Program Overview

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Aerospace Engineering (MEng)

Overview

Aerospace Engineering is at the cutting edge of technology, understanding and applying scientific principles to the design, development and service of some of the most technologically advanced engineering products in the world, ranging from commercial aeroplanes and helicopters to spacecraft and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Aerospace engineers will be pivotal in addressing the future challenges of the aerospace industry related to the environment (e.g. minimising noise and pollution) and sustainability. With the ability to succeed in diverse and challenging situations, aerospace engineers are naturally versatile, opening up a wide range of career opportunities, and our graduates can be found in leading private and public sector companies worldwide.

Course Structure

Stage 1

• Students are introduced to core engineering principles and mathematics, and they undertake a team-based project, designed to introduce them to the concept of professional engineering practice.
• This is supported with a module in engineering design where students are introduced to Engineering CAD (Computer-Aided Design) software.

Stage 2

• Stage 2 builds on the knowledge already gained with a series of more advanced engineering science subjects including dynamics, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics and strength of materials.
• The group design exercises allow students to demonstrate their technical ability in a team environment.
• A dedicated laboratory programme enables students to conduct practical experiments to reinforce the theoretical knowledge developed in the engineering science modules.

Stage 3

• Students expand their engineering knowledge through a range of core courses in engineering science and professional studies along with chosen optional modules.
• They also undertake a major group design project, working within teams to conceive, design, build and fly an aircraft, enhancing aerospace engineering design and engineering skills and developing professional presentational and team-working skills.

Stage 4

• Students extend their knowledge of engineering applications through optional modules, and in advanced core skills and professional studies.
• The other major focus is the individual project, where students also apply their engineering skills to an area of cutting-edge technology. These projects are closely associated with industry and with the School's current research interests.

People Teaching You

• Dr Zafer Kazancı
  • Programme Director for Aerospace Engineering
  • Senior Lecturer at Queen’s University Belfast, UK
  • Director of the Advanced Composites Research Group (ACRG)
  • Recognised expert on the behaviour of composite structures under extreme loads and specialises in impact and blast loading.

Contact Teaching Hours

• Small Group Teaching/Personal Tutorial: 1 (hours maximum)
  • 1-2 hours of personal tutorial or individual project supervision per week
• Medium Group Teaching: 12 (hours maximum)
  • 6-18 hours of tutorials/practical/design activities per week (varies by stage of study)
• Large Group Teaching: 10 (hours maximum)
  • 8-12 hours of lectures per week (varies by stage of study)
• Personal Study: 17 (hours maximum)
  • 14-20 hours studying and revising in your own time each week, including some guided study using handouts, online activities, tutorial sheets and others

Learning and Teaching

• The School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering plays a leading role in CDIO (Conceiving — Designing — Implementing — Operating), an international initiative to reform engineering education which involves well over 100 universities worldwide.
• Support for participation in this initiative was secured through funding to set up a Centre of Excellence in Active and Interactive Learning at Queen's.
• As a result, our degree programmes have many innovative features that enhance student learning.

Assessment

• Details of assessment procedures are outlined below:
  • The way in which students are assessed will vary according to the learning objectives of each module. Most modules are assessed through a combination of coursework and end of semester examinations. Some modules [e.g. final year Honours Project module] are assessed solely through project work or written assignments. Details of how each module is assessed are shown in the Student Handbook which is provided to all students during their first year induction.

Feedback

• As students’ progress through their course at Queen’s they will receive general and specific feedback about their work from a variety of sources including lecturers, module co-ordinators, placement supervisors, personal tutors, advisers of study and peers.
• University students are expected to engage with reflective practice and to use this approach to improve the quality of their work.
• Feedback may be provided in a variety of forms including:
  • Formal written comments and marks relating to work that you, as an individual or as part of a group, have submitted.
  • Face to face comment. This may include occasions when you make use of the lecturers’ advertised “office hours” to help you to address a specific query.
  • Placement employer comments or references.
  • Online or emailed comment.
  • General comments or question and answer opportunities at the end of a lecture, seminar or tutorial.
  • Pre-submission advice regarding the standards you should aim for and common pitfalls to avoid. In some instances, this may be provided in the form of model answers or exemplars which you can review in your own time.
  • Feedback and outcomes from practical classes.
  • Comment and guidance provided by staff from specialist support services such as, Careers, Employability and Skills or the Learning Development Service.
  • Once you have reviewed your feedback, you will be encouraged to identify and implement further improvements to the quality of your work.

