Program Overview

Master in Aeronautical Engineering

The Master in Aeronautical Engineering (MAE) provides full professional accreditation as an Aeronautical Engineer in Spain and an internationally-focused high-level education. This enables individuals to develop their professional career in all sectors of the aeronautical and space industries, agencies, and research centers.

Graduate School of Engineering and Basic Sciences

• Direction: Prof. Javier Garc燰-Heras Carretero
• Language: English
• Attendance: On-campus
• Credits: 90
• Campus: Leganes
• Applications:
  • Opening: February 16, 2026
  • Places available: 80
• Departments: Aerospace Engineering Department

Program Description

The MAE syllabus combines a core of courses covering all fields of Aerospace Technology. The Master consists of 90 ECTS, including a Thesis, distributed in 3 semesters. Optional extensions of up to 30 ECTS are available for individuals wishing a deeper specialization.

Curriculum

• The Master in Aeronautical Engineering is organized in 3 semesters of 30 ECTS credits each.
• The syllabus consists of 17 compulsory courses of either 3 or 6 credits, and the Master Thesis of 12 credits.
• Courses cover four specialization areas:
  • Aerospace Vehicles: 33 ECTS
  • Propulsion: 23 ECTS
  • Aerospace Navigation and Control: 12 ECTS
  • Air Transport and Airports: 10 ECTS
• Courses combine a scientific and technological core of lectures plus a relevant amount of laboratory and practical sessions.

Year 1 - Semester 1

• Computational Aerodynamics: 6 ECTS
• Advanced Flight Mechanics: 6 ECTS
• Air Navigation Systems: 6 ECTS
• Airports: 6 ECTS
• Aerospace Manufacturing: 6 ECTS

Year 1 - Semester 2

• Propulsion Systems Performance and Design: 6 ECTS
• Space Systems Design: 6 ECTS
• Combustion and Transport Phenomena: 3 ECTS
• Aerospace Project Management: 3 ECTS
• Elements of Critical Software: 3 ECTS
• Advanced Aeroelasticity: 3 ECTS
• Advanced Aircraft Design and Certification I: 6 ECTS

Year 2 - Semester 1

• Advanced Space Propulsion: 3 ECTS
• Advanced Aircraft Design and Certification II: 6 ECTS
• Aerospace Autonomous Systems: 3 ECTS
• Experimental Aerodynamics: 3 ECTS
• Air Transport: 3 ECTS
• Master Thesis: 12 ECTS

Faculty

The Aerospace Engineering Faculty and Research Group is responsible for the Master in Aeronautical Engineering. This international group combines full-time, research-experienced faculty, industry-experienced part-time teachers, visiting professors from foreign institutions, and teaching assistants carrying out their PhD within the group.

Admission

• Requirements: Access is available to anyone with a bachelor's degree in the branch of aerospace engineering that gives access to the Master's degree that gives professional accreditation to work as an Aeronautical Technical Engineer in Spain or a degree that provides equivalent competences.
• Admission Criteria:
  • Academic Excellence in BSc (or equivalent) Degree
  • English level (up to 20% of the total evaluation)
  • Professional experience in Aeronautical Engineering (up to 20% of the total evaluation)
  • Motivation, interest, and recommendation letters (up to 30% of the total evaluation)
• Language Requirements: A good level of spoken and written English is needed. Students must present an Official B2 English diploma.

Enrollment

• Tuition Fees:
  • EU Students: 19.43/ECTS
  • NON EU Students: 154.80/ECTS
• Reservation Fee: 450, paid once the student receives notification of admission and deducted from the first tuition payment.
• Enrollment: Full-time or part-time enrollment is available.

Extensions

The UC3M offers four different types of supplements for the Master:

• Master in Space Engineering: Comprehensive and specialized training in design and systems engineering, oriented to the development of space projects.
• International Exchange Supplement: Training in a particular aerospace area chosen by the student at an international reference university.
• Management Supplement: Transversal and complementary formation in the field of Management.
• Engineering & R&D Supplement: Personalized training by including complementary training in other complementary fields of engineering or research.
• Internship Supplement: Completion of the MAE formation with an experience in the industrial and professional environment.

International Double Degrees

The students of the Master in Aeronautical Engineering have the opportunity to take an International Double Degree and obtain, in addition to the UC3M Master, the Ing幯ieur (MSC) from ISAE-SUPAERO.