Aeronautical Engineering – BSc (Honours)

At a glance

Study to become an aeronautical engineer on a course that offers you flexibility to develop your own career interests. Learn about the fundamentals of flight and aircraft design in excellent facilities that include a motion-enabled flight simulator. Then apply what you’ve learnt on a paid placement in industry.

Key points
• Follow your aeronautical interests and prepare yourself for a career in an expanding, cutting-edge industry.• Benefit from industry-standard facilities and an experienced team of academics.
• Gain experience within the engineering industry on a paid placement.
• Get involved in aero-related extra-curricular activities with the student Aerospace Society.

What is aeronautical engineering?
Aeronautical engineering encompasses not only the design, development and manufacture of aircraft but also their operation in service. This means that aeronautical engineers may find themselves working for aircraft manufacturers, their suppliers or even aircraft operators. An aeronautical engineer needs knowledge of disciplines including aerodynamics, structures, materials and propulsion, which are also relevant in other areas, such as automotive.

This course

Train as an engineer ready to work in aeronautical fields as diverse as research and development, product design and innovation and the manufacture and maintenance of components and systems. The knowledge and core skills you gain apply to a wide range of engineering industries and commerce, increasing your employment opportunities.

You begin by studying common core modules, which provide a foundation of engineering principles, knowledge and fundamental skills. If you successfully complete the first year, you have the opportunity to transfer to one of our accredited aerospace degrees, if you meet the criteria.
In the second year, the modules become more focused, developing the engineering themes covered in the first year and putting them into an aeronautical context.

Your studies are centred around our dedicated engineering facilities based on City Campus. These include a CAD suite with a range of software packages, a precision workshop, industrially-relevant CNC machining and rapid prototyping facilities and our Digital Design Centre.

Aero-specific facilities include a wind tunnel and a specialist flight simulator which you use to develop your understanding of how aircraft design impacts on flight characteristics. Ultimately, you may have the opportunity to programme the simulator to ‘fly’ aircraft you have designed using the knowledge gained through your studies.

In year three you get the opportunity to put what you have learnt into practice with a paid work placement in industry. You may work in a design department, a manufacturing organisation or in commercial research and development. It’s a great chance to gain new skills and learn how industry works. It can also directly improve your career prospects, as some students return from industrial placements with sponsorships and job offers.

In the final year you complete a major project, which allows you to apply the knowledge, understanding, skills and qualities gained throughout the course. The project enables you to pursue a topic of your choice, but with the support of an academic supervisor and access to the workshop and laboratory facilities. You work independently on the project.

The course also develops additional skills to enhance your employability by incorporating aspects of business management, effective team working and the need for sustainable engineering.

Key areas of study
Having provided you with an understanding of engineering principles, the course explores more fundamental aeronautical themes such aerodynamics, propulsion, materials, and structures. You can then examine how these impact on real-world situations by studying aircraft design and developments in the aero industry.