Overview
Our Aerospace Engineering MSc degree is a specialist, accredited course that has been developed to equip you with advanced technical knowledge and management skills to meet the needs and current challenges facing the ever-growing aerospace engineering industry.
Through theoretical study and hands-on practice, you will gain an in-depth understanding of key aerospace disciplines covering aerodynamics, propulsion systems, and space mechanics. You’ll deepen your knowledge of aerospace structures, and the design and analysis of aerospace vehicles, and also acquire specialist knowledge on current aerospace engineering topics concerning flight safety, environmental impact, and fuel efficiency.
You’ll have access to a range of technical facilities including our aerospace/aviation laboratory, supersonic and subsonic wind tunnels, materials and structure testing laboratory, anechoic chamber for aero-acoustic experiments, and 3D printing in the digital fabrication workshop. Industry standard specialist software for aircraft design is available for you to use 24 hours a day in high-performance computing clusters.
The programme is available as a one year full-time course, or two years full-time including a placement year.
During your time at Brunel, you will benefit from guest lectures delivered by industry professionals who present a valuable insight into current, challenging topics in the field of aerospace. There are also planned visits to engineering and manufacturing companies where you’ll see first-hand the latest breakthroughs in development and technology for future aerospace systems. In addition, you have the advantage of Brunel’s close location to London’s Heathrow Airport for site visits as well as project and employment opportunities.
At the end of each academic year, engineering and maths students are invited to showcase their project work at Brunel Engineers +, an event that both celebrates their achievements and gives them the chance to network with industry figures and employers. This video shows some of the projects exhibited at the 2024 Brunel Engineers + event, with explanations by the students themselves.
Our MSc aerospace engineering course is accredited by both the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). These professional bodies ensure that your engineering degree meets the academic requirement to qualify as a professional engineer. This accredited MSc degree in aerospace engineering fully meets the educational requirement for progression to Chartered Engineer (CEng) status. It is studied full-time over one year.
As an extracurricular activity, there is also the opportunity to be part of a student-led initiative involving the design and build of an unmanned aircraft vehicle and participating in the IMechE industry-sponsored UAS Challenge (Unmanned Aircraft Systems Challenge).
You can explore our campus and facilities for yourself by taking our virtual tour.
Course content
You will study eight compulsory modules. The group project involves the design, build, testing and flying of an aerospace vehicle. Your individual dissertation project is an in-depth research investigation directly relevant to aerospace engineering.
Compulsory
- Aircraft Structures, Loads and AeroelasticityThis module aims to familiarise students with the fundamentals of aircraft structures and aeroelasticity. It is designed to provide the knowledge to carry out calculation and analysis of aircraft structures, and skills in conceptual aircraft structural design.
- Advanced Aerodynamics, Propulsion Systems and Space MechanicsThis module provides a more advanced understanding of aircraft aerodynamics and aircraft propulsion systems. It introduces advanced theories and tools for analysis of aircraft aerodynamics and also introduces aspects of the mechanics of space and orbit flight.
- Current Topics in AerospaceThis module aims to inform students about current topics that are relevant to the current and future design or operation of aerospace vehicles.
- Design and Analysis of Aerospace VehiclesThis module introduces a range of aerospace vehicles, their configurations, operating environments and design issues. Students will also gain experience in the conceptual aircraft design process and the use of specialist aircraft design software.
- DissertationThe dissertation aims for students to complete and report on a soundly executed and constructed programme of investigation, analysis and research containing original work.
- Group Project in Aerospace EngineeringThis module gives experience of design practice and engineering systems design through undertaking a multidisciplinary project. It aims to develop the necessary skills in design project management and planning.
- Research Methods and Sustainable EngineeringStudents will learn about impacts of engineering on society and the environment, the relevant regulations and about methods for assessing impacts. They will become cognisant of the obligations of business to society towards improving sustainability and be able to act responsibly, exercising good professional judgement as practicing engineers.
- Strategy and Business PlanningThis module aims to focus on concepts of strategy (corporate, business and operations). Students to critically evaluate the strategic positioning of an organisation for strategy decisions.
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This course has a placement option. Find out more about work placements available.
Please note that all modules are subject to change.
Read more about the structure of postgraduate degrees at Brunel
Careers and your future
There is significant and growing demand in the aerospace engineering industry for well-qualified, industry-ready engineers in the UK and other European countries.
There are roles available in a broad range of areas including strategic management, enterprise, research and innovation. The research areas of safety, security and sustainability are of particular importance to the future of the aerospace industry.
