BEng (Hons) Aerospace Engineering

Overview

Why study Aerospace Engineering?

Aerospace Engineers design, develop and build aircraft, spacecraft and satellites. It is one of fastest growing specialisms in engineering thanks to advancements in commercial space exploration, drone technology, low carbon technologies and aerospace commerce. 

Our new undergraduate degree in Aerospace Engineering combines the core disciplines of mechanical engineering with specific applications to aerospace engineering, taught with a strong focus on the current and future needs of the aeronautical industry.

If you study Aerospace Engineering at Heriot-Watt University you will become part of our history of excellence in engineering. We teach engineering to reflect the needs of society and industry so that our graduates enter the workplace with the key skills and personal attributes they need to thrive in the real world. 

Aerospace Engineering: Degree at a glance

BEng Aerospace Engineering provides you with the core skills and specialist knowledge you need to launch a thriving career as an aerospace engineer.

This four year degree in Aerospace Engineering starts with courses from across our engineering degrees to ensure you gain a foundation of essential knowledge.

In Year 1 and 2, you will study courses from our mechanical engineering degree, which is highly respected by industry and employers because it builds capacity to solve problems, analyse engineering components, and design solutions to real-life challenges.

In Year 3 and Year 4 our Aerospace Engineering degree becomes progressively specialised. In these years you will study courses related to the aerospace industry including electronics, structures, wind tunnel testing, supersonic aerodynamics, flight dynamics, aviation design and manufacture. 

Our expertise: best university for engineering

We were ranked 1st in Scotland and 3rd in the UK for engineering research through a joint submission with the University of Edinburgh in REF 2021, which classed 96% of our research output as ‘world-class’.

In recent years, Heriot-Watt University has achieved excellent rankings across engineering disciplines. The Times and Subject Times Good University Guide 2021 ranked us:

• 1^st in Scotland and 4^th in the UK for Electrical and Electronic Engineering
• 1^st in Scotland and 4^th in the UK for Chemical Engineering
• 2^nd in Scotland and 10^th in the UK for Mechanical Engineering

Aerospace Engineering learning environment

This degree develops specialist aerospace knowledge through practical work as well as theoretical study. You will learn to use facilities including wind tunnels and a supersonic test rigs as well as industry-standard software for computational fluid dynamics, finite element, and computer aided design.

Our large-scale Mechanical Engineering lab space is used for practical work in dynamics, materials and design and includes manufacturing equipment, 3D printing, and workspaces for curricular and extra-curricular projects

GRID, our new multi-discipline hub on the banks of our very own campus loch, is a building which embraces our learn by doing ethos within the school. It provides students with equipment, technology, and space for personal and group work and includes 3D printers, laser cutters, design space, electronic and mechanical facilities.

Team Aero-Watt: Heriot-Watt's UAS Champions

Since 2021, students from Heriot-Watt University have volunteered to take part in Team Aero-Watt. This is a cross-discipline group of students who share a passion for aerospace engineering and work together to compete in IMechE’s Annual UAS Challenge. In 2021, Team Aero-Watt won best newcomer and gained 3rd place overall from a field of over 30 universities at the UAS Challenge. 

In 2022, the team built on their expertise and produced an even more impressive vehicle, progressing from a plane to a quadcopter which was one of the only designs to successfully perform a transition from vertical take-off to horizontal flight. They earned 7^th place overall against a highly-competitive field of 29 international universities.

Careers in Aerospace Engineering: Be a High-Flyer

Recent developments in the aerospace industry have expanded the number of traditional and specialised engineering careers available to students with knowledge of aerospace and aeronautical engineering. These opportunities have emerged in addition to ‘traditional’ careers in aircraft technologies, vehicle dynamics and propulsion, and other key areas.  

Our BEng Aerospace Engineering degree places emphasis on the technical and business aspects of engineering, ensuring our graduates are rounded, industry-focussed engineers prepared to tackle the challenges of the next generation of aerospace technologies.