close up of aeroplane in flight

Aerospace Engineering BEng

3-4 years

We’ve come a long way since the Wright Brothers. But in an area as innovative as aerospace engineering, the sky truly is the limit. From flight dynamics to aero-engine design, you’ll learn what it takes to make your mark in this exciting field.

Aerospace Engineering BEng, 3-4 years

We’ve come a long way since the Wright Brothers. But in an area as innovative as aerospace engineering, the sky truly is the limit. From flight dynamics to aero-engine design, you’ll learn what it takes to make your mark in this exciting field.

Start date:

2025

Course information

Typical offer ABB

UCAS codes H400, H403, H404

International fee £24,500

Institute code L34

Taught by School of Engineering

Complete University Guide

Ranked 16th in the UK for Aerospace Engineering (Complete University Guide 2024)

Accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and the Institute of Measurement and Control

Course description

Course description

Whether you study for the BEng or the MEng, your Aerospace Engineering degree starts by providing a broad engineering foundation, which includes mechanical, electrical and electronic engineering subjects. You will then develop further specific knowledge and skills in mechanical engineering with a focus on aerospace engineering.

Engineers are innovators who bring about change through their ingenuity, experience and curiosity to improve the quality of life for people throughout the world. Their work is central to thriving economies and competitive industries. It is equally important in developing countries where engineers provide appropriate technologies during difficult times of change.

Professional engineers have a high degree of specialist knowledge but increasingly they use a broad approach to problem solving across a range of engineering disciplines. This is coupled with an awareness of environmental, social, legal, economic and regulatory aspects of the problem at hand.

Specialised lectures on topics such as flight dynamics, aircraft navigation, aero-engine design, aerospace materials and aircraft performance may be given by visiting lecturers from aerospace industry companies. You will have the opportunity to attend a practical flight test course or to use a flight simulator to enhance your knowledge and skills in aerospace engineering.

Successful engineers must be able to analyse and solve complex problems in the industrial context, communicate ideas to others and work effectively in teams and exercise leadership skills. This is why all our Engineering degrees include a selection of management content or specialised modules throughout. Topics covered include business finance, project planning and management, intellectual property, health and safety, motivation theory, marketing, total quality management, ethics and professionalism.

What's the difference?

Each of our Engineering subjects is available in six forms:

  • BEng (3 years), BEng with Industry (4 years), BEng with Year Abroad (4 years)
  • MEng (4 years), MEng with Industry (5 years), MEng with Year Abroad (5 years)

The MEng places greater emphasis on industrially-related project work, advanced technical content and leadership, and automatically meets the academic requirements for Chartered Engineer (CEng) status. The MEng shares its first three years with the corresponding BEng.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

  • A/AS-levels: ABB including Maths. Two AS-levels considered in place of one A-level.
  • EPQ with A-levels: BBB + EPQ at grade B. A-level subjects to include Maths.
  • GCSEs: Grade C/4 in English Language.
  • BTEC Nationals: DDM in Engineering including Further Maths at Distinction.
  • International Baccalaureate: Pass Diploma with 30 points, with grade 5 in Maths HL. Must include minimum of grade 4 in English A or 5 in English B if minimum of grade 4/C not held in English Language at GCSE.
  • Access to HE Diploma: Pass Engineering Diploma with 45 credits at level 3, 30 of which are at Distinction. To include all level 3 Maths modules at Distinction.
  • T Levels: Distinction in either: Design and Development for Engineering and Manufacturing or Engineering, Manufacturing, Processing and Control or Maintenance, Installation and Repair for Engineering and Manufacturing (plus Maths test).

Other official national and international qualifications considered from across the world. You can review some of the qualifications we accept on our countries page and English Language equivalencies.

If your qualification or country is not listed, please contact us for more information, including the name and result of the qualification you have studied.

If you do not meet the entry requirements for this course, you can apply for Engineering with Foundation Year BEng.

Second year entry may be possible with suitable qualifications.

Contextual offers

The University of Leicester is committed to providing equitable opportunities for all applicants from all backgrounds. We make contextual offers to support students who may be impacted by the area they live in, their personal circumstances or who have completed one of our progression programmes. These offers are usually one or two grades lower than the standard entry requirements. To qualify for a contextual offer, you must apply for an eligible course and meet specific criteria – check if you’re eligible.

Selection Process

When considering your application, we will look for evidence that you will be able to fulfil the objectives of the course and achieve the standards required. We will take into account a range of factors including previous exam results.

