Aerospace Engineering Degrees 2013
Think for a moment what is needed to design and build an aeroplane. It requires an understanding of aerodynamics, aircraft structures, materials and methods of manufacture, how an aircraft responds to its controls, propulsion systems, control systems and navigation.
Degree programmes
Entry requirements
Minimum entry requirements
- MEng: A-level grades AAA
- BEng: A-level grades AAB
We do not include General Studies or Critical Thinking in our offers.
Conditional offers from Surrey will be made in grades or marks, and not listed in points from the UCAS tariff.
Required subjects
GCSE English Language and Mathematics at grade C or above (or equivalent).
Mathematics A-level (or equivalent) is required.
Physics A-level (or equivalent) is also normally required.
English language requirements
Non-native speakers of English will normally be required to have IELTS 6.5 or above, with a minimum of 6.0 in each component (or equivalent).
Please note that the University of Surrey offers English language programmes and is also an IELTS Test Centre.
Other suitable qualifications
Higher grades refer to MEng programmes.
Cambridge Pre-U
D3, D3, M1; M1, M1, M1
European Baccalaureate
76 – 75%
International Baccalaureate
37 – 35 points
BTEC (QCF Level 3) Extended Diploma
DDD (in an appropriate subject, with a supporting A-level in Mathematics)
In addition, we accept a wide range of qualifications, including other Level 3 QCF Level 3 qualifications, Scottish qualifications, the Irish Leaving Certificate, Access Diplomas and foundation courses. Other qualifications will be considered on an individual basis.
It is important to check whether the qualifications you are taking are suitable for your chosen degree. If you are uncertain whether your qualification meets our entry requirements, please contact us.
If you are an international student and you don’t meet the entry requirements to this degree, we offer the International Foundation Year.
Selection process
Offers are normally made in terms of grades. Suitable candidates will be invited to a UCAS day. During the visit to the University the candidate can find out more about the programme and meet staff and students. Candidates unable to visit the University will be considered based on their UCAS application.
Tuition fees
UK/EU students
Tuition fees are currently set at £9,000 per year for UK/EU undergraduates starting in 2012.
The tuition charge will be accompanied by a generous financial support package, underlining our continued commitment to widening access for those students who come from low income households.
Overseas students
The fee for students classed as overseas for fees purposes is £15,160.
The University will assess your fee status. If you are unsure whether you are likely to be considered a home, EU or overseas student for fees purposes, the UKCISA website offers more information.
Professional Training Year Fees
Programmes marked with an asterisk (*) in the table above include a professional training year.
Currently fees of £1,050 (based on an inflation assumption of 2.5%) are charged for the Professional Training Year. Fees will not have to be paid up front for those students who decide to take up the Government’s loan for higher education fees. The Professional Training year is a key factor in the high employability rates achieved by students with Surrey degrees.
Our degrees
Our fully accredited, Chartered Engineer (CEng) degree programmes draw on the experience of academic and research staff to give you an excellent grounding in this exciting and dynamic field. With so much experience and expertise available, you will never be short of cutting-edge ideas to stimulate you. Your studies should be satisfying, challenging and a sure foundation for a successful career.
The UK aerospace industry has a combined annual turnover of £20 billion and employs over 124,000 people in more than 400 companies. This rapidly evolving industry offers exciting and diverse careers for highly motivated people in projects ranging from civil airliners and satellites to helicopters, rockets and hang-gliders.
The aim of our programmes, uniting aeronautical, mechanical, materials and satellite engineering, is to provide you with an enjoyable learning experience, and the academic expertise, practical training and commercial acumen needed to succeed in this dynamic, high-technology area. You will make use of our extensive facilities for aerodynamics and materials testing, demonstrator jet engine testing and flight simulation. A highlight is the flight test course using the Jetstream National Flying Laboratory.
Our strong research activities directly inform your learning. You will benefit from contact with specialists in areas including computational fluid dynamics modelling of complex processes (utilising state-of-the-art computer systems), prediction of flows in gas-turbine engines (supported by the Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre and others), experiments in fundamental aspects of aerodynamics, adhesive bonding (a principal joining technique) and the development of new materials for structural engine components.
