BEng Aerospace Electronic Engineering

From the moment you arrive in the department, you’ll be designing and building real-world aviation electronics—from circuits and programmable logic with C, VHDL or Verilog to drone autopilots and satellite communication systems. You’ll work with professional-grade equipment in labs designed for engineers: benches set up with oscilloscopes, logic analysers, reflow ovens and high-speed PCs, backed by experienced technicians and academic staff. Real-world product design comes alive with access to high-voltage testing areas, PCB manufacturing suites and a world-class clean room shared with photonics researchers.

Here’s how that hands‑on experience breaks down in this course:

• Active circuit & system building in Year 1 and 2 across paired electronics‑and‑computer labs. You’ll use hardware benches with triple power supplies, digital scopes, logic analysers, waveform generators and dual‑screen workstations—alongside industry‑standard tools for C programming on microcontrollers, MATLAB/Simulink and HDL mapping tools for FPGA design.
• High‑voltage and power testing using impulse‑ageing and breakdown test equipment in the Tony Davies Laboratory—embedded into modules on drone power systems and avionics subsystems.
• Prototype fabrication in the Hardware Projects Laboratory and Advanced Prototyping & Assembly Lab—with reflow ovens, a pick‑and‑place machine, laser cutters, 3D printers and moulding tools to take your design from schematic to working drone or satellite sensor.
• £110 million Zepler Cleanroom access for advanced sensor and photonics device fabrication: ideal if you’re developing in‑circuit data links, optical sensors or multifunctional aerospace electronics.
• Year 2 team-based design challenge, where you’ll work in small groups to design, build and test an autonomous or remote-controlled drone; followed by your Year 3 Individual Project choosing a topic such as guidance and control, space systems or avionics modules.
• Entrepreneurial engineering through Future Worlds: hardware and avionics ideas pitched to mentors; open to all students for advice and industry networking.
• Paid work placements and internships supported through Southampton’s Careers, Employability & Student Enterprise: with CV/interview workshops, employer fairs and financial support for summer projects.
• Aerospace modelling & simulation suites (with MATLAB, Python/Simulink and other frameworks) in dedicated computing hubs, tied into modules on aerospace simulation, flight dynamics and digital twin systems.
• Interactive design and presentation ecosystems, including 86″ collaboration screens, project-review zones and team workspaces—enabling the kind of professional pitch and peer-review workflow typical in aerospace engineering.

Graduates of the University of Southampton’s BEng Aerospace Electronic Engineering are highly employable, moving into roles such as avionics engineer, aerospace systems engineer, flight test engineer, embedded systems designer, and UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) specialist. Many alumni also pursue further study in aerospace engineering, avionics, or related fields, or work in sectors including commercial aviation, defense, space systems, and aerospace manufacturing.

Here’s how Southampton specifically supports your future:

Career Services & Experiential Learning: 
The program offers an optional placement year, enabling you to gain practical experience with leading aerospace companies. You’ll learn through a blend of lectures, laboratory sessions, flight simulation exercises, and aircraft systems projects, with a strong emphasis on real-world aerospace applications. The university’s Career Hub provides specialized aerospace career support, including industry networking events and recruitment sessions with major employers, helping you build professional connections from your first year.

Industry Partnerships & Research: 
Southampton’s School of Electronics and Computer Science (ECS) maintains strong ties with aerospace leaders such as BAE Systems, Airbus, and Rolls-Royce, as well as research collaborations with organizations like the National Aerospace Laboratory. Students benefit from exceptional facilities including the Tony Davies High Voltage Laboratory, autonomous systems test spaces, and dedicated avionics labs. The program features research-led teaching in cutting-edge areas like aircraft electrical systems, flight control systems, aerospace sensor networks, and space electronics. Industry partners particularly value the program’s focus on solving complex aerospace challenges through electronic engineering solutions.

Graduate Outcomes: 
Students graduate with specialized skills in aircraft electronics, flight systems integration, avionics architecture, and aerospace software, along with hands-on experience in aircraft systems projects. These competencies are in high demand across the global aerospace sector.

Further Academic Progression: 
After completing the BEng at Southampton, you can progress to the MEng Aerospace Electronic Engineering or pursue a master’s in specialized fields like autonomous vehicle systems or space systems engineering. Alternatively, you can enter professional roles in aircraft systems design, avionics development, or aerospace testing – supported by the program’s strong industry connections and research-informed curriculum.