BEng Hons Aeronautical Engineering with a Placement Year

At Staffordshire University, engineering students benefit from a suite of state-of-the-art, professional-standard facilities designed to develop both technical and hands-on skills for real-world problem-solving. You’ll have access to the thermofluids and aeronautical lab featuring a computerised wind tunnel and a flight simulator, as well as the Reverse Engineering Lab, Renewable Energy Lab, and a CAD Modelling Lab. The £1.3 million Smart Zone is a highlight, spanning two floors, it offers dedicated workshops, high-end computing, 3D printing, augmented and blended reality technologies, and collaborative maker spaces. Here’s how you’ll gain practical experience and industry-ready expertise:

• Thermofluids and aeronautical lab with a computerised wind tunnel and flight simulator

• Reverse Engineering Laboratory with 3D scanning and additive manufacturing (PolyJet, FDM, 3DP)

• Renewable Energy Lab with live testing, Power Systems Lab, and Thin Film Lab

• Professional laser cutting (Trotec Speedy 400) for industrial practice manufacturing

• CAD Modelling Labs that mimic actual engineering practice

• 3D Printing Bureau with multiple printers (Mojo, Up Box, Markforged Onyx One, Formlab 3, Stratasys J55) for resin, metal, carbon fibre, and clay

• Engineering Laboratories with state-of-the-art software and hardware

• Smart Zone: collaborative workshops, maker spaces, and state-of-the-art digital/immersive technologies

• High-end computing facilities for simulation and design

• Support from internationally recognised researchers and industry-experienced staff

Staffordshire University BEng (Hons) Aeronautical Engineering alumni are highly employable, entering professions such as pilot, aircraft designer, aerospace engineer, flight test engineer, manufacturing engineer, and airline manager. Some of the graduates have become pilots at British Airways, Etihad, Monarch, Virgin Atlantic, and the Royal Air Force, while others have entered engineering roles at Rolls-Royce, General Electric, Augusta Westland, Airbus Helicopters, Eurocopter, Leonardo Helicopters, Boeing, Qinetiq, and British Aerospace.

You’ll benefit from:

• Industry links: Strong industry links with major employers in both the airline and aerospace sectors, providing networking, placement, and employment opportunities

• Practical experience: Hands-on experience with state-of-the-art labs, including a flight simulator capable of simulating Boeing, Airbus, and helicopters, and a computerised wind tunnel for aerodynamic testing

• Technical tools: Practical skills in industry-valued software like Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), imparted through group-based coursework replicating realistic aircraft engineering design briefs

• Career support: Guidance career-led with potential placements and networking, and with a curriculum aligned to Engineering Council standards, setting you on your path towards becoming a chartered engineer

• Applied learning: Applications to real-world and assessment-based projects, including group design project work and independent work, for the acquisition of technical, analytical, and leadership skills

Graduate salary levels: Staffordshire aeronautical engineering graduates earn a mean salary of £24,000 at fifteen months after leaving university (typical range: £20,000–£29,500). Median earnings for a year and three years since leaving university are £34,000, rising to £37,000 five years after university.

Higher Education Progression: You can progress to postgraduate study like MSc Aeronautical Engineering at Staffordshire or other institutions, or move on into research, management, or technical development careers in the industry. The strong technical and industrial base of the program also provides scope for careers in advanced engineering, operations, and leadership.