Aerospace Engineering
Entry requirements
Access to HE Diploma
Access - an Access to HE Diploma with at least 45 credits at level 3 and 15 credits at level 2. At least 18 level 3 credits must be at merit grade or above, in a mathematics-related programme from a QAA-recognised Access to HE course, or an equivalent Access to HE certificate.
GCSE/National 4/National 5
English Language at grade C or 4 Maths at grade C or 4
UCAS Tariff
This must include at least two A levels or equivalent BTEC National qualifications (to include mathematics (or a mathematics-based subject) and at least one other subject from Physics, Physical Science, Engineering science, Computer Science, Chemistry, Electronics, other Mathematically-based science or technology subject). For example: ABB at A Level including relevant subjects. DDM in BTEC Extended Diploma in a relevant subject. A combination of qualifications, which may include AS levels and EPQ
About this course
This course has alternative study modes. Contact the university to find out how the information below might vary.
**Please note that the information provided relates to the current academic year and is subject to change without notice by Sheffield Hallam University.
Please check the Sheffield Hallam University website for the latest information.**
**Course summary:**
- Gain specialist knowledge of leading-edge aerospace technology.
- Develop comprehensive understanding of engineering principles and theories.
- Progress towards a career at the highest level of aerospace engineering – with the skills and knowledge to work in product design, senior management, development and manufacturing.
This course runs parallel to the BEng (Honours) Aerospace Engineering.
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**How you learn:**
All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.
With online resources, industry-standard facilities and exceptional learning environments, you’ll be supported at every step. Alongside teaching, our lecturers conduct research and consultancy for industry – either in our UK-leading Materials and Engineering Research Institute or in collaboration with other organisations. This means your lectures and seminars are always up to date, giving you the latest knowledge in aerospace engineering.
You learn through:
- lectures and seminars
- tutorials
- laboratory sessions
- computer-based sessions
- problem-based and practical, activity-based learning
- group and individual project work
- field trips
- guest lectures
- extracurricular activities
- acting as student mentors
**Applied learning - Work placements**
You’ll have the chance to undertake an industrial training placement after your second or third year of study. Typically, these are 48 weeks long and enable you to apply your knowledge to commercial engineering practice while gaining new, real-world skills.
Previous students have worked in technical roles for companies such as Rolls-Royce, Airbus, Boeing, General Electric, the Ministry of Defence, Meggitt Aircraft Braking Systems and Jaguar Land Rover.
**Field trips**
You may have the chance to tour industrial sites, attend guest lectures and visit aerospace engineering events. You can also spend time on specific training programmes such as piloting or computer simulations.
**Networking opportunities**
There are numerous extracurricular opportunities to gain experience on projects with the aerospace community. You’re welcome to join our student aerospace societies or space academic network or become a student ambassador or peer. And each year, a few students get to attend the annual national conference of the Association of Aerospace Universities. Here you could be showcasing your final year project work on an international stage while networking with aerospace professionals.
We also have a mentoring scheme which will pair you with students from the second, third and fourth years of the course. This helps you settle in, get academic support and form friendships that last through your course and beyond.
**Competitions**
You may also take part in national and international engineering competitions, including:
- the Heavy Lift Challenge or UAS Competition – which involves designing and building a remote-controlled UAV model and testing it in a competition
- the SAC (Spaceport America Cup) competition in the USA – where you can work collaboratively with other universities to build a rocket to fly in the event
- Formula Student – where you design and build a race car and test it in a competition
- Engineering Without Borders – a competition to find an engineering solution to a problem in the developing world
Modules
You can take an optional placement in year 4.
**Year 1**
Compulsory modules
Aerodynamic Principles 20
Aerospace Materials And Manufacturing Processes 20
Aircraft System And Avionics 20
Applied Engineering Mathematics 20
Electro-Mechanical Engineering Practice 20
Principles Of Solid Mechanics And Dynamics 20
**Year 2**
Compulsory modules
Aerospace Numerical Methods And Applications 20
Professional Practice 20
Aerospace Structures And Dynamics 20
Computer Aided Manufacture And Engineering 20
Control And Instrumentation For Aerospace 20
Thermofluid Dynamics (Aero) 20
Year 3
Optional modules
Placement Year -
Year 4
Compulsory modules
Aerospace Structural Integrity 20
Aircraft Design 20
Aircraft Flight Mechanics And Simulation 20
Engineering Project Management And Individual Project 40
Propulsion Systems And Aerodynamics 20
Final year
Compulsory modules
Advanced Aerospace Computational Methods
Advanced Vibration And Acoustics
Applied Fatigue And Fracture Mechanics
Astronautics And Space Propulsion
Flight Stability And Control
Lean Operations And Six Sigma
M.Eng Group Project
Assessment methods
Coursework
Exams
Tuition fees
Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:
Extra funding
Scholarships, discounts and bursaries may be available to students who study this course.
The Uni
Sheffield Hallam University
College of Business Technology and Engineering
What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.
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
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
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.
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.
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.
£29k
£31k
£37k
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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?
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