Brunel’s MSc aerospace engineering degree allows you to achieve the advanced skills required in the industry and our high-calibre graduates have gained employment at aircraft manufacturers including Rolls-Royce, Airbus, BAE Systems and GE Aviation.
UK entry requirements
A 2:2 (or above) UK Honours degree, or equivalent internationally recognised qualification, in an engineering (Mechanical. Aeronautical, Aerospace) or technology subject. Other subjects in a related area, including but not limited to Civil, Electrical, Building Services, Physics, and Mathematics, will be considered and assessed on an individual basis.
Entry to this programme requires all students who are not nationals of the European Economic Area (EEA) and have temporary immigration permission to remain in the UK to obtain an ATAS certificate. If you are made an offer to join this course and you are not an EEA national, you will be required to obtain an ATAS certificate as a condition of your offer.
Applicants who will need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) Certificate: find out if you will need an ATAS certificate, by visiting this webpage: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/find-out-if-you-require-an-atas-certificate#when-you-need-an-atas-certificate.
The deadline for Admissions to make offers to applicants who will require an ATAS certificate is 5th August 2024. If you are an ATAS requiring applicant, you will need to apply for the 2025/6 intake as there is no longer adequate time to obtain an ATAS certificate for September 2024 intake.
EU and International entry requirements
If you require a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK, you must prove knowledge of the English language so that we can issue you a Certificate of Acceptance for Study (CAS). To do this, you will need an IELTS for UKVI or Trinity SELT test pass gained from a test centre approved by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and on the Secure English Language Testing (SELT) list. This must have been taken and passed within two years from the date the CAS is made.
English language requirements
- IELTS: 6 (min 5.5 in all areas)
- Pearson: 59 (59 in all sub scores)
- BrunELT: 58% (min 55% in all areas)
- TOEFL: 77 (min R18, L17, S20, W17)
You can find out more about the qualifications we accept on our English Language Requirements page.
Should you wish to take a pre-sessional English course to improve your English prior to starting your degree course, you must sit the test at an approved SELT provider for the same reason. We offer our own BrunELT English test and have pre-sessional English language courses for students who do not meet requirements or who wish to improve their English. You can find out more information on English courses and test options through our Brunel Language Centre.
Please check our Admissions pages for more information on other factors we use to assess applicants. This information is for guidance only and each application is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Entry requirements are subject to review, and may change.
Fees and funding
2025/26 entry
UK
£14,435 full-time
£1,385 placement year
International
£26,250 full-time
£1,385 placement year
More information on any additional course-related costs.
Fees quoted are per year and are subject to an annual increase.
See our fees and funding page for full details of postgraduate scholarships available to Brunel applicants.
Scholarships and bursaries
Teaching and learning
To ensure you receive the maximum support and have the greatest opportunity to reach their full potential the expectation is that students enrolled on these programmes attend in-person all teaching activities including examinations that are scheduled on campus. This will be the majority of all activities. However, where for pedagogical reasons alternative methods of delivery are used for activities you will be notified and will be expected to engage with the activity at the time of delivery.
Laboratory Support
For modules with practical learning content, these will be delivered in-person on campus in the laboratories.
Assessment
Traditional examinations will be taken in-person on campus.
Access to specialist software
You will have access to relevant engineering software on campus. You are also able to install software on your own personal laptops and connect to the Brunel License server through a VPN connection. This provides continued access to all services.
Distance Learning students
You are not required to be on campus. All study materials will be accessible from your current location providing you with the flexibility you need to complete your course.
Access to a laptop or desktop PC is required for joining online activities, completing coursework and digital exams, and a minimum specification can be found here.
We have computers available across campus for your use and laptop loan schemes to support you through your studies. You can find out more here.
Our aerospace engineering degrees are delivered by world-renowned academic staff. They are also researchers, collaborating with commercial organisations like aircraft manufacturers. This means they feed their cutting edge research back into the course. There will also be guest lectures from industry experts and aerospace engineering site visits.
Study will combine lectures, seminars and tutorials, laboratory work, computer simulation, case studies, self-study, research reports and project work.
Should you need any non-academic support during your time at Brunel, the Student Support and Welfare Team are here to help.
Assessment and feedback
Your progress will be assessed via assignments, presentations, technical and laboratory reports, group design and research projects, exams and your individual dissertation project.
Read our guide on how to avoid plagiarism in your assessments at Brunel.