These programmes share a common first year with our Mechanical Engineering and Medical Engineering programmes, giving you a more general background and providing the opportunity to confirm or change your degree choice.
Programme content
Programme overview
Direct entry to the second year is possible for candidates with qualifications that match our first year.
In year 1 you will develop an understanding of subjects such as mathematics, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics and properties of materials. You will also have the opportunity to work in a team in the ‘design-make-evaluate’ project, which pulls together knowledge from across the programme.
In year 2 the Aerospace Engineering programmes are distinct from other programmes. You will be taught aerodynamics, flight mechanics, aerospace structures and materials alongside experimental laboratory work and other core engineering modules, concluding with the flight test course.
In year 3, topics include aerodynamics, structures and propulsion, plus (for BEng) individual and group design projects, allowing you to research a topic of your choice. Recent projects include ‘Evaluation of computing requirements for Rolls-Royce whole engine finite element analysis’, ‘Robots and Martian Rovers’ and ‘Testing of a device for drag reduction’.
In year 4 (MEng only) there are modules on spacecraft and computational fluid dynamics/ aerodynamics, plus a multidisciplinary project involving collaboration with both industrial consultants and students from other engineering disciplines. You will also conduct an extensive individual research project. Recent projects include ‘Operation of unmanned air vehicles’, ‘Design and test of a nozzle for a jet engine’ and ‘Hybrid carbon nanotubes for improved impact properties’.
Programme structure
Year 1 (FHEQ Level 4)
Modules include:
- Mathematics (also at Level 2)
- Introduction to Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics
- Statics and Dynamics
- Introduction to Electronics
- Design and Component Production
- Design-Make-Evaluate Project
Year 2 (FHEQ Level 5)
Modules include:
- Aero Structures and Materials
- Flight Mechanics
- Aerodynamics
- Mechanics of Solids
- Engineering Experiments
- Engineering Management
Professional Training year
- Optional Professional Training year
Year 3 (FHEQ Level 6)
Modules include:
- Incompressible and Compressible Aerodynamics
- Propulsion
- Aerospace Materials
- Design
- Business Management
- Project
Year 4 (FHEQ Level 7)
Modules include:
- Advanced Stress Analysis
- Computational Fluid Dynamics
Career opportunities
Graduate prospects
Graduates over the last few years entered employment in roles such as:
- Airbus – Graduate Engineer
- Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd – Design/Propulsion Engineer
- AgustaWestland Helicopters – Graduate Engineer
- Ministry of Defence – Graduate Engineer
Career opportunities
Our graduate employment record is truly outstanding. This is due to the professional focus of our degrees with accreditation by professional institutions (RAeS and IMechE), and the quality of our professional placements leading to high-quality graduate employment.
Most of our graduates proceed directly to employment in an engineering profession. Recent examples include careers with well-known companies like Airbus UK, Airbus (Toulouse), BAE Systems, British Airways, QinetiQ/DSTL, Thales and Rolls-Royce.
As well as enjoying an outstanding choice of routes to professional recognition in their own disciplines, our graduates also find that their highly developed computer skills and analytical and managerial abilities are valued in many other fields, in addition to those specifically related to aerospace engineering.
Additional information
Teaching
Our programmes operate on a modular basis with teaching delivered through a variety of methods. These range from lectures and seminars, through group tutorials, to working in small groups in laboratories, including our flight simulator. You will also be able to take advantage of our electronic online teaching resources.
You will be allocated a personal tutor to guide you through the programme and advise on your option choices and future career, helping you to get the most out of your time at Surrey.
Facilities
Specialised facilities include:
- Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre
- SAVAG, Surrey’s Advanced Vehicle Analysis Group
- A flight simulator
- Six wind tunnels including an environmental wind tunnel, unique within the UK, and high-quality instrumentation
- A dedicated engine test cell with a jet engine
- £500,000 investment in fluid dynamics computer modelling to complement existing facilities
Assessment
Our degrees are assessed via examinations and continuous assessment, in the form of written assignments, laboratory practicals, project work and presentations. Year 1 marks do not count towards your degree but provide an opportunity to ensure that you are progressing well with your studies.