Facilities

• The school offers a range of world class facilities to support student activity and project-based learning such as:
  • Student Design Studio
  • Teaching Laboratories
  • Engineering Workshop
  • Polymer and Composite Processing
  • Prototyping Studio
  • Manufacture and Assembly Automation
  • Material and Structural Testing
  • Composites manufacturing and testing

Modules

Year 1

• Dynamic Systems 1 (20 credits)
• Engineering Design 1 (20 credits)
• Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics 1 (20 credits)
• Mechanics of Materials 1 (20 credits)
• Mathematics 1 (20 credits)
• Introduction to Engineering 1 (20 credits)

Year 2

• Aircraft Aerodynamics and Performance 2 (20 credits)
• Compressible Flow and Propulsion 2 (20 credits)
• Aerospace Flight Laboratory (0 credits)
• Aircraft Design 2 (20 credits)
• Professional Studies 2 (10 credits)
• Aircraft Structures 2 (20 credits)
• Mathematics and Computing 2 (20 credits)
• Manufacturing Technology 2 (10 credits)
• Laboratory Programme 2 (0 credits)
• Employability 2 (0 credits)

Year 3

• Computer-Aided Engineering 3 (20 credits)
• Manufacturing 3 (20 credits)
• Aeronautical Engineering 3 (20 credits)
• Aircraft Design 3M (40 credits)
• Professional Studies 3 (10 credits)
• Avionic Systems 3 (10 credits)

Year 4

• Computer-Aided Engineering 4 (20 credits)
• Project 4 (40 credits)
• Mechanics of Aerospace Materials 4 (20 credits)
• Aeronautical Engineering 4 (20 credits)
• Professional Studies 4 (20 credits)
• Manufacturing Automation & Simulation 4 (20 credits)

Entrance Requirements

A level requirements

• AAA including Mathematics and at least one from Physics (preferred), Biology, Chemistry, Further Mathematics or Technology and Design.
• A maximum of one BTEC/OCR Single Award or AQA Extended Certificate will be accepted as part of an applicant's portfolio of qualifications with a Distinction* being equated to a grade A at A-level.

Irish leaving certificate requirements

• H2H2H3H3H3H3 including Higher Level grade H2 in Mathematics and at least one from Physics (preferred), Biology or Chemistry

International Baccalaureate Diploma

• 36 points overall, including 6,6,6 at Higher Level, including Mathematics and Physics (preferred), Biology or Chemistry.

Graduate

• A minimum of a 2:2 Honours Degree, provided any subject requirement is also met.

Access/Foundation Course

• Not considered. Applicants should apply for the BEng Aerospace Engineering degree.

Note

• All applicants must have GCSE English Language grade C/4 or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University.
• Applicants not offering Physics at A-level should have a minimum of a grade B/6 in GCSE Physics or GCSE Double Award Science grades BB/66.

How We Choose Our Students

• Applications are dealt with centrally by the Admissions and Access Service rather than by the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.
• Once your application has been processed by UCAS and forwarded to Queen's, an acknowledgement is normally sent within two weeks of its receipt at the University.
• Selection is on the basis of the information provided on your UCAS form, which is considered by an Admissions Manager/Officer from the Admissions and Access Service and, if appropriate, the Selector from the School.
• Decisions are made on an ongoing basis and will be notified to you via UCAS.
• Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as is consistent with having made a careful and considered choice of institutions and courses.

International Students

• Our country/region pages include information on entry requirements, tuition fees, scholarships, student profiles, upcoming events and contacts for your country/region.
• Use the dropdown list below for specific information for your country/region.

English Language Requirements

• An IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each test component or an equivalent acceptable qualification, details of which are available at: [insert link]

International Scholarships

• Information on scholarships for international students, is available at: [insert link]

Tuition Fees

• Northern Ireland (NI) 1: £4,855
• Republic of Ireland (ROI) 2: £4,855
• England, Scotland or Wales (GB) 1: £9,535
• EU Other 3: £26,600
• International: £26,600

Additional Course Costs

• Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs which are not covered by tuition fees, which students will need to consider when planning their studies.
• Students can borrow books and access online learning resources from any Queen's library. If students wish to purchase recommended texts, rather than borrow them from the University Library, prices per text can range from £30 to £100.
• Students should also budget between £30 to £75 per year for photocopying, memory sticks and printing charges.
• Students undertaking a period of work placement or study abroad, as either a compulsory or optional part of their programme, should be aware that they will have to fund additional travel and living costs.
• If a programme includes a major project or dissertation, there may be costs associated with transport, accommodation and/or materials. The amount will depend on the project chosen.
• There are also additional charges for graduation ceremonies, examination resits and library fines.

