Aerospace Engineering
Heriot-Watt University
UCAS Code: H3A2 | Master of Engineering (with Honours) - MEng (Hon)
Heriot-Watt University
UCAS Code: H3A2 | Master of Engineering (with Honours) - MEng (Hon)
Entry requirements
A level
including Mathematics and Physics for entry to Year 1. For Year 2 entry: AAB including Physics and Maths with one at A.
Foundation Apprenticeship (SCQF Level 6)
We accept Foundation Apprenticeships in combination with other qualifications such as SQA Highers and Advanced Highers.
GCSE/National 4/National 5
It is also a requirement of every applicant to have English and Mathematics at a minimum of National 5 Grade C or GCSE Grade C or 4 (or equivalent)
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
including Mathematics and Physics at Higher Level 5 for entry to Year 1. For entry to Year 2: 34 points including Mathematics and Physics at Higher Level 6.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
in Engineering (including sufficient Maths and Physics) for entry to Year 1.
Scottish Advanced Higher
in Maths and Physics/Engineering Science plus AAAB at Higher for entry to Year 2.
Scottish HNC
For entry to Year 1: HNC in relevant subject with A in graded unit to include SQA Engineering Mathematics 1, 2 & 3 and sufficient Maths & Physics content.
Scottish HND
For entry to Year 1: HND in relevant subject with AB/BA in graded units to include SQA Engineering Mathematics 1, 2, & 3 and sufficient Maths & Physics content. For entry to Year 2: HND in relevant subject with AA in graded units to include SQA Engineering Mathematics 1, 2, 3 & 4 and sufficient Maths & Physics content.
Scottish Higher
including Mathematics and Physics/Engineering Science with one at A.
We will consider T Levels as suitable for entry to our degree programmes, however, certain subject requirements may be required for entry to specific programmes. Where this is not evident as part of the T Level studies, we may ask for additional qualifications.
UCAS Tariff
We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.
About this course
Our programmes in Aerospace Engineering bring together the core disciplines of mechanical engineering with the application and focus of the aeronautical industry. With recent changes in the aerospace industry there are a now a whole host of traditional and advanced engineering careers that are available to students who will graduate from this programme. Commercial space exploration, drones, low carbon technologies and changes in aerospace commerce are all now serviced by aerospace engineers. This is in addition to many more ‘traditional’ careers in aircraft technologies, vehicle dynamics and propulsion (to name but a few). This programme mirrors the need to consider both technical and business aspects of engineering. As a result, our graduates will be well rounded industry-focussed engineers prepared to tackle the challenges of the next generation of aerospace technologies.
The programme will start with the core foundation studies that are similar to the mechanical engineering programmes. This builds up the capacity to solve problems, analyse engineering components and design/manufacture solutions to challenges. The programme then takes on progressively aerospace focussed subjects in third year and beyond, through a combination of new courses that include basic electronics, structures, wind tunnel testing, supersonic aerodynamics, flight dynamics, aviation design and manufacture.
Tuition fees
Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:
The Uni
Edinburgh Campus
Mechanical Engineering
What students say
How do students rate their degree experience?
The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Aeronautical and aerospace engineering
Sorry, no information to show
This is usually because there were too few respondents in the data we receive to be able to provide results about the subject at this university.
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Aeronautical and aerospace engineering
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
Just over a thousand UK graduates got a degree in aerospace engineering in 2015. There are a few dedicated employers, unevenly spread around the country, and so there's often competition for graduates looking for their first job - which leads to a relatively high (although improving) early unemployment rate, and a good grade is particularly important for graduates. Sponsorship and work experience can be key if you're after the most sought-after roles in the industry. Starting salaries are usually good and graduates commonly go into the aerospace (yes, this does include manufacture of equipment for satellites and space operations) and defence industries. Bear in mind that a lot of courses are four years long, and lead to an MEng qualification — this is necessary if you want to become a Chartered Engineer.
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Aeronautical and aerospace engineering
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£26k
£31k
£35k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
Explore these similar courses...
Higher entry requirements
Lower entry requirements
Nearby UniversitySame UniversityThis is what the university has told Ucas about the criteria they expect applicants to satisfy; some may be compulsory, others may be preferable.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
This is the percentage of applicants to this course who received an offer last year, through Ucas.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
Course location and department:
This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):
We've received this information from the Department for Education, via Ucas. This is how the university as a whole has been rated for its quality of teaching: gold silver or bronze. Note, not all universities have taken part in the TEF.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).
This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.
You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
Post-six month graduation stats:
This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.
It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
Graduate field commentary:
The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
