Aerospace Engineering

Aerospace engineering encompasses the design, development, testing, and operation of aircraft and spacecraft, as well as the systems, materials, and technologies that make flight possible. It is a discipline that draws on the fundamentals of fluid dynamics, structural mechanics, thermodynamics, propulsion, avionics, and control systems, applying them to some of the most complex engineering challenges humanity has set itself, from sustainable commercial aviation to orbital launch vehicles and beyond. The field is in a period of significant transformation, with the transition to sustainable aviation, the growth of urban air mobility, and the rapid development of the space economy all creating demand for engineers capable of working at the frontier of technical knowledge.

At Queen Mary University of London, this four-year full-time programme is accredited by the Royal Aeronautical Society, which provides independent assurance of its quality and relevance to the profession. You will cover the theoretical foundations of the discipline across aerodynamics, propulsion, structural analysis, materials science, flight mechanics, and electronic systems, and you will develop practical competence through laboratory work, computational modelling, and design projects that require you to integrate knowledge across multiple areas. The programme's engagement with high-speed vehicles and sustainable aviation reflects both the intellectual breadth of aerospace engineering and the practical priorities driving innovation in the sector.

You will also develop engineering design and project management skills that are central to professional practice and that prepare you for work in complex, multidisciplinary project environments.

Aerospace engineering graduates from an accredited programme are well positioned to pursue incorporated or chartered engineer status, and work across an exceptionally wide range of employers. Aircraft and spacecraft manufacturers, defence contractors, airlines, satellite operators, engine manufacturers, and the broader aerospace supply chain all recruit engineering graduates. Roles in design, systems integration, testing and certification, research and development, and project management are typical entry routes.

Further study at postgraduate level in aerospace engineering, propulsion, structures, or systems engineering supports those who wish to specialise or pursue careers in research.