Aerospace Engineering with a Year in Industry MEng

Program Overview

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The Aerospace Engineering with a Year in Industry MEng program at the University of Liverpool prepares students to become Chartered Engineers through a comprehensive curriculum and a year-long industry placement. The program provides a deep understanding of aircraft design, testing, and flying, with a focus on advanced aerospace subjects. Graduates are equipped to work in various roles within the aerospace industry, including airline operators, armed forces, and government research agencies. The program is accredited by the Royal Aeronautical Society and the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, ensuring a recognized qualification on the path to Chartered Engineer status.

Program Outline

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Degree Overview:

The Aerospace Engineering with a Year in Industry MEng is a four-year integrated Master’s degree designed to prepare graduates to become Chartered Engineers with either the Institution of Mechanical Engineers or the Royal Aeronautical Society. The program provides a comprehensive understanding of aerospace engineering, encompassing design, building, testing, and flying aircraft. Students gain a deeper and broader knowledge of core aerospace subjects compared to the three-year BEng program. The MEng curriculum includes advanced modules like advanced aerodynamics, aerostructures, flight handling qualities, advanced guidance systems, and enterprise studies. The program features a year-long placement in an approved company or organization during the third year, allowing students to develop work-based skills and professional competencies, enhancing their employability. The year in industry is contingent on placement availability and student performance in previous years.

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Outline:

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Year One:

• Compulsory Modules:
• Solids and Structures 1 (ENGG110): Covers fundamental concepts and theory of how engineering structures work to sustain loads, including stress analysis and design of basic structural elements.
• Professional Engineering: a skills toolkit (ENGG111): Introduces students to preliminary design processes, formal engineering drawing, visualization, group work, data analysis, and report writing.
• Energy Science (ENGG116): Develops understanding of fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and problem-solving skills.
• Engineering Mathematics (ENGG198): Covers calculus, complex variables, and functions of two variables.
• Digital Engineering (ENGG125): Introduces students to computer programming, MATLAB, and analysis of electrical, mechanical, and electromechanical systems.

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Year Two:

• Compulsory Modules:
• Aeroengines (AERO213):
Covers gas turbine engines used in aircraft and other applications, including principles, design, and compressible flow.
• Aerospace Engineering Design 2 (AERO220): Explores the multi-disciplinary process of aircraft design, including configuration selection, conceptual design, and preliminary design.
• Aircraft Performance (AERO212): Covers the fundamentals of fixed-wing aircraft performance, including theory, problem-solving, and stability.
• Avionics and Communications Systems (AERO250): Introduces aerospace communications and avionic systems.
• Dynamic Systems (MECH215): Covers methods for analyzing dynamic systems in time and frequency domains, including stability, accuracy, and rapidity.
• Experimental Methods (ENGG201): Focuses on data analysis, interpretation, engineering experimentation, measurement techniques, and instrumentation.
• Project Management (MNGT202): Covers fundamental project management techniques, risk management, and cost management.
• Solids & Structures 2 (ENGG209): Introduces techniques for load and displacement analysis of simple structures.

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Year in Industry:

• Compulsory Modules:
• School of Engineering Year in Industry (ENGG299):
Students spend a minimum of 40 weeks in a company or organization, gaining practical experience and developing transferable skills.

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Year Four:

• Compulsory Modules:
• Advanced Engineering Materials (MATS301):
Covers non-ferrous alloys and composite materials, including processing, heat treatment, microstructure, and properties.
• Advanced Modern Management (MNGT352): Introduces various aspects of advanced modern management, including tools and techniques.
• Aerospace Engineering Design 3 (AERO321): Builds upon Year 2 design course, focusing on advanced conceptual design, analysis tools, and simulation modeling.
• Flight Dynamics and Control (AERO317): Introduces techniques and concepts for analyzing aircraft trim, stability, and dynamic response characteristics.
• Individual Project (ENGG341): Students undertake an individual research project, developing innovative concepts in their preferred technical area.
• Aerodynamics (AERO306): Covers aerodynamic theories, including boundary layer theory, potential flow theory, thin airfoil theory, and lifting line theory.
• Computational Fluid Dynamics (ENGG319): Provides skills in using computational fluid dynamics tools, including underlying theory and technology.
• Optional Modules:
• Avionic Systems Design (AERO350):
Covers the design and evaluation of avionic systems, including Instrument Landing System (ILS), Automated Direction Finding (ADF), and Distress Frequency Monitoring.
• RF Engineering and Applied Electromagnetics (ELEC311): Introduces high frequency electromagnetics and circuit design techniques.
• Rotorcraft Flight (AERO314): Covers rotorcraft configuration, performance, and flight dynamics.
• Spaceflight (AERO319): Introduces spaceflight concepts, including propulsion, launch vehicles, and orbital mechanics.
• Uncertainty, Reliability and Risk 1 (ENGG304): Covers uncertainty quantification methods, reliability analysis, and risk assessment.
• Introduction to Finite Elements (ENGG302): Introduces the Finite Element method and its applications.

