Program Overview

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MEng Aerospace Engineering

Overview

The MEng Aerospace Engineering will provide you with a broad, well-balanced preparation for a professional career in the aerospace industry.

As a graduate from The University of Manchester, you will be prepared for leadership positions in a successful career in industry. You will also gain skills useful for work in other areas, such as research, management, technical development, and finance. Perhaps you'd prefer to work in areas such as design or development? Or you could end up working in the testing and operation of vehicles and systems.

We will give you a theoretical knowledge of engineering science, in addition to a solid base of practical skills, an understanding of design, comprehension of the commercial world, and competence in transferable skills (problem-solving, team working, creativity, adaptability, and IT). You will be taught using interactive learning approaches and using cutting-edge and industry-standard tools.

The additional MEng year combines engineering science taught in previous years into multi-faceted, commercially-realistic projects allowing students to demonstrate their applied skills in addition to their technical skills. Additional specialist units allow students to focus on advanced topics taught by world-leading researchers.

The degree also provides an excellent route for individuals wishing to proceed to further postgraduate research.

Aims

The course will give you the skills necessary for a successful career in industry. In addition, you will gain a route into postgraduate research that is tailored to individual areas of interest, either in a more specialised area of Aerospace Engineering or move into a different engineering or technical discipline.

When you complete the course, you will have:

• A comprehensive knowledge of engineering science and a strong base of practical skills
• The skills to begin a successful career in industry
• Transferable skills, particularly team working, creativity, and adaptability
• A route into more specialised postgraduate study

Special Features

Learn in our brand-new, purpose-built space for innovation and creativity that is transforming the way our students study, research, and shape the world forever. Explore Our Home for Engineering and Materials.

Additional Course Information

We do not currently offer Erasmus placements in this School. If you have queries about study abroad options, please contact the International Programmes Office who will be able to advise you further.

Teaching and Learning

The course is taught via a combination of lectures, tutorial classes, practical laboratory sessions, and computer-based sessions. There is a design project each year, which involves teamwork in small groups, and allows students to apply and develop their problem-solving and project management skills. In the third year, each student undertakes an individual project, allowing them to pursue a particular subject or application area in greater depth.

Coursework and Assessment

Most course units are assessed through an examination (at the end of the semester) and coursework which is undertaken throughout the year. Parts of the coursework are, in many instances, associated with practical laboratory sessions, whilst others may be based on problem sheets, reports, etc. A few subjects, for example Design, are assessed purely on coursework.

Course Unit Details

Year 1

• Aerospace Design
• Fluid Mechanics for Aerospace and Mechanical Engineers
• PASS (Aerospace Engineering)
• Introduction to Aerospace Engineering
• Introduction to Computer Aided Engineering
• Structures 1 (Aero)
• Electrical Engineering Fundamentals
• Mathematics 1M1
• Mathematics 1M2
• Materials 1 (Aerospace)
• Workshop Practice
• Manufacturing Engineering 1 (Aerospace)
• Mechanics (Aerospace)
• Aerospace and Mechanical Thermodynamics

Year 2

• PASS (Aerospace Engineering)
• Modelling & Simulation 2 (Aerospace)
• Fluid Mechanics 2
• Aerospace Field Course
• Aircraft Performance and Design
• Space Systems
• Structures 2 (Aerospace)
• Avionics
• Project Management (Aero/Mech)
• Mathematics 2M1
• Workshop Practice
• Applied Thermodynamics (Aerospace)
• Dynamics
• Numerical Methods & Computing (Aerospace)

Year 3

• PASS (Aerospace Engineering)
• Control Engineering (Aerospace)
• Individual Project (Aerospace)
• Aerospace Propulsion
• Structures 3 (Aerospace)
• Aircraft Aerodynamics
• Vibrations (Aerospace)
• Conceptual Aerospace Systems Design
• Flight Dynamics
• Operations Management
• Workshop Practice (Aerospace)
• Modelling & Simulation 3
• Heat Transfer

Year 4

• Aerospace Group Design Project
• Workshop Practice (Aerospace)
• Data-driven Methods for Engineers
• Advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics
• Autonomous Mobile Robots
• Helicopters
• Experimental Methods
• Launch and Re-entry Gas Dynamics
• Advanced Space Systems Engineering
• Advanced Research Project
• Engineering and Society
• Climate Data Application
• Antennas and RF Systems
• Digital Image Processing
• Engineering Foresight
• Environmental Remote Sensing
• Space and Sustainability
• Fundamentals of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) applied to Environmental Monitoring
• Advanced Heat Transfer
• Composites and Polymers
• Advanced Power
• Structural Integrity

Facilities

The University of Manchester also offers an extensive library and online services, helping you get the most out of your studies.