Interview and maths assessment test may be required. If you receive an offer you will be invited to visit the department.

English Language Requirements

IELTS 6.0 or equivalent. If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. If you do not yet meet our requirements, our English Language Teaching Unit (ELTU) offers a range of courses to help you to improve your English to the necessary standard.

International Qualifications

Find your country in this list to check equivalent qualifications, scholarships and additional requirements.

Countries list

Fees and funding

Fees and funding

UK Students

Starting in 2025

Tuition fees for 2025/26 are yet to be confirmed. As an indication of what you might pay, the fees for students who started in 2024/25 were:

  • £9,250 in your first year. Tuition fees are subject to government regulations and may change in future years
  • Year Abroad: your fee will be £1,385 for that year
  • Year in Industry: your fee will be 15% of the full-time tuition fee that applies in that year

Find out more about scholarships and funding.

International Students

Starting in 2025

  • £24,500 per year
  • Year Abroad: £6,125 which is 25% of the full-time tuition fee
  • Year in Industry: £3,675, which is 15% of the full-time tuition fee

If you are resident outside the UK and the Republic of Ireland, you will need to pay a deposit of £3,000 to secure your place. This will be subtracted from your total tuition fee.

If you are an EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU settlement scheme, you may qualify for the UK fee (subject to criteria).

Find out more about scholarships and funding.

Accreditation

Accreditation

All our Aerospace Engineering degrees are accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. The MEng satisfies the academic requirements of the Engineering Council, enabling you to become a Chartered Engineer (CEng).

Careers and employability

Careers and employability

Our Aerospace Engineering degrees have employability skills embedded within them. Project management, business simulation, and risk assessments are an integral part of practical modules. You will learn how to juggle technical requirements of engineering design with external factors that influence product development.

Our excellent links with industry mean that some projects may include visits from leading industrial engineers who will review your progress and offer advice.

Careers and Employability Service


Get career-ready at Leicester with guidance from our award-winning Careers and Employability Service. We're here to give you a lifetime offer of support, even after graduation. Our team of specialist careers advisers and mentors will help you every step of the way. From supporting you with CVs and interviews, to volunteering opportunities and placements, we're here to help you reach your professional goals.

Related courses

Sustainable Development Goals

Sustainable Development Goals

We are committed to providing skills and knowledge to help prepare you tackle global challenges. We have mapped our undergraduate degrees for learning which aligns to the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.

This degree includes learning which relates to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals:

Find out more about the UN Sustainable Development Goals

Testimonial

“My favourite part of my degree so far has been the Cranfield Flight Test because it was so unique and fascinating compared to anything else I have experienced. The adrenaline and excitement for that project was unmatched. The School of Engineering staff are always available to help me and I’m able to access university resources to support my studies. I was a student representative for my course during my first year, which required me to attend meetings with senior staff and discuss academic problems with my classmates, to promote change and suggest improvements for the student body.”

Anish, Aerospace Engineering, 2024 

Course structure

Year 1

Year 1

All engineers require an excellent knowledge of basic engineering principles, which is why 75% of our first year is common for all our subjects.

Degrees in Aerospace, General and Mechanical Engineering share the exact same first year. This means that you can switch between any of these degrees before your second year.

Modules

This is the same as the first year of the MEng.

Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.

Year 2

Year 2

In your second year you will begin to specialise in the field of aerospace engineering while continuing to develop fundamental engineering principles. You will also take an integrated design project in which you will work in a team with students from other engineering disciplines – vital experience for the modern world of engineering.

Modules

This is the same as the second year of the MEng.

If you achieve at least 55% in your second year you can, if you wish, transfer to the MEng.

Modules marked with an * are common to all engineering UG programmes.

Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.

Year in Industry or Abroad (optional)

Year in Industry or Abroad (optional)

If you want to, you can spend the third year of the BSc studying abroad at one of our partner institutions or working in an industrial placement. Alternatively, you can opt to continue studying at the University and complete your degree in three years.

Year Abroad

We’ll make sure you have everything you need for your future career: not just by awarding you a high quality degree, but also by helping you to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence you need to make your mark in the world as a Citizen of Change. One way you can do this is by opting to take a Year Abroad between Years 2 and 3 of your degree.

