Applied Aircraft Engineering foundation degree
Subject and course type
- Engineering: Aerospace, Aviation and Aircraft
- Foundation
- Undergraduate
This Applied Aircraft Engineering Foundation Degree will give you the qualification you need to join the Aircraft Engineering BEng (Hons) top-up degree and the knowledge you need to pursue your career goals.
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Take your first step towards becoming an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer
Ready to kickstart your path towards an aircraft engineering honours degree?
Studying for a Foundation Degree in Applied Aircraft Engineering at Kingston University is your first step towards completing a full Aircraft Engineering BEng. You’ll complete the course ready to progress to the final year of our Aircraft Engineering BEng (Hons) (top-up) course.
This course is based fully online, meaning it is ideal if you need to balance your studies with your career. As a result, most students on this course complete it on a part-time basis within two years.
You will be taught by expert staff who continue to practise and research at the cutting edge of their discipline. A blend of practical and theoretical learning will enable you to advance your understanding. On successful completion of the course, you will have the option to progress to an honours degree with Kingston University.
Why choose this course
Are you considering a career in aircraft engineering, but don’t have the qualifications to get straight onto a full MEng/BEng course? This foundation degree can help you to take the next step on your career path.
Throughout this course, you will gain the foundations you need for a successful career in aircraft maintenance. You will also develop the leadership tools, skills and qualifications required to progress into leadership and management positions as an aircraft maintenance engineer.
You'll build your professional network studying alongside students from different organisations with varying backgrounds and managerial experience.
Offered both part time and online, this degree is designed to enable you to pursue the qualifications you need without sacrificing your career. It will kick off with an onsite induction session at Kingston University. For those students unable to attend, an induction via Canvas/MS Teams will be available, followed by ongoing online support.
Course Content
You will study three taught modules (90 credits), usually taken over two years.
150 credits will be awarded through Recognition of Prior Learning.
Modules
Modules
30 credits
The module will ensure you have a range of skills to enable you to apply and communicate the knowledge acquired in the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) modules and to extend that knowledge as required.
The module covers four main themes: mathematics, engineering problem solving, communication skills and research methods. It also provides a foundation for further study at higher levels.
30 credits
This module will enable you to develop self-reflective skills and reflect on your progress throughout your professional career to date. You will assemble a portfolio of evidence of the key and practical skills you have acquired in their normal job role. The portfolio will then be used to support the creation of a Development Plan for the next 2 to 3 years.
30 credits
This module will develop leadership and management skills, introducing a broad range of skills for effectively managing others. It will consider the basic principles of project management and accounting, and develop the ability to analyse and describe the external environment facing managers. The module will introduce the principles of leadership and team development and the management of people and teams and the topic of Corporate and Social Responsibility/ESG which will include ethics and sustainability.
Aims of this module:
- introduce a broad range of skills which are necessary to move from being managed themselves to managing others.
- evaluate the economic environment and the key influences on that environment to understand the context of business decisions
- develop the leadership and team management skills to manage themselves and others.
Future Skills and careers opportunities
Successful completion of this programme will enable you to progress to the final year of the BSc (Hons) Aircraft Engineering top-up programme. Kingston graduates work at British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, KLM UK Engineering, DHL, the Royal Navy, the British Army and BAES.
Embedded within the Applied Aircraft Engineering Foundation Degree course and throughout the whole Kingston experience is our Future Skills programme. The Future Skills programme was developed to respond to the ever-evolving demands from modern day employment.
It will help you obtain the skills most valued by employers, such as problem-solving, digital competency, and adaptability, and learn how to apply these skills in different scenarios. You’ll also learn how to articulate to employers how being able to do so gives you the edge.
At Kingston University, we're not just keeping up with change, we're creating it
For more information on how Kingston prepares you for the future job market, visit our Future Skills page.
Teaching and assessment
You will study online through synchronous interactive video (e.g. through Microsoft Teams), teacher guided and supported asynchronous learning and teaching, and independent study.
Outside the scheduled learning and teaching hours, you will learn independently through self-study which will involve reading articles and books, working on projects, undertaking research, preparing for and completing your work for assessments. Some independent study work may need to be completed on-campus, as you may need to access campus-based facilities such as studios and labs.
Our academic support team here at Kingston University provides help in a range of areas.
When you arrive, we'll introduce you to your personal tutor. This is the member of academic staff who will provide academic guidance, be a support throughout your time at Kingston and who will show you how to make the best use of all the help and resources that we offer at Kingston University.
A course is made up of modules, and each module is worth a number of credits. You must pass a given number of credits in order to achieve the award you registered on. The number of credits you need for your award is detailed in the programme specification which you can access from the link at the bottom of this page.
One credit equates to 10 hours of study. Therefore 120 credits would equate to 1,200 notional hours. These hours are split into scheduled and guided. On this course, the percentage of that time that will be scheduled learning and teaching activities is shown below for each year of study. The remainder is made up of guided independent study.
Most students will take the course over 2 years.
- Year 1: 20% scheduled learning and teaching
- Year 2: 10% scheduled learning and teaching
Type of assessment
- Coursework: 67%
- Exams: 33%
We aim to provide feedback on assessments within 20 working days.
Fees and funding
You will study three taught modules (a total of 90 credits), usually taken over two years. You can view the current modular 30 credit fee on the part-time undergraduate price list.
You will study three taught modules (a total of 90 credits), usually taken over two years. You can view the current modular 30 credit fee on the part-time undergraduate price list.
Additional course costs
Some courses may require additional costs beyond tuition fees. When planning your studies, you’ll want to consider tuition fees, living costs, and any extra costs that might relate to your area of study.
Your tuition fees include costs for teaching, assessment and university facilities. So your access to libraries, shared IT resources and various student support services are all covered. Accommodation and general living expenses are not covered by these fees.
Where applicable, additional expenses for your course may include:
Our libraries have an extensive collection of books and journals, as well as open-access computers and laptops available to rent. However, you may want to buy your own computer or personal copies of key textbooks. Textbooks may range from £50 to £250 per year. And a personal computer can range from £100 to £3,000 depending on your course requirements.
While most coursework is submitted online, some modules may require printed copies. You may want to allocate up to £100 per year for hard-copies of your coursework. It’s worth noting that 3D printing is never compulsory. So if you choose to use our 3D printers, you’ll need to pay for the material. This ranges from 3p per gram to 40p per gram.
Kingston University will pay for all compulsory field trips. Fees for optional trips can range from £30 to £350 per trip.
Your tuition fees don’t cover travel costs. To save on travel costs, you can use our free intersite bus service. This route links the campuses and halls of residence with local train stations - Surbiton, Kingston upon Thames, and Norbiton.
Please note:
For full-time programmes longer than one year, the published fee is an annual fee, payable each year. The annual tuition covers the first attempt at all necessary modules for that academic year.
Re-studying any modules will incur extra fees, calculated based on the number of credits. Home tuition fees may increase annually, but will not exceed the cap set by the Office for Students or a similar governing body. Full-time international tuition fees are subject to an annual increase and are published for the entire duration of the programme in advance.
Course changes and regulations
The information on this page reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. To improve your student experience and the quality of your degree, we may review and change the material information of this course. Find out more about course changes
Programme Specifications for the course are published ahead of each academic year.
Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.
