University of Hertfordshire - MEng (Hons) Aerospace Engineering

University of Hertfordshire

MEng (Hons) Aerospace Engineering

Would you like to design aircraft? We’ll teach you how. We’ll train you up in everything you need to know, from aircraft structures and materials to aerodynamics. We’re passionate about aerospace, and it’s an important part of our institution’s history. It’s how we began. Working with the de Havilland Aircraft Corporation and BAE Systems, the first aerospace engineers started their training back in 1952. As a result, our degree has an excellent and well-established reputation within the aerospace industry.  

On this MEng course, you’ll follow the same pathway as the BEng programmes, but in your extra year you’ll deepen your knowledge and understanding of aerospace topics. You’ll also sharpen your business and management skills. University of Hertfordshire aerospace engineers graduate with practical experience of design and development for future aerospace systems. You’ll get hands-on with our flight simulators, wind tunnels, specialist laboratories and CAE software. We have an open-access laboratory policy for students doing experiments in their own time. With an emphasis on Computer Aided Engineering, you’ll be using industrial standard software wherever possible.  

We’re members of the CDIO Initiative  (Conceive Design Implement Operate), a worldwide network of academic professionals, industry representatives and engineering leaders who have a passion for engineering education and engineering leadership. The CDIO framework has been embedded into our undergraduate degree programme, ensuring you’ll put into practice what you learn through “Design and Build” projects during your studies.

You’ll be taught by experienced aerospace staff, who’ll share their industry knowledge with you. There's plenty of support on offer to help you gain the skills you need to succeed. Plus, like the students before you, you’ll benefit from our strong links to industry. Our students have had work placements at companies such as Airbus, MBDA, Virgin Atlantic Engineering and BAE Systems, Marshall Aerospace and Rolls-Royce plc. Recent Aerospace Engineering graduates have gone on to work at organisations including Ministry of Defence, The Royal Air Force, Jaguar Land Rover, BAE Systems and Telefonica. 

What's the course about?

In your first year, you’ll learn the fundamental skills and knowledge required by a modern engineer, including principles of flight and aircraft operations. You’ll be introduced to Computer Aided Design package commonly used in the aerospace industry. You will also have an opportunity to take part in an exciting design project. Examples of previous projects are Ground Effect Vehicle made of balsa wood and laser cut mini–Mars Rover controlled by Arduino board. 

In your second year, the first-year core themes are further developed. You’ll learn about the design process through series of lectures and practical activities, and you will take part in another exciting group design project. You will expand your knowledge of aerodynamics, with wind tunnel experiments and you will learn about aerospace structures. You will be introduced to software commonly used in the aerospace industry for Finite Element Analysis and Computational Fluid Dynamics.  

Between your second and third year, you can choose to take a work placement or a study abroad year. Both are valuable experiences and something you can add to your CV to make you stand out. 

In your third, or fourth year if you have taken a study abroad or work placement year, you’ll work on two projects:  

  • The Aerospace Design group project - is where you’ll showcase your engineering skills. You will be allocated to a team to design a full-size aircraft and test fly it using our flight simulator. Every year the design task is different – in previous years, our students designed wide-body commercial airliners, heavy cargo aircraft, fire-fighting aircraft and even strategic bombers.  
  • The Individual Major Project - is where you’ll immerse yourself in an area of aerospace engineering, you’re passionate about, using either the University or industrial facilities. This is a rewarding part of your degree that can lead to future employment.  

In your final year, where you will study at a Masters level, you will further deepen your knowledge and understanding of aerospace topics as well as develop your business and management skills. The Team Project is multi-disciplinary and involves applying your skills to solve an unusual and challenging problem, for example the design of an autonomous Unmanned Aerial Vehicle for surveillance on Mars. You could also participate in competitions such as IMechE UAS Challenge, where you and your fellow students have the chance to design and build your own UAV and compete against teams from other universities. 

Entry Requirements

UCAS pointsA LevelBTECIB requirement
120-128BBB - ABB - Grade B Maths and either physics or technology or engineering based subjects, excluding general studies/critical thinkingNot accepted

120-128 points from a minimum of 3 HL subjects at grade 5 or above to include HL Maths and Physics

GCSE: Grade 4/C in English Language and Mathematics.

All students from non-majority English speaking countries require proof of English language proficiency, equivalent to an overall IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each band.

Career Prospects

Having an MEng demonstrates your breadth and depth of understanding about the aerospace industry, therefore making you more attractive to employers. Past graduates have been employed on major projects such as the Airbus A380 or the Typhoon, or in the development of missile systems, satellites and space vehicles.

Course Details

Masters' programmes are structured into levels, 4, 5, 6 and 7.  These correspond to your first, second, third and fourth year of study. Below you can see what modules you’ll be studying in each. 

Year 1

Aerospace technology & industry
Engineering mathematics for aerospace
Mechanical science for aircraft engineering
Introduction to projects and design
Electrical science for aircraft engineering
Programming for aircraft engineers
Aerospace engineering professionalism
Introductory robotics & microcontrollers

Year 2

Structural mechanics
Dynamics
Aerothermodynamics
Aerospace design

Year 3

Stability & control of aircraft
Mechanics and properties of materials
Careers portfolio
Aero structural design and analysis
Industrial placement
Year abroad

Year 4

Flight mechanics
Aeroelasticity
Human resource management
CFD analysis for aerospace applications

*The information’s are correct at the time of publishing, however it may change if university makes any changes after we have published the information. While we try our best to provide correct information, It is advisable to call us or visit university website for up to date information.

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