Course overview

Studying BEng (Hons) Aerospace Engineering at Aston University will prepare you to tackle some of the most complex, high-stakes engineering challenges of our time, from net-zero aviation and electric propulsion to drone technologies.

You’ll build a strong foundation in aerodynamics, thermodynamics, structures, mechanical and electrical engineering, before specialising in advanced aerospace design and analysis. Our hands-on, project-based approach means you won’t just learn about engineering, you’ll actively practise it.

You’ll be taught by active researchers and industry-experienced academics, and benefit from cutting-edge facilities and Aston’s strong connections with aerospace employers.

Your integrated placement year is more than experience. It is your launchpad. You’ll gain valuable insight into the sector, develop in-demand technical and professional skills, and graduate with the confidence and capabilities to lead change in a fast-moving global industry.

A different path to your degree

Our Aerospace Engineering Foundation Programme is designed to prepare you for degree-level study. Successful completion of the foundation year guarantees progression onto this undergraduate course.

Why Aerospace Engineering at Aston University?

Here to stay

Ranked 11th in the UK for 'continuation' (Mechanical Engineering; Complete University Guide, 2026)

Highly ranked

Ranked 12th overall in the UK for Mechanical Engineering (Guardian, 2025)

GBSIoT partnership

Access to over £2 million worth of cutting-edge engineering and advanced manufacturing equipment through our partnership with the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Institute of Technology (GBSIoT)

Industry-informed learning

Course shaped by real-world needs with input from aerospace professionals and engineering employers

Professional experience

Gain valuable experience with a compulsory placement year built into your degree

Earn more

Our graduates are among the highest paid in the country, earning on average £36,100 three years after graduating (Longitudinal Education Outcomes, 2025)

Take your passion for flight to the next level

From aerodynamics and propulsion to hands-on lab work, industry links, and real-world projects, discover five reasons why this degree could launch your career in aircraft design, drone technologies, defence and more.

Careers and Placements

Whatever your Aston University journey, we're here to help. Discover what's possible with Careers and Placements.

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Built into every undergraduate degree

Gain the skills employers look for worldwide.

AI & Digital

Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Inclusive Leadership

Environmental Sustainability

Discover Power Skills

Course description

BEng (Hons) Aerospace Engineering

BEng (Hons) Aerospace Engineering at Aston University will prepare you to become a confident innovator and leader in the fast-paced aerospace sector. You’ll gain hands-on skills, technical expertise and professional insight to solve real-world challenges shaping the future of flight and propulsion.

What we will provide
World-class teaching in a city renowned for engineering innovation, delivered by expert staff who bring research and industry into the classroom. You’ll use cutting-edge labs and simulators, plus benefit from strong industry partnerships to experience authentic aerospace engineering challenges.

What you will provide
Bring your curiosity, ambition and resilience. You should embrace a growth mindset, be ready to push technical boundaries and develop critical thinking, creativity and teamwork skills that aerospace employers demand.

What skills we teach
You will master core aerospace engineering fundamentals including aerodynamics, propulsion, structures and control systems, alongside essential skills in programming, modelling, design software, project management and effective communication.

Placement year
Your compulsory placement year will be your launchpad into the aerospace industry. Gain invaluable hands-on experience, build a professional network, and apply your skills to live projects that boost your confidence and employability.

Career prospects
This course equips you with the skills and knowledge to pursue exciting careers in aerospace engineering and related industries. You will graduate ready to contribute to sectors such as aircraft design, propulsion systems, and UAV development, with a strong foundation for leadership and innovation.

How you will learn

Our teaching is designed to challenge and inspire you, combining rigorous theory with hands-on application throughout your studies. You will learn through interactive lectures, practical workshops, laboratory sessions and real-world design projects that mirror industry challenges. This approach ensures you build both technical expertise and professional skills such as teamwork, problem-solving and communication.

