Program Overview

BEng(Hons) Aerospace Engineering with Pilot Studies (with Foundation Year)

The BEng(Hons) Aerospace Engineering with Pilot Studies (with Foundation Year) is a four-year full-time or five-year sandwich course designed for students who are committed to an engineering future but have a less conventional background. This course provides an Aerospace Engineering degree with aviation industry-focused insight and skills development, allowing graduates to become more informed engineers or pilots depending on their future career interest and training.

About the Course

• The course is open for applications for the 2026/27 entry year.
• The course code is H45F, and applications are made through UCAS.
• The level of the course is Foundation, and it is based in the School of Engineering at the Frenchay campus.
• The duration of the course is four years full-time or five years for the sandwich course.
• The delivery mode is full-time or sandwich, with a tariff point requirement of 80.

Accreditations and Partnerships

• The course has been accredited in part by the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) on behalf of the Engineering Council, up to and including the 2025 intake.
• Re-accreditation is currently being sought for the intakes from 2026 onwards.

About

This course is designed for students who are fascinated by the history, technology, and progress of aircraft and aviation. It offers a broad range of skills and knowledge, including aerospace engineering and the competencies required of a Private Pilot Licence. The Pilot Study modules are based on real-world pilot training material, focusing on areas such as navigation, aviation safety, aircraft instrument systems, and regulations at a practical level.

Why Study Aerospace Engineering with Pilot Studies?

• The course provides a unique combination of aerospace engineering and pilot studies, allowing students to develop a deeper understanding of the practical aspects of flight and aircraft performance.
• Students will explore aerospace engineering alongside the competencies required of a Private Pilot Licence, gaining a solid grounding in disciplines such as materials and structures, aerodynamics, propulsion, and manufacturing.

Entry

Typical Offers

• Students will need to meet the following Level 2 requirements: GCSE Grade C/4 in English and Mathematics, or equivalent.
• In addition to the above Level 2 qualifications, students will need to achieve the published tariff points from their Level 3 studies prior to entry.
• The tariff points required are 80, with no specific A-level subjects required.
• International and EU applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 with 5.5 in each component (or approved equivalent).

Entry Requirements

• If students exceed the entry requirements, they may be eligible for BEng(Hons) Aerospace Engineering with Pilot Studies.
• International applicants are recommended to study through the International College, which guarantees entry to Year one of the degree upon successful completion to the required level and with good attendance.

Structure

Content

The course content includes:

• Year zero (foundation year): Engineering Experimentation, Foundation Group Project, Foundation Mathematics: Algebra and Calculus, Foundation Mechanics, Introduction to Mechatronics.
• Year one: Aerospace Thermofluids, Dynamics Modelling and Simulation, Engineering Practice 1, Introduction to Pilot Studies, Solid Mechanics, Materials and Manufacturing.
• Year two: Engineering Practice 2, Engineering Research, Structural Mechanics, Fundamental Aerodynamics, Flight, Aerospace Systems Design, Fundamental Aero-Propulsion.
• Placement year (if applicable): Students will spend a year away from the University on a work placement after year two, completing a placement learning module.
• Year three: Engineering Project, Aerospace Group Design Project, Pilot and Airline Operations, Professionalism for Engineers, plus two optional modules from a range of topics including Aero Structures, Avionics, Composite Engineering, and more.

Fees

Full-time; Sandwich Course

• Home Annual (Per Year) Fee: ｣9,535
• Home Full Annual Fee Following Placement Year: ｣9,535
• Home Module Fee (15 Credit): ｣1,192
• Home Placement Year Fee: ｣1,192
• Home Reduced Annual Fee Following Placement Year: ｣8,343
• International Annual (Per Year) Fee: ｣17,000
• International Full Annual Fee Following Placement Year: ｣17,000
• International Module Fee (15 Credit): ｣2,125
• International Placement Year Fee: ｣2,125
• International Reduced Annual Fee Following Placement Year: ｣14,875

Indicative Additional Costs

• Additional Course Costs Indicative Maximum Cost Per year (excluding additional costs of flying training): ｣240

Features

Professional Accreditation

• The course has been accredited in part by the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) on behalf of the Engineering Council, up to and including the 2025 intake.

Placements

• If students choose the five-year (sandwich) course, they will spend a year away from the University on a work placement after year two.
• The placement year provides an opportunity to apply skills and knowledge in an industry setting and to start building a professional network as part of the degree.

Fieldwork

• Throughout the course, students will see aerospace engineering in action at a range of facilities, including visits to Airbus, GKN, and the National Composites Centre.

Study Facilities

• The new engineering building is designed to inspire the engineers of the future, with facilities for hands-on investigation and an ideal environment for encouraging students to explore, take risks, and discover ways to change the world for the better.

Careers

Careers / Further Study

• The BEng(Hons) Aerospace Engineering with Pilot Studies will equip students with industry knowledge and an in-depth understanding of the aerospace design and build process.
• Graduates will be prepared for employment in leading aerospace companies, with strong employability prospects and opportunities for further study.

Get Inspired

• The award-winning careers service will develop students' employment potential through career coaching and help find graduate jobs, placements, and global opportunities.