You will study the same courses in the first three years whether you are on the BEng or MEng degree programme.

Year 1

In your first year you will study aerospace engineering, applicable mathematics, applied mechanics, design and manufacture, materials, thermodynamics and fluid mechanics, and managerial and organisational context.

Year 2

In the second year you will study further basic engineering subjects all of which are compulsory – applicable mathematics, applied mechanics, design and manufacture, electrical power engineering, elements of thermodynamics for aerospace propulsion, engineering computing, introduction to aerodynamics, materials and power electronics.

Year 3

In third year you will visit a number of industries in the UK and study more advanced engineering subjects – aerodynamics and fluid mechanics, aircraft performance, dynamics, control and fluid power, flight mechanics, materials and manufacture, mathematical modelling and simulation, mechanics of materials and structures, propulsion and turbomachinery, and software engineering.

Years 4 and 5

The main route to becoming a fully chartered engineer is through the MEng degree, which usually takes five years. The BEng degree remains popular and can normally be completed in four years. To become a fully chartered engineer with a BEng degree requires further study after graduation, which can be done part-time from work.

Your selection for BEng or MEng depends on your progress record in your first three years.

In fourth year you will study a range of core mechanical engineering subjects and core aeronautics subjects, plus a choice of advanced options. You will also undertake a team aerospace design project. You will study the main mechanical engineering disciplines plus a programme of aeronautics beginning with an introduction to aerospace engineering, the incorporation of aeronautics design and project work, leading to a range of advanced mechanical and aeronautics options.

In fifth year (MEng only) an aerospace-focused individual project forms a major component of the programme.

A feature of the fourth year of the MEng programme is a flight-testing course in a Jetstream aircraft.

In addition to the aerospace design project you will also take part in a multidisciplinary integrated system design project. You will work in teams alongside students of other engineering disciplines.

You will benefit from the close ties with industry developed by staff involved in the programme, with industrial case studies focused on the aerospace industries.

You can apply to spend one year of your academic studies abroad at an accredited partner university. This would typically be in third year for BEng, or fourth year for MEng, students. In fifth year MEng students can work on their final-year project at overseas institutions.

The degree aims to allow students who wish to pursue a professional engineering career in mechanical engineering but who have a particular interest in aeronautical and aerospace engineering, to keep their career options open.

Graduates will have all the engineering and transferable skills of mechanical engineers with a strong additional speciality in aeronautics. Mechanical engineering graduates are well represented in aerospace industries and this degree provides enhanced employment opportunities in this sector.