Aerospace Engineering MSc: After you graduate

"My university career began on the Kingston foundation year in 2005, moving on to the Aerospace Engineering BSc(Hons). I progressed through the years finishing with a 2:1 overall, and I chose to continue on with Kingston.

"Compared to other universities I visited, I found the forum style of teaching very appealing, with little in the way of pure lecture, and small class numbers allowing interaction between the staff and students. Lecturers were also always inviting to students to visit them if they have questions.

"The Aerospace Engineering MSc offered a number of modules in computer-aided design (CAD) and computational fluid dynamics which I was keen on, as well as a group design module which was very appealing as I spend a lot of time designing light aircraft. Other modules such as law, and project management, proved to be very useful, as a general knowledge of contract and tortuous law is an asset, and management skills are a basic requirement in all career applications.

During the year I developed my CAD skills continuously and had reached a level far beyond average by the end, the Integrated CAD/CAM lead me to master other softwares, and the advanced CAD/CAM module gave me a vital introduction to CNC machine programming and injection mould design. Skills which without would seriously limit your appeal to engineering firms.

"Following the completion of the MSc group design thesis, continued practice has lead me to specialise in CAD and structural finite element analysis, with a decent level of CFD ability as well.

"I now work for a small firm which restores vintage aircraft on the south coast, currently working in the sheet metal workshops learning the ins and outs of aircraft construction and aerospace materials. I also carry out structural analysis on parts which require re-manufacture using both hand engineering principles and FEA. Once I have rotated through the various sections of the company I will take over the drawing room, and the company (which is seeking to expand into more modern developments) may turn over to developing my light aircraft designs."

"I am an airline pilot with over 25 years of flying experience. I have also previously flown helicopters and been a licensed aircraft maintenance engineer in Australia.

"For the last 10 years, I have been working for easyJet, initially on the Boeing 737-300/700 and later the Airbus A319/A320 Aircraft. I have previously completed a Bachelor of Technology in Mechanical and Electronics Engineering, and a Masters in Aviation Management.

"I enjoy learning more about aircraft particularly the technical side of aircraft design. The Aerospace Engineering MSc at Kingston allowed me the flexibility to attend classes and to study from home whilst still working full time. I am currently doing a PhD at Kingston University studying the aerodynamic performance of variable winglets on a swept wing transport aircraft."

"My interest in combining aerospace engineering with management issues led me to choose the Aerospace Engineering MSc at Kingston University. The structure of this course is highly flexible, since four out of eight modules can be chosen by the student according to his/her own interests.

"On top of the four core modules (Information Systems for Engineers; Finance Resource Management; Industrial Project Management; and Legal Obligations), I personally chose Integrated CAD/CAM Systems and Total Quality as technical broadening modules, and Introduction to CFD and Further Aerospace Structure and Materials as technical deepening modules.

"For the final dissertation project I designed a commercial 150-seat environmentally-friendly aircraft with a team of four other students. The combination of self-research and team-working projects gave me a great variety of technical and interpersonal skills. I developed an awareness of work in a multidisciplinary team, for example, facing different cultural and background issues.

At Kingston, lecturers adopt active teaching/learning methods so that students are engaged and can learn quickly and effectively. All staff members collaborate together to maintain a positive and friendly environment. The University has recently invested a considerable amount of money in improving and extending its resources, providing top-level teaching and research quality.

"In 2009, after obtaining my MSc with distinction, I applied for a PhD studentship offered by Kingston University. The project, supervised by Dr Yufeng Yao and Dr Sing Lo, involves numerical flow analysis of supersonic inlets (eg SCRAMJET).

"Accurate predictions of three-dimensional crossing shock wave and turbulent boundary layer interactions (CSWTBLI) are of particular importance in the design of high-speed vehicles. Such flows can generate intense heat transfer rates and pressure levels, complex large-scale unsteady separated flows, and large-amplitude fluctuating loads. Our efforts to advance the current level of research in the field are hence tailored to improve numerical predictions, focusing on turbulence modelling effects, unsteadiness mechanisms, and fluctuating loadings (dynamics and thermal) on the walls. Also, flow structure and topologies are considered in detail.

"This PhD studentship also grants me the opportunity to teach as a GTA (Graduate Teaching Assistant) Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to BSc and MSc courses. The experience gained is simply great. When I complete my PhD degree, I aim to continue with a career in CFD-related research, possibly with a lectureship, within the University."