collageAerospace engineering is a field that requires forward-thinking, inventive and out-of-the-box-thinking individuals. The various challenges faced in the field pertaining to the aircraft are often difficult and technological, but these challenges give engineers an opportunity to experiment and innovate new designs, tools and technologies that can improve industries such as aerospace, aviation, aeronautics, astronautics, geoscience and defense.
What are the prerequisites for aerospace engineering? Aerospace engineering course entry requirements. Almost every course will require you to have qualifications in math and physics, and high grades at the more prestigious universities. Other desirable subjects include IT or computing, further math, and design technology.
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What is aerospace engineering
Aerospace engineers are responsible for some of the most incredible feats of mankind. Much more than making sure we get to our summer holidays safely, aerospace engineers also produce the equipment that makes weather forecasts, mobile phones, television broadcast, and space flight possible. Whether you want to fly high in thrilling industries, or you’re looking for a secure and well-paid career, aerospace engineering will offer you fantastic and exciting opportunities.
When you graduate, you’ll be highly skilled, highly technical, and in high demand. Using your ingenuity, computing, numeracy, and technological talents, you’ll help keep people safe and comfortable on the 40 million flights that take place every year. Or, you could take your skills into a variety of other sectors where your expertise will get you to the top of many interview lists.
Aerospace engineering course entry requirements
You won’t be surprised to hear that aerospace engineering degrees are competitive. Almost every course will require you to have qualifications in maths and physics, and high grades at the more prestigious universities. Other desirable subjects include IT or computing, further maths, and design technology.
In your personal statement, and if you need to attend an interview, you’ll want to show your talents with numbers, technology, analysis, problem solving, initiative, and innovation.
A levels – Entry requirements range from CCC to A*AA, with the universities and colleges most commonly asking for A*AA.
Scottish Highers – Entry requirements for Highers (the most common qualification) range from AAAB to AAAAA, with universities or colleges most frequently requiring AABBB. Occasionally, universities ask for Advanced Highers to supplement Highers. If Advanced Highers are requested, universities or colleges typically ask for AAA.
Vocational courses – Other Level 3/Level 6 qualifications (e.g. Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma, or an SCQF Level 6) may be accepted as an alternative to A levels/Highers by some providers. It’s essential that you check alternative entry requirements with universities or colleges.
What you will need to do
- Apply by 26 January
- Personal statement
- Attend an interview
What you won’t need to do
- Audition for a place
- Pass an entry test
- Show work experience
- Submit a portfolio
Do I need an A in maths to study aerospace engineering?
It would definitely give you a competitive edge, but plenty of students get onto aerospace engineering courses with Bs or Cs if their other grades are good. The important bit is that you have a maths qualification, as this will give you the grounding you need to build upon.
Find out what aerospace engineering is likeChat now to Maria who can tell you all about it.
Why study aerospace engineering?
The engineering industry a multi-billion pound global career market that offers job satisfaction, job security, and great potential salaries. With projects spanning countries and continents, aerospace engineers have the opportunity to travel the world and work on exciting new technologies and programmes, many of which are designed to make the world a better place. Germany, China, India, and the USA are famed for their engineering talents, and many graduates will go on to gain experience and jobs in these fast-growing markets.
As an engineering student, you’ll experience a variety that few of your friends at university will be able to match. From learning theories and principles in the lecture hall, to testing and prototyping in the labs, to full scale builds in the workshop – you won’t be standing still for long. The skills you develop in these scenarios will stand you in good stead for careers in engineering, manufacturing, production, design, automotive, systems, and a whole host of other related sectors.
When it comes to building an impressive CV, aerospace engineers hold all the aces. From the military to the government, the biggest airlines and even NASA, you won’t be short of household names to add to your employment history. Two thirds of graduates will find themselves snapped up within six months, earning upwards of £26,000, whilst another 16% will go on to further develop their education, turning a BSc/BEng into an MSc/MEng. Many will even go on to become chartered or incorporated engineers, which are both professional trademarks of the industry.
