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Aerospace Engineering

Course details
  • BEng (Hon)
  • 4 Years
  • Full-time
  • 05/09/2026
  • Undergraduate
Course location
Paisley Campus

Course summary

This new course will replace the hugely successful MEng (Hons) / BEng (Hons) Aircraft Engineering over the next few years. Building upon the strengths of Aircraft Engineering, the MEng (Hons) / BEng (Hons) Aerospace Engineering will commence with Year 1 entry only in September 2026.

Let Your Engineering Career Soar
The MEng (Hons) / BEng (Hons) Aerospace Engineering at UWS will provide you the opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills needed for the design, build and technological advancement of aerospace vehicles and their systems. You will be able to explore and learn about current and new emerging technologies which includes low and zero-carbon design for commercial aviation, drone technology, jet and space propulsion systems, and more.

The degrees have been designed, with the input from regional aerospace industry, to shape the specialised skills needed for aircraft design, manufacturing, aerodynamic and structural testing, and system operation and maintenance and overhaul roles.

The increasing demand for air and space travel and also, UAV utilisation in human activity, will require engineers to maintain safety, improvement and regulations for all operating aerospace systems. By studying Aerospace Engineering you will be a critical role player in the field of aerospace and be able to apply your learnt knowledge and skills to design and deliver new products or services using new and/or existing technologies. You will have the opportunity to visit major aerospace organisations such as Spirit AeroSystems, British Airways, and GE Aerospace to observe first-hand the workings of cutting-edge aerospace companies. A number of final year engineering projects may be offered in collaboration with these organisations.

CAREER-FOCUSED
Professional Recognition
MEng (Hons) Aerospace Engineering and BEng (Hons) Aerospace Engineering are currently seeking accreditation from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). We expect to meet IMechE professional accreditation requirements for the new MEng / BEng Aerospace Engineering moving forward and will update this entry accordingly.

CAREER PROSPECTS
The Aerospace Engineering degrees have been designed to meet the needs of Scotland’s aerospace sector, which includes companies from the Prestwick aerospace cluster such as BAE Systems, Spirit AeroSystems, Collins Aerospace, GE Aerospace, and Ryanair, and also satellite design businesses. However, the skills you’ll develop are appropriate for careers in the UK and international industries too.

Jobs
A shortage of aerospace engineers locally and globally means that there are significant employment opportunities. Career options range from working on the design and manufacture of civil and military aircraft, to roles in aerodynamic and structure research, project management and many more.

As an Aerospace Engineering graduate, you’ll have a wide range of skills that are applicable not only to the traditional aerospace disciplines but also to the broad spectrum of other engineering fields. This includes, but is not limited to, mechanical, energy, defence, offshore and automotive.

Typical employment engineering roles are found in design, manufacture, maintenance and overhaul, project management, technical analyst, certification and quality control.

Further study
Successful completion of MEng (Hons) / BEng (Hons) would allow you to progress your studies to a taught postgraduate master's (eg MSc) or research (eg MRes, MPhil, PhD) degree.

Modules

Year 1
Aircraft aerodynamics and systems, materials and mathematics provide a foundation to engineering design. Aspire for professional and career development alongside skills development in communications and IT technology.

Year 2
Topics include design of aerospace structures and systems, strength of materials, vibration theory, materials and manufacturing technology, aerodynamics (theory, application and measurements), propulsion systems; as well as computer-aided design, information technology related techniques.

Year 3
Aircraft design and performance; testing and measurements, aircraft design modelling (CAD); computer-based simulation and analysis techniques are introduced, along with project management skills.

Year 4 (BEng Hons)
Aerodynamic understanding is enhanced whilst design, analysis and testing of composite structures is introduced. Computer-aided engineering design is explored further through Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD).

Assessment method

A variety of assessment approaches are utilised throughout the course such as examination, written coursework, portfolio and presentations.

