Why you should study this course
- Currently accredited by Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) for the 2022-3 intake, as fully meeting the educational requirements for Incorporated Engineer (IEng) registration and partially satisfying the educational requirements for Chartered Engineer (CEng) registration. If the accreditation of this course changes, we would seek to notify applicants and students as soon as possible.
- Expert free to attend guest lectures (subject to availability), which have previously covered topics such as green landing systems, airship developments, aircraft design and training, and non-destructive testing in aircraft braking systems.
- On and off site access to commercial engineering software, including 3D CAD, Finite Element Analysis, Computational Fluid Dynamics and Multibody Systems for design and simulation, as well as training in industry standard CATIA, HyperWorks, STAR-CCM+, SIMPACK and Matlab/Simulink software.
- A range of facilities including a full-size Harrier Jet (used for teaching), 3 full-scale flight simulators, wind tunnels, composites lab, metrology lab, environmental test lab, AVL engine test cell, automotive workshop, fatigue and tensile testing (Instron), stress analysis and fluid dynamic laboratory equipment, a range of CNC machinery, 3D printers and a laser workshop.
What you'll study
Year one
The first year aims to build on your already established skills to provide a foundation of key engineering subjects and an essential grounding in key aeronautical principles, upon successful completion. You will be provided with an introduction to aerospace topics including aerodynamics, power plants, aircraft systems and structures.
This is reinforced with the use of practical laboratory sessions using our full-sized aircraft, wind tunnel and flight simulator hardware. For example, you will have the opportunity to remove, inspect, overhaul and reinstate critical aircraft components like the aircraft braking system, aileron or rudder. You will also have the chance to perform a series of aircraft manoeuvres in a full-scale flight simulator to collect data in order to explore the flying characteristic of the aircraft and design. You may also develop and manufacture crashworthy landing gears for quadcopters using 3D printers.
Throughout your studies, we aim for you to develop a broad range of transferrable core skills, such as problem-solving, creativity and innovation, leadership, team working, business acumen and ensuring quality.
Modules
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Fluid Mechanics and Aerodynamics – 20 credits
The aim of this module is as part of the first year suite of module that give the student a broad introduction to each of the main Aeronautical Engineering disciplines. It covers the essentials of fluid mechanics and aerodynamics and an introduction to Matlab programming to enable solving of simple engineering problems.
Compulsory
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Introduction to CAD and Professional Skills – 10 credits
This module introduces students to Computer Aided Design (CAD), the design process and develops their professional skills. This module will help students to produce a CAD model ready for processing into a physical engineering product.
Compulsory
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Engineering Mathematics 1 – 20 credits
This module aims to further develop the students' competence in mathematical methods relevant to engineering whilst at the same time emphasising fundamental concepts which the engineer needs to understand in order to produce a mathematical formulation of a problem.
Compulsory
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Introduction to Aerospace Electronics – 20 credits
The module introduces students to the basic concepts and principles used in Electrical and Electronic Engineering with an emphasis on Aerospace applications. The module will focus is on steady state DC circuit analysis and AC circuit analysis and its use with appropriate models to investigate the characteristics of common electrical systems.
Compulsory
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Thermodynamics, Propulsion and Aircraft Systems – 20 credits
The aim of this module is, as one of a suite of first year modules, to give the student a broad introduction to each of the main Aeronautical Engineering disciplines. It covers the essentials of thermodynamics, propulsion and an introduction to aircraft systems.
Compulsory
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Solid Mechanics and Aircraft Structures – 20 credits
The aim of this module, as part of a suite, is to give the student a broad introduction to each of the main Aeronautical Engineering disciplines. It covers the essential and fundamental knowledge of solid mechanics needed by all Engineering students, laying the foundation to apply that knowledge to the design of aircraft structures and the associated materials.
Compulsory
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Add+vantage Module – 10 credits
You will also be able to take an Add+vantage module which can allow you to develop your CV by taking credits in an area of study that doesn’t have to be related to your degree. The assessment type will depend on the type of Add+vantage module you wish to take.
Compulsory
Year two
The second year builds on the foundations of the first year to enhance your specialist knowledge of the analysis and design aspects of individual aerospace systems, along with aircraft maintenance management, aerodynamics and structures. The majority of the modules aim to include teaching of industry standard specialist computer aided analysis tools to support your studies and future employability.
Modules
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Aerospace Maintenance Management – 20 credits
This module aims to enhance students' theoretical and practical experience of the aircraft maintenance management by introducing the basic theories of aircraft maintenance engineering and maintenance program management.
Compulsory
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Aerospace Structural Analysis – 20 credits
The aim of this module is to develop a broad understanding of aerospace structures and the application of technology implemented in the aerospace industry. This is achieved through the further study of the aerospace structures.
Compulsory
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Avionics and Instrumentation – 20 credits
The aim of this module is to present the concepts of signal acquisition and processing required as part of the study of avionic systems. It covers data communication and signal conditioning as applied in aircraft systems.