Some modules you may study are:
- Aerodynamics
- Space mission analysis and design
- Mechanics of flight
- Aircraft design
- Management and business
- Heat transfer
- Airframe design and flight dynamics
- Space systems
What are the specialisms available in aerospace engineering?
Like many degrees, you’ll be able to focus and specialise on the area of your subject that interests you most. This usually happens in the second and third year. In aerospace engineering, this could be anything from materials and structures, to avionics, to quality control or technical sales.
What can you do with an aerospace engineering degree?
An aerospace engineering degree can lead to hundreds of different careers, with the most common being:
- aerospace engineer
- manufacturing engineer
- engineering consultant
- aeronautical designer
Along with putting you in good stead for:
- mechanical engineer
- structural engineer
- engineering management
- automotive engineer
- production manager
- data scientist
What’s it like to study aerospace engineering?
You’ll spend around 25 hours with your tutors each week, which is much higher than many other courses. You’ll also find yourself doing the same amount again in self-study, which means you’ll probably have less free time than many of your friends on less demanding courses. Aerospace engineering degrees are difficult, but they also offer some of the best opportunities post-university.
Aerospace engineers need to be highly technical and accurate, whilst also using creativity and quick-thinking to solve problems. Whether it’s for a commercial airline where meeting deadlines is essential to keep customers happy, or in the military where you’ll be working on machinery in dangerous situations – you need to be able to work quickly without sacrificing quality. Your degree will teach you how to do this, as you spend lots of time learning the principles and theories so that they become second nature to you. In the lecture, the lab and the workshop, you’ll learn exactly what goes where, when it goes there, and why.
Almost all aerospace engineering degrees will offer you the chance to gain work experience. This might be in the form of short-term projects, or it might be a sandwich year between your second and third year. Opportunities are available at companies like British Airways, Formula One, Rolls-Royce, and Airbus. Whilst the UK aerospace industry employs over 120,000 people across 400 organisations, it’s a highly competitive market so taking the opportunity to hone your skills within real businesses will give you a great chance at getting a job after your course.
Aerospace engineering undergraduates can expect the following tasks during their studies:
- writing reports and essays
- attending lectures and seminars
- hearing from industry speakers
- laboratory and workshop projects
- placements and industry experience
- project and teamwork
Are you considering an accelerated degree? Click here to read more about the possibility of completing your undergraduate course in two years rather than three.
Apprenticeships
If you want to combine work and study while earning a salary, you could consider an apprenticeship. Which apprenticeships are available, and how you apply, depends on where you live.
Find out more about apprenticeships across the UK.
There are approximately 120 apprenticeships in the engineering sector available in England, with more in development.
Each apprenticeship sets out occupational standards for specific job roles, designed by employers. The standards outline the skills, knowledge, and behaviours required to demonstrate that an apprentice is fully competent in the job role.
Higher apprenticeships (Level 4)
- Aircraft maintenance certifying engineer
- Automation and controls engineering technician
- Propulsion technician
- Software tester
- Software developer
Degree apprenticeships (Levels 5 – 7)
- Air traffic controller
- Aerospace engineer (degree)
- Aerospace software development engineer (degree)
- Control/technical support engineer (degree)
- Electrical/electronic technical support engineer (degree)
- Embedded electronic systems design and development engineer (degree)
- Electronic systems principal engineer
- Product design and development engineer (non-integrated degree)
- Systems engineer (degree)
- Through life engineering services specialist
BEng Aerospace Engineering / Entry requirements
A-level
Grades AAA in Mathematics, Physics and one other subject.
Practical skills are a crucial part of science education and therefore there 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 offers you will receive.
AS-level
AS level results are not considered as part of the standard admissions process at The University of Manchester.
Unit grade information
The University of Manchester welcomes the provision of unit information where available. Like all other information provided by applicants this may be taken into consideration when assessing your application. Unit grades will not normally form part of an offer conditions.
