MEng Aerospace Engineering
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Page last updated 16 August 2021
Introduction
Study in the UK's aerospace hub on a course developed with aerospace partners.
Accreditations and partnerships:
Why study aerospace engineering ?
Engineering is where creative thinkers become world changers. An aerospace engineering degree will challenge you to ask questions, take risks and explore new perspectives. You'll turn ideas into reality as you apply the principles of science and technology to the research, design, manufacture and certification of current and future aerospace vehicles.
If you're fascinated by the history, technology and progress of aircraft and spacecraft, we'll take your passion and transform it into career-shaping skill and experience.
Why UWE Bristol?
MEng(Hons) Aerospace Engineering has been designed in response to an increasing demand for qualified aerospace engineers and with input from regional aerospace partners to give you the industry relevant skills and graduate attributes needed to become the technical specialists and leaders of tomorrow within the aerospace industry.
This course equips you with industry knowledge and an in-depth understanding of the aerospace design and build process.
Study materials and manufacturing, stress and dynamics, energy and thermodynamics to gain a solid grounding in aerospace engineering principles in your first year. Specialise in your second year through the Systems, Design and Manufacturing pathways.
You'll be taught in our new state-of-the-art School of Engineering designed to revolutionise the way engineering is taught. Featuring engine test cells, dedicated collaborative learning spaces and all of the latest high-tech equipment, it's purpose-built to support a wide range of engineering disciplines.
Get an inside track on the industry through regular factory tours and professional briefings from leading aerospace organisations and work on placements to build up valuable experience and professional skills.
Graduate ready to take up your place within the exciting, fast-paced aerospace industry.
Where can it take me?
As a graduate, you'll be set for a career in the aerospace industry.
Job opportunities range from working on the design and manufacture of civil and military aircraft, to working with helicopters and jet engines.
Watch: The learning and teaching experience
Structure
Content
The department is currently reviewing the curriculum for this course from year one onwards. The topics you will study are listed above, however the final topics are subject to approval as the changes go through university approval.
Year one
You will study:
- Engineering Practice
- Solid Mechanics
- Dynamics Modelling and Simulation
- Introduction to Aerospace Thermofluids
- Aerospace Engineering.
Year two
You will study:
- Engineering Practice 2
- Engineering Research
- Structural Mechanics
- Fundamental Aerodynamics
- Flight
- Aerospace Systems Design
- Propulsion.
Placement year (if applicable)
If you study on the five year sandwich course, you'll spend a year away from the University on a work placement after year two.
You'll complete a placement learning module.
See the Placements and Fees sections for more information.
Year three (Final Year for BEng)
You will study:
- Engineering Project
- Aerospace Group Design Project
- Professionalism for Engineers.
Plus, four optional modules from:
- Aero Structures
- Composite Engineering
- Avionics and Aerospace Systems
- Control Engineering
- Advanced Aerodynamics
- Transonic and Supersonic Thermofluids
- Spaceflight
- Space Engineering and Mission Control
- Digital Manufacturing in Aerospace
- Integrated Electro-Mechanical Systems.
Year four (Final year for MEng)
You will study:
- Engineering Group Capstone Project.
Plus, four optional modules from:
- Aero-elasticity
- Structural Integrity in Design
- Aerospace Systems Integration
- Flight Test Principles and Practice
- Hypersonic Thermofluids
- Aero-acoustics
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Principles of Lean Engineering
- Spacecraft Structural Design
- Spacecraft Dynamics and Mission Analysis.
The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved, we will inform you.
Learning and Teaching
Learn through lectures, tutorials and seminars with a programme of laboratory, practical and project work.
You'll design, develop and optimise a model aircraft in the first year Introduction to Aeronautics module. You'll have the opportunity to undertakea flight test course in a real aircraft in your third year and you'll also work in group projects to such as the ImechE Umnanned Aerial System (UAS) Challenge.
See our full glossary of learning and teaching terms.
Approximate percentage of time you'll spend in different learning activities*:
| Year | Scheduled learning and teaching study | Independent study | Placement study |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 29% | 71% | 0% |
| 2 | 25% | 75% | 0% |
| 3 | 22% | 78% | 0% |
| 4 | 18% | 82% | 0% |
*Calculated from compulsory and optional modules (where applicable) each year
Assessment
You can expect to be assessed through a mix of assignments, exams, continuous assessment and group work depending on the module. In your final year, a project report and presentation will form part of the assessment.
We encourage you to exhibit your final year work at our annual degree show, where you can discuss your work and celebrate your achievements with family, friends and potential employers.
See our full glossary of assessment terms.
Approximate percentage of marks awarded by each assessment method*:
| Year | Written exam assessment | Coursework assessment | Practical exam assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 64% | 25% | 11% |
| 2 | 43% | 56% | 1% |
| 3 | 30% | 66% | 4% |
| 4 | 19% | 70% | 11% |
*Calculated from compulsory and optional modules (where applicable) each year
Life
Features
Professional accreditation
This course is accredited by the Royal Aeronautical Society and the Engineering Council.
Placements
Students who get work experience tend to graduate with better degrees. Experience also hones your skills, industry knowledge and professional network, making you a sought after graduate.
If you choose the five year (sandwich) course, you'll spend a year away from the University on a work placement after Year two.
We work in partnership with Bristol employers like Airbus, Rolls Royce, GE Aviation and Leonardo Helicopters. We also have strong relationships with smaller companies across the UK.
They provide work placements and graduate employment opportunities for our students. Past students have worked with Airbus, GE Aviation, E-Stress, Rolls Royce, Qinetic and Lockeed Martin.
