BEng (Hons) Aerospace Engineering 48 months Undergraduate Programme By Heriot-Watt University |TopUniversities
Programme Duration

48 monthsProgramme duration

Tuitionfee

25,808 GBPTuition Fee/year

Main Subject Area

Engineering - AeronauticalMain Subject Area

Programme overview

Main Subject

Engineering - Aeronautical

Degree

BEng

Study Level

Undergraduate

Study Mode

On Campus

Aerospace Engineers design, develop and build aircraft, spacecraft, and satellites. Advancements in commercial space exploration, drone technology, low carbon technologies and aerospace commerce make it one of the fastest growing specialisms in engineering.  

BEng (Hons) Aerospace Engineering combines the core disciplines of mechanical engineering with specific application to aerospace engineering, with a strong focus on the current and emerging needs of the aeronautical industry.  

The undergraduate degree will provide you with the core skills and specialist knowledge needed to launch your thriving career as an aerospace engineering. You’ll take courses from across our engineering disciplines to ensure you gain a foundation of essential knowledge. 

In your first two years, you’ll study courses from our established mechanical engineering degree, respected by industry and employers for the way it builds capacity to solve problems, analyse engineering components, and design solutions to real-life challenges. You will also be introduced to key concepts from Aerospace Engineering. 

In years three and four, you’ll have the opportunity to expand your knowledge in Aerospace Engineering with a Group Design Project, whilst learning from specialist optional courses such as Spacecraft Engineering, Industrial and Sustainable Aerodynamics, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Technologies and Aerospace Simulation. 

Throughout your studies, you will apply your learned theoretical knowledge to practical work, using state-of-the-art equipment and facilities including wind tunnels, a supersonic test rig, and industry-standard software for computational fluid dynamics, finite element, and computer aided design.  


Our Expertise

Heriot-Watt has recently been ranked first in Scotland for General Engineering (The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2023). 


Your learning will be informed by the expertise of our research-active aerospace engineers and academics.  


96% of Heriot-Watt University’s engineering research was classed as world-leading in the REF 2021 review, which ranked us 1st in Scotland and 3rd in the UK for engineering research through a joint submission with the University of Edinburgh. 


Our BEng (Hons) Aerospace Engineering is directly informed by the world class research carried out by Heriot-Watt’s Mechanical, Process and Energy Engineering (IMPEE) research institute which focuses on promoting excellence across four main research themes: 


  • Biomedical Engineering 
  • Digital Engineering 
  • Energy Harvesting and Conversion 
  • Multiphase Flow 


The research relevance of this undergraduate programme ensures your studies remain cutting-edge and industry focused. 


Your learning environment


The BEng (Hons) Aerospace Engineering programme is taught though a combination of lectures, tutorials, and laboratory practicals, allowing you to get to know and build relationships with your teaching staff, academics, and peers. You will be assessed by coursework, exams, and your dissertation, and will receive support and feedback throughout the programme.  

During your studies, you’ll use our large-scale aerospace engineering lab space for practical work in dynamics, materials and design, and have access to our specialist equipment and software used by professional aerospace and mechanical engineers, including machining and manufacturing facilities, an air conditioning unit, Marcet Boiler, high speed wind tunnel rig, wind tunnel for fluid mechanics and aerodynamics, 3D printer, and a uniaxial testing machine. You’ll gain experience in using the equipment, which you can use to benefit your studies, inform, and develop your academic assignments, and use for extra-curriculum and personal projects. 

GRID (Centre for Global Research Innovation and Discovery), our multi-discipline hub on the banks of our very own campus loch, is a building which embraces our learn by doing ethos within the school. Here, you’ll can work on real-life problems, and across disciplines to deliver practical solutions with global impact. You’ll have access to space for personal and group work, technology, and state-of-the-art equipment including 3D printers, laser cutters, design space, electronic and mechanical facilities.  

Outside of the classroom, you can apply your learnt knowledge and skills to several Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering related societies including: 

  • CanSat in which you can build a satellite the size of a drink can and have the opportunity to complete at the AAS CanSat Competition,  

  • HWRacing to build and compete a car at the world-famous Formula Student Competition at Silverstone, 

  • Aero-Watt to build a fully autonomous plane for the IMechE UAS challenge,  

  • and IMechE Railway Challenge team where you’ll build a small-scale locomotive to compete in the national challenge.  

Societies provide a fantastic opportunity to meet likeminded people, get involved in regular social events and networking events, and gain insights into career prospects in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, and other relevant industries. 

Programme overview

Main Subject

Engineering - Aeronautical

Degree

BEng

Study Level

Undergraduate

Study Mode

On Campus

Aerospace Engineers design, develop and build aircraft, spacecraft, and satellites. Advancements in commercial space exploration, drone technology, low carbon technologies and aerospace commerce make it one of the fastest growing specialisms in engineering.  

