Automotive Engineering

What is academic life like?

The day-to-day life of an Automotive Engineering student is very busy. It consists of a mixture of routines – coming and going to the University, classes and daily studies – and new discoveries every semester. In fact, the university experience is much more than earning an Engineering degree. The students’ gaze extends through countless social, intercultural and professional experiences, as they make contact with different people, establish new friendships, engage in many situations particular to their academic life and, in several cases, learn to live “alone”, away from their family and hometown.

As a UFSC Automotive Engineering student, you will have the opportunity to study in a reference university, which is among the 800 best universities in the word and the 11 best universities in Latin America (THE Rankings 2021), and get actively involved in various practical activities, converting theories and knowledge into real and feasible solutions. In other words, our program is not just a learning environment, but a meeting point for people with common interests for unforgettable experiences.

It is not just studies and academic work that make up the student’s everyday life here. Social interaction and non-academic activities are also very important parts of student’s formation. Thus, the students of the Joinville School of Technology (CTJ) form groups and engage in sports, cultural activities, parties, among countless other undertakings.

Extracurricular works and studies

Studying at university is very different from studying at high school. You will have to get used to a different pace of dedication and demand as you progress through the program. You must be proactive, manage your time and develop individual learning skills. But don’t worry, the program provides help and guidance to succeed in this new academic environment. Over the semesters, you will become a confident learner and develop the attributes required to succeed in the Automotive Engineering program.

Dedication in terms of time and concentration on studies will be different depending on the courses you are taking. In general, courses in the first semesters require self-discipline for daily studies, but as the program progresses, teamwork will be usually required. Classes are, for the most part, taught in the classroom by professors who are experts in the area. In specific courses, you may participate in tests and trials common to Engineering and the automotive sector. Outside the classroom, programs such as the PIAPE offer tutoring and study groups.

In addition, students with outstanding academic performance are offered scholarships to develop tutoring (Student Tutoring Program), outreach (Probolsa), research (Scientific initiation program) and internship (PIBE) activities at the University. This set of extracurricular activities develops many other skills and competencies that enrich the education and curriculum of our graduates.

Campus Life

The Automotive Engineering program is installed on the Joinville Campus, which is currently part of an industrial park, called Perini Business Park (which has 24-hours security). There, students will find at their disposal a cafeteria, student living spaces, study areas and access to the UFSC internet network. In addition, the Campus has specialized professionals and resources to assist students in improving academic performance, such as time organization guidelines and psychological support. Besides the Campus, the park offers restaurants, library, pharmacy, sport facility among various services available to students and the community in general. As we are in an Industrial Park, several of the students manage to complete elective or required internships within this area, interspersing work with academic activities due to the physical proximity to companies and industries.

International Exchange

In the program, students with outstanding academic performance are able to go on exchange to other countries. UFSC has cooperation agreements with universities in Africa, America (from South to North), Asia, Europe and Oceania, through which students from both institutions can take courses at each other’s universities and transfer credits for degree completion. For instance, UFSC Joinville has partnerships with German universities, where students can use the laboratory facilities to develop their undergraduate thesis work (TCC).

There are several undergraduate scholarship opportunities around the world that can be explored. Find them out here!

At the end…

Upon completing the required courses and activities, you will finally have the expected graduation ceremony!

Source: Square Formaturas. Graduates of the Engineering degree programs at UFSC/CTJ, 2018.