Intro

Aerospace engineers design aircraft and spacecraft, making air travel safer and more efficient, and advancing space exploration. Their work improves communication, national security, economic growth, and sustainability, and helps us to better understand the universe and our place in it.

Our practical one-year Aerospace Engineering BSc(Hons) top-up course allows you to build on your existing engineering foundation degree or HND to achieve a full honours degree qualification.

You’ll develop technical skills and knowledge through hands-on project work using specialist facilities, to help prepare you for your career.

Key facts

Location Brighton: Moulsecoomb

UCAS code H414

Full-time 1 year minimum

What are my next steps?

Open days are the best way to find out about your course, the campus where you'll be based, and get a feel for the Ογ½ΆΦ±²₯.

Book your place: Moulsecoomb campus open day 23 November

Or if you're ready,

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

Foundation degree/HND
in a relevant subject, with an overall merit grade (60%) profile.

English language requirements
IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each element. Find out more about the other English qualifications that we accept.

International requirements and visas

International requirements by country
Country name
Albania
Algeria
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belgium
Bermuda
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burma (Myanmar)
Cameroon
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Ecuador
Egypt
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Guyana
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kosovo
Kuwait
Latvia
Lebanon
Liechtenstein
Libya
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malaysia
Malawi
Malta
Mexico
Moldova
Montenegro
Morocco
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palestinian National Authority
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russian Federation
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Syria
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tanzania
Thailand
Tunisia
Turkey
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

View our English language courses

For pre-sessional English preparation courses.

For degree preparation courses.

Visas and immigration advice

Applying for a student visa

Check out our step-by-step guidance.

Contextual admissions

Grades are never the whole picture, at Brighton we're interested in your creativity, resourcefulness, persistence and ability to think big. That's why we treat everyone who applies as an individual, accept a wide range of qualifications and we will consider your other achievements and experiences along with your grades.

We know that not everyone's background provides the same advantages and for some students achieving our required grades may be more challenging because of circumstances outside of their control. If you meet our contextual admissions criteria we will make you an offer which is at least 16 UCAS points lower than our standard offer. Find out about contextual admissions at Brighton

If you receive a contextual offer you may also qualify for extra financial support from us through our Brighton Boost cost of living package. Find out about the Brighton Boost

Graphic with the text 'Potential + possibility'

Course content

Why choose Brighton?

  •  
  • Learn with researchers who have expertise in the thermal efficiency of propulsion systems and microgravity research with the European Space Agency.
  •  – working to solve energy challenges.
  • Specialist facilities include flight and car simulators, wind tunnel, prototyping labs and workshops, CNC machines, and robotics and VR labs.
  • Professional engineers visit to share their experiences in guest lectures.
Two students using machine in advanced engineering building

Year 1

The syllabus focuses on both the practical and theoretical elements of aerospace engineering.

Modules

  • Engineering Systems

    Engineering Systems is an opportunity to work in groups with students from different disciplines to solve complex real-world engineering problems, including legal, ethical and environmental issues. Alongside developing your skills in fully integrated sub-systems, the group work will enhance your professional working practice skills.

  • Group Project

    Working in small groups you'll undertake an engineering project investigating a technical problem in depth. You'll develop your project management and team work skills while working in a group.  Examples of project could be design of a robot, development on an electric car and an automated vision inspection system.

  • Aircraft Design and Management Project

    This module develops the knowledge and skills that you need to design aircraft and aircraft components. Through a project-based approach, you'll develop the ability to understand and apply engineering techniques that underpin aeronautical design, and explore the management and professional techniques involved in releasing aeronautical designs into the marketplace.

  • Aerospace Propulsion Systems and Avionics

    On this module you'll further develop your knowledge of aircraft propulsion and explore the principles of general aircraft avionics, in particular communication and navigation systems. You'll focus on gas turbine engines and satellite/ground-based radion navigation systems.

  • Professional Practice in Engineering

    This module helps you to develop your professional identity. You'll practice professional skills from networking to good practices in the lab, seeing yourself as an engineer in the professional world and working on your own professional learning goals.


Making sure that what you learn with us is relevant, up to date and what employers are looking for is our priority, so courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis. When you have applied to us, you’ll be told about any new developments through .

 

Student with long hair in a ponytail on flight simulator

Staff profile

, aerospace engineering course leader

I lead the Aerospace Engineering courses at the Ογ½ΆΦ±²₯ and my expertise is in experimental aerodynamics. I love teaching students about the physics of flight, flight dynamics and aircraft design.

Students engage in a variety of activities to enhance their hands-on experience and connect their learning to real-world engineering. In our labs, students conduct wind tunnel experiments to explore aerodynamics and test their design concepts and perform computational fluid dynamics simulations to deepen their understanding of fluid behaviour and its applications in engineering. 

  • First-year students design, test, and launch water rockets on a special Launch Day, applying their engineering skills in a fun and celebratory event.
  • In their final year, students have a chance to see their designed aircraft take flight, putting their cumulative knowledge into action. 
  • Those who join project teams led by our colleagues may also participate in parabolic flight campaigns, providing a unique opportunity to work on cutting-edge projects with real-world applications. 