How Do I Fund My Study?

• There are different tuition fee and student financial support arrangements for students from Northern Ireland, those from England, Scotland and Wales (Great Britain), and those from the rest of the European Union.
• Information on funding options and financial assistance for undergraduate students is available at: [insert link]

Scholarships

• Each year, we offer a range of scholarships and prizes for new students.
• Information on scholarships available.

Career Prospects

• A degree in Aerospace Engineering from Queen’s will assist you in developing the core skills and employment-related experiences that are valued by employers, professional organisations and academic institutions alike.
• Our graduates are well regarded by many employers (local, national and international) and the versatility of Aerospace Engineering graduates makes them well suited for a wide range of future careers, both within engineering and in the wider graduate sector.
• £27,000 average starting salary for graduates from this School.
• Queen’s University Belfast has strong links with both the local and international aerospace community, and we participate in regular consultations with local aerospace and wider engineering employers, including Spirit AeroSystems, Rolls Royce, Thales Air Defence, Rockwell Collins, and FG Wilson.
• Our past students have also gained work placement with organisations such as:
  • Rolls Royce
  • Airbus UK
  • BAE Systems
  • FlyBE
  • Rockwell Collins

Alumni Success

• Many of our former graduates have risen to the top of their fields and include many famous figures; for example:
  • Bernadette "Bernie" Collins: British Formula One Strategy Analyst for Sky Sports and F1TV and former F1 Strategy Engineer and Head of Race Strategy for the Aston Martin F1 team.
  • Katrina Thompson: Programme Director, Artemis Technologies.
  • Michael McKay: Former Flight Operations Director for ESA Mars and Lunar Missions, European Space Agency.
  • Michael Ryan: Former Vice President and General Manager, Bombardier Aerospace, Belfast. Now General Manager of Spirit Aerosystems, Belfast.
  • Bob Bell: Former Chief Technical Officer, RenaultSport F1.
  • Air Commodore David Case: Royal Air Force.

Prizes and Awards

• The School receives valued support from the business community and private sponsors. This enables us to award over 50 prizes and scholarships.

Degree Plus/Future Ready Award for Extra-Curricular Skills

• In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more.
• So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Degree Plus/Future Ready Award. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.

Apply

• Application for admission to full-time undergraduate and sandwich courses at the University should normally be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
• Full information can be obtained from the UCAS website at: [insert link]

When to Apply

• UCAS will start processing applications for entry in autumn 2026 from early September 2025.
• The advisory closing date for the receipt of applications for entry in 2026 is Wednesday 14 January 2026 (18:00). This is the 'equal consideration' deadline for this course.
• Applications from UK and EU (Republic of Ireland) students after this date are, in practice, considered by Queen’s for entry to this course throughout the remainder of the application cycle (30 June 2026) subject to the availability of places. If you apply for 2026 entry after this deadline, you will automatically be entered into Clearing.
• Applications from International and EU (Other) students are normally considered by Queen's for entry to this course until 30 June 2026. If you apply for 2026 entry after this deadline, you will automatically be entered into Clearing.

Terms and Conditions

• The terms and conditions that apply when you accept an offer of a place at the University on a taught programme of study. Queen's University Belfast Terms and Conditions.

Additional Information for International (non-EU) Students

• Applying through UCAS
• Applying direct
• Applying through agents and partners

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Your Future Career

• Queen's is ranked 8th in the UK for Graduate Prospects – On Track (Complete University Guide 2025)

Student Accommodation

• The most affordable, purpose-built student accommodation in Belfast.

Course Data

• 92% of students were satisfied overall with their course.
• Data for courses in Aerospace Engineering at Queen's University Belfast
• 85% of students say teaching staff have supported their learning well.
• Data for Aerospace Engineering (Full time) at Queen's University Belfast, over two years
• 100% in work or doing further study 15 months after the course.
• Data for Aerospace Engineering (Full time) at Queen's University Belfast, over two years

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