GCSE
Applicants must demonstrate a broad general education including:
Five GCSES/iGCSES at Grades A*-C or 9-4
English Language and Mathematics are required at GCSE/iGCSE level with a minimum Grade of C or 4 . GCSE/iGCSE English Literature will not be accepted in lieu of GCSE/iGCSE English Language.
Please note that if you hold English as a second language iGCSE qualification, we may also require you to offer one of our acceptable equivalent English Language qualifications or achieve a higher grade in your iGCSE than the one stated above. Please contact the academic department for clarification.
International Baccalaureate
36 points overall with 6,6,6 in Higher Level subjects.
The course specific requirements are: 36 points overall with 6, 6, 6 at Higher level in Mathematics, Physics and one other subject.
We also accept 5 in English Language at Standard level to meet our English language requirements.
Changes to International Baccalaureate Diploma Mathematics Courses from September 2019, first examination 2021. We are aware of the planned changes to the IB Mathematics curriculum. IB students will be able to choose from: Mathematics: analysis and approaches and Mathematics: applications and interpretation from September 2019.
For this programme of study we will accept: Higher Level Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches or Applications and Interpretation.
aerospace engineering a level requirements
Alternative entry requirements exist for this course. You may view these by selecting from the list below. Other international entry requirements Scottish requirements Welsh Baccalaureate European Baccalaureate AQA Baccalaureate Foundation year Pearson BTEC qualifications OCR Cambridge Technical qualifications Access to HE Diploma Cambridge Pre-U Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) Core Maths Home-schooled applicants Non-standard educational routes
English language
All applicants to the University (from the UK and Overseas) are required to show evidence of English Language proficiency. The minimum English Language requirement for this course is either:
- GCSE/iGCSE English Language grade C/4, or;
- IELTS 6.5 overall with no sub-test below 6.0, or;
- An acceptable equivalent qualification.
Please note that if you hold English as a second language iGCSE qualification, we may also require you to offer one of our acceptable equivalent English Language qualifications or achieve a higher grade in your iGCSE than the one stated above. Please contact the academic department for clarification.
The UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) requires that every student from outside the UK and the EU must show evidence of a minimum level of English Language in order to be granted a UK visa (Tier 4 visa) to study at undergraduate or postgraduate level. This level is often referred to as the ‘B2 level’.
Additionally, our individual departments may ask for specific English Language proficiency levels that are necessary for their academic programmes. In most cases these requirements are likely to be higher than the B2 level. Further information about our English Language policy, including a list of some of the English Language qualifications we accept, can be found here .
English language test validity
Some English Language test results are only valid for two years. Your English Language test report must be valid on the start date of the course.
How to apply
Apply through UCAS .
Advice to applicants
Before applying, please ensure you check our standard entry requirements carefully. We have details of the minimum grades we would require for some international qualifications on our website.
If your qualifications are not listed on our website, or if have any queries about whether your qualifications would be suitable for entry onto our courses, please email details of the qualifications you are taking (including subjects studied and grades achieved to date) and we will be happy to advise you further: ug-mace@manchester.ac.uk
How your application is considered
All applications are considered on an individual basis once we receive your official UCAS application form, which includes full details of your qualifications to date, a personal statement, reference and your predicted grades (if you have not yet taken your final examinations).
Interview requirements
We do not hold interviews as part of our admissions process, however if we have any queries about your application or qualifications, we will contact you by email to request further information in order to consider your application.
UK-based applicants who receive an offer of a place to study on our courses will be invited to attend a post-offer Visit Day at the Department. These generally take place on Wednesday afternoons from November-March. Attendance is not compulsory, but is provides an opportunity for offer-holders to visit the Department, have a look at our facilities, take part in an engineering activity and meet some of our current undergraduate students and staff.