The course follows an integrated learning model where you conceive, design, build and test aerospace systems, preparing you for complex engineering roles. You will benefit from expert tutors who are active researchers and industry practitioners, committed to bringing the latest developments directly into the classroom.

Your compulsory placement year will offer invaluable experience working in a professional aerospace environment, applying your knowledge to real projects and building your network. Outside of the classroom, you can get involved in student societies, competitions and industry events that further enhance your skills and employability.

What you will learn

Driven by industry needs and technological advances, this course will equip you with a deep understanding of aerospace engineering principles and practical skills to solve tomorrow’s challenges.

First year

You will build a solid foundation in engineering science, mathematics, electronics, and materials. You will be introduced to aerospace engineering fundamentals, power skills, and interdisciplinary design, preparing you to think critically and work collaboratively.

Second year

You will study core aerospace topics including aerodynamics, thermodynamics, propulsion, structures and control systems. You will deepen your technical knowledge through practical projects and develop skills in modelling and design..

Placement year

Your compulsory placement year offers valuable real-world experience, allowing you to develop professional skills and build a network that supports your future career. Our award-winning careers and placements team are on hand to support you through every step of your placement journey.

Final year

You will master advanced aerospace subjects such as computational fluid dynamics, rotorcraft design and advanced structures. You will undertake a major engineering project, showcasing your ability to innovate and lead in aerospace engineering.

Facilities

Aerospace Engineering is a hands-on discipline combining lectures with practical lab work and design projects. You will develop individual and teamwork skills alongside peers, guided by experienced academics and expert technicians.

Our engineering workshops and labs provide access to industry-standard equipment and spaces, including 3D printing and rapid prototyping facilities, laser cutting, CNC machining, and advanced CAD and simulation software. You will work in collaborative design studios equipped with the latest tools to support your projects.

Dedicated project spaces and expert support help you bring your ideas from concept to reality. Alongside personal tutors and peer learning, our facilities ensure you gain valuable practical experience preparing you for the aerospace industry.

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Course objectives

Provides you with the opportunities to realise your academic potential through a range of diverse, engaging and authentic learning experiences
Encourages you, through a practical approach, to have curiosity and a positive attitude to learning in engineering
Provides a thorough grounding in the principles and practice of aerospace engineering, including relevant aspects of societal, environmental and commercial matters
Provides an opportunity for advanced levels of study and a focus on skills and appreciation of the changing nature of engineering
Provides you with an appropriately structured curriculum, combining teaching and learning in theoretical matters with practical and digital skills training
Provides an up-to-date and professionally focussed curriculum driven by the needs of the aerospace industry
Provides you with the opportunity to obtain relevant industrial experience through a sandwich placement year
Produces capable graduate engineers who are highly valued by employers

Modules

Modules and learning outcomes

Year 1 modules

In your first year you will study the following core modules:

Module Title	Credits
Introduction to Aerospace Engineering	15
Materials and Manufacturing 1	15
Introductory Mathematics for Engineering, Digital, and Physical Sciences	15
Introductory Programming for Engineering and Physical Sciences	15
Electronics 1	15
Engineering Science 1	15
Power Skills	15
Interdisciplinary Design Project	15
Total	120

Year 1 outcomes

On successful completion of the first year, you will be able to:

Demonstrate a basic theoretical knowledge of the mathematics, science and technology that underpins aerospace engineering.
Demonstrate a basic knowledge of fundamental concepts, principles, methodologies and design techniques appropriate to aerospace engineering.
Use knowledge of mathematics, statistics, natural science, programming, and engineering principles to solve engineering problems.
Report on a programme of work to technical and non-technical audiences using a variety of IT packages.
Create a solution as part of a team to a design problem subject to identified constraints, using appropriate design tools and techniques.
Demonstrate the ability to contribute effectively in teams and use basic team and resource management techniques to achieve engineering objectives.
Use relevant information from a variety of sources to identify appropriate solutions to engineering problems.
Evaluate and interpret data using industry-standard methods and communicate information effectively to ensure data-driven approaches to decision-making in solving complex problems.
Use sustainable development strategies that reflect a deep understanding of the Circular Economy, Net-Zero strategies, Design and Systems Thinking, and Global Social Responsibility and lead to solutions that are ethically sound and globally relevant.
Employ integrated problem-solving skills to analyse challenging and multifaceted problems considering professional, social, and ethical contexts.