Compulsory
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Aircraft Systems – 20 credits
The aim of this module is to develop a broad understanding of the technology and the application of technology associated with the aerospace industry. This is achieved through the further study of the aeronautical discipline Aircraft Systems and Power plants.
Compulsory
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Human Factors in Aerospace – 10 credits
The aim of this module is to develop a broad understanding of the Human Factors and their application within the aerospace industrial environment.
Compulsory
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Aircraft Aerodynamics – 20 credits
The aim of this module is to develop a broad understanding of the technology and the application of technology associated with the aerospace industry. This is achieved through the further study of the aeronautical discipline Aerodynamics.
Compulsory
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Add+vantage Module – 10 credits
You will also be able to take an Add+vantage module which can allow you to develop your CV by taking credits in an area of study that doesn’t have to be related to your degree. The assessment type will depend on the type of Add+vantage module you wish to take.
Compulsory
Following your second year, you will have an option to apply for a one-year professional work placement or study abroad in a partner institution.
Past students have undertaken placements working for Aero Engine Controls, GE Aviation, UTC Actuation Systems, HS Marstons, Rolls-Royce, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Airbus Bertrandt, Meggitt, Tata Technologies, Jaguar Land Rover, Nissan, JCB, BMW, Morgan Materials, GKN Aerospace and Arrowsmith.
If you wish to undertake the optional study abroad/placement year, you will take either the Placement Year module or the Study Abroad Year module which both typically run for a full academic year between second and third years of your course. You are normally able to progress onto the relevant module if you have successfully completed the first two years of the course (i.e. having accumulated 240 credits) and have a confirmed opportunity two weeks prior to the start of the academic year, however we encourage international students to confirm their placements earlier to ensure they are able to meet any applicable visa requirements.
Students opting for either the work placement or study abroad module will be registered on a non-credit bearing module. While the modules do not bear credits, they do require completion of marked activities reflecting on your placement/study abroad or work placement experience. Following successful completion of the activities, the module selected will appear on your final academic transcript.
Please note that we are unable to guarantee any placement or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (e.g. travel, visas and accommodation etc.), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable visa requirements.
Final year
The final year aims to cover control theory, evolving technologies and supersonic aerodynamics alongside aerospace project management, your individual project and a group design project. In this group project, which is designed to mimic a real-life industrial project, you will work as a team to design a system (previously this has been a complete landing gear design) and produce a prototype demonstrator using the rapid prototyping facilities to prove the performance and showcase the design.
The course culminates with your individual research project. Past students have worked with our industrial partners to design landing gear for the latest generation of light aircraft, develop low drag wing design using our wind-tunnel and an innovative vertical wind turbine design using active blade technology.
Modules
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Individual Project Preparation – 10 credits
The aim of this module is to provide preparation for a student to undertake a substantial individual project. Successful completion of the module will require methodical planning, record keeping and self-management, effective communication and delivery of report.
Compulsory
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Individual Project Realisation – 20 credits
The aim of this module is to provide an opportunity to research, design, implement and critically evaluate a functional or simulated system, object or concept and to acquire deeper knowledge of a specialist technical area To this end, the student will undertake a substantial project which will exercise in-depth technical, problem-solving, creative and other skills required of a professional practitioner including working to appropriate ethical codes of practice.
Compulsory
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Introduction to Control and Real Time Applications – 20 credits
Control engineering is a fundamental discipline in supporting the technological advances and developments in the aerospace industry. The aim of this module is to develop a broad understanding of the basic principles and techniques of control engineering and to provide the student with a practical understanding of real-time aerospace relevant control applications.
Compulsory
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Aerospace Project Management - Concept and Prototyping – 20 credits
This module aims to provide the student with an awareness of the international nature of the aerospace industry. Associated strategic philosophies and practices are presented and discussed. To provide the student with sufficient engineering management skills and terminology for direct entry into an engineering team working on complex aerospace engineering projects.
Compulsory
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Aerospace Project Management - Test, Operations and Realisation – 20 credits
This module’s aim is to enhance the students’ awareness of technical and professional activities.
Building on and utilising knowledge and skills gained from earlier years of the course, students undertake work on the design, production and test of an aerospace system or component.
The module is intended to nurture professionalism and prepare students for employment and business opportunities.
Compulsory
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Aerospace Technology – 20 credits
The aim of this module is to develop the student's understanding of the impact that design and evolving technologies have on the performance of different types of aerospace vehicles. The module also aims to enhance the student’s awareness of the theories governing the operation of aerospace vehicles and their testing. Current and future trends in aircraft sustainability are also reviewed.
Compulsory
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Add+vantage Module – 10 credits
You will also be able to take an Add+vantage module which can allow you to develop your CV by taking credits in an area of study that doesn’t have to be related to your degree. The assessment type will depend on the type of Add+vantage module you wish to take.
Compulsory
