MEng Hons Aerospace Engineering With a Year in Industry

The MEng (Hons) Aerospace Engineering with a Year in Industry at Swansea University is a five-year, on-campus program that blends advanced engineering education with a full year of paid industry experience. You’ll gain expert training in the theory and operation of aeronautical vehicles—from jet-powered and propeller-driven planes to helicopters and gliders—covering the complete engineering journey from concept to flight. Fourth year is allocated to industry placement, giving you worthwhile practical experience and a graduate start.

Curriculum structure:

• Year 1: You'll study Design and Laboratory Classes, Introduction to Aerospace Engineering, Applied Mechanics (Aero), and Thermofluids (Mechanical & General). The year consists of lab work, engineering basics, and the option of a flying lesson on the Merlin MPX521 Engineering Flight Simulator and JetCat P120 Engine.

• Year 2: You’ll advance to modules in Aerospace Structures, AI and Aerospace Systems, Flight Mechanics, Experimental Studies (Aerospace), and Computer Aided Engineering (Aerospace). Team projects and laboratory sessions deepen your technical and analytical skills, with continued access to advanced wind tunnels and simulation equipment.

• Year 3: You’ll study Engineering Management (Aero, EEE, Mech), Rotorcraft Theory, Gas Dynamics, Propulsion, and complete an Individual Engineering Project. You’ll also take part in a flight test course in a Jetstream twin turboprop aircraft, gaining practical experience in performance, stability, and control testing.

• Year 4 (Year in Industry): You will spend a year on paid employment with an aerospace employer, gaining professional experience, building key skills, and developing a solid industry network of contacts. Swansea's employability team helps you with CV advice, interview preparation, and placement seeking.

• Year 5: You return to Swansea to study advanced specialist modules such as Business Leadership for Engineers, Advanced Propulsion, Spacecraft Structure Design, and Power Sources for Operation of Spacecraft Systems. The year is complemented by a large group design project and the opportunity to specialize in your area of interest, i.e., Space, Structural/Computational, or Materials/Propulsion.

Specialization areas: Aerodynamics, propulsion, structures, flight dynamics, spacecraft systems, computational methods, materials science, industry experience.

Learning outcomes: Advanced problem-solving, engineering design, teamwork, research skills, project management, digital engineering, industry readiness, effective communication.

Professional alignment (accreditation): Accredited by Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS), Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), and Institution of Engineering Designers (IED); prepares students for Chartered Engineer (CEng) registration.

Reputation (employability rankings): Top 100 in the world for Aerospace Engineering (QS World University Rankings 2024); #17 in the UK for Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering (Complete University Guide 2025); Rolls-Royce, GE Aviation, Airbus, Babcock, Jaguar Land Rover, and more employ graduates.