BEng Aerospace Engineering / Course details

Year of entry: 2024

Course description

The BEng Aerospace Engineering will provide you with a broad, well-balanced preparation for a professional career in the aerospace industry.

As a graduate from The University of Manchester, you'll be prepared for leadership positions in a successful career in industry. You'll also gain skills useful for work in other areas, such as research, management, technical development and finance. Perhaps you'd prefer to work in areas such as design or development? Or you could end up working in the testing and operation of vehicles and systems.

We'll give you a theoretical knowledge of engineering science, in addition to a solid base of practical skills, an understanding of design, comprehension of the commercial world and competence in transferable skills (problem solving, team working, creativity, adaptability and IT). You'll be taught using interactive learning approaches and using cutting-edge and industry-standard tools.

The degree also provides an excellent route for individuals wishing to proceed to further postgraduate research.

The sky really is the limit!

Aims

The course will give you the skills necessary for a successful career in industry. In addition, you will gain a route into postgraduate study that is tailored to individual areas of interest, so that, for example, if you have a BEng qualification, you can go on to apply for an MSc course in a more specialised area of Aerospace Engineering or move  into a different engineering or technical discipline.

When you complete the course, you will have:

  • A comprehensive knowledge of engineering science and a strong base of practical skills
  • The skills to begin a successful career in industry
  • Transferable skills, particularly team working, creativity and adaptability
  • A route into more specialised postgraduate study

Special features

We're getting ready to move into a £400million Manchester Engineering Campus Development. Learn more

Additional course information

We do not currently offer Erasmus placements in this School. If you have queries about study abroad options, please contact the International Programmes Office  who will be able to advise you further.

Teaching and learning

The course is taught via a combination of lectures, tutorial classes, practical laboratory sessions and computer-based sessions. There is a design project each year, which involves teamwork in small groups, and allows students to apply and develop their problem-solving and project management skills.  In the third year each student undertakes an individual project, allowing them to pursue a particular subject or application area in greater depth.

Coursework and assessment

Most course units are assessed through an examination (at the end of the semester) and coursework which is undertaken throughout the year.  Parts of the coursework are, in many instances, associated with practical laboratory sessions, whilst others may be based on problem sheets, reports etc. A few subjects, for example Design, are assessed purely on coursework. For detailed information about how different subjects are assessed, please see the course unit specifications below. 

Course unit details

The first year establishes a strategic overview of the main areas of aerospace engineering and introduces the underlying science and mathematics. Our students will be introduced to the fundamental principles of aerospace vehicles and systems as well as developing basic knowledge and skills applicable to all areas of engineering such as mechanics, structures, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics and engineering design.  

The second and third years develop the key knowledge and understanding necessary to enter industry, or postgraduate study. Students will cover key aspects of aircraft and spacecraft systems, performance and design and will also develop further knowledge and skills in the key engineering disciplines of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, structures, dynamics and control.

In the final year students will also have the opportunity to undertake an individual project linking with and supporting industrial or academic research within the university

Course content for year 1

The first year establishes a strategic overview of the main areas of aerospace engineering and introduces the underlying science and mathematics. Our students will be introduced to the fundamental principles of aerospace vehicles and systems as well as developing basic knowledge and skills applicable to all areas of engineering such as mechanics, structures, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics and engineering design.  

Course units for year 1

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
Aerospace Design AERO10301 10 Mandatory
Fluid Mechanics for Aerospace and Mechanical Engineers AERO10421 10 Mandatory
Introduction to Aerospace Engineering AERO12001 10 Mandatory
Introduction to Computer Aided Engineering AERO12101 10 Mandatory
Structures 1 (Aero) CIVL11001 10 Mandatory
Electrical Engineering Fundamentals EEEN10492 10 Mandatory
Materials 1 (Aerospace) MECH10002 10 Mandatory
Workshop Practice MECH10020 0 Mandatory
Manufacturing Engineering 1 (Aerospace) MECH11122 10 Mandatory
Mechanics (Aerospace) MECH11622 10 Mandatory
Aerospace and Mechanical Thermodynamics MECH12012 10 Mandatory
Displaying 10 of 11 course units for year 1

Course content for year 2

The second and third years develop the key knowledge and understanding necessary to enter industry, or postgraduate study. Students will cover key aspects of aircraft and spacecraft systems, performance and design and will also develop further knowledge and skills in the key engineering disciplines of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, structures, dynamics and control.

Course units for year 2

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
Modelling & Simulation 2 (Aerospace) AERO20062 10 Mandatory
Fluid Mechanics 2 AERO20121 10 Mandatory
Aerospace Field Course AERO20230 0 Mandatory
Aircraft Performance and Design AERO20400 20 Mandatory
Space Systems AERO21111 10 Mandatory
Structures 2 (Aerospace) AERO21211 10 Mandatory
Project Management (Aero/Mech) ENGM22491 10 Mandatory
Workshop Practice MECH20020 0 Mandatory
Applied Thermodynamics (Aerospace) MECH20432 10 Mandatory
Dynamics MECH20442 10 Mandatory
Numerical Methods & Computing (Aerospace) MECH20542 10 Mandatory
Displaying 10 of 11 course units for year 2

Course content for year 3

In the final year students will also have the opportunity to undertake an individual project linking with and supporting industrial or academic research within the university.

Course units for year 3

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
Control Engineering (Aerospace) AERO30481 10 Mandatory
Individual Project (Aerospace) AERO31030 30 Mandatory
Aerospace Propulsion AERO31212 10 Mandatory
Structures 3 (Aerospace) AERO31302 10 Mandatory
Aircraft Aerodynamics AERO31321 10 Mandatory
Vibrations & Aeroelasticity (Aerospace) AERO31441 10 Mandatory
Conceptual Aerospace Systems Design AERO31521 10 Mandatory
Flight Dynamics AERO32202 10 Mandatory
Modelling & Simulation 3 AERO30052 10 Optional
Heat Transfer MECH30432 10 Optional

Scholarships and bursaries

For information about scholarships and bursaries please see further details on our website.

Facilities

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Gianpaolo Vignali, the MECD academic lead, talks about the future of engineering at the Manchester Engineering Campus Development (MECD).

The Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering has an incredible array of facilities, including fixed flight simulators, laser labs, wind tunnels and much more.

Our facilities allow us to conduct innovative research on real-world problems. Explore the machinery and equipment available throughout our Department .

The University of Manchester also offers extensive  library and online services  to help you get the most out of your studies.

Manchester's Engineering Campus Development, MECD.

Get ready to collaborate, create and innovate in a brand-new £400m purpose-built building which will allow you, our future engineers and material scientists, to come together and make your mark on the world. The Manchester Engineering Campus Development (MECD) will officially open from September 2022 and will include hundreds of flexible teaching and learning spaces with unrivalled world-class research facilities - whatever your inspiration, with MECD the possibilities are endless. 

Disability support

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service. Email: dass@manchester.ac.uk