Aeronautical and aerospace engineering (2024)

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What should I do? Discover What to do Where to go UCAS events Advice for parents, guardians and carers Not sure what to do? Applying to university What and where to study After applying Clearing and results day Returning to uni? Choosing a course How to apply International students Fees, loans, and funding Teacher training Money Student life Apprenticeships What Where Discover Search and apply Careers advice Discover Help and advice Types of employment Starting work What's on this page? What is aerospace engineering? Study options Chat to a current aeronautical and aerospace engineering student Chat to students powered by Maria Subjects it's useful to have studied first Careers: Where it can take you Career options aeronautical-aeropsace-engineering-sub-guide.jpg What is an…. aerospace engineer? Second year aerospace engineering student, University of Nottingham Getting in: Entry requirements Average requirements for undergraduate degrees Other subjects you may be interested in Considering an apprenticeship? Deadline Where to apply No limits Apply to university and apprenticeships Find out more Let’s talk about engineering apprenticeships A day in the life of an Engineering Apprentice Explore further Aerospace Insight blog UK Aerospace and Defence (American website) Space Growth Action Plan Space Daily website Application advice Explore courses Explore other Subject guides Sponsored articles How to save money at uni Top tips on funding and scholarships Apprenticeships – the facts
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Whether you want to fly high, or even into outer space, you’ll be the brains behind some of the most exciting and ground-breaking technology that takes humans above the earth and beyond.

What's on this page?

  • Study options
  • Chat to a current aeronautical and aerospace engineering student
  • Subjects it's useful to have studied first
  • Careers: Where it can take you
  • Getting in: Entry requirements
  • Other subjects you may be interested in
  • Explore further
  • Application advice

What is aerospace engineering?

Where to begin? Aeronautical and aerospace engineers are responsible for some of the most incredible feats of mankind, whether that’s rockets, spacesuits, aeroplanes, or weather prediction systems. Engineers in this field design, plan, and test some of the most exciting and advanced technology in the world.

The UK aerospace industry is the second largest in the world, behind the United States, and the UK Government plans to capture 10% of the global space market by 2030.

If you choose a career in this industry you could work on things like wing design (aerodynamics), engine assembly (propulsion), fuel efficiency, space technology, or investigating air accidents. You could progress to being a project manager or a consultant aerospace engineer.

The impact you could make

  • Use your aeronautical skills to keep the 224 million passengers travelling to and from UK airports every year safe and comfortable as they fly.
  • Be part of a team that supports human life on Mars – designing, testing or making the spacecraft and technologies needed for us to travel to and survive on the red planet.
  • Assess the impact and patterns of space weather to enable successful rocket or satellite launches.

What you could study

  • Aerodynamics
  • Space mission analysis and design
  • Mechanics of flight
  • Aircraft design
  • Management and business
  • Heat transfer
  • Airframe design and flight dynamics
  • Space systems

Study options

Options to study in this field include:

Chat to a current aeronautical and aerospace engineering student

Chat to a currentaeronautical and aerospace engineering student using UniBuddy.

Some conversation starters for you:

  1. Ask which modules they really enjoyed.
  2. Find out how easy it was for them to make friends on their course.
  3. Do they have any tips on your personal statement?
  4. Did they do anything to prep for uni before they went?
  5. Are there books, podcasts or YouTube channels they would recommend?

Chat to students powered by Aeronautical and aerospace engineering (2)

  • Maria

    Coventry University

    Aviation Management BSc (Hons)

    Hey! I'm Maria, Aviation Management third year student. I was always interested in management and business and loved travelling, thus I am now in the most inter-connected industry there is, aviation! I am an animal lover and love horse riding. Considering I'm not originally from the UK, I thought student life would be so scary, but came here to find that it is all about making new friends and learning! Don't be afraid to attend events alone, speaking from experience, that's the best way of making friends! If you have any questions about the university, I am here to help.

Example module

"Hangar days! Besides that, I love the more technical lectures. It’s amazing to learn about systems you don’t even know existed."

Second year aircraft maintenance engineering student, University of South Wales

Example assignment

"One assignment involved building and designing a plane on a computer and then flying that plane in a simulator/game to test it. Another favourite is wing geometry and fluid mechanics simulations using CFD software."

Second year aerospace engineering student, Brunel University London

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Subjects it's useful to have studied first

Some aeronautical or aerospace engineering courses or apprenticeships will have requirements for previous qualifications in certain subjects. Entry requirements vary, so always check with the provider.