These experiences not only enrich their education but also demonstrate how their learning directly applies to the field of engineering. Students also have opportunities to get involved in my research on renewable and sustainable energy.

Recently a group of students analysed wing design modifications experimentally and numerically as part of their major team project.

What I enjoy most about teaching at undergraduate level is fostering a deep understanding of the fundamentals of aerospace engineering in students by research and practice informed teaching. Witnessing their growth as they grasp complex concepts and apply them to real-world scenarios is truly rewarding.

Headshot of Idil Aydin engineering lecturer

More about this subject at Brighton

Careers

Preparing for your career

In your career you need a combination of knowledge, skills, personal qualities and relevant experiences – and you’ll get all of this from your degree. 

Project work in groups with other engineering specialists develops your teamwork, project management, presentation, and communication skills, giving you hands-on experience that mirrors industry.

  • Collaborate on projects that reflect real engineering challenges in the student-run Sustainable Technology and Engineering Projects (STEP) Lab
  • You’ll also have opportunities to get involved in real industrial projects.

Facilities for learning

You’ll have access to our specialist facilities for hands-on learning

Facilities include:

  • the Sir Harry Ricardo labs
  • a Simulation Suite with flight simulators and a car simulator that use VR and motion platform tech
  • a wind tunnel
  • prototyping labs and workshops in our advanced engineering building
  • 3D printers, CNC machines.
Aero simulator 360

Click to view a virtual tour of some of our facilities.

Industry/professional links

We work closely with industry to make sure that you develop the skills and knowledge needed in the workplace.

  • Our industrial liaison panel advises on the content of our course.
  • Guest lectures from industry experts give you a feel for what it’s really like to be an engineer.
  • You will showcase your individual project to potential employers at the final year project exhibition.
  • Brighton technology company, Paxton, offers our engineering, computing, and product design students three scholarships a year worth £1,000 and a three-month paid placement.
Man explaining aircraft engine

Graduate destinations

Our graduates are working in defence, aerospace and satellite development with companies including:

  • Lockheed Martin
  • Marshall Aerospace
  • Lucas Aerospace
  • Airbus Defence and Space
  • MSX International.

Further study

You may be eligible to apply for our Engineering Management MSc which is designed to extend and deepen your knowledge of engineering principles and their application to business practice. 

Supporting your employability

Outside of your course, our Careers Service is here to support you as you discover (and re-discover) your strengths and what matters to you. We are here for you throughout your university journey as you work towards a fulfilling and rewarding career.

Connect with our careers team

  • Find part-time work that you can combine with your studies.
  • Find, or be, a mentor or get involved with our peer-to-peer support scheme.
  • Develop your business ideas through our entrepreneurial support network.
  • Get professional advice and support with career planning, CV writing and interview top tips.
  • Meet potential employers at our careers fairs.
  • Find rewarding volunteering opportunities to help you discover more about what makes you tick, and build your CV.

Whatever your career needs, we are here to help. And that's not just while you are a student, our support carries on after you've graduated.

Find out more about our Careers Service...

Coloured background with the words Be More, Connected, Skilled, Employable

Fees and costs

Course fees

UK (full-time) 9,250 GBP

International (full-time) 15,900 GBP

Fee information for this course for 2025 entry will be updated here no later than December 2024.

The fees listed here are for the first year of full-time study if you start your course in the academic year 2024–25.

You will pay fees for each year of your course. Some fees may increase each year.

UK undergraduate and some postgraduate fees are regulated by the UK government and increases will not be more than the maximum amount allowed. Course fees that are not regulated may increase each year by up to 5% or RPI (whichever is higher).

If you are studying part-time your fee will usually be calculated based on the number of modules that you take.

Find out more

What's included

You may have to pay additional costs during your studies. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. A summary of the costs that are included and any extras that you may be expected to pay while studying a course  in the School of Architecture, Technology and Engineering in the 2022–23 academic year are listed here.

  • Travel and accommodation costs are included for all mandatory taught residential field trips, but you’ll need to provide your own food and drink.
  • There will be opportunities to attend additional study trips or optional taught residential field trips throughout the school, but these are not required to pass your course. Normally, a contribution will be required towards expenses such as travel, entrance fees and accommodation. This will vary depending on where and how long the trip is, but you should budget around £1,500.
  • Where optional international field trips are offered, these are not required to pass your course. You should expect to budget £300–£500 for these, to cover flight, accommodation, food and entrance to museums. The total amount spent would be based on location and number of trips taken.
  • If you choose to take an optional paid placement, you’ll be expected to cover your own travel, accommodation, food and drink.
  • Some students require specialist outdoor equipment and/or personal protective equipment (PPE) and should budget up to £150.
  • You will have access to computers and necessary software; however, many students choose to buy their own hardware, software and accessories. The amount spent will depend on your individual choices, but this expenditure is not essential to pass any of our courses. Find out what free software is available from the Ογ½ΆΦ±²₯.
  • Course books are available from the university, but you may wish to budget from £15 to £100 per year to buy your own copies and subscribe to design magazines.
  • In most cases coursework submissions are electronic but students may wish to print notes which would involve an extra cost.
  • Costs of up to £50 are included in the fees for students on engineering courses to pay for materials for their final year projects. On rare occasions where material costs exceed £50, they will need to be paid for by the student.

