Aerospace Engineering

BEng (Honours)

UndergraduateEngineering

Join the next generation of aerospace engineers – gaining the scientific knowledge and practical skills you need to solve challenges at the forefront of air and space transportation.

Everything you need to know…
  • What is the fee?

    International/EU: £16,655 per year (£1,200 for placement year)

  • How long will I study?

    3 / 4 Years

  • What are the admission requirements?

    112 UCAS Points

  • When do I start?

    2024.September

  • Placement year available?

    Placement Available

Course summary
Join the next generation of aerospace engineers – gaining the scientific knowledge and practical skills you need to solve challenges at the forefront of air and space transportation.
Develop state-of-the-art scientific knowledge in aerospace engineering.
Gain the practical skills to solve complex future aerospace challenges.
Engage in live projects, numerical modelling and experimental techniques.
Address sustainability challenges like decarbonisation and FlyZero-2030.
Develop technology expertise in aviation and next-generation space missions.

This course prepares you for diverse roles in aerospace research and development, manufacturing, product design, testing, modelling, simulating and other commercial engineering enterprises. You’ll engage in professional practice from day one, working on industry-led projects and addressing complex aerospace problems.

If you don't meet the entry requirements for this course, or you’d like extra preparation before starting degree-level study, we recommend you join the foundation course.

You could also consider our integrated Masters MEng course. With an extra year to develop specialist knowledge and enhance your research and project-management experience, you gain advanced technical and professional skills to increase your future job prospects. Or, as long as you meet the required academic standards, you could enrol on the BEng and swap to the MEng later.
How you learn

Work placements

You’ll have the opportunity to undertake a year-long work placement between your second and third years. It's your chance to work as an engineer or designer, applying what you've learned in a commercial environment. You’ll also learn how the industry works and make valuable connections for your future career.

We have a dedicated and experienced team to help you to find a placement. Our strong links with industry and excellent reputation mean companies actively seek our students for employment. Often students return from their industrial placements with sponsorships and job offers. Previous students have worked in a variety of technical roles for companies including Rolls-Royce, Airbus, Boeing, General Electric, Meggitt Aircraft Braking Systems and the Ministry of Defence.

Live projects

As well as your placement, you’ll have opportunities throughout your course to gain extracurricular experience on a variety of projects within the aerospace community. Join our student aerospace societies, space academic network or formula team – or become a student ambassador or peer. You may also be able to experience training programmes such as piloting or computer simulations. 

Networking opportunities

Enrolling on the course means joining a leading community of aerospace students and academics. Our students are renowned in the aerospace industry for their dedication, spirit and sense of teamwork.

Competitions

There are also opportunities to take part in national and international engineering competitions, such as

  • the Heavy Lift Challenge or UAS competition – which involves designing, building and testing a remote-controlled aerial vehicle
  • the SAC (Spaceport America Cup) – a US-based event where universities collaborate to build and fly a rocket
  • Formula Student – where you design and build a race car to test in a competition
  • Engineering Without Borders – a competition to find an engineering solution to a problem in the developing world

All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.

You’ll experience a variety of learning environments throughout the course. Using a balanced mix of activities, we’ll develop both your knowledge and understanding of complex subjects, helping you develop as a highly-valued aerospace professional.

You learn through

  • lectures
  • tutorials
  • seminars
  • laboratory sessions
  • computer-based sessions
  • activity-based learning
  • group work
  • an individual project
  • field trips
  • guest lectures
  • extracurricular activities
  • acting as mentors or student ambassadors
Future career

Examples of cutting-edge companies graduates could work for include

  • Rolls-Royce
  • Airbus
  • QinetiQ
  • Ministry of Defence
  • RAF
  • European Space Agency
  • Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
Equipment and facilities

We have excellent teaching facilities, including an impressive range of professionally equipped laboratories for teaching and flipped learning – plus team-working activities, projects and research.  

You’ll work within dedicated laboratories for: 

  • Fluid mechanics and thermodynamics
  • Aerodynamics (wind tunnels)
  • Flight simulation
  • Mechanical and thermal properties of materials and structures
  • Electronics and communications (digital oscilloscopes, function generators, power supplies and spectrum analysers)
  • Computer-aided design
  • Computational fluid dynamics
  • Finite element analysis
  • Simulation and modelling software (SolidWorks, Ansys, Abaqus, MATLAB/Simulink)
  • Control systems – PLCs, pneumatic and hydraulic kits with software for monitoring and control
  • Manufacturing workshops

 

Entry requirements

UCAS points

  • 112

This must include at least two A levels or equivalent BTEC National qualifications (to include mathematics (or a mathematics-based subject) and at least one other subject from Physics, Physical Science, Engineering science, Computer Science, Chemistry, Electronics, other Mathematically-based science or technology subject) but excludes general studies. For example:

  • BBC at A Level including relevant subjects.
  • DMM in BTEC Extended Diploma in a relevant subject.
  • A combination of qualifications which must include relevant subjects and may include AS levels and EPQ.

You can find information on making sense of UCAS tariff points here and use the UCAS tariff calculator to work out your points.

GCSE

  • English Language at grade C or 4
  • Maths at grade C or 4

• Foundation - pass from our Extended Degree Programme Engineering and Mathematics, dependent on academic performance, or from another suitable science or technology foundation course containing an appropriate level of mathematics.

• Access - an Access to HE Diploma with at least 45 credits at level 3 and 15 credits at level 2. At least 15 level 3 credits must be at merit grade or above, in a mathematics-related programme from a QAA-recognised Access to HE course, or an equivalent Access to HE certificate.

If English is not your first language, you will need an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills, or equivalent. If your English language skill is currently below IELTS 6.0 we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English score.

We welcome applications from people of any age. We may be flexible in our normal offer if you can show a commitment to succeed and have the relevant skills and experience. This must show that you will benefit from and finish the course successfully.

Please note the University will only admit students who are aged 18 or over at the point of enrolment.

Modules

Important notice:

The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.

You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.

 

Year 1
Compulsory modules

Module

Credits

Assessment

Aerospace Engineering Fundamentals

40

Coursework

Exam

Materials, Manufacturing And Design For Transportation

40

Coursework

Practical

Maths And Engineering Science For Transportation

20

Coursework

Sustainable Engineering And Interdisciplinary Practice

20

Coursework

 

 

Year 2
Compulsory modules

Module

Credits

Assessment

Applied Thermodynamics, Aircraft Systems And Manufacturing

40

Coursework

Practical

Numerical Methods And Applications

20

Practical

Structures, Aerodynamics And Flight Mechanics

40

Coursework

Practical

Systems Modelling And Simulation

20

Coursework

 

Year 3
Optional modules

Module

Credits

Assessment

Placement Year

 

 

 

Final Year
Compulsory modules

Module

Credits

Assessment

Advanced Aerospace Engineering And Design

40

Coursework

Exam

Aircraft Design And Simulation

40

Coursework

Practical

Project: Implementation

20

Coursework

Project: Management And Scoping

20

Coursework