Aerospace Engineering MSc
- Engineering, electronics and robotics
- Postgraduate
Get your career off to a flying start with the Aerospace Engineering MSc from Kingston University. This course meets the requirements of the Engineering Council for the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC). It’s also accredited by the Royal Aeronautical Society, under licence from the UK regulator, the Engineering Council. We are the only UK university with industry-standard flight simulators that include Airbus A320 Flight Simulator, Helicopter Simulator and Six-Degree of Freedom Motion Simulator.
Get ready to launch your career into space
Undertake real-world problems in a virtual engineering environment.
At our Roehampton Vale campus, you will have access to a modern environment with the latest technology, including:
- The Merlin flight simulator - you can programme a mathematical model of your design into the simulator and then monitor the results
- Large-scale wind tunnels that enable testing in winds of up to 90 miles per hour
- Industry-standard test and experimental equipment for metrology, robotics, rapid prototyping, fatigue and quality control.
We also have a dedicated postgraduate workroom with high spec PCs and a range of software. Computer-aided design facilities include:
- A range of CAD/CAM packages, such as Ideas, SolidWorks and AutoCad
- Finite element analysis
- Computational fluid dynamics
- Virtual instrumentation.
The recently-enlarged library at Roehampton Vale provides collections of specialist engineering books and journals. The Graduate Centre, exclusively for postgraduate students, provides space for private study, meetings and socialising.
The £4 million Hawker Wing provides three floors of extra space for students and staff at Roehampton Vale, including improved learning and teaching facilities.
Kingston University has given me the knowledge, confidence and enthusiasm to pursue the discovery of engineering principles. I've had the opportunity to gain a unique insight into the complex nature of aerospace beyond atmosphere and up into space.
Why choose this course
This course provides a strategic and practical overview of aerospace engineering and management. You will apply techniques such as advanced computer-based design, Computational Fluid Dynamics and Finite Elements Analysis, and machine Learning and AI techniques with Aerospace Application. Complementary subjects include advanced CAD/CAM and green engineering and energy efficiency.
Each module combines a stimulating mix of lectures, practical laboratory work, group work, case studies and presentations. Towards the end of the course, the Aerospace Group Design Project will enable you to undertake a real-world problem in a virtual engineering environment. You will also develop an awareness of working in a multidisciplinary team within an engineering organisation with real industrial constraints.
Many of our staff are research active. This ensures they are in touch with the latest thinking and bring best practice to your studies.
The Aerospace Research Group specialises in space activities, ranging from electric propulsion and planetary robotic exploration to in-orbit servicing technology development. Current research projects are investigating topics within:
- computational fluid dynamics
- aircraft structures
- astronautics and space systems.
Inside the Department of Aerospace and Aircraft Engineering
Hear from our students and academics as they share their experiences and talk about the facilities and opportunities available throughout your studies.
Accreditation
The Aerospace Engineering MSc course is accredited by the Royal Aeronautical Society under licence from the UK regulator, the Engineering Council. Accreditation is a mark of assurance that the degree meets the standards set by the Engineering Council in the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC).
An accredited degree will provide you with some or all of the underpinning knowledge, understanding and skills for eventual registration as an Incorporated (IEng) or Chartered Engineer (CEng). Some employers recruit preferentially from accredited degrees. An accredited degree is also likely to be recognised by other countries that are signatories to international accords.
Find out more about the full criteria and validity for Chartered Engineer (CEng) status and Incorporated Engineer (IEng) status.
Course content
You will gain a broad understanding of the practical requirements of aerospace engineering, as well as an in-depth knowledge of aerospace stress analysis and advanced materials, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) for aerospace applications, and machine Learning and AI techniques with Aerospace Application.
Complementary subjects covered include computer-integrated product development, advanced CAD/CAM plus green engineering and energy efficiency. In addition, the Engineering Research Techniques, Entrepreneurship and Quality Management module will develop your business and management skills. The Aerospace Individual Design Project module provides you with the experience of working in a multidisciplinary team within an engineering organisation – with real industrial constraints. You'll get the chance to apply the theory you've learnt to real-world contexts and evaluate methodologies, whilst developing your critical thinking and creativity.
As well as the professional, analytical and management skills necessary for employment, the course will provide you with the transferable skills required in the workplace, such as communication, IT, teamwork, planning, decision making, independent learning ability and problem solving.
