Aircraft Engineering with Pilot Studies

Aircraft engineering with pilot studies is a degree that combines the technical discipline of aerospace engineering with a deep understanding of flight operations, giving graduates a unique dual perspective on the aircraft they work with. Aircraft engineering is concerned with the design, analysis, maintenance, and certification of aircraft and their systems, drawing on aerodynamics, structures, propulsion, and avionics to ensure that aircraft perform safely and efficiently. Adding a pilot-informed understanding of flight operations connects the engineering knowledge to the human experience of operating aircraft, making graduates who understand not only how aircraft are built and maintained but how engineering decisions affect handling, performance, safety, and pilot decision-making in real flight.

At the University of Salford, this three-year, full-time degree uniquely brings these two domains together, giving you skills in aircraft systems analysis, aerodynamics, and engineering design alongside practical understanding of aviation operations. A sandwich year is incorporated into the programme, providing the opportunity for a substantial professional placement in the aviation industry, and work placements are embedded in the course to develop your professional experience. A typical entry tariff of 104 points reflects the accessible standard of entry for a programme that rewards engineering aptitude and genuine interest in aviation.

Graduates go on to work in aircraft maintenance, aviation engineering, aerospace design, airline operations, airworthiness and certification, flight safety, and aviation consultancy. The combination of engineering and operational understanding is particularly valuable in roles that sit at the interface of technical and operational aviation management. Postgraduate study in aerospace engineering, aviation management, or air transport is a further option for those seeking advanced expertise.