BEng (Hons) Aerospace Engineering combines the core disciplines of mechanical engineering with specific application to aerospace engineering, with a strong focus on the current and emerging needs of the aeronautical industry.  

The undergraduate degree will provide you with the core skills and specialist knowledge needed to launch your thriving career as an aerospace engineering. You’ll take courses from across our engineering disciplines to ensure you gain a foundation of essential knowledge. 

In your first two years, you’ll study courses from our established mechanical engineering degree, respected by industry and employers for the way it builds capacity to solve problems, analyse engineering components, and design solutions to real-life challenges. You will also be introduced to key concepts from Aerospace Engineering. 

In years three and four, you’ll have the opportunity to expand your knowledge in Aerospace Engineering with a Group Design Project, whilst learning from specialist optional courses such as Spacecraft Engineering, Industrial and Sustainable Aerodynamics, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Technologies and Aerospace Simulation. 

Throughout your studies, you will apply your learned theoretical knowledge to practical work, using state-of-the-art equipment and facilities including wind tunnels, a supersonic test rig, and industry-standard software for computational fluid dynamics, finite element, and computer aided design.  


Our Expertise

Heriot-Watt has recently been ranked first in Scotland for General Engineering (The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2023). 


Your learning will be informed by the expertise of our research-active aerospace engineers and academics.  


96% of Heriot-Watt University’s engineering research was classed as world-leading in the REF 2021 review, which ranked us 1st in Scotland and 3rd in the UK for engineering research through a joint submission with the University of Edinburgh. 


Our BEng (Hons) Aerospace Engineering is directly informed by the world class research carried out by Heriot-Watt’s Mechanical, Process and Energy Engineering (IMPEE) research institute which focuses on promoting excellence across four main research themes: 


  • Biomedical Engineering 
  • Digital Engineering 
  • Energy Harvesting and Conversion 
  • Multiphase Flow 


The research relevance of this undergraduate programme ensures your studies remain cutting-edge and industry focused. 


Your learning environment


The BEng (Hons) Aerospace Engineering programme is taught though a combination of lectures, tutorials, and laboratory practicals, allowing you to get to know and build relationships with your teaching staff, academics, and peers. You will be assessed by coursework, exams, and your dissertation, and will receive support and feedback throughout the programme.  

During your studies, you’ll use our large-scale aerospace engineering lab space for practical work in dynamics, materials and design, and have access to our specialist equipment and software used by professional aerospace and mechanical engineers, including machining and manufacturing facilities, an air conditioning unit, Marcet Boiler, high speed wind tunnel rig, wind tunnel for fluid mechanics and aerodynamics, 3D printer, and a uniaxial testing machine. You’ll gain experience in using the equipment, which you can use to benefit your studies, inform, and develop your academic assignments, and use for extra-curriculum and personal projects. 

GRID (Centre for Global Research Innovation and Discovery), our multi-discipline hub on the banks of our very own campus loch, is a building which embraces our learn by doing ethos within the school. Here, you’ll can work on real-life problems, and across disciplines to deliver practical solutions with global impact. You’ll have access to space for personal and group work, technology, and state-of-the-art equipment including 3D printers, laser cutters, design space, electronic and mechanical facilities.  

Outside of the classroom, you can apply your learnt knowledge and skills to several Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering related societies including: 

  • CanSat in which you can build a satellite the size of a drink can and have the opportunity to complete at the AAS CanSat Competition,  

  • HWRacing to build and compete a car at the world-famous Formula Student Competition at Silverstone, 

  • Aero-Watt to build a fully autonomous plane for the IMechE UAS challenge,  

  • and IMechE Railway Challenge team where you’ll build a small-scale locomotive to compete in the national challenge.  

Societies provide a fantastic opportunity to meet likeminded people, get involved in regular social events and networking events, and gain insights into career prospects in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, and other relevant industries. 

Admission Requirements

79+
63+
6+
29+
169+
Standard entry requirements
  • Highers AABB (over two sittings). Must include Maths and one of Physics or Engineering Science, with one required subject achieved at A.
  • A-Levels BBC- ABB. Must include Maths and Physics, with both achieved at B.
  • International Baccalaureate 29 points. Must include Maths and Physics, with both achieved at Higher Level 5.
  • BTEC Extended Diploma DMM. Must be in a relevant Engineering subject including sufficient Maths and Physics.
  • HNC A in graded unit. Must be in a relevant Engineering subject including sufficient Maths and Physics. All HNCs must include Engineering Maths 1 and one of Engineering Maths 2 or 3.
  • HND AB / BA in graded units. Must be in a relevant Engineering subject including sufficient Maths and Physics. All HNDs must include Engineering Maths 1 and one of Engineering Maths 2 or 3.

4 Years
Sep

International
25,808 GBP

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