Aerospace Engineering MEng

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Why choose Brighton? 

• Exciting project work including rocket cars, robots and the international Engineering Without Borders challenge.
• Learn with internationally recognised researchers.  
• Accredited by IMechE and IET.
• Specialist facilities include flight and car simulators, wind tunnel, prototyping labs and workshops, CNC machines, robotics and VR labs.
• Student-led Sustainable Technology and Engineering Projects (STEP) lab – working to solve energy challenges.
• Professional engineers visit to share their experiences in guest lectures.
• Gain a year of work experience on placement. 

Year 1

In your first year, you will be introduced to the principles of mechanical engineering and develop skills such as Computer Aided Design (CAD). A major design project will combine knowledge gained in conceptual design, manufacturing and testing and put it into practice. 

Modules

• Engineering Mathematics

  In this module you will learn to apply mathematical concepts and software tools to solve engineering problems.

  On completion you will be able to use analytical techniques and software tools to solve simple algebraic problems, develop mathematical models of engineering systems, and apply an appropriate analytical method, or software tool to solve a mathematical model.

• Engineering Practice

  On this module you will develop your engineering skills using projects as the focus of your learning.

  You will work on group projects, applying engineering skills such as reflection, organisation, planning, design, communication and planning. Concepts across a range of engineering specialisms will be introduced as part of a problem-based approach.

• Mechanical Design

  This module introduces you to the principles of mechanical design and communicating engineering design intent. You will acquire skills in drawing and Computer Aided Design (CAD) drawing software package such as SolidWorks, and basic concepts of mechanical design and machine components.

• Energy Systems

  This module will provide you with an introduction to energy production, conversion, storage, conservation and coupling. This will be achieved utilising basic applied concepts relating to fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, heat transfer and engineering economics.

• Design Project

  In this module teams of engineers have the task of designing and manufacturing a functional product. Each team member has to apply a range of engineering skills and knowledge to realise the design. You will gain experience of working within a team, planning and managing the design project.

• Materials and Manufacture

  This module introduces you to materials and their properties, a range of manufacturing processes, and environmental considerations used to make components from various materials.

Making sure that what you learn with us is relevant, up to date and what employers are looking for is our priority, so courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis. When you have applied to us, you’ll be told about any new developments through Student View.

Year 2

You will be introduced to the principles of engineering designs and systems and begin to specialise in aerospace engineering.

Modules

• Dynamics and Control

  This module introduces concepts to describe the dynamic behaviour of practical engineering systems. You'll learn to build mathematical models for engineering systems that can be used to analyse and predict the dynamic behaviour of mechanical systems. You'll also explore design and simulation methodologies for systems to control the dynamic behaviour of engineering systems. 

• Engineering Systems

  Engineering Systems is an opportunity to work in groups with students from different disciplines to solve complex real-world engineering problems, including legal, ethical and environmental issues. Alongside developing your skills in fully integrated sub-systems, the group work will enhance your professional working practice skills.

• Mechanics of Materials

  This module covers the foundations of mechanics of materials and failure analysis including crack propagation and fatigue failure. You'll explore stress analysis under axial, torsional and flexural loading and for pressurised vessels as supported by relevant failure theories; concepts of stress concentration and stress intensity factors; deflections of beams in bending and buckling instability. 

• Aerospace Fluid and Thermal Systems

  This module introduces thermodynamics, internal flows, heat transfer and the principles of energy conversion cycles, together with the design of thermal devices, rotodynamic machines and heat exchangers. Practical exercises in the lab enable you to put the theories into practice, and to evaluate and measure systems and strategies.

• Engineering Design

  On this module you'll develop the knowledge and skills needed to undertake and apply engineering theory to design practice. You'll work in multidisciplinary groups on the design and manufacture of an engineering project, and ending with a competitive test of the product's functionality.

• Manufacturing Engineering

  This module introduces the manufacturing elements of product development at the component level, including manufacturing processes and their associated tooling systems, design for manufacture and assembly, quality control and inspection for mass-produced products. You'll learn how to choose manufacturing processes for a product, and also how to evaluate and control the quality of manufactured products.

Placement year

A placement year offers you a great opportunity to:

• build knowledge of real-world businesses and organisations
• develop existing skills and discover new ones
• make contacts in industry and commerce
• increase your confidence
• improve your time management.

You will also gain the appropriate amount of work experience to reach Engineering Technician (EngTech) status.

Our students have been on placement with companies such as Lockheed Martin, GE Aviation, NATS, and Rolls-Royce.

Year 3

You will undertake an individual project supported by a member of staff whose research interests lie in that area. 

Areas of study include aircraft design and management, aerospace propulsion and avionics. 

Modules

Core modules

• Flight Dynamics and Control

  On this module you will explore the design, simulation and analysis of control and aircraft/spacecraft dynamic and simulation systems for aeronautical applications. You'll be introduced to flight mechanics, aircraft dynamic stability, and classical and modern control theory, alongside control system design and compensator methods to improve system performance. Practical work includes using digital simulation software to build evaluation and analysis models for aircraft flight dynamics and flight control applications. 

