Aerospace Engineering Degree BEng (Hons)
Program Overview
Through a combination of lectures, practicals, and projects, students develop the knowledge and skills necessary for a successful career in the aerospace, space, and defense sectors. The program is professionally accredited and benefits from significant investment in state-of-the-art facilities. Graduates are well-prepared for a variety of careers, including design engineer, research engineer, and systems engineer.
Program Outline
Aerospace Engineering Degree BEng (Hons) - UCLan
Degree Overview:
This program is a 3-year full-time BEng (Hons) degree in Aerospace Engineering offered at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan). It is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the principles and practices of aerospace engineering, equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary for a successful career in the field. The program focuses on the analysis and design of flying vehicles, covering topics such as aerodynamics, structures, propulsion, systems, flight dynamics, mechanical engineering, and computer-aided design. Students will gain practical experience through a creative aerospace-related research project in Year 3 and a group design project in Year 4. An optional 48-week sandwich placement in industry is available for full-time students between Year 2 and Year 3, providing valuable real-world experience.
Outline:
Year 1:
- Compulsory Modules:
- Aerospace Vehicle Systems: Analyzes the functionality of each aerospace vehicle system and explores safety assessment methods.
- Design and Sustainability: Develops knowledge and skills in engineering design, including design methodology, computer-aided design, technical drawing, and sustainable design.
- Engineering Analysis: Focuses on essential core mathematical methods and computational analysis to support further engineering studies.
- Engineering Practice: Covers computer-aided design, programming, digital electronics, and manufacturing techniques, preparing students for diverse engineering tasks.
- Engineering Science & Analysis: Introduces core principles of thermal and fluid engineering, problem-solving techniques, and essential engineering practices.
Year 2:
- Compulsory Modules:
- Aerospace Design and Manufacturing: Introduces fixed-wing aircraft design and optimization using Systems Engineering principles, with practical analysis of aircraft aerodynamics, structures, propulsion, and control.
- Space Systems: Provides a technical overview of spacecraft flight and subsystems, developing analytical and simulation techniques for spacecraft mission planning.
- Vehicle Aerodynamics & Structures: Deepens understanding of fluid mechanics, emphasizing high-speed compressible flow theory and its application to aircraft problems. Also covers stress analysis on aircraft components and the interaction between aerodynamic loads and structural deformations.
- Thermo-fluids: Introduces principles of fluid mechanics and thermodynamics in the context of aerodynamics, heat engines, and motorsports engineering, developing problem-solving, mathematical modeling, and computational modeling skills.
- Operations Management A: Develops skills and knowledge for participating in an operations management team.
- Optional Modules:
Year 3:
- Compulsory Modules:
- Aerospace Advanced Material & Structural Analysis: Focuses on structural analysis, emphasizing static stress analysis for elastic continua, including two-dimensional structures. Covers finite element methods for computational analysis using ANSYS/Comsol and key concepts in advanced fiber-reinforced composite structure design.
- Flight Dynamics and Control: Covers aircraft flight dynamics, stability, and control systems, emphasizing stability analysis and the inclusion of Stability Augmentation Systems (SAS) for improved control loop performance.
- Aerospace Propulsion: Explores contemporary trends in technological developments, providing a technical overview of main engine types and applications. Also studies scientific frameworks and research methods for calculating engine performance.
- Engineering Project with Sustainability: Involves planning, executing, and reporting on an engineering project, including investigation, analysis, design, evaluation, testing, and manufacturing based on current research or development.
- Computational Fluid Dynamics: Provides understanding of the complete process for developing and computing a solution to a problem in fluid dynamics, including performing a numerical CFD simulation of a simple flow of engineering interest.
- Optional Modules:
- Industrial Placement: Offers a 38-week work experience opportunity within an industrial setting on engineering projects and/or project management activities.
Assessment:
The program utilizes a variety of assessment methods, including:
- Unseen examinations
- Regular assignments
- Challenges
- Practical projects The weighting of assessments reflects the importance of practical competence in engineering.
Teaching:
The program is delivered through a combination of:
- Lectures
- Practicals
- Projects Lectures provide guidance and information, while practical sessions and projects allow students to apply their knowledge and develop skills. Guest lectures and masterclasses are provided on various topics, including the effective use of software packages for computer-aided design, computational fluid dynamics, finite element analysis, and more.
Careers:
Graduates of this program are well-prepared for a variety of careers in the aerospace, space, defense, automotive, biotechnology, computing, electronics, energy, and manufacturing sectors. Potential career paths include:
- Aerospace Engineer
- Space Engineer
- Systems Engineer
- Design Engineer
- Research Engineer
- Teaching and Research The program encourages students to join the Royal Aeronautical Society and participate in local branch events.
Other:
- The program benefits from significant investment in state-of-the-art facilities, including flight simulators, subsonic and supersonic wind tunnels, and a UAV Lab.
- Students have access to the Engineering Innovation Centre (EIC), a new £35 million building providing integrated teaching space in state-of-the-art facilities.
- The program is professionally accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) and the Institution of Engineering Designers (IED).
- The program has established links with many aerospace companies, offering guest lectures, field trips, and industrial placements.
| :--- | | 2024/25 |
| UK |
| Full-time | £9,250 per year | | Sandwich year | £1,500 for the sandwich year | | Part-time | £1,540 per 20 credits |
| International |
| Full-time | £16,500 per year |