Physics

Maths

IT or computing

Design technology

Hard skills you'll develop

  • Mechanical engineering and design
  • Machinery
  • Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning
  • 3D modelling
  • Computer-aided design

Soft skills you'll develop

  • Communications
  • Project management
  • Problem-solving
  • Innovation

Careers: Where it can take you

Find out more about your career prospects from studying aeronautical and aerospace engineering. The following information is based on a typical mechanical engineer role.

Average salary

£42,188

Up to £63,294

Available jobs

56,704 vacancies in the past year

3.07% growth over next eight years

Career options

Space and flight

Mechanical

Construction

What is an…. aerospace engineer?

Want to know more about the job you could end up doing if you study this subject? Aerospace engineers oversee the production of aerospace technology, from design to testing. You’ll use existing scientific concepts to create prototypes, and plan and test parts for rockets, satellites, planes, helicopters or defence missiles. You’ll also repair broken machinery, understand system failures and then refine your designs. You’ll be creative and innovative, as well as working well with a team. It’s an exciting role, at the forefront of human technology.

Find your ideal career

Take our careers quiz to find your ideal job matched to your personality type.

Second year aerospace engineering student, University of Nottingham

I love that seemingly miraculous effects can be explained with relatively simple mathematical models.

Getting in: Entry requirements

Find out more about what you'll need to study aeronautical or aerospace engineering at university or as an apprenticeship.

Average requirements for undergraduate degrees

Entry requirements differ between university and course, but this should give you a guide to what is usually expected from aeronautical or aerospace engineering applicants.

A levels

A*AA

Scottish Highers

AABBB

If Advanced Highers are requested, provivders typically ask for AAA

BTEC: DDD

Other Level 3/6 qualifications (e.g. Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma or an SCQF Level 6) may be accepted as an alternative

Engineering and manufacturing apprenticeships

Check out our industry guide to help you decide if an engineering and manufacturing apprenticeship might be the right choice for you.

  1. Deadline

    Apprenticeships don't follow the same deadlines as applying to uni, the deadline is down to the employer.

  2. Where to apply

    You apply directly through the employer.

  3. No limits

    You're not restricted to one apprenticeship application; you can do as many as you like.

  4. Apply to university and apprenticeships

    There's nothing stopping you applying to university through UCAS, while also applying for apprenticeship vacancies.

Let’s talk about engineering apprenticeships

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Study for a degree in engineering while earning at the same time. Listen to our brand new podcast on degree apprenticeships from our expert panel, hosted by Radio 1’s Katie Thistleton.

Apprenticeship vacancies

Check out live apprenticeship vacancies in engineering.

A day in the life of an Engineering Apprentice

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Hear all about Hannah's story doing an apprenticeship at Dyson Institute of Engineering and Technology.

Explore further

Go deeper into topics around aeronautical and aerospace engineering with the following:

  1. Aerospace Insight blog

    Run by the Royal Aeronautical Society, this blog features commentary on aeronautical news, as well as features and experiences from those in the industry, including a recent post by a space fan’s first sub-orbital flight.

  2. UK Aerospace and Defence (American website)

    This summary of the UK aerospace and defence industry is a great way to understand where the UK stands in global terms and the jobs and opportunities available within the industry.

  3. Space Growth Action Plan

  4. Space Daily website

    For a bit of fun and space news, along with what aerospace engineers have been up to, have a look around the Space Daily website.

70% of students

would highly recommend this subject to others

(UCAS subject guide survey 2023)

Application advice

Whether it's personal statement tips or what to write in a cover letter for an apprenticeship application, our application advice will help you get ahead in your aeronautical and aerospace engineering journey.

Skills, experiences, and interests to mention

  • Try and get across why you want to study aerospace engineering. What turned you on to the subject – was it watching Tim Peake or Virgin Galactic? Or was it something you’ve read? If so, talk about why or how they influenced your choices.
  • There are many soft skills that are important too, like teamwork, problem-solving, technical aptitude… So, think about when you’ve displayed good teamwork, like in a sports team or after-school club, and what extracurricular activities you do that might demonstrate your technical skills, like coding or video editing.
  • Engineers are often curious and take the initiative. Have you ever taken apart a toy or object at home and tried to repair it? Or built something from scratch? Maybe you entered an engineering or design competition at school that shows your creativity and originality?tick
  • What do you plan to do afterwards? Show you understand the industry by referencing resources you've read or companies you’re aware of, and where you see yourself after you’ve completed your studies.

Personal statement guide

We asked admissions tutors to share their dos and don’ts for writing a strong and engaging engineering personal statement. Here's what they told us.

Personal statement builder

Try our tool.

Get help structuring your statement.

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