Get help to find your placement and support throughout from department staff and our award-winning careers service.
Read more about our partner employers and how students benefit from their placements.
Fieldwork
Throughout the course, you'll see aerospace engineering in action at a range of facilities.
This includes visits to Airbus, GKN and the National Composites Centre and museums such as the Fleet Air Arm Museum in Yeovil.
In your first year, you'll design and build a model glider aircraft's wings, then race it against the competition.
Study facilities
Our new engineering building is designed to inspire the engineers of the future. Built for hands-on investigation, with engine test cells, wind tunnels and collaborative learning spaces. An ideal environment for encouraging you to explore, take risks and discover ways to change the world for the better.
Apply what you've learnt and develop vital professional skills in our state-of-the-art facilities.
- Design and draw new concepts using CAD, simulation and planning software on our extensive PC network.
- Test aerodynamics in our subsonic and supersonic wind tunnels.
- Develop and test materials using our composite manufacturing facilities, and stress and materials laboratories.
- Test designs using our state-of-the-art flight simulator, which you can update with model data to test the flight mechanics and aerodynamics of design concepts.
Learn more about UWE Bristol's facilities and resources.
Careers
Careers / Further study
This course will prepare you for employment in leading aerospace companies such as Airbus UK, BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, Leonardo, MBDA, Boeing and GE Systems.
Past graduates have gone into careers in the design and manufacture of civil and military aircraft, helicopters and jet engines.
Get inspired
Our award-winning careers service will develop your employment potential through career coaching and find you graduate jobs, placements and global opportunities.
We can also help find local volunteering and community opportunities, provide support for entrepreneurial activity and get you access to employer events.
Visit our employability pages to learn more about careers, employers and what our students are doing six months after graduating.
See also:
Prospects - careers in engineering
The Guardian - what to do with a degree in mechanical engineering
Fees
Full time, sandwich course
Indicative Additional Costs
Supplementary fee information
Your overall entitlement to funding is based on how long the course is that you're registered on. Standard funding is allocated based on the standard number of years that your course lasts, plus one additional year.
You'll apply for funding each year that you study and Student Finance will take into account how long the course is in each year that you apply. So if you register for the five year course and then transfer to the four year course, the number of years you can apply for funding will change. Student Finance will reassess your funding based on how many years you have been in study, not just those years for which you received student finance.
Always seek advice before taking any action that may have implications for your funding.
Additional costs
Additional costs are for items you could need during your studies that aren't covered by the standard tuition fee. These could be materials, textbooks, travel, clothing, software or printing.
Entry
We are pleased to confirm that our New students webpages are now available for students starting this course in September 2021. Here you can find links to useful information about registering, course start dates, arriving on campus what to expect before and when you arrive.
We automatically send a message via your Welcome website plus an email to notify you once your Preparing to Study information is available. It is important that you regularly check your Welcome website for new messages.
Typical offers
- Tariff points: 120
- GCSE: Grade C/4 in English Literature or Language and Mathematics, or equivalent. We do not accept Level 2 Key Skills, Functional Skills or Certificate in Adult Numeracy and Literacy as alternatives to GCSEs.
- English Language Requirement:
International and EU applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 with 5.5 in each component (or approved equivalent*).
*The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades you will need in English Language requirements.
- A-level subjects: Grade C in Mathematics, plus a pass in one of the following: Biology; Chemistry; Computing/Computer Science; Design and Technology; Electronics; Engineering; ICT; Further Maths; Music Technology; Physics; Statistics. Maths requirement can also be met by the Cambridge Pre-U Mathematics at Merit 3.
- Relevant subjects: Biology; Chemistry; Computing/Computer Science; Design and Technology; Electronics; Engineering; ICT; Further Maths; Mathematics; Music Technology; Physics; Statistics
- EDEXCEL (BTEC) Diploma: You must be studying one of the following: Aeronautical Engineering; Construction and the Built Environment; Electrical/Electronic Engineering; Engineering; Land-based Technology; Manufacturing Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; or Operations and Maintenance Engineering. To include Merit in one of the following units: Further Engineering Mathematics or Further Mathematics for Construction. Please list the units you are taking in your application. For further advice on acceptable units please email us.
- Access: 15 Level 3 credits at Merit in Mathematics and 15 credits in another science or technology subject.
- Baccalaureate IB: A minimum grade of 5 in Higher Level Mathematics and a pass in one of the following at Higher Level: Biology; Chemistry; Computer Science; Design Technology; Physics; Environmental Systems and Societies.
- Irish Highers: H3 in Mathematics plus a pass in one of the following subjects: Biology; Chemistry; Engineering; Physics; Technology.
Entry requirements
If you don't meet the entry requirements you may be eligible for BEng(Hons) Aerospace Engineering or BEng(Hons) Aerospace Engineering (with Foundation Year).
International applicants
For country specific entry requirements please find your country on the Country Information pages. If you are an international student and do not meet the academic requirements to study this course, you can qualify by completing preparatory study at our International College.
If you are applying to study at UWE Bristol and require additional support to meet our English language requirements, you may be able to attend one of our pre-sessional English courses. Read more about our Pre-Sessional English Programme.
Read more about entry requirements.
How to apply
Read more about undergraduate applications.
For further information
- Email:
UK applicants
Admissions@uwe.ac.uk
International/EU applicants
International@uwe.ac.uk - Telephone:
UK applicants
+44 (0)117 32 83333
International/EU applicants
+44 (0)117 32 86644