Aerospace Engineering

Aerospace Engineering is one of the most technically demanding and intellectually stimulating branches of engineering, concerned with the design, development, testing, and manufacture of aircraft and spacecraft. It draws on aerodynamics, structural mechanics, propulsion, materials science, control systems, and avionics, applying these disciplines to systems that must function reliably at the extremes of speed, altitude, and environmental conditions. The aerospace industry sets some of the highest engineering standards of any sector, and the training it requires develops a level of analytical rigour and problem-solving capability that is valuable far beyond aviation.

At the University of Brighton, this four-year full-time programme includes an integrated foundation year, which provides a structured introduction to the mathematics, physics, and engineering principles that underpin the degree before you progress into the main aerospace curriculum. This makes the programme accessible to students who want more time to build their scientific foundations. Once into the main degree, you will study aerodynamics, flight mechanics, structural analysis, materials, thermodynamics, propulsion systems, and avionics, developing a comprehensive understanding of how aircraft are designed and how their components interact.

A sandwich year and work placement are part of the programme, giving you direct experience of engineering practice before your final year and the opportunity to develop the professional relationships and practical judgement that complement your academic training.

Brighton's engineering department has strong industry connections, and the programme is designed with the needs of the aerospace and broader engineering sector clearly in view.

Graduates pursue careers in aerospace and defence organisations, aircraft manufacturing, systems engineering, propulsion, avionics, and aeronautical research. Many go on to chartership with professional engineering institutions and some continue to postgraduate study or research in aerospace or mechanical engineering. The skills developed also transfer into automotive, maritime, and energy engineering sectors.