| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2025-09-01 | - |
Program Overview
Overview
Aerospace engineering research at Bristol is organised via cross-faculty research groups with interests spanning four key areas:
- Fluid Flow and Aerodynamics
- Bristol Composites Institute (BCI)
- Dynamics and Control
- Robotics.
This work is supported by at least 50 academic staff, more than 70 research staff and over 240 postgraduate students, plus a highly experienced administrative and technical support team.
Aerospace engineering is a specific discipline involving experimental, numerical, theoretical and computational research which is later applied to aerospace-related problems, for example, fixed-wing aircraft, rotorcraft, wind turbines and UAVs.
All postgraduates would expect to publish in high-quality journals and present at international conferences so our research programmes are aimed at independent and self-motivated applicants.
Key Information
Programme Duration
- MScR: up to two years full-time; up to four years part-time
- PhD: up to four years full-time; up to eight years part-time
Start Date
- From September 2025
Application Deadline
- For September 2025 entry:
- Overseas applicants: 31 July 2025
- Home applicants: 18 August 2025
Delivery Method
- On-Campus
Location
- Clifton
Awards Available
- PhD, MSc by research
World-Leading Research
- 5th: The University of Bristol is ranked fifth for research in the UK (Times Higher Education).
- 94%: 94% of our research assessed as world-leading or internationally excellent.
Entry Requirements
PhD Applicants
- Must hold/achieve a minimum of upper second class MEng/MSci (or equivalent) or a merit at postgraduate master's degree (or international equivalent) in a science, mathematics or engineering discipline.
- Applicants without a master's qualification may be considered on an exceptional basis, provided they hold a first-class undergraduate degree.
- Acceptance will also depend on evidence of readiness to pursue a research degree.
MSc by Research Applicants
- Must hold/achieve a minimum of an upper second class honours degree (or international equivalent) in science, mathematics or engineering and demonstrate readiness to pursue a research degree.
Fees and Funding
Home Students
- Full-time: £4,850 per year
- Part-time: £2,425 per year
Overseas Students
- Full-time: £26,700 per year
Alumni Discount
- University of Bristol students and graduates can benefit from a 25% reduction in tuition fees for postgraduate study.
Funding and Scholarships
- A number of funded studentships are available each year, supported by research council, industry, University or other funds.
- Self-funded or sponsored students are also very welcome to apply.
Career Prospects
- Graduates from the department leave with a breadth of technical and personal skills and expertise, far beyond their particular degree specialism.
- They progress into a wide variety of careers within engineering (for example, aerospace, automotive/motorsport, transportation, consulting engineering), academia, public services (for example, civil service, air traffic management) and commerce (for example, IT, finance).
- A higher degree can accelerate your career significantly, particularly into positions of greater responsibility.
- Furthermore, it increasingly provides entrepreneurial opportunities, which build on the skills and knowledge you acquire during the programme.
Meet Our Supervisors
- Professor Giuliano Allegri
- Professor Christian Allen
- Professor Karen Aplin
- Professor Mahdi Azarpeyvand
- Dr Anna Baker
- Dr Jonathan Belnoue
- Professor Lucy Berthoud
- Professor Ian Bond
- Dr Steve Bullock
- Professor Steve Burrow
- Dr Neha Chandarana
- Professor Jonathan Cooper
- Professor Steve Eichhorn
- Dr Ian Farrow
- Professor Ann Gaitonde
- Mr Mark Graham
- Dr Rainer Groh
- Professor Stephen Hallett
- Professor Ian Hamerton
- Dr Josh Hoole
- Dr Dmitry Ivanov
- Professor Dorian Jones
- Dr Luiz Kawashita
- Dr ByungChul Eric Kim
- Dr Bahadir Kocer
- Dr James Kratz
- Emeritus Professor Nicholas Lieven
- Professor Mark Lowenberg
- Dr Terence Macquart
- Professor Alberto Pirrera
- Dr Daniel Poole
- Dr Karthik Ram Ramakrishnan
- Dr Thomas Rendall
- Dr Djamel Rezgui
- Professor Arthur Richards
- Professor Tom Richardson
- Professor Fabrizio Scarpa
- Dr Mark Schenk
- Professor Ole Thomsen
- Dr Brano Titurus
- Professor Richard Trask
- Professor Paul Weaver
- Dr Shane Windsor
- Professor Michael Wisnom
- Dr Benjamin King Sutton Woods
- Dr Nick Zang
Research Groups
- A list of research groups in Engineering can be found on the Faculty webpages.
How to Apply
- You need to contact a potential academic adviser to discuss available projects, and complete a Supervisor Suitability Form (Office document, 70kB) before submitting an application.
- You can then apply using our online application system. For further information, please see the guidance for how to apply on our webpages.
Application Deadline
- For September 2025 entry:
- Overseas applicants: 31 July 2025
- Home applicants: 18 August 2025
Start Your Application
- Select your award type and start date to begin your application
- Award type: Aerospace (Visiting) (PGR), Aerospace Engineering (MSc by Research), Aerospace Engineering (PhD), Aerospace Engineering (RMIT) (PhD)
Program Outline
A higher degree can accelerate your career significantly, particularly into positions of greater responsibility. Furthermore, it increasingly provides entrepreneurial opportunities, which build on the skills and knowledge you acquire during the programme.
Other:
Aerospace engineering research at Bristol is organised via cross-faculty research groups with interests spanning four key areas: Fluid Flow and Aerodynamics Bristol Composites Institute (BCI) Dynamics and Control Robotics. This work is supported by at least 50 academic staff, more than 70 research staff and over 240 postgraduate students, plus a highly experienced administrative and technical support team. Aerospace engineering is a specific discipline involving experimental, numerical, theoretical and computational research which is later applied to aerospace-related problems, for example, fixed-wing aircraft, rotorcraft, wind turbines and UAVs. All postgraduates would expect to publish in high-quality journals and present at international conferences. Hence, research programmes are aimed at independent and self-motivated applicants.
- UK: full-time£4,758 per year
- UK: part-time£2,379 per year
- Overseas: full-time£26,000 per year
