Aircraft Maintenance Engineering and Management

Aircraft maintenance engineering and management addresses one of the most safety-critical functions in the aviation industry. Every commercial aircraft that flies must be maintained to rigorous regulatory standards, and the engineers who perform and oversee that maintenance are responsible for ensuring that aircraft are airworthy and that every system on board functions as designed. The discipline combines detailed technical knowledge of aircraft structures, systems and powerplants with an understanding of the regulatory framework, quality management and organisational processes that govern maintenance operations.

This four-year full-time programme at the University of the Highlands and Islands prepares you to work at the intersection of engineering and management within the aviation sector. You will develop technical knowledge of aircraft systems including airframes, engines, avionics and hydraulics, alongside an understanding of the maintenance procedures, documentation requirements and regulatory standards that govern the industry. The management component of the programme equips you to understand how maintenance operations are organised, how quality and safety are assured, and how engineering teams are led and coordinated within an aviation business.

A typical entry tariff of 120 points makes this programme accessible to students coming from a range of engineering or technical backgrounds, and the four-year structure gives you sufficient time to develop both the depth of technical knowledge and the management perspective that the industry requires.

Graduates are well positioned to pursue careers as licensed aircraft maintenance engineers, continuing airworthiness management personnel, quality assurance inspectors and operations managers within airlines, maintenance repair and overhaul organisations, and regulatory authorities. Aviation is a global industry with consistent demand for technically qualified maintenance professionals, and the management dimension of this degree opens pathways to supervisory and leadership roles as careers develop. Further professional development through regulatory licensing and postgraduate study is a common path for those seeking to progress to the most senior technical and management positions.