In the BEng programmes, year 2 and year 3 (plus a Professional Training year, if it is taken) contribute to the final degree award. For MEng programmes, years 2, 3 and 4 contribute (plus a Professional Training year, if it is taken). Generally, about 60 per cent of the degree award is based on examinations and 40 per cent on continuous assessment.
MEng and BEng transfer
Direct entry to the MEng programme normally requires higher qualifications, but transfer from the BEng to the MEng is possible during the degree programme, depending on academic performance. This would normally happen after year 1 (that is, the end of the first year) or after year 2.
Transfer is also possible from the MEng and BEng programmes without a Professional Training year to ones with (and vice versa). This transfer can be made after year 1, giving students who are initially undecided time to consider the benefits of a Professional Training year.
Taster courses
We run taster courses for school year 12 students each July. Living on-campus, you learn about what engineering is, what it has to offer you and society, and what you need to know to be successful in the field. Please contact us for further details.
Why Surrey?
Aerospace Engineering degrees 2013 at Surrey
- The Times Good University Guide 2013 ranks Surrey fifth nationally for its aerospace engineering programmes. The Complete University Guide 2013 ranks Surrey sixth
- Professionally accredited by the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE)
- Modern, flexible programmes reflecting contemporary research and business requirements
- Strong links with the aerospace industry
- Taught material underpinned by leading research programmes
- Home to a Rolls-Royce-funded University Technology Centre
- The only university with a major spin-out space satellite company
- Home to SAVAG – Surrey’s Advanced Vehicle Analysis Group
- A flexible degree structure with both MEng and BEng degrees with a wide range of specialist options
I have gained real life experiences and opportunities that I would never have been privileged to, had I not been at Surrey.
Clayton Ludik
MEng Aerospace Engineering
Surrey has not only been an institution of education to me, but it has been a way of life for the past five years. I have gained real life experiences and opportunities that I would never have been privileged to, had I not been at Surrey.
Aerospace engineering is a challenging discipline, but one which is incredibly interesting. It is not only the theory which has led to my development as an engineer, but the placement opportunities have developed and refined a host of other skills too. The close relationship between lecturers and students at Surrey provides limitless support, enhancing the overall learning experience.
My third year was spent at Applied Materials Inc. Working as an engineer on robotic systems, I gained an appreciation of the professional engineering world. For my Masters technical dissertation, I found myself on placement in Japan, where I designed and implemented a parafoil control system for a Japanese student satellite competition.
Shortly after joining the University I became involved in the Concorde Restoration Project at Brooklands Museum. Three years on and I was co-ordinating the University volunteers and taking on other tasks, such as organising a Concorde lecture by Captain Jock Lowe.
Now I’m planning to travel to South Africa where I will spend a month exploring the country. On my return I would like to become a commercial airline pilot.
The most enjoyable part of my course was the practical side, doing lab work and then completing lab reports.
Nicholas Martin
BEng Aerospace Engineering
Whilst at college I had to choose between a number of different engineering universities, and for me, Surrey was the best option. The real selling point for me was the links with industry that Surrey has and the graduate employment rate.
The campus at Surrey is great because everything is so conveniently located. I was worried when visiting other universities that I would spend lots of time ‘commuting’ to lectures, whereas at Surrey all the facilities and University accommodation are close to each other.
The most enjoyable part of my course was the practical side, doing lab work and then completing lab reports. My placement year was also a highlight of my course. I worked for the Toyota F1 team in the Aerodynamics Department, where I got hands-on experience with a wind tunnel facility capable of testing full-scale Formula One cars.
Apart from the academic development that you undergo when completing any degree course, the skills that I’ve developed the most are those gained from my placement year. Working with a Formula One team helped my interpersonal skills as well as the ability to be self-motivated. I also had the chance to live in Germany and learn a new language.
My aim now is to either return to Toyota to work in the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) branch of aerodynamics on initial concept design and development, or alternatively to go on to do a PhD in aerodynamics.
Professional recognition
Fully accredited by the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) as fastest routes to Chartered Engineer status (CEng).