• Computational Fluid Dynamics for Aeronautical Engineering Applications

  This module enables you to reduce complex engineering problems to simpler problems and to apply theoretical concepts in fluid dynamics to your solution. You'll achieve this by applying potential flow theory, flow around bodies and boundary layer theory, turbulence modelling, compressible flows, heat and mass transfer theory and computational fluid dynamics technique (theory and practice). 

• Aircraft Design and Management Project

  This module develops the knowledge and skills that you need to design aircraft and aircraft components. Through a project-based approach, you'll develop the ability to understand and apply engineering techniques that underpin aeronautical design, and explore the management and professional techniques involved in releasing aeronautical designs into the marketplace.

• Aerospace Propulsion Systems and Avionics

  On this module you'll further develop your knowledge of aircraft propulsion and explore the principles of general aircraft avionics, in particular communication and navigation systems. You'll focus on gas turbine engines and satellite/ground-based radion navigation systems.

• Individual Project

  In this module you'll be both technical expert and project manager of your major individual project which investigates a technical problem in significant depth. You'll work independently, with a member of academic staff acting as project adviser, building your confidence and competence in project management. The project enables you to bring together skills that you've learned during your degree, such as research, analysis and engineering application.

Options*

• Private Pilot Studies

  This option module is an opportunity to expand your aeronautical skills and complement your engineering studies by undertaking a private pilot licence (PPL) training programme alongside your studies. You'll carry out an internationally recognised PPL qualification in a pilot training facility according to CAA rules. Training is provided external to the university and additional fees will apply.

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Final year 

You will undertake a business-focused topic and a major, industry-related team project with peers from across the engineering disciplines.

Modules

• Major Team Project

  Working in a small team, you'll investigate a real-world engineering problem, come up with possible solutions and choose the most appropriate in terms of technical and business viability. The major team project is an opportunity to use and develop your leadership, management, team skills, project management and technical knowledge.

• Advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics for Aerospace Applications

  Building on what you've learned in previous computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modules, you'll explore advanced CFD and its application to advanced practical engineering problems. You'll gain an understanding of the theoretical foundation of CFD codes including finite difference and finite volume approaches, and apply those codes to aerospace fluid flow and heat transfer problems.

• Engineering Management

  In this module, you'll develop the skills needed to assess and use management and professional techniques, taking a hands-on and practical approach. These skills are crucial for the effective introduction and management of innovative or complex engineering products and components.

• Advanced Avionics

  On this module you'll develop a deeper understanding of avionics through research and simulation. You'll explore aircraft telemetry, application of avionics and modelling of avionics systems, examining the instrumentation used in modern aircraft.

• Professional Development

  On this module you'll develop as an independent learner in the engineering profession. You'll work on a project or design subject on an engineering-related topic outside of the normal syllabus, exploring your personal professional development needs.

Staff profile

Dr Idil Fenercioglu Aydin, aerospace engineering course leader

I lead the Aerospace Engineering course at the University of Brighton and my expertise is in experimental aerodynamics. I love teaching students about the physics of flight, flight dynamics and aircraft design.

Students engage in a variety of activities to enhance their hands-on experience and connect their learning to real-world engineering. In our labs, students conduct wind tunnel experiments to explore aerodynamics and test their design concepts and perform computational fluid dynamics simulations to deepen their understanding of fluid behaviour and its applications in engineering. 

• First-year students design, test, and launch water rockets on a special Launch Day, applying their engineering skills in a fun and celebratory event.
• In their final year, students have a chance to see their designed aircraft take flight, putting their cumulative knowledge into action. 
• Those who join project teams led by our colleagues may also participate in parabolic flight campaigns, providing a unique opportunity to work on cutting-edge projects with real-world applications. 

These experiences not only enrich their education but also demonstrate how their learning directly applies to the field of engineering.

Students also have opportunities to get involved in my research on renewable and sustainable energy. Recently a group of students analysed wing design modifications experimentally and numerically as part of their major team project.

What I enjoy most about teaching at undergraduate level is fostering a deep understanding of the fundamentals of aerospace engineering in students by research and practice informed teaching. Witnessing their growth as they grasp complex concepts and apply them to real-world scenarios is truly rewarding.

Course fees

If you choose to take the professional placement (sandwich) year offered on this course you will pay a reduced fee during this year. Our fee for the professional placement year is £1,500 for UK students and £1,850 for international students. This fee may be subject to small increases, in line with inflation.

The fees listed here are for the first year of full-time study if you start your course in the academic year 2025–26.

You will pay fees for each year of your course. Some fees may increase each year.

UK undergraduate and some postgraduate fees are regulated by the UK government and increases will not be more than the maximum amount allowed. Course fees that are not regulated may increase each year by up to 5% or RPI (whichever is higher).

If you are studying part-time your fee will usually be calculated based on the number of modules that you take.

Find out more

• Brighton Boost – cost of living help for our new undergrad students. Find out about how we can help with your study, accommodation or travel costs and more...
• Fees, bursaries, scholarships and government funding info for UK and international undergraduate students
• Student finance and budgeting while studying
• Read our student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf) for more on University of Brighton tuition fees.

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