Program Overview

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Aeronautics and Astronautics (MEng)

Award

Master of Engineering

Typical Offer

A*AA

Duration

4 years

Course Type

Full-time

Campus

Highfield and Boldrewood

UCAS Course code

H401

About this course

Learn to design future aircraft, race cars, rockets and satellites, and launch into an exciting engineering career. Our advanced courses cover advanced aerospace engineering including the design and manufacture of fast-moving aircraft and spacecraft.

This MEng degree looks at the science, engineering and manufacture of aircraft and spacecraft. You'll learn how they operate within our atmosphere and in space, as well as the economic, legal and environmental issues associated with them. Your degree will be aligned to the UK Space Agency Civil Space Strategy.

You’ll study the principles of aeronautical and astronautical engineering, then take more advanced modules. In your second year you can choose if you want to specialise your degree. In year 3 you will complete an individual research project. In year 4 you’ll take part in a group design project.

You’ll get hands-on experience in our extensive facilities, which include:

• dedicated student design studios and workshops
• the largest wind tunnel in any UK university
• state-of-the-art space propulsion facilities
• jet laboratory with supersonic ramjet, turbojet and rocket engine
• Boeing flight simulator
• professional manufacturing centre

As part of this astronautics and aeronautics integrated master's degree you can:

• take part in practical design modules in every year of your degree
• design, build and test aircraft, spacecraft and their wider components
• take part in a flight-testing course, on board a flying laboratory aircraft
• showcase your work in our annual Engineering Design Show
• attend site visits to experience engineering in practice

Year in industry

Enhance your employability by taking this course with a paid industrial placement year.

Apply using:

• Course name: Aeronautics and Astronautics with Industrial Placement Year
• UCAS code: H414

You'll spend this extra year at an engineering firm, applying the skills and knowledge you've learned so far.

The fee is 20% of the standard annual tuition fee.

Study this course in Malaysia

You can also study this course at University of Southampton Malaysia.

Find out more about our Malaysia courses and how to apply

We regularly review our courses to ensure and improve quality. This course may be revised as a result of this. Any revision will be balanced against the requirement that the student should receive the educational service expected. Find out why, when, and how we might make changes.

Our courses are regulated in England by the Office for Students (OfS).

Accreditations

This course is accredited by the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) as meeting the academic requirement, in full, for Chartered Engineer registration.

This course is accredited by:

• Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS)
• Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE)
• Engineering Council
• European Accreditation of Engineering Programmes (EAEP)

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).

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

• RQF 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).
• QCF BTEC: D in the BTEC Subsidiary Diploma plus 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. Careful consideration will be given to an individual’s academic achievement, taking in to account the context and circumstances of their pre-university education.

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 Skills Baccalaureate Wales.

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

Other requirements

• UK students
• International students
• Other ways to qualify

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

• Aerospace Electronics
• Aerospace Materials
• Data Science & Computational Methods
• Introduction to Aeronautics & Astronautics
• Introduction to Aerospace Design
• Mathematics for Engineering and the Environment
• Statics & Dynamics
• Thermofluids for Aerospace Engineers

Year 2

• Advanced Aerospace Systems Design
• Aerodynamics
• Aerospace Materials & Structures
• Aerospace Mechanics & Control
• Astronautics
• Digital Aerospace Methods
• Mathematics for Engineering and the Environment Part II
• Propulsion

Year 3

• Aerospace Control Design
• Aerothermodynamics
• Digital Aerospace
• Individual Project
• Advanced Aeronautics
• Advanced Astronautics
• Aircraft Structural Design
• Concurrent Space Systems Design
• Introduction to Aircraft Design
• Spacecraft Structural Design

Year 4

• Advanced Aerospace Engineering Management
• Group Design Project
• Advanced Computational Methods I
• Advanced Finite Element Analysis
• Advanced Photovoltaics, Fuel Cells and Batteries
• Aeroacoustics
• Aeroelasticity
• Aircraft Propulsion
• Applications of CFD
• Automotive Propulsion
• Composites Engineering Design and Mechanics
• Computational Aerodynamics
• Computational methods in biomedical engineering design
• Corporate Finance
• Data-Driven Fluid Mechanics
• Design Search and Optimisation (DSO) - Principles, Methods, Parameterizations and Case Studies
• Experimental Methods for Aerodynamics
• Failure of Materials and Components
• Finite Element Analysis in Solid Mechanics
• Hypersonic & High Temperature Gas Dynamics
• Information Systems Management and Strategy
• Intelligent Mobile Robotics
• Materials for Transport Applications
• Microstructural and Surface Characterisation
• Nonlinear Control of Aerospace Systems
• Numerical Methods
• Principles of Photovoltaics, Fuel Cells and Batteries
• Project Management
• Project Risk Management
• Race Car Aerodynamics
• Renewable Energy from Wind, Wave and Tide
• Signal Processing
• Space Environment
• Spacecraft Instrumentation
• Spacecraft Orbital Mechanics
• Spacecraft Propulsion
• Strategic Management
• Strategic Operations Management
• Sustainable energy systems, resources and usage
• Systems Design of Multi-Rotor Aircraft
• Turbulence

Learning and Assessment

The learning activities for this course include:

• lectures
• classes and tutorials
• coursework
• individual and group projects
• independent learning (studying on your own)

Course Time

• Year 1: 35% scheduled learning & teaching, 65% independent learning
• Year 2: 26% scheduled learning & teaching, 74% independent learning
• Year 3: 17% scheduled learning & teaching, 83% independent learning
• Year 4: 18% scheduled learning & teaching, 82% independent learning

Assessment

• Year 1: 48% written exam, 32% coursework, 20% practical exam
• Year 2: 61% written exam, 29% coursework, 10% practical exam
• Year 3: 50% written exam, 28% coursework, 22% practical exam
• Year 4: 47% written exam, 18% coursework, 35% practical exam

Careers and Employability

Employability Skills

This degree will allow you to develop and evidence subject-specific and targeted employability skills. This includes the required skill set for a range of future careers, further study, or starting your own business.

The skills you can expect to focus on and gain from this course include:

• Research
• Critical thinking
• Commercial awareness
• Self-management
• Confidence
• Leadership
• Communication
• Teamwork
• Creativity
• EDI leadership
• Problem solving
• Resilience

Career Pathways

Graduates commonly work in a range of organisations or sectors including:

• Information and Communication
• Education
• Finance and Insurance
• Public Administration and Defence
• Scientific and Technical
• Manufacturing
• Transport

Careers directly related to this course:

• Aerospace engineer
• Materials engineer
• Mechanical engineer
• Race car designer
• Spacecraft propulsion engineer
• Unmanned aerial vehicles engineer
• Software engineer
• Engineering consultant
• Propeller design engineer
• Performance and simulation engineer

Wider career opportunities:

• University lecturer
• Management consultant
• Data analyst
• Nuclear engineer
• Financial analyst
• Sustainability consultant
• Science teacher

Job Prospects

• £34k average professional salary
• 95% in a skilled profession or further study
• 95% graduate employment rate

Fees, Costs and Funding

Tuition Fees

• UK students: £9,535
• EU and international students: £28,800

What Your Fees Pay For

Your tuition fees pay for the full cost of tuition and standard exams.

Bursaries, Scholarships and Other Funding

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.

If you're a care leaver or estranged from your parents, you may be able to get a specific bursary.

Get in touch for advice about student money matters.

Scholarships and Grants

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.

Support During Your Course

The Student Hub offers support and advice on money to students. You may be able to access our Student Support fund and other sources of financial support during your course.

Funding for EU and International Students

Find out about funding you could get as an international student.