Qualified teacher status (QTS)

To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:

  • Course does not award QTS

How to apply

Apply by
14 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
H420
Institution code:
U40
Campus name:
Paisley Campus
Campus Code:
P

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

Standard Qualification requirements

UCAS Tariff - 90 points

including Maths

A level - CCD

including Maths and Physics

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - MMM

in a relevant subject which includes Maths and Physics

Scottish Higher - BCCC

including Maths, plus National 5 Physics at Grade B

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 24 points

including Maths and Physics at Higher level

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017) - H3, H3, H3, H4

including Maths and Physics

T Level - Pass (C and above)

in a relevant subject which includes Maths and Physics

Scottish Wider Access Programme (SWAP) Access to STEM with Grades BBB accepted for year 1 entry.

Find out more about qualification requirements for this course.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

UCAS Tariff - 63 points

including Maths

A level - CCD

including Maths and Physics

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - MMM

in relevant subject which includes Maths and Physics

Scottish Higher - CCC

including Maths, plus National 5 Physics at B Alternative Minimum Entry Requirements: CC (42 UCAS Tariff points) including Maths and National 5 Physics at B, PLUS successful completion of one of the following: UWS Foundation Academy Foundation Apprenticeship UWS Next Steps to University module Top-Up LEAPS

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6IELTS 6.0 with 5.5 minimum in each skill / component.
Cambridge English Advanced176 overall with no sub-test less than 169
Cambridge English Proficiency176 overall with no sub-test less than 169
Trinity ISEPassISEII with the minimum of a Pass in all sub-tests
PTE Academic54An overall score of 54 with no element below 51
TOEFL (iBT)78no sub-test less than: Reading: 17; Listening: 17; Speaking: 17; Writing: 17
For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level. The reason for this is that it’s essential that you are able to read, speak and understand the English language to get the most out of your time at UWS. All international applicants are required to meet minimum English language standards, with the exception of: // Native speakers of English // Erasmus students (unless advised otherwise) // non-Erasmus students from EU partner institutions (your institution must provide confirmation of your English language ability in the absence of a formal qualification) The qualifications above must have been gained within two years prior to the start of your course at UWS.

UWS's English language requirements https://www.uws.ac.uk/international/english-language-requirements/

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

UWS is committed to Widening Access. We work on many pre-entry initiatives to encourage applicants from all backgrounds to realise their full potential.

Learn more on the University of the West of Scotland website

Historical entry grades data BETA

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
Scotland£1820*Year 1
England£9535*Year 1
Northern Ireland£9535*Year 1
Wales£9535*Year 1
Channel Islands£9535*Year 1
Republic of Ireland£9535*Year 1
EU£18000*Year 1
International£18000*Year 1

* This is a provisional fee and subject to change.

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

TUITION FEE INFORMATION - SCOTTISH STUDENTS:
Eligible Scottish domiciled students can usually apply to have their tuition fees paid for them each year of their studies by the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS). If you're not sure about your eligibility, you should contact SAAS. You need to apply to SAAS each year of study to have your tuition fees paid directly to UWS.

TUITION FEE INFORMATION - UK, IRISH & GIBRALTARIAN STUDENTS:
Eligible students who are domiciled in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland as well as from the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, Gibraltar or the Republic of Ireland will qualify for tuition fees of £9,250 per academic session of study to a maximum of three years if you are studying on a four year bachelor degree course (eg. BAcc (Hons) / BA (Hons) / BEng (Hons) / BSc (Hons)). So, if your degree is four years' duration, you will only be charged tuition fees for three years. Similarly, if you are studying a five year integrated master's degree course (eg. MEng (Hons)) the you will only be charged tuition fees for four years.

TUITION FEE INFORMATION - INTERNATIONAL (NON-EU) & EU STUDENTS:
These tuition fees apply to all non-EU, EEA, and all other EU students (excluding those from Republic of Ireland and Gibraltar, whose fee level is as per UK (non-Scottish) students - see section above for more details).

ADDITIONAL COSTS:
The cost of attending university is an investment in your future career.

In addition to tuition fees and living expenses, some courses involve extra costs such as consumable study materials, field trips, equipment and uniforms. You may also want to purchase some core texts and technology such as a new laptop etc. Some of these additional costs are optional, some, such as uniforms or safety equipment may be mandatory.

Check the course entry on our website for more more information.

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