Studying abroad is not just for people who are interested in travelling and meeting new people. It is about acquiring life skills that are becoming increasingly significant for a wide range of jobs in our modern globalised society. Whether you go on to a career in the private, public or third sector - or plough your own furrow as an entrepreneur – you will find the experience invaluable.

For more information, including a list of destinations, please visit our Study Abroad website.

Please note

  • A year spent abroad still incurs a tuition fee, but this is much lower than for a normal year at Leicester. See the Fees and Funding tab of this page for details.
  • You may be eligible for a travel grant from Student Finance England.
  • Places are offered on a competitive basis, and eligibility is dependent on your academic performance in Years 1 and 2.
  • Language courses, at beginners or advanced level, are available through our Languages at Leicester scheme.

Year in Industry

If you choose a 'With Industry’ degree you will spend a year on an industrial placement with a sponsoring company between your second and third years at Leicester. You will undertake a programme of training and practical experience that is agreed between the sponsoring company and the University. Recent placements have included: Rolls-Royce, Force India F1 Team, Ford Motors, Intel UK, Network Rail, Porsche Engineering Services, Aero Engine Controls, Babcock International, Auto Electrical Services and Jaguar Land Rover.

A member of staff will be individually assigned to you as your industrial placement tutor, who will be in contact with you throughout your placement and will visit the sponsoring company. During the year you will return to Leicester to present details of your placement to other students studying for 'With industry' degrees.

A year in industry is a great opportunity which can give you first-hand experience of working in an engineering-related career while also enhancing your employability skills and allowing you to network with people in industry.

A year in industry still incurs a tuition fee, but this is much lower than for a normal year at Leicester. See the Fees and Funding tab of this page for details.

Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.

Final Year

Final Year

In your third year (or fourth year if you take a year out) you have the opportunity to specialise in different aspects of aerospace engineering through a number of optional modules. Your individual project is a significant part of this year, giving you the opportunity to investigate a specific aerospace engineering concept or challenge.

Modules

Plus two option modules from:

Plus your Individual Project

This is the same as the third year of the MEng.

Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.

Why Leicester?

All our Engineering degrees are accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and the Institute of Measurement and Control.

A shared first year allows you to swap between degrees in General Engineering, Aerospace Engineering and Mechanical Engineering at the start of Year 2.

In Year 2 you’ll take a flight test engineering course where you’ll measure the performance of a commuter airliner.

The School of Engineering operates an Open Door policy meaning you can access support when you need it. We also keep our teaching groups small so you won't be a face in the crowd at Leicester.

Reading list

See the types of texts you might read, over the summer, to get a feel for the course and arrive prepared and ready to go.

View a reading list for Engineering degrees

Teaching and learning

Teaching

Teaching includes lectures and lab classes together with tutorials. For the practical aspects of the course you will work, with a partner or as part of a small team, in our well-equipped engineering labs. On your third year project you will work individually under the supervision of an academic member of staff.

Assessment

Continuous assessment of your experimentation, computing, design and project work will contribute about 30-50% of your overall mark, with the rest based on your performance in exams for each module. You will also be expected to give presentations about your work.

Independent learning

When not attending lectures, seminars or other timetabled sessions you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking research in the library, preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for exams. To help with your independent learning, you can access social study spaces in halls of residence.

Your contact hours will depend on the option modules you select. You can see details of the contact hours on individual module pages.

Academic support

Our Centre for Academic Achievement provides help in the following areas:

  • study and exam skills
  • academic writing
  • presentations
  • dissertations
  • numerical data skills
  • referencing sources

Our AccessAbility Centre offers support and practical help for students with dyslexia or other specific learning difficulties, including physical, mental health or mobility difficulties, deafness, or visual impairment.

Teaching staff

You will be taught by an experienced teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course. PhD research students who have undertaken teacher training may also contribute to the teaching of seminars under the supervision of the module leader. Our teaching is informed by the research we do. You can learn more about our staff by visiting our staff profiles.

Apply now

Course Qualification Duration UCAS Code Availability
Course Aerospace Engineering Qualification BEng Duration 3 years full-time UCAS Code H400 Availability How to apply
Course Aerospace Engineering with Year Abroad Qualification BEng Duration 4 years full-time UCAS Code H403 Availability How to apply
Course Aerospace Engineering with Year in Industry Qualification BEng Duration 4 years full-time UCAS Code H404 Availability How to apply

Data about this course

student using a microscope in class

The Department’s close links with industry mean I can do projects relevant to the research happening in industry today.

Georgie

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