MEng 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 MEng Aerospace Electronic Engineering are highly employable, moving into roles such as senior avionics engineer, aerospace systems architect, flight control specialist, space systems engineer, and research lead. Many alumni also pursue PhD research or work in advanced sectors including spacecraft systems, autonomous flight technologies, defense electronics, and next-generation aviation systems.

Here's how Southampton specifically supports your future:

Career Services & Experiential Learning: 
The four-year MEng program includes opportunities for an industrial placement year or study abroad, providing direct experience with leading aerospace corporations. You'll engage with advanced avionics projects, flight simulation systems, and aircraft certification processes through a combination of specialist lectures, group design exercises, and individual research projects. The university's dedicated Engineering Career Hub offers exclusive recruitment events with major aerospace employers and tailored CV support for technical engineering roles.

Industry Partnerships & Research: 
The program benefits from Southampton's world-leading reputation in aerospace electronics, with strong collaborations with Airbus, BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, and the European Space Agency. Students access cutting-edge facilities including the £120m Boldrewood Innovation Campus with its engineering cleanrooms, the Unmanned Aircraft Systems laboratory, and the Tony Davies High Voltage Laboratory. The curriculum incorporates current research in revolutionary areas like electric aircraft systems, satellite electronics, cognitive avionics, and quantum-enabled aerospace sensors.

Graduate Outcomes: 
Students develop expert-level competencies in aircraft systems integration, flight-critical software development, aerospace certification processes, and next-generation avionics design, complemented by substantial experience in complex aerospace projects. These advanced skills command premium positions in both commercial and defense aerospace sectors.

Further Academic Progression: 
After completing the MEng, you can progress to PhD research in specialist areas like space systems engineering or autonomous flight technologies, or move directly into senior engineering positions with major aerospace corporations - supported by the program's exceptional industry connections and research pedigree in next-generation aerospace solutions.