Aerospace Engineering with an Industrial Placement Year MEng

Program Overview

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This five-year MEng degree in Aerospace Engineering with an Industrial Placement Year provides students with advanced theoretical knowledge and practical experience in building and flying aircraft. Graduates are well-equipped for careers in the aerospace industry, with specialization options in avionics systems or aeromechanics. The program is accredited by multiple professional engineering institutions and offers access to state-of-the-art facilities, including flight simulators and a jet engine test bench.

Program Outline

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Degree Overview:

This five-year MEng degree in Aerospace Engineering with an Industrial Placement Year provides students with an advanced understanding of essential aerospace engineering theories and hands-on practice in building and flying aircraft.

• Develop practical skills in building and flying aircraft.
• Develop communication skills for collaborating with engineers from various disciplines.
• Gain real-world experience through an industrial placement year.
• Specialize in either avionic systems or aeromechanics in the final year.
• Complete an investigative project of their choice.

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Outline:

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Year 1:

• Core Modules:
• Aerospace Aerodynamics and Thermodynamics (15 credits)
• Aerospace Engineering Design, Build and Test (20 credits)
• Analysis and Modelling of Aerospace Systems (15 credits)
• Electrical Fundamentals (15 credits)
• Engineering Statics and Dynamics (15 credits)
• Global Engineering Challenge Week (Compulsory)
• Introduction to Aerospace Materials (20 credits)
• Mathematics (Electrical and Aerospace) (20 credits)

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Year 2:

• Core Modules:
• Aerodynamics and Heat Transfer (15 credits)
• Aerospace Design II (15 credits)
• Aerospace Materials (15 credits)
• Aerospace Structures and Dynamics (15 credits)
• Control Engineering (15 credits)
• Electrical Energy (15 credits)
• Embedded Programming (15 credits)
• Engineering - You're Hired Week (Compulsory)
• Mathematics II (15 credits)

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Year 3:

• Core Modules:
• Aero Propulsion (10 credits)
• Aerodynamic Design (10 credits)
• Aerospace Design III (20 credits)
• Aerospace Electrical Power Systems (10 credits)
• Aircraft Design (10 credits)
• Aircraft Dynamics and Control (10 credits)
• Accounting and Law for Engineers (10 credits)
• Optional Modules:
• Communication Electronics (20 credits)
• Advanced Engineering Thermodynamic Cycles (10 credits)
• Aerospace Metals (10 credits)
• Antennas, Radar and Navigation (10 credits)
• Composite Materials and Micromechanics (10 credits)
• Computational Fluid Dynamics (10 credits)
• Digital Signal Processing (10 credits)
• Finite Element Techniques (10 credits)
• Hardware-in-the-Loop & Rapid Control Prototyping (10 credits)
• Machine Learning (10 credits)
• Robotic Systems (10 credits)
• Space Systems Engineering (10 credits)
• State-Space Control Design (10 credits)
• Structural Vibration (10 credits)

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Year 4:

• Core Modules:
• Aerospace Engineering Year in Industry (120 credits)

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Year 5:

• Core Modules:
• Aerospace Individual Investigative Project (45 credits)
• Optional Modules:
• Advanced Aerospace Propulsion Technology (15 credits)
• Advanced Control (15 credits)
• Advanced Dynamics (15 credits)
• Advanced Engineering Fluid Dynamics (15 credits)
• Advanced Materials Manufacturing (15 credits)
• Advanced Space Systems and Space Weather (15 credits)
• Aviation Safety and Aeroelasticity (15 credits)
• Data Coding Techniques for Communication and Storage (15 credits)
• Design and Manufacture of Composites (15 credits)
• Electronic Communication Technologies (15 credits)
• Industrial Applications of Finite Element Analysis (15 credits)
• Industrial training programme (ITP) in Avionics (15 credits)
• Mobile Robotics and Autonomous Systems (15 credits)
• Motion Control and Servo Drives (15 credits)
• Multisensor and Decision Systems (15 credits)
• Real-Time Embedded Systems (15 credits)
• Testing and verification in safety-critical systems (15 credits)

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Assessment:

Students are assessed through a combination of:

• Examinations
• Coursework assignments
• Lab work
• Online tests
• Reports
• Group projects
• Presentations
• Design projects
• Dissertations

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Teaching:

• Methods:
• Lectures
• Tutorials
• Practical activities
• Coursework assignments (including oral, video, and poster presentations)
• Individual investigative project (final year)
• Design projects
• Online resources
• Faculty:
• Experts in aerospace materials, aerodynamics, flight control systems, avionics, aircraft design, aero propulsion, management, and applied mathematics.
• Unique Approaches:
• Flying day for analyzing flight performance and stability.
• Global Engineering Challenge for solving real-world engineering problems.
• MEng group design project for designing, building, and flying an unmanned air vehicle.

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Careers:

• Potential Career Paths:
• Aerospace design
• Aviation
• Transport
• Manufacturing
• Finance
• Energy and power
• Armed forces
• Opportunities:
• Work in leading engineering companies such as Airbus, BAE Systems, BP, Ernst & Young, Jaguar Land Rover, Ministry of Defence, Nissan, Rolls-Royce, PwC, Royal Air Force, and Shell.
• Continue onto further study or research.
• Outcomes:
• Graduates are in high demand internationally.
• Strong partnerships with industry leaders such as Airbus UK, BAE Systems, Boeing, EADS, Qinetiq, and Rolls-Royce.

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Other:

• The program is accredited by the Royal Aeronautical Society, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, the Institution of Engineering and Technology, and the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining.
• Students have access to state-of-the-art teaching and lab facilities, including flight simulators, drones, a jet engine test bench, and industry-standard equipment.
• The University of Sheffield is ranked highly in various university rankings, including:
• Number one in the Russell Group for overall satisfaction (National Student Survey 2023)
• 92 per cent of research rated as world-leading or internationally excellent (Research Excellence Framework 2021)
• Top 50 in the most international universities rankings (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023)
• Number one Students' Union in the UK (Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2024, 2023, 2022, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017)
• Number one for teaching quality, Students' Union, and clubs/societies (StudentCrowd 2023 University Awards)
• A top 20 university targeted by employers (The Graduate Market in 2023, High Fliers report)
• Students can gain flying experience through Private Pilot Instruction courses or through links with the Yorkshire Universities Air Squadron.
• The program includes a focus on employability throughout the studies, with support provided to help students achieve their career aspirations.
• The program is designed to be interdisciplinary, drawing on expertise from various engineering disciplines.
• Students have the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities such as the Global Engineering Challenge and the MEng group design project.
• The program is reviewed annually to ensure it remains up-to-date and relevant.