For a student to go on placement they are required to pass every module first time with no reassessments. It is the responsibility of individual students to find a suitable paid placement. Students will be supported by our dedicated placement team in securing this opportunity.
Please note
Optional modules only run if there is enough demand. If we have an insufficient number of students interested in an optional module, that module will not be offered for this course.
Modules
Core modules
Professional Placement
Professional Placement
The course included interesting and in-depth lectures, while the coursework-based assessment led to a lot of independent learning. This suited me perfectly and allowed me and the other students to take full responsibility for the depth of our understanding. Most importantly, there was a spirit of passion for engineering which allowed me to develop.
Career opportunities
This course will broaden your understanding of the challenges facing the aerospace engineering industry. To prepare you for your future career, you will study entrepreneurship, business, finance, research techniques and environmental issues. In addition, you will develop your professional, analytical, research, business and management skills.
Work placement scheme
This course, like many postgraduate courses at Kingston University, enables students to integrate a 12-month work placement into their course. You are responsible for finding and securing your own professional placement, which can be highly competitive but also incredibly rewarding. It is very important to prepare yourself if this is the route you wish to take. Employers look for great written and oral communication skills and an excellent CV/portfolio. As the work placement is an assessed part of the course, it is covered by a Student Route visa.
Careers and recruitment advice
The Faculty has a specialist employability team. It provides friendly and high-quality careers and recruitment guidance, including advice and sessions on job-seeking skills such as CV preparation, application forms and interview techniques. Specific advice is also available for international students about the UK job market and employers' expectations and requirements.
The team runs employer events throughout the year, including job fairs, key speakers from industry and interviews on campus. These events give you the opportunity to hear from, and network with, employers in an informal setting.
Teaching and assessment
Fees and funding
Fees for future course years
Part time
If you start your second year straight after Year 1, you will pay the same fee for both years.
If you take a break before starting your second year, or if you repeat modules from Year 1 in Year 2, the fee for your second year may increase.
Funding support for postgraduate students
If you are a UK student living in England and under 60, you can apply for a loan to study for a postgraduate degree. Find out more through the government's website.
Scholarships and bursaries
For students interested in studying Aerospace Engineering MSc at Kingston, there are several opportunities to seek funding support:
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:
How to apply
Before you apply
Please read the entry criteria carefully to make sure you meet all requirements before applying.
How to apply online
Use the course selector drop-down at the top of this page to choose your preferred course, start date and mode, then click 'Apply now'. You will be taken to our Online Student Information System (OSIS) where you will complete your application.
If you’re starting a new application, you’ll need to select ‘new user’ and set up a username and password. This will allow you to save and return to your application.
Application deadlines
We encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Applications will close when the course is full.
Information required to confirm your place
If English is not your first language, we will require proof of your proficiency to allow us to confirm your place on the course. This will generally be either an IELTS or TOEFL test certificate, which can be forwarded to us after you have submitted your application. If you do not hold a formal English language qualification, please indicate how you have acquired your proficiency in written and spoken English.
After you have applied
If the postgraduate admissions tutor requires further information or wishes to invite you to interview, they will contact you directly. You will then hear whether your application has been successful.
If you do not clearly meet the standard entry requirements and the admission tutor wishes to see a portfolio from you, you will be sent an email asking you to upload your portfolio to your Kingston University OSIS account. Further details on how to do this will be provided at the time.
Placement profile
Name: Ruchini Sumithrarachchi
Course: Aerospace Engineering MSc
Placement role: System Engineer
Placement company: NATS
Year: 2018/19
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.
What our students and graduates say
I'm particularly proud of my distinction because I had no engineering or aerospace background at the start of my course. The support of the department and university's resources helped convert my enthusiasm and passion into a solid knowledge base. Kingston is a remarkable institution. I believe that recognition helped me get a job as a Graduate Engineer at easyJet. So far I have worked with the maintenance planning department which included dealing with modifications and different levels of defects. In the next few months I expect to gain more hands-on experience and work with the power plant team.
The Faculty champions the excellent work our female staff members contribute across engineering. We encourage women from all backgrounds into the field. Your strengths and weaknesses define you, so follow your strengths by focusing on the subjects you like. If I can do it, you can too. The world that we live in today, and the technological advancements we have made, have opened up so many more career opportunities for you.
