Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Majoring in Aerospace Systems

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Australian National University

Program Overview

The Aerospace Systems Major at ANU is perfect for curious minds fascinated by flight, space, and advanced technology. You’ll learn how to design, integrate, and control aircraft and spacecraft systems, gaining hands-on experience in propulsion, instrumentation, and aerospace structures while preparing for careers in both commercial and defence industries.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1:
You’ll start with foundational engineering principles, exploring how energy, motion, and signals interact in complex systems. Core units like Engineering Thermodynamics and Signals and Systems introduce you to the science and mathematics that power aerospace design, giving you the tools to model, analyse, and understand aircraft and spacecraft behaviour.

Year 2:
This year dives deeper into the mechanics of flight and aerospace structures. In units such as Aerodynamics and Aerospace Structures and Materials, you’ll investigate how air and materials influence performance and safety. You’ll also get your first taste of control systems, learning to guide and optimise aircraft behaviour under real-world conditions.

Year 3:
Now it’s time to pull everything together with advanced propulsion, flight dynamics, and aircraft performance design. Units like Propulsion Systems, Flight Dynamics, and Aircraft Performance and Design challenge you to apply your knowledge to integrated aerospace systems, preparing you to tackle complex engineering problems and innovate in the aerospace sector.

Focus Areas:
Space systems, unmanned aerial systems, propulsion, flight instrumentation, aerospace structures, control systems

Learning Outcomes:
Design, analyse, and optimise integrated aerospace systems; apply engineering principles to solve real-world aerospace challenges; communicate and collaborate effectively in professional settings

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):
The major is embedded in ANU’s Bachelor of Engineering programs, ensuring industry-relevant skills that meet the expectations of aerospace and defence employers.

Reputation (Employability Rankings):
ANU is consistently ranked among the world’s top universities by QS and Times Higher Education, and this major leverages its strong connections with leading aerospace companies like Boeing and Airbus, giving students a clear advantage in the job market.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

If you’re passionate about aerospace and want hands-on experience designing and controlling aircraft and space systems, the Aerospace Systems major at ANU is a perfect fit. This program goes beyond theory, letting you work directly with real-world aerospace projects, from advanced propulsion systems to intelligent control of aerial and space vehicles. You’ll benefit from ANU’s unique facilities, like the Advanced Instrumentation Technology Centre and ANU InSpace, and Canberra’s position as Australia’s defence hub gives you access to industry collaborations and internships with leading aerospace companies. By the time you graduate, you’ll have practical, career-ready skills built through active problem-solving, teamwork, and real industry engagement.

Here’s how you’ll gain these hands-on experiences:

Work on industry projects with aerospace leaders like Boeing and Airbus.
Participate in work experience and internship placements in Canberra’s defence and aerospace sector.
Engage with advanced space and aerial systems through ANU InSpace.
Develop instrumentation and control expertise using the Advanced Instrumentation Technology Centre.
Apply skills in designing, simulating, and testing aerospace structures, propulsion, and flight systems in practical settings.
Explore autonomous aerial systems, aerospace robotics, and miniaturised space systems through project-based learning.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Progression & Future Opportunities
Graduating with an Aerospace Systems Major from ANU opens doors to a dynamic and rapidly growing field. You’ll be equipped to design, integrate, and control complex aerospace systems, preparing you for roles like aerospace engineer, flight systems designer, propulsion engineer, or space systems analyst.

Here’s what this means for you:

University services that support employability: ANU Careers provides tailored guidance, industry networking events, and internships, helping you connect directly with leading aerospace companies.
Industry partnerships: Through ANU’s links with organisations such as Boeing, Airbus, and the Defence Science and Technology Group, you’ll gain hands-on experience via industry projects and placements.
Strategic location advantage: Canberra hosts Australia’s largest concentration of defence and national security agencies, giving you early exposure to defence and aerospace initiatives.
Accreditation and graduate outcomes: Completing this major within an accredited engineering degree ensures your qualification is recognized globally, supporting long-term career growth in aerospace and defence sectors.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing this major, you could continue into advanced study with programs like the Master of Engineering or research-focused paths through ANU’s Honours and PhD programs in aerospace, electrical, or mechatronics engineering. This can deepen your expertise in propulsion, autonomous systems, or space instrumentation, and prepare you for senior technical roles or leadership positions in aerospace innovation.