Disability Support

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service.

Careers

Career Opportunities

MACE graduates talk employability: "They loved me because I was a Graduate from the University of Manchester"

MACE graduates talk employability: "They loved me because I was a graduate from University of Manchester"

Launch your career with MEng Aerospace Engineering at The University of Manchester. As one of the few Universities Most Targeted by Graduate Employers in 2021, it's our pleasure to equip you with the sought-after skills needed to journey into this sector - from design and development, to testing and operation.

Not only is this course fully accredited by RAeS and IMechE, your MEng (Hons) also provides all the required academic qualifications for the internationally recognised Chartered Engineering Status.

Previous graduate employers include:

• Rolls Royce
• Jaguar Land Rover
• BAE Systems
• And many more

Overall, 90% of graduates are employed or engaged in further study within 15 months, according to the Graduate Outcomes Survey.

Example Careers:

• Aerospace engineer
• Design engineer
• Manufacturing systems engineer
• CAD technician
• Researcher
• Higher education academic
• Production manager
• Financial roles
• And beyond

Accrediting Organisations

This course is currently in the process of being re-accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and the Royal Aeronautical Society under license from the UK regulator, the Engineering Council for the 2025 to 2030 intakes.

Associated Organisations

As an Aerospace Engineering student at The University of Manchester, we encourage you to become a member of the Royal Aeronautical Society.

Would you like to discover more about what life is like after University of Manchester? Be inspired by our Women in Engineering page and hear from students, lecturers, and inspiring names in industry on the Big Sisters in STEM podcast.

Entry Requirements

A-level

A*AA in any order, including Mathematics, Physics, and one other subject.

As practical skills are a crucial part of science education, you are required to pass the practical element of any Science A-Level taken. Where applicants are applying for science and related degrees, this will likely be made explicit in the offers received.

We are willing to consider applicants without Physics if they have studied Further Mathematics; applications will be considered on a case by case basis.

If you do not have the required grades or subjects you may want to consider our integrated foundation year.

Please check for specific GCSE/IGCSE subject entry requirements below.

Duration of A-level study

Your application will still be considered against the standard selection process if you:

• Sat your examinations early
• Followed an accelerated curriculum and spent three years studying A-levels, with examinations taken over two years

Kindly note, if you are studying an advanced curriculum, where examinations are spread over three years, consideration will be at the discretion of the admissions tutor for your chosen subject.

A-level contextual offer

AAA including Mathematics, Physics, and one other subject.

For further information and to check eligibility, visit our contextual admissions page.

Please check for specific GCSE/IGCSE subject entry requirements below.

Contextual offers are available for applicants who:

• Live in the UK and will be under the age of 21 on 1 September of the year they will start their course; and
• Live in an area of disadvantage or with low progression into higher education; and
• Have attended a UK school or college for their GCSEs or A-levels (or equivalent qualifications) that has performed below the national average over multiple years.

UK refugee/care-experienced offer

AAB including Mathematics, Physics, and one other subject.

We are willing to consider applicants without Physics if they have studied Further Mathematics; applications will be considered on a case by case basis.

Practical skills are a crucial part of science education and therefore will be a requirement to pass the practical element of any science A Level taken. Where applicants are applying for science and related degrees, this is likely to be made explicit in the offer you will receive.

Applicants taking A Levels are normally expected to offer three full A Levels. If you’re taking more than three A Levels, these won’t be included in your offer. We will only make offers consisting of three A Levels.

Please check for specific GCSE/IGCSE subject entry requirements below.

UK refugee/care-experienced offers are available for applicants who:

• Have been looked after in care for more than three months; or
• Have been granted refugee status by the UK government or have been issued a UK visa under one of the Ukrainian schemes (Homes for Ukraine, Ukraine Family Scheme or Ukraine Extension Scheme).

International Baccalaureate

37 points overall with 7,6,6 at Higher Level, including Mathematics, Physics, and one other subject.

We also accept:

• Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches
• Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation

GCSE/IGCSE

Applicants must demonstrate a broad general education.

Typically this is five GCSEs/IGCSEs, including acceptable levels of literacy and numeracy - equivalent to at least Grade C/4 in GCSE/IGCSE English Language and Mathematics.

GCSE/IGCSE English Literature will not be accepted in lieu of GCSE/IGCSE English Language.

Other entry requirements

Other entry requirements exist for this course. You may view these by selecting from the list below.

• Scottish requirements
• Welsh Baccalaureate
• Foundation year
• Pearson BTEC qualifications
• OCR Cambridge Technical qualifications
• Access to HE Diploma
• T Level
• Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)

Fees and Funding

Fees

Fees for entry in 2026 have not yet been set. For entry in 2025 the tuition fees were £9,535 per annum for home students, and are expected to increase slightly for 2026 entry.

