Mechanical Engineering / Aerospace Engineering (MEng)
Program Overview
Mechanical Engineering / Aerospace Engineering (MEng)
Overview
Explore the specialist engineering and aerospace systems that keep planes in the air. Take advanced modules that specialise in wing design, propulsion and manufacturing. Southampton has offered aerospace engineering degrees since the 1930s, and many of our graduates go on to successful careers in the space industry, aerospace or defence sector.
Entry Requirements
Academic Year 2025/26
- A-levels: A*AA including mathematics (minimum grade A) and physics (minimum grade A), with a pass in the physics Practical (where it is separately endorsed).
- International Baccalaureate Diploma: Pass, with 38 points overall with 19 points required at Higher Level, including 6 at Higher Level in Physics and 6 at Higher Level in Mathematics (Analysis and Approaches) or 7 at Higher Level in Mathematics (Applications and Interpretation).
- BTEC: D in the BTEC National Extended Certificate plus grades AA in A-level mathematics and physics (the A can be in either subject), with a pass in the physics Practical (where it is separately endorsed).
- Access to HE Diploma: Not accepted for this course. Applicants with an Access to HE Diploma in a relevant subject should apply for the Engineering/Physics/Mathematics Foundation Year.
- Irish Leaving Certificate: H1 H1 H1 H2 H2 H2 including mathematics, applied mathematics and physics.
- Scottish Qualification: Offers will be based on exams being taken at the end of S6. Subjects taken and qualifications achieved in S5 will be reviewed.
- Cambridge Pre-U: D2, D3, D3 in three Principal subjects including mathematics (minimum grade D3) and physics (minimum grade D3).
- Welsh Baccalaureate: AAA including mathematics (minimum grade A) and physics (minimum grade A), with a pass in the physics Practical (where it is separately endorsed) or AA from two A levels including mathematics and physics (the A* can be in either subject), with a pass in the physics Practical (where it is separately endorsed) and A from the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Skills Challenge Certificate.
- T Level: Not accepted for this course. Applicants with a T level Technical Qualification in a relevant subject can apply for the Engineering/Physics/Mathematics Foundation Year.
GCSE Requirements
- Applicants must hold GCSE English language (or GCSE English) (minimum grade 4/C) and mathematics (minimum grade 4/C).
English Language Requirements
- If English is not your first language, you must show that you can use English to the level we require. Visit our English language pages to find out which qualifications we accept and how you can meet our requirements.
- If you are taking the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), you must get at least the following scores:
- overall score: 6.5
- reading: 6.0
- writing: 6.0
- speaking: 6.0
- listening: 6.0
Course Structure
Year 1
- Modules in the first 2 years focus on the fundamentals of mechanical engineering.
- You'll gain the skills to apply your theoretical understanding to a wide range of real design problems.
- Core modules cover topics such as:
- thermofluids
- materials
- solid mechanics
- electrical and electronics systems
- You'll develop your design and programming skills, preparing you to design, build and test engineering systems, components and mechanisms.
Year 2
- You'll explore the main mechanical engineering subjects with tailored modules.
- This includes topics such as:
- systems design and computing
- drives and machines
- vibration
- You'll also take part in a challenging design project, such as designing an autonomous robot or quadcopter.
- You can apply to spend a semester abroad at the end of the year.
Year 3
- You'll undertake an individual project that usually takes the form of a design or research exercise.
- You'll specialise in aerospace systems, with a mix of compulsory and optional modules including:
- wing aerodynamics
- aerothermodynamics
- structural design of aircraft
- robotic systems
Year 4
- You'll take part in a group design project, these are often linked to current research activities or topics that have practical relevance to industry.
- You'll apply your conceptual engineering and scientific knowledge to an engineering design problem.
- As a team, you'll develop your ideas through detailed design, experimentation, computer modelling and manufacture.
- You'll study aircraft propulsion, and will also choose from optional modules, such as:
- hypersonic flows
- aircraft structures
Learning and Assessment
- The learning activities for this course include the following:
- lectures
- classes and tutorials
- coursework
- individual and group projects
- independent learning (studying on your own)
- Your scheduled learning, teaching and independent study for each year:
- Year 1: 34% scheduled learning & teaching, 66% independent learning
- Year 2: 27% scheduled learning & teaching, 73% independent learning
- Year 3: 19% scheduled learning & teaching, 81% independent learning
- Year 4: 19% scheduled learning & teaching, 81% independent learning
- Your assessment breakdown for each year:
- Year 1: 41% written exam, 36% coursework, 23% practical exam
- Year 2: 56% written exam, 30% coursework, 14% practical exam
- Year 3: 51% written exam, 41% coursework, 8% practical exam
- Year 4: 38% written exam, 18% coursework, 44% practical exam
Careers and Employability
- The employability and enterprise skills you'll gain from this course are reflected in the Southampton skills model.
- When you join us you'll be able to use our skills model to track, plan, and benefit your career development and progress.
- We are a top 20 UK university for employability (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022).
- Our Careers, Employability and Student Enterprise team will support you.
