BEng (Hons) Aerospace Engineering (Including Foundation Year)

At the University of South Wales, you’ll train in one of the UK’s most advanced aerospace engineering environments. The £3.3 million Aerospace Centre features two aircraft hangars housing both civil and military aircraft, including a full-size BAE Jetstream 31, Jet Provost, and access to Rolls-Royce Spey engines. You’ll work in industry-approved, EASA- and CAA-accredited facilities, using a suite of practical training spaces for gas turbine maintenance, riveting, composites, avionics, hydraulics, and pneumatics. The Centre also provides a full-motion, three-axis Merlin MP521 flight simulator (programmable for Airbus A320 and Cessna 150), a subsonic wind tunnel, and dedicated labs for electronics and materials testing. Here’s how you’ll gain hands-on experience and industry-ready skills:

• Two aircraft hangars holding civil and military aircraft (e.g., BAE Jetstream 31, Jet Provost)

• Gas turbine overhaul workshop and mock aircraft shell riveting area

• Clean and dirty composite workshops for repair and specimen fabrication

• Specialised laboratories for avionics, hydraulics, pneumatics, and electronics

• Merlin MP521 full-motion flight simulator (Airbus A320, Cessna 150)

• Subsonic wind tunnel for aerodynamic demonstration and testing

• Sheet metal, welding, and hand tools workshops

• EASA- and CAA-approved training facilities for real-world compliance

• Industry-standard computer laboratories with SolidWorks, Ansys, LS-Dyna, SolidCAM, and Phoenix

• Modern prototyping and manufacturing equipment: CNC routers, rapid prototyping machines, CMM, laser cutter, etc.

Graduates of the BEng (Hons) Aerospace Engineering with Foundation Year at the University of South Wales are highly employable, securing roles in aerospace engineering, aircraft design, flight testing, propulsion, manufacturing, and project management. Alumni have joined leading employers such as Airbus, GE Aviation, Rolls-Royce, Boeing, Jaguar Land Rover, MBDA, EasyJet, Emirates, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL), and the UK Ministry of Defence.

You’ll benefit from:

• Industry partnerships: Strong industry partnerships with Airbus, GE Aviation, Rolls-Royce, British Airways Maintenance, BAMC, Nordam Europe, and TES Aviation Group, providing placement opportunities, field visits, and industry-led curriculum content

• Hands-on experience: In advanced facilities, including two aircraft hangars, a full-size BAE Jetstream 31, Jet Provost aircraft, Rolls-Royce Spey engines, 747 and MP521 flight simulators, wind tunnels, gas turbine engines, and materials testing labs

• Real-world learning: Through group projects, live flight experiences, flight simulator work, and opportunities for a sandwich year placement, which can lead directly to graduate job offers

• Career support: Dedicated career support including CV writing, interview preparation, skills workshops, careers fairs, and direct connections to the Aerospace Wales Forum and regional aviation industry

Graduate outcomes: 80% of graduates are in work or further study 15 months after the course, with 85% using what they learned in their current roles and 91% satisfied with the quality of the course. The average salary for USW aeronautical and aerospace engineering graduates is £28,000 fifteen months after graduation, with typical starting salaries in the UK ranging from £27,000–£30,000 and rising to £35,000–£45,000 or more with experience.

Further Academic Progression: You can progress to postgraduate study such as MSc Aerospace Engineering, Aviation Engineering and Management, or related fields at USW or other universities. The program’s strong technical and industry foundation also opens doors to careers in research, advanced technical development, and management, and supports progression to Chartered Engineer (CEng) status through the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) and Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).