to sketch various car models, both physically and digitally, to getting to grips with CAD and 3D software, to learning about aesthetics, aerodynamics, and innovation, a car design course covers all aspects of design.

Besides learning about the theories of car design, one will also be acquainted with the practical side of designing a car. Workshops, seminars, industry visits, and guest lectures from industry experts are all part of the curriculum. They form a substantial part of a car design aspirant’s learning skills. More importantly, it prepares them for a career in the corporate world better than anything else.

Students also learn about a sustainable approach to design, given the need to drive eco-friendly measures in the modern-day context. Other than that, certain engineering principles, material science, and ergonomics are also taught during this course.

Career Options and Average Salary

Pursuing a career in car design opens the door to innumerable opportunities. A car design aspirant can choose to be in any of the multiple positions available in the corporate world:

• Car Designer or Automotive Designer
• Car Design Strategist
• Interior Car Designer
• CAD Specialist
• Roadway Design
• Conceptual Designer
• CMF Designer
• Ergonomics Lead
• Design Manager

Top Recruiters after Car Design Program

Here are some of the top recruiters of car design in India:

• Tata Motors
• Maruti Suzuki
• Mahindra & Mahindra
• Bajaj Auto
• Ola Electric
• Carlex Design India
• Tata Elxsi (a Design and Engineering firm)
• Larsen & Toubro

The average salary of a car designer is INR 570,000 for an entry-level employee. It may vary between 5-10 Lakhs. However, senior designers can earn up to 15-30 LPA.

Frequently Asked Questions on Car Design Courses

Q: Which course is best for car design?

Ans: To pursue a career in car design, you should opt for a Bachelor of Design (B. Des) degree in automobile design or transportation design. You can also pursue a BDes in Transportation Design from colleges such as Strate School of Design in Bengaluru. This is a 4-year course. One can also choose to do a Master’s to gain more in-depth knowledge and strengthen one’s knowledge base for a solid career.

Q: What is the duration of the programs?

Ans: A BDes in car design is typically a four-year-long educational course. An MDes in car design is an additional two-year education program on top of that.

Q: Will there be any projects at the end of the programs?

Ans: Yes. At the end of the car design courses, be it BDes or MDes, students will move to multiple projects before the final project at the end of the curriculum. The projects will be about 3D modeling, rendering, design principles, technicalities, etc.

Q: Is it hard to be a car designer?

Ans: No, it is not hard to be a car designer. You need to pass Class 12 with 50% aggregate marks and choose a design school of your choice to pursue car design. A passion for automobiles, engines, sketching, and design, will hone one’s creativity and push one further in their car design career.

Q: How much does a car design professional make in India?

Ans: The average salary of a car designer is INR 570,000 for an entry-level employee. It may vary between 5-10 Lakhs. However, senior designers can earn somewhere between 15-30 LPA.