Policy on additional costs

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application.

Scholarships/sponsorships

The University of Manchester is committed to attracting and supporting the very best students. We have a focus on nurturing talent and ability and we want to make sure that you have the opportunity to study here, regardless of your financial circumstances.

For information about fees and funding, please see our undergraduate fees pages and check the scholarships and bursaries page.

Application and Selection

How to apply

Apply through UCAS.

Advice to applicants

Factors contributing to a successful application include:

• Past academic performance
• Predicted academic performance
• Enthusiasm for, and realistic grasp of, chosen degree programme
• Evidence of interpersonal skills and non-academic interests/achievements

Further guidance can be found on our How to Apply page.

Where you have mitigating circumstances, these should be reported to your education provider and relevant exam board. We cannot make further allowances.

Please note, we would normally only consider applicants who have obtained the relevant qualification within the two years prior to entry. Applicants who have left education for more than two years should contact the Admissions Team to discuss their particular circumstances.

Home-schooled applicants

If you have followed a non-standard educational route, e.g. you have been educated at home, your application will be considered against the standard entry criteria of the course you are applying to. You will be required to demonstrate you meet the specified academic entry requirements of the course.

We will also require a reference from somebody who knows you well enough, in an official capacity, to write about you and your suitability for higher education. Please refer to UCAS reference guidelines for further information.

If you are a home-schooled student and would like further information or advice, please contact the Admissions Team for the academic department for your chosen course.

Non-standard educational routes

Mature applicants returning to studies after a break from formal education will be considered on a case by case basis.

If you require more clarification about the acceptability of the qualifications you hold, please contact the Admissions Team directly. Further information for mature students.

How your application is considered

Applications are considered on the basis of each UCAS application.

Strong examination results are the main factor in admitting students to our courses, but we also consider other information to ensure we admit students with the most outstanding potential. This is assessed within a structured framework and includes both prior and predicted grades. Your referee should give realistic grade predictions for all qualifications you are currently studying at the top of their reference.

If you attend a non-UK school or college that does not provide predicted grades, your referee should explain this policy within their reference.

Interview requirements

We do not hold interviews but UK-based applicants who receive an offer will be invited to a virtual webinar, or on-campus visit day, which generally take place on Wednesday afternoons from December to March.

Overseas (non-UK) applicants

ATAS Information

If you receive an offer from us you should apply for an ATAS clearance certificate if your course requires it, unless you're exempt because you're a national of the UK, EU, EEA, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, or the USA.

Your Student Route Visa application, or extension of stay, will automatically be refused if you need an ATAS certificate and cannot provide one. For further guidance on obtaining an ATAS certificate, please see the information in our ATAS Guidance.

Do not apply for ATAS until contacted by your admissions team, as the information required is subject to change. Failure to obtain a correct ATAS certificate will prevent our ability to issue a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies).

Deferrals

Applications for deferred entry are considered equally to other applications up to the point of confirmation.

Deferred entry is granted at the discretion of admissions staff and for one year only. In exceptional circumstances, it may be granted for two years at the maximum.

Some English Language test results, such as IELTS or TOEFL, are only valid for two years from the test date. Your English Language test report must be valid on the start date of the course.

We normally guarantee a place in the current year should an applicant's gap year plans change. However, this is subject to availability of places.

Policy for applicants who resit their qualifications

If you have re-sat individual modules to improve your grades, we will consider your application according to the standard selection process.

If you are planning to re-sit your final Year 13 examinations, or have already done so, The University will consider your application, but may require further information in order to make an informed judgment.

Policy for applicants who take their examinations in more than one sitting

We are happy to consider applicants who are taking their examinations in different sittings, provided they were taken over the standard two-year period.

Re-applications

If you applied in the previous year and were not successful you may apply again.

Your application will be considered against the standard course criteria for the current year of entry. In your new application, you should demonstrate how your application has improved.

We may draw upon all information from your previous applications, or any previous registrations at The University as a student, when assessing your suitability for your chosen course.

If you are applying for a place for the same year of entry through UCAS Extra, you should provide additional evidence of your suitability for the course. If you are applying through Clearing, you are required to meet the Clearing requirements. In both UCAS Extra and Clearing, the places will be subject to availability.

Transfers

Transfers from other institutions are considered on a case by case basis.

Those into the second year are usually not considered. If you wish to enquire about whether you may be eligible to apply for entry into the second year, please contact the Admissions Team with full details of your qualifications and copies of your transcripts to date.