Aerospace Engineering (with Integrated Foundation Year)

A Brighton Aerospace Engineering degree prepares you for careers in aircraft, drone and satellite design, propulsion systems, emerging space technologies and research.

At Brighton you’ll be part of a supportive community that helps you grow, no matter your background. Our integrated foundation year course offers an extra year to prepare you for study at degree level. This course is full of opportunities to build real-world experience through exciting team projects, placements and internships. Our inclusive approach to learning means we’ll help you play to your strengths and learn in ways that suit you best.

Brighton graduates go on to work for organisations such as Marshall Aerospace, Airbus and Lucas Aerospace.

Top reasons to choose this course

• Foundation year that opens up opportunities in engineering if you don’t have the required qualifications, are changing career or returning to study.

• Gain hands-on experience through design-build-test projects including fighting robots, water rockets and rocket cars, the Engineering Without Borders international design challenge, CAD modelling and laboratory work.

• Progress to a degree accredited by the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS), Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) and Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), providing recognition of its professional quality and a pathway towards Chartered Engineer status.

• Ranked 4th in the UK overall and 8th in the UK for teaching for aerospace engineering courses – Guardian University Guide 2026.

• 12th in England for student satisfaction – Complete University Guide 2026.

• Make a difference and solve energy challenges in our student-led Sustainable Technology and Engineering Projects (STEP) lab.

• Learn in industry-standard facilities including flight and car simulators, wind tunnel, prototyping labs and workshops, CNC machines and robotics and VR labs.

• Boost your CV with an optional paid placement year after year two or paid internship opportunities.

• Contribute to renewable and sustainable energy, propulsion systems and parabolic flight research.

• 100% of our engineering research impact is rated as ‘outstanding’ or ‘very considerable’ for reach and significance – Research Excellence Framework 2021.

Why Brighton is a great place to study aerospace engineering
Brighton & Hove is the UK’s leading city for new economy businesses (Centre for Cities, 2025). This includes sectors such as advanced engineering, sustainable aviation, green technology and clean energy – industries where demand for skilled engineers is rapidly growing. Studying at Brighton means you’ll be part of a hub for innovation, with opportunities to directly connect your learning to the future of engineering.

Brighton & Hove has also been named one of the best cities on the planet and third best city in the UK by Time Out.

Course Modules

Foundation year
The foundation year is shared across all engineering courses and gives you the preparation you need to start your degree, covering areas such as core maths and science.

Core modules
Core Mathematics
Core Science
Engineering Mathematics
Engineering Science
Mechanics
Foundation Year Project

Year 1
In your first year, you will be introduced to the principles of mechanical engineering and develop skills such as Computer Aided Design (CAD). Through a major design project, you’ll put your learned knowledge of conceptual design, manufacturing and testing into practice.

Core modules
Engineering Mathematics
Engineering Practice
Mechanical Design
Energy Systems
Design Project
Materials and Manufacture

Year 2
In your second year, you’ll study the principles of engineering designs and systems and begin to specialise in aerospace engineering.

Core modules
Dynamics and Control
Engineering Systems
Mechanics of Materials
Aerospace Fluid and Thermal Systems
Engineering Design
Manufacturing Engineering

Optional Placement Year
By doing a year placement in industry you’ll gain the right amount of work experience to reach Engineering Technician (EngTech) status. Our students have been on placement with companies including Paxton, GE Aviation, NATS and Lockheed Martin.

Final year
In your final year, areas of study include aircraft design, flight dynamics, aerospace propulsion and avionics. You will also undertake an individual project which is often supported by industry.

Core modules
Flight Dynamics and Control
Computational Fluid Dynamics for Aeronautical Engineering Applications
Aircraft Design and Management Project
Aerospace Propulsion Systems and Avionics
Individual Project

Option*
Private Pilot Studies

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.