- This support includes:
- work experience schemes
- CV and interview skills and workshops
- networking events
- careers fairs attended by top employers
- a wealth of volunteering opportunities
- study abroad and summer school opportunities
Fees, Costs and Funding
- Fees for a year's study:
- UK students: £9,535
- EU and international students: £29,400
- Your tuition fees pay for the full cost of tuition and standard exams.
- Accommodation and living costs, such as travel and food, are not included in your tuition fees.
- There may also be extra costs for retake and professional exams.
- If you're a UK or EU student and your household income is under £36,200 a year, you may be able to get a University of Southampton bursary to help with your living costs.
- You may be able to get a scholarship or grant to help fund your studies.
- We award scholarships and grants for travel, academic excellence, or to students from under-represented backgrounds.
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Entry Requirements:
A-levels
A AA including mathematics (minimum grade A) and physics (minimum grade A), with a pass in the physics Practical (where it is separately endorsed). A-levels additional information A pass in the science Practical is required where it is separately endorsed. Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking.
A-levels with Extended Project Qualification
If you are taking an EPQ in addition to 3 A levels, you will receive the following offer in addition to the standard A level offer: AAA including mathematics and physics, with a pass in the physics Practical (where it is separately endorsed) plus grade A in the EPQ
A-levels contextual offer
We are committed to ensuring that all applicants with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme, as follows: AAA or A AB including mathematics (minimum grade A) and physics (minimum grade A), with a pass in the physics Practical (where it is separately endorsed).
or
International Baccalaureate Diploma
Pass, with 38 points overall with 19 points required at Higher Level, including 6 at Higher Level in Physics and 6 at Higher Level in Mathematics (Analysis and Approaches) or 7 at Higher Level in Mathematics (Applications and Interpretation) International Baccalaureate Diploma additional information Applicants who have not studied the required subjects can apply for the Engineering/Physics/Mathematics Foundation Year
International Baccalaureate contextual offer
We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.
International Baccalaureate Career Programme (IBCP) statement
Offers will be made on the individual Diploma Course subject(s) and the career-related study qualification. The CP core will not form part of the offer. Where there is a subject pre-requisite(s), applicants will be required to study the subject(s) at Higher Level in the Diploma course subject and/or take a specified unit in the career-related study qualification. Applicants may also be asked to achieve a specific grade in those elements.
or
BTEC
D in the BTEC National Extended Certificate plus grades A A in A-level mathematics and physics (the A can be in either subject), with a pass in the physics Practical (where it is separately endorsed). or D in the BTEC National Extended Certificate plus grades AA in A-level mathematics and physics, with a pass in the physics Practical (where it is separately endorsed). We will consider the BTEC National Diploma if studied alongside A-levels in mathematics and physics. We will consider the BTEC National Extended Diploma in Engineering if studied alongside A-level mathematics. RQF BTEC We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme. Additional information
QCF BTEC
D in the BTEC Subsidiary Diploma plus A A in A-level mathematics and physics (the A can be in either subject), with a pass in the physics Practical (where it is separately endorsed). or D in the BTEC Subsidiary Diploma plus AA in A-level mathematics and physics, with a pass in the physics Practical (where it is separately endorsed). We will consider the BTEC Diploma if studied alongside A-levels in mathematics and physics. We will consider the BTEC Extended Diploma in Engineering if studied alongside A-level mathematics. We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.
Irish Leaving Certificate
Irish Leaving Certificate (first awarded 2017) H1 H1 H1 H2 H2 H2 including mathematics, applied mathematics and physics Irish Leaving Certificate (first awarded 2016) A1 A1 A1 A2 A2 A2 including mathematics, applied mathematics and physics Applicants who have not studied the required subjects can apply for the Engineering/Physics/Mathematics Foundation Year
Scottish Qualification
Offers will be based on exams being taken at the end of S6. Subjects taken and qualifications achieved in S5 will be reviewed.
Cambridge Pre-U
D2, D3, D3 in three Principal subjects including mathematics (minimum grade D3) and physics (minimum grade D3) Cambridge Pre-U additional information Cambridge Pre-U's can be used in combination with other qualifications such as A levels to achieve the equivalent of the typical offer, where D2 can be used in lieu of A-level grade A or grade D3 can be used in lieu of A-level grade A. Applicants who have not studied mathematics and/or physics can apply for the Engineering/Physics/Mathematics Foundation Year
Welsh Baccalaureate
A AA including mathematics (minimum grade A) and physics (minimum grade A), with a pass in the physics Practical (where it is separately endorsed) or A A from two A levels including mathematics and physics (the A can be in either subject), with a pass in the physics Practical (where it is separately endorsed) and A from the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Skills Challenge Certificate Welsh Baccalaureate additional information A pass in the science Practical is required where it is separately endorsed. Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking. Welsh Baccalaureate contextual offer We are committed to ensuring that all applicants with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. Applicants with a T level Technical Qualification in a relevant subject can apply for the Engineering/Physics/Mathematics Foundation Year
Other requirements
UK students
You'll need all of the following scores as a minimum: IELTS score requirements overall score 5 reading 0 writing 0 speaking 0 listening 0 We accept other English language tests. skills you might have gained through work or other life experiences (otherwise known as recognition of prior learning)