Transfers
If you wish to enquire about whether you would be eligible to apply for entry into the second year of our courses, please email ug-mace@manchester.ac.uk with scanned copies of your transcripts to date and full details of your qualifications and we will then be able to advise you further.
Course description
The BEng 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’ll be prepared for leadership positions in a successful career in industry. You’ll 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’ll 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’ll be taught using interactive learning approaches and using cutting-edge and industry-standard tools.
The degree also provides an excellent route for individuals wishing to proceed to further postgraduate research.
The sky really is the limit!
Aims
The course will give you the skills necessary for a successful career in industry. In addition, you will gain a route into postgraduate study that is tailored to individual areas of interest, so that, for example, if you have a BEng qualification, you can go on to apply for an MSc course 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
We’re getting ready to move into a £400million Manchester Engineering Campus Development. Learn more
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. For detailed information about how different subjects are assessed, please see the course unit specifications below.
Course unit details
The first year establishes a strategic overview of the main areas of aerospace engineering and introduces the underlying science and mathematics. Our students will be introduced to the fundamental principles of aerospace vehicles and systems as well as developing basic knowledge and skills applicable to all areas of engineering such as mechanics, structures, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics and engineering design.
The second and third years develop the key knowledge and understanding necessary to enter industry, or postgraduate study. Students will cover key aspects of aircraft and spacecraft systems, performance and design and will also develop further knowledge and skills in the key engineering disciplines of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, structures, dynamics and control.
In the final year students will also have the opportunity to undertake an individual project linking with and supporting industrial or academic research within the university.
Course content for year 1
The first year establishes a strategic overview of the main areas of aerospace engineering and introduces the underlying science and mathematics. Our students will be introduced to the fundamental principles of aerospace vehicles and systems as well as developing basic knowledge and skills applicable to all areas of engineering such as mechanics, structures, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics and engineering design.
Course units for year 1
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
| Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Materials 1 (Aerospace) | MACE10001 | 10 | Mandatory |
| Workshop Practice | MACE10020 | 0 | Mandatory |
| Introduction to Aircraft Design | MACE10302 | 10 | Mandatory |
| Fluid Mechanics for Aerospace and Mechanical Engineers | MACE10421 | 10 | Mandatory |
| Electrical Energy Supply & Circuits | MACE10492 | 10 | Mandatory |
| PASS (Aerospace Engineering) | MACE10930 | 0 | Mandatory |
| Structures 1 (Aero) | MACE11001 | 10 | Mandatory |
| Manufacturing Engineering 1 (Aerospace) | MACE11122 | 10 | Mandatory |
| Mechanics (Aerospace) | MACE11622 | 10 | Mandatory |
| Introduction to Aerospace Engineering | MACE12001 | 10 | Mandatory |
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Course content for year 2
The second and third years develop the key knowledge and understanding necessary to enter industry, or postgraduate study. Students will cover key aspects of aircraft and spacecraft systems, performance and design and will also develop further knowledge and skills in the key engineering disciplines of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, structures, dynamics and control.
Course units for year 2
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
| Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Workshop Practice | MACE20020 | 0 | Mandatory |
| Modelling & Simulation 2 (Aerospace) | MACE20062 | 10 | Mandatory |
| Fluid Mechanics 2 | MACE20121 | 10 | Mandatory |
| Flight Test Course | MACE20230 | 0 | Mandatory |
| Aircraft Performance and Design | MACE20400 | 20 | Mandatory |
| Applied Thermodynamics (Aerospace) | MACE20432 | 10 | Mandatory |
| Dynamics | MACE20442 | 10 | Mandatory |
| Numerical Methods & Computing (Aerospace) | MACE20542 | 10 | Mandatory |
| Space Systems | MACE21111 | 10 | Mandatory |
| Structures 2 (Aerospace) | MACE21211 | 10 | Mandatory |
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Course content for year 3
In the final year students will also have the opportunity to undertake an individual project linking with and supporting industrial or academic research within the university.
Course units for year 3
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
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