Architecture, interior architecture, design and product design additional costs

  • Students should budget around £25 for printing and binding dissertations in their final year.
  • In your first year of studies, you will need to buy a drawing and modelling toolkit. Each course will suggest a list of items of which some will be essential, and others optional. You should budget around £100–£250 for these.
  • For most courses you will need to budget between £100 to £300 per year for printing and portfolio costs. Costs will vary depending on type of printer and type and size of paper used. Some students tend to work digitally, spending more on printing and some by hand, spending more on materials so these costs vary widely between students.
  • For most courses you will need to budget between £10 and £100 for material costs per design project. Costs will vary depending on how and what you use to make models. You are encouraged to recycle used materials where possible.
  • You will need to budget between £5–£50 to exhibit work for the end-of-year show. Fundraising by the student society, BIAAS, normally helps towards this cost.

You can chat with our enquiries team if you have a question or need more information. Or check our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as more information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Location and student life

Campus where this course is taught

Moulsecoomb campus

Two miles north of Brighton seafront, Moulsecoomb is our largest campus and student village. Moulsecoomb has been transformed by a recent development of our estate. On campus you'll find new Students' Union, events venue, and sports and fitness facilities, alongside the library and student centre.

Over 900 students live here in our halls, Moulsecoomb Place and the new Mithras halls – Brunswick, Goldstone, Hanover, Preston and Regency.

Moulsecoomb has easy access to buses and trains and to all the exciting things happening in our home city.

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Accommodation

We guarantee an offer of a place in halls of residence to all eligible students. So if you applied for halls by the deadline you are guaranteed a room in our halls of residence.

Brighton: Moulsecoomb

Halls of residence
We have self-catered halls on all our campuses, within minutes of your classes, and other options that are very nearby.

You can apply for any of our halls, but the options closest to your study location are:

  • Mithras Halls are stylish new high-rises in the heart of the student village at our revitalised Moulsecoomb campus with ensuite rooms for more than 800 students.
  • Varley Park is a popular dedicated halls site, offering a mix of rooms and bathroom options at different prices. It is around two miles from Moulsecoomb campus and four miles from the city centre, and is easy to get to by bus.

Want to live independently?
We can help – find out more about private renting.

Relaxing in halls

Modern accommodation at Moulsecoomb

Mithras halls room with a view

Relaxing in halls near the campus

Student Union social space

Student Union social space at Moulsecoomb

Local area

About Brighton

The city of Brighton & Hove is a forward-thinking place which leads the way in the arts, technology, sustainability and creativity. You'll find living here plays a key role in your learning experience.

Brighton is a leading centre for creative media technology, recently named the startup capital of the UK.

The city is home to a national 5G testbed and over 1,000 tech businesses. The digital sector is worth over £1bn a year to the local economy - as much as tourism.

All of our full-time undergraduate courses involve work-based learning - this could be through placements, live briefs and guest lectures. Many of these opportunities are provided by local businesses and organisations.

It's only 50 minutes by train from Brighton to central London and there are daily direct trains to Bristol, Bedford, Cambridge, Gatwick Airport, Portsmouth and Southampton.

Map showing distance to London from Brighton
Brighton Beach sunset

Maps

Moulsecoomb campus map

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Support and wellbeing

Your course team

Your personal academic tutor, course leader and other tutors are all there to help you with your personal and academic progress. You'll also have a student support and guidance tutor (SSGT) who can help with everything from homesickness, managing stress or accommodation issues.

Your academic skills

Our Brighton Student Skills Hub gives you extra support and resources to develop the skills you'll need for university study, whatever your level of experience so far.

Your mental health and wellbeing

As well as being supported to succeed, we want you to feel good too. You'll be part of a community that builds you up, with lots of ways to connect with one another, as well having access to dedicated experts if you need them. Find out more about how we support your wellbeing.

Sport at Brighton

Sport Brighton

Sport Brighton brings together our sport and recreation services. As a Brighton student you'll have use of sport and fitness facilities across all our campuses and there are opportunities to play for fun, fitness or take part in serious competition. 

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Sports scholarships

Our sports scholarship scheme is designed to help students develop their full sporting potential to train and compete at the highest level. We offer scholarships for elite athletes, elite disabled athletes and talented sports performers.

Find out more about sport scholarships.

Students playing frisbee

Stay in touch

Ask a question about this course

If you have a question about this course, our enquiries team will be happy to help.

01273 644644

Course specification

Course specifications are the approved description of each course. They contain a breakdown of the content and structure of the course, learning outcomes and assessment. Course specs are updated following course changes.

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