Mechanical Engineering/Aerospace

Aerospace engineering is concerned with the design, development, and testing of aircraft, spacecraft, and the systems that make them fly. It draws on the full range of mechanical engineering knowledge, including structural analysis, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and materials science, and adds to these the specialist disciplines that apply to flight: aerodynamics, propulsion, avionics, and the management of extreme operating conditions. The sector encompasses commercial aviation, defence, satellites, and increasingly the emerging space industry, all of which are undergoing significant transformation driven by new technologies and sustainability pressures.

At the University of Southampton, this four-year MEng programme in Mechanical Engineering/Aerospace explores the specialist engineering and systems that keep aircraft in the air, including advanced study of wing design, propulsion, and manufacturing. Southampton has offered aerospace engineering degrees since the 1930s and brings a long heritage of research and industry collaboration to the programme. You will study the core mechanical engineering principles in the early years and then move into aerospace-specific specialisms as the degree progresses.

The programme includes a sandwich year option and a work placement, giving you the opportunity to spend time in an industrial setting and to build the kind of professional experience that aerospace employers actively look for.

Graduates from this programme are well prepared for careers across the aerospace, defence, and space sectors. Roles in aerodynamic design, propulsion engineering, structural analysis, systems engineering, and project management are all accessible with this qualification. Many graduates work for aircraft manufacturers, defence contractors, space agencies, and the growing commercial space sector.

The MEng qualification also provides a strong foundation for doctoral research or for Chartered Engineer status through the relevant professional bodies. The typical entry tariff for the programme is 136 points.