Aerospace Engineering MSc

Demand for aerospace engineering graduates is rising, both in the UK and overseas. In fact, the UK aerospace industry is the second biggest in the world after the USA, and it’s home to some of the world’s leading aerospace companies such as Airbus, Astrium, BAE Systems, GKN and Rolls-Royce.

Taught by expert academics in a leading research environment, this programme will equip you with the knowledge and skills to succeed in an exciting and challenging sector. You’ll study aerospace structures and structural analysis, along with optional, specialist modules in areas such as aerodynamics and computational fluid dynamics, aircraft design, systems and optimisation methods, rotary wing aircraft and propulsion.

Our Aerospace Engineering Industrial Advisory Board is actively engaged in ensuring this course meets the needs of industry and reflects trends in the sector. It also provides industrial talks and seminars and advice and support to our students during their professional projects.

In addition to our advanced CAD facilities for design work, we have the latest industry-standard software for computational fluid dynamics and finite element modelling of material stress analysis, programming and structural and multidisciplinary optimisation.

Accreditation

This course is accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) and the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) under licence from the UK regulator, the Engineering Council.

Depending on your background, you will take specific compulsory modules. These will be on advanced topics, from aerospace structures and the theory behind structural analysis, to aerodynamics and aerospace propulsion. You’ll also develop and apply your knowledge to solving real-world problems and situations.

This will inform the rest of your studies, where you’ll select from a wide range of optional modules allowing you to pursue the topics that appeal to your interests or suit your future career plans. You could gain sophisticated knowledge in areas such as rotary wing aircraft, computational methods or materials failure analysis.

Throughout the programme you’ll complete your Professional Project – an independent piece of research on a topic within aerospace engineering that allows you to demonstrate your knowledge and skills. In the two taught semesters you’ll review the literature around your topic and plan the project, before completing the design, analysis, computation, experimentation and writing up in the summer months.

Want to find out more about your modules?
Take a look our Aerospace Engineering module descriptions for more detail on what you will study.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our Terms and conditions.

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Aerospace Engineering MSc in the course catalogue

Modules

Year 1

Learning and teaching

Our groundbreaking research feeds directly into teaching, and you’ll have regular contact with staff who are at the forefront of their disciplines. You’ll have regular contact with them through lectures, seminars, tutorials, small group work and project meetings.

Independent study is also important to the programme, as you develop your problem-solving and research skills as well as your subject knowledge.

Assessment

You’ll be assessed using a range of techniques including case studies, technical reports, presentations, in-class tests, assignments and exams. Optional modules may also use alternative assessment methods.

Entry requirements

A bachelor degree with a 2:1 (hons) in aeronautical/aerospace, mechanical, civil or general engineering. Successful applicants will have previous studies covering advanced mathematics, strength of materials, dynamics and basic fluid mechanics. We may ask for further detailed module information if these are not clear on your transcript.

All applicants will need to have GCSE English Language at grade C or above, or an appropriate English language qualification.

We accept a range of international equivalent qualifications.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English

International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our postgraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

This pre-sessional course is designed with a progression route to your degree programme and you’ll learn academic English in the context of your subject area. To find out more, read Language for Engineering (6 weeks) and Language for Science: Engineering (10 weeks). 

If you need to study for longer than 10 weeks, read more about our postgraduate pre-sessional English course.

How to apply

Application deadlines

Applicants are encourgaed to apply as early as possible for taught postrgraduate courses. The Faculty of Engineering will only consider applications made before the dates stated below, subject to places being available.

31 July - International applications

10 September - UK/EU applications

Apply

This link takes you to information on applying for taught programmes and to the University's online application system.
 
If you're unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)

The UK Government’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) operates a scheme called the Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS). If you are an international (non-EU/EEA or Swiss citizen) applicant and require a student visa to study in the UK then you will need an ATAS certificate to study this course at the University of Leeds.

To apply for an ATAS certificate online, you will need your programme details and the relevant Common Aggregation Hierarchy (CAH) code and descriptor. For this course, the CAH code is: CAH10-01-04 and the descriptor is Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering.

More information and details on how to apply for your ATAS certificate can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/academic-technology-approval-scheme.

Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.

Admissions policy

Faculty of Engineering Postgraduate Admissions Policy 2019

Fees

• UK/EU: £10,500 (total)
• International: £22,750 (total)

Read more about paying fees and charges.

For fees information for international taught postgraduate students, read Masters fees.

Additional cost information

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more about additional costs

Scholarships and financial support

The School of Mechanical Engineering offer a range of scholarships for UK, EU and International students. Find out more about our Scholarships.

The aerospace industry is one of the most successful parts of UK engineering and is truly global in nature.

You’ll be able apply the skills you gain from this course to numerous areas of the aerospace industry, such as aerospace fundamental research, airline management and operations, satellite operations, aerospace design and manufacture in both the civil and military environments and Formula 1 racing.

By taking the MSc, you will develop skills that will allow you to enjoy a rewarding and challenging career, whether you choose to join an aerospace company in the UK – such as Airbus, BAE Systems or Rolls-Royce – or elsewhere in the world.

Links with industry

During this course you will meet employers from organisations operating within this sector through seminars and talks and by attending our careers fair. In previous years there have been talks from colleagues at Airbus, Astrium, BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce to provide additional industrial perspectives to the course and career guidance to students.

Careers support

You’ll have access to the wide range of engineering and computing careers resources held by our Employability team in our dedicated Employability Suite. You’ll have the chance to attend industry presentations book appointments with qualified careers consultants and take part in employability workshops. Our annual Engineering and Computing Careers Fairs provide further opportunities to explore your career options with some of the UK’s leading employers.

The University's Careers Centre also provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more at the Careers website.

The professional project is one of the most satisfying elements of this course. It allows you to apply what you’ve learned to a piece of research focusing on a real-world problem, and it can be used to explore and develop your specific interests.

Typical projects for MSc Aerospace Engineering students could include:

• Design of a stiffened titanium aircraft structural component for additive manufacturing

• Development of software based on Swarm Intelligence Methodologies for Structural Optimisation

• Circulation control using air jets to improve the performance of aircraft wings and wind turbines

• Design and optimisation of a Flexible Structural Support for a Mars Rover Umbilical Release Mechanism

• Aerodynamic analysis of the Bloodhound supersonic car using Computational Fluid Dynamics

• Computational Fluid Dynamics modelling of turbulent combustion processes

• The control of flow separation using vortex generators

A proportion of projects are formally linked to industry, and can include spending time at the collaborator’s site over the summer.