Year 2 modules

In your second year you will study the following core modules:

Module Title	Credits
Aerodynamics	15
Materials and Manufacturing 2	15
Advanced Mathematical Modelling	15
Aerospace Thermodynamics and Propulsion	15
Electromechanical Design, Dynamics and Control	15
Aerospace Structures	15
Aerospace Electrical Power Systems	15
Aerospace Design Project	15
Total	120

Year 2 outcomes

On successful completion of the second year, you will be able to:

Demonstrate a robust theoretical knowledge of mathematics, science and technologies as appropriate to areas of aerospace engineering.
Demonstrate a detailed knowledge of well-established concepts, principles, methodologies and design techniques appropriate to aerospace engineering.
Apply analytical skills using a range of computational packages and modelling techniques to solve advanced or ill-formed problems.
Solve engineering problems with an integrated approach.
Develop awareness of the role of the engineer in society including professional skills, legal responsibilities, ethical risks, health, safety, security, and environmental responsibilities.
Explore a complex design problem using professional design tools and techniques.
Interact effectively within a team, recognising and addressing situations likely to lead to conflict.
Demonstrate the ability to work with incomplete information and manage the risk arising from technical uncertainty.

Placement year modules

You will spend your third year on placement. You will be fully supported throughout the process by our award-winning Careers and Placements team.

Placement Year

Module Title	Credits
Integrated Placement Year	120

Placement year outcomes

On successful completion of the placement year, you will be able to:

Develop an understanding of business and the relevant commercial environment and/or intercultural study and their role within it.
Gain knowledge of key aspects of good practice relevant to industry and/or intercultural study context.
Develop new knowledge and understanding appropriate to the industrial, business, study or research sector related to degree programme.
Communicate effectively in a variety of ways in a professional and industrial environment and/or in an intercultural study context.

Final year modules

In your final year, you will study the following core modules:

Module Title	Credits
Aerospace Dynamics and Control	15
Advanced Aerospace Structures	15
Computational Fluid Dynamics	15
Advanced Aerodynamics	15
Rotorcraft and UAV Design	15
Professional Engineering Practice	15
Engineering Major Project	30
Total	120

Final year outcomes

On successful completion of the final year, you will be able to:

Apply a systemic knowledge of mathematics, science and technology to advanced topics in aerospace engineering and related areas.
Apply an in-depth knowledge of concepts, principles and analytical and computational skills to solve problems in specific areas of aerospace engineering.
Integrate abstract concepts and ideas to solve complex multidisciplinary real-world problems and critically evaluate the solutions.
Demonstrate professional skills and responsibility towards legal and ethical issues in engineering.
Analyse potential impact on engineering activity when working with incomplete information and manage the risk arising from technical uncertainty.
Audit a planned engineering activity, with regards to health & safety, environmental and commercial risk.
Reflect on their knowledge, skills and competencies to formulate a personal development plan in line with their career aspirations.
Manage a major individual programme of work initiated from a technical brief.

We regularly review our modules to provide the best possible teaching and learning experience, incorporating academic developments, student feedback and employer feedback.

We’ll make sure to let you know of any changes to modules at the earliest opportunity by updating our course webpages.

We’ll do our best to provide as much optional choice as we can, but timetabling constraints may mean it isn’t possible to take some module combinations. The structure of some courses means that the order of modules or the streams you choose may determine whether modules are core or optional. This means that your core modules or options may differ from what’s shown here.

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