Aerospace Engineering

Aerospace engineering is the discipline concerned with the design, development, and operation of aircraft, spacecraft, and the systems that support them. It encompasses aeronautics, which deals with vehicles that fly within the Earth's atmosphere, and astronautics, which addresses space travel and satellites. The field draws on fluid dynamics, structural mechanics, materials science, propulsion, control systems, and thermodynamics, combining fundamental science with the engineering creativity needed to push the boundaries of what is possible in the most demanding physical environments.

Nottingham Trent University's four-year full-time degree includes a foundation year, giving students who need to build their mathematical and scientific knowledge a supported pathway into the main engineering programme. The foundation year ensures that everyone who progresses has the solid quantitative and scientific foundations that aerospace engineering demands. You will study aerodynamics, propulsion and thermodynamics, flight mechanics, structural analysis, materials science, systems engineering, CAD and computational tools, and aerospace manufacturing processes, developing both the theoretical knowledge and the practical skills that the industry requires.

Laboratory work, design projects, and the use of simulation and analysis software are central throughout the programme.

Aerospace engineering graduates go on to work in aircraft and spacecraft design and manufacture, avionics, defence, space technology, air traffic management, maintenance and certification, and the growing commercial spaceflight sector. The analytical and design skills the degree develops are also valued in adjacent fields including automotive, motorsport, marine engineering, and energy. Many graduates pursue chartered engineer status, and some continue to postgraduate study or doctoral research to develop specialist expertise in areas such as aeroacoustics, aerostructures, propulsion, or space systems design.