Learn about the materials used in aircraft and spacecraft, why they’re chosen, how they behave and why they sometimes fail. You’ll study the design and manufacture of fast-moving aircraft and spacecraft, then specialise in their materials, structures and analysis. MEng Aeronautics and Astronautics / Materials and Structures prepares you for a career in engineering design or further research.

Aeronautics and Astronautics looks at the science, engineering and manufacture of aircraft and spacecraft. On our aeronautical engineering courses you'll learn how they operate within our atmosphere and in space.

You’ll study the principles of aerospace engineering, then take more advanced modules in materials, construction and testing to learn about aeronautical and manufacturing engineering.

In year 3 you will do an individual research project. In year 4 you’ll take part in a group design project.

You’ll get hands-on experience in our extensive facilities, which include:

• dedicated student design studios and workshops
• the largest wind tunnel in any UK university
• new testing and structures research laboratory, part of the £48m National Infrastructure Laboratory
• jet laboratory with supersonic ramjet, turbojet and rocket engine
• professional manufacturing centre

As part of this course you can:

• showcase your work in our annual Engineering Design Show
• attend site visits to experience engineering in practice
• apply your engineering knowledge to solve a real-world problem

This Aeronautics and Astronautics Computational Engineering and Design degree will open the door to many vehicle aerodynamics jobs and career opportunities in the space industry, engineering and beyond, including:

• Aerospace engineer
• CFD simulation engineer
• Performance and simulation engineer
• Engineering consultant
• Propellor design engineer
• UAV designer
• Pilot
• Software and systems engineer

PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION

This course is accredited by the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) as meeting the academic requirement, in full, for Chartered Engineer registration.