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Year Five:

• Compulsory Modules:
• Further Aerostructural Analysis (AERO417):
Builds upon basic knowledge of linear elasticity, introducing physical phenomena relevant to structural design and computational analysis methods.
• Aeroelasticity (AERO415): Covers theories of structural vibration, steady and unsteady aerodynamics, and static and dynamic aeroelasticity.
• Aerospace Capstone Group Design Project (AERO420): Students work in teams to complete an aircraft design project, demonstrating their knowledge and skills.
• Enterprise Studies (MNGT414): Covers entrepreneurship, intrapreneurship, company infrastructure, and investment proposals.
• Flight Handling Qualities (AERO401): Covers the fundamentals of Flight Handling Qualities for both fixed and rotary wing aircraft.
• Advanced Fluid Mechanics and Aerodynamics (AERO406): Reinforces and deepens understanding of fluid kinematics, equations of fluid motion, and advanced concepts in potential flow theory.
• Optional Modules:
• Advanced 4th Year Research Project (ENGG443): Focuses on a specific project related to a student's third-year project, with a journal-style paper written.
• Advanced Guidance Systems (AERO430): Covers advanced guidance laws in autonomous air systems, including interactions of airframe dynamics, sensors, and control surfaces.
• Design for Environment, Manufacture and Assembly (MNFG413): Introduces tools and methods of Eco-design, Design for Manufacture, and Assembly.
• Energy and the Environment (MECH433): Discusses energy generation, usage, and their complementarity.
• Musculoskeletal Biomechanics (ENGG410): Covers the biomechanics of the musculoskeletal system and techniques for measuring and analyzing body movements.
• Nuclear Technologies (MECH434): Provides an understanding of nuclear engineering, covering reactor dynamics, design, operation, and waste management.
• Risk and Uncertainty: Probability Theory (ENGG404): Develops understanding of basic probability theory and its application to uncertainty quantification.
• Structural Optimisation (ENGG414): Covers classical and modern optimization methods and their application to structural optimization.
• Space Mission Design (AERO419): Covers advanced numerical concepts and techniques for space mission design, navigation, and operations.

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Assessment:

Assessment methods vary depending on the module, but generally include coursework and examinations. Other assessment methods may include project work, presentations (individual and/or group), and specific tests or tasks.

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Teaching:

The University of Liverpool employs a combination of teaching methods, including face-to-face lectures, laboratory sessions, tutorials, and seminars. The program emphasizes practical learning, with a significant focus on project work. Students are supported by individual academic advisors.

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Careers:

Graduates of the Aerospace Engineering with a Year in Industry MEng program are equipped with the skills to work in the development and maintenance of aircraft, satellites, and space vehicles. Typical career paths include:

• Airline operators
• Armed forces
• Government research agencies like the Ministry of Defence (MoD)
Recent employers of graduates include:
• Engineering and Infrastructure: ABB Ltd, Bentley, Metronet Rail, Rolls Royce
• Utilities: United Utilities
• Defence and Military: BAE Systems, British Army, RAF (Royal Air Force), Royal Navy
• Aviation: British Airways
• Government organisations: National Nuclear Laboratory (Government-owned)

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Other:

• The School of Engineering has world-class, modern facilities, including traditional lecture theatres, teaching laboratories, PC teaching centers, study rooms, and specialist engineering research laboratories.
• The program is accredited by the Royal Aeronautical Society and the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, providing a recognized qualification on the route to Chartered Engineer status.
• The program emphasizes a holistic, systems approach to engineering, incorporating technical knowledge, life-cycle processes, and ethical, safety, environmental, economic, and social considerations.
• The University offers a range of scholarships and bursaries to support students with tuition fees and living expenses.
• Students have access to careers and employability support, including help with career planning, job market understanding, and networking skills.
• Confidential counselling and support are available for students facing personal problems affecting their studies and wellbeing.

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Tuition Fees:

UK fees (applies to Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Republic of Ireland) Full-time place, per year £9,250 Year in industry fee £1,850 Year abroad fee £1,385 International fees Full-time place, per year £27,200 Year in industry fee £1,850 Year abroad fee £13,600