Aeronautical Engineering including Foundation Year
Prepare yourself for a career in the aerospace industry. Gain relevant expertise and get hands-on with state-of-the-art facilities at USW.
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Key Course Details
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UCAS Code
H413
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Start Date
September
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Location
Pontypridd
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Campus Code
A
Fees
Home students
£9,535*
International students
£16,200*
- Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits.
If you don’t have the right grades to enrol directly on to our BEng (Hons) Aeronautical Engineering degree, opt to start your studies with a foundation year. Study key engineering principles and gain practical experience in state-of-the-art facilities. Take to the skies with flight test lessons in your final year.
DESIGNED FOR
Aeronautical engineers have an inquiring mind, wanting to understand how things work and how to apply knowledge to solving industry problems. Whilst many of our students pursue careers in the aerospace sectors, the course also provides the academic base for those interested in a career as a Mechanical Engineer.
Accredited By
- Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS)
- Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE)
Career Paths
- Certification and Airworthiness Engineer
- Design Engineer
- Aerospace Engineer
- Aviation Management
- Researcher
Skills taught
- Problem-solving through analysis using scientific and engineering theory
- Developed knowledge of cutting-edge technology
- Teamworking, management, and leadership.
- Communication skills
- Understanding professional responsibilities
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Course Highlights
Module Overview
Study of the computing, mathematical and physical sciences required to design, develop and manufacture a range of engineering systems. You’ll study core areas that underpin Aeronautical Engineering, such as material science, engineering mechanics, thermofluids, aerodynamics, propulsion and aircraft structures. You will also gain lab analysis skills for tested systems.
You’ll study introductory modules relevant to the degree course whilst developing key skills for academic study. Successful completion of the introductory foundation year will allow you to progress onto the Aeronautical Engineering degree.
Foundations of Mathematics
Provides students confidence in basic numeracy, algebra, and mathematical methods. Demonstrates mathematical applications relevant to their discipline.
Further Foundation Maths for Engineers
Builds student confidence in basic calculus and statistics. Highlights applications of these methods relevant to Engineering.
Essential Engineering Skills
Helps students understand how skills apply to engineering. Offers interactions with industry-leading experts.
Engineering Project
Teaches students to apply skills to various projects. Emphasises collaborative work, group skills, and reflection on learning.
Foundation Engineering Principles
Introduces students to basic concepts in Mechanical/Aeronautical, Civil, and Electrical/Electronic Engineering.
English for Engineering (optional)
Enhances knowledge of engineering terminology; improves written and oral communication in various academic and professional genres. Promotes log book usage.
Fundamentals of Mechanical Engineering
Applies foundational math to real-world engineering challenges in mechanics, fluid dynamics, and thermodynamics. Covers theories, lab experiments, and report writing.
Year one of this engineering programme provides essential scientific principles and practices associated with aeronautical engineering. This includes an introduction to using design tools and general manufacturing/workshop techniques. You will also learn how to use industry-standard CAD packages and programming language
Mathematics for Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineers
Provides students with confidence in mathematics and demonstrating the relevance of mathematics in engineering.
Design and Manufacture
Students gain basic knowledge in engineering design and manufacturing and materials and acquire skills in manufacturing practice.
Engineering Computing Applications
The aim of this module is introduce students to the use of computer applications in engineering through programming and computer aided design
Engineering Mechanics 1
The content of the module is directly related to Engineering Mechanics and Mechanics of Materials, to expose students to problems in mechanics as applied to plausibly real-world scenarios.
Electrical Science
This module recognises the cross-disciplinary nature of engineering in professional practice and gives an insight into the importance of knowledge of electrical theory and circuit design.
Thermofluids 1
Gives students a basic understanding of thermodynamic and fluid mechanic properties of both liquid and gases.
In your second year, you'll explore key areas such as thermofluids, basic aerodynamics, aircraft performance and aircraft systems engineering. Year two culminates with the development of a conceptual aircraft design in a team environment, which is tested on our engineering flight simulator.
Further Engineering Mathematics
Students will learn to apply a range of mathematical analysis methods to solve engineering problems and develop mathematical models of engineering systems to determine salient operational characteristics.
Aircraft Systems Integration and Performance
Students will study the main aircraft systems and develop an understanding of aircraft flight mechanics, applying methods to estimate the performance of an aircraft and how design characteristics impact it.
Aeronautical Design
This module is an introduction of aircraft design emphasising on the conceptual design of civil aircraft.
Control and Instrumentation
Students will learn to assess the static and dynamic behaviours of instrumentation and control systems through basic analytical approaches and control theory in time and frequency domains.
Thermofluids 2
This module extends the principles of thermodynamics and applies them to a range of engineering applications. Fluid flow concepts are consolidated to enable students to analyse more complex applied phenomena.
Engineering Materials
This module develops understanding of standard material testing methods and material failures. It develops knowledge of the relationship between structure, properties, processing and subsequently the use of engineering materials.
Year three modules include aerodynamics, propulsion and aircraft structures. You'll learn about advanced computational tools and modelling techniques, and produce a dissertation. You'll also have the opportunity to participate in real aircraft flight testing as part of our Flight Dynamics and Control module.
BEng Individual Project (Core)
Designed for students to conduct detailed research/projects relevant to their subject. Enhances knowledge, promotes independent work, and encourages lifelong learning.
Individual Project
Optional
Engineering Computational Analysis
Extends students’ engineering analysis knowledge using finite element techniques. Introduces computational methods for fluid mechanics and aerodynamics of turbo-machines.
Aircraft Structure
Presents aerospace structural design basics. Covers aircraft wings, fuselage, control surfaces, and stabilisers made from thin-walled sheets. Complements and applies Engineering Mechanics 1 principles.
Aerodynamics and Propulsion
Builds on Thermofluids 1 and 2. Introduces advanced incompressible and compressible flows, emphasising their relevance to air vehicles.
Propulsion
To provide knowledge of incompressible and compressible fluids, based upon thermofluids 1 + 2, knowledge of aircraft propulsion systems and skills to analyse conventional and novel engine cycles/ performance parameters.
Flight Dynamics and Control
Provides integrated understanding of aircraft stability. Assesses aircraft qualities, designs closed-loop control systems, and applies abstraction/simulation for dynamic control systems.
Aircraft Flight Dynamics
Understanding of the static and dynamic stability behaviour of the aircraft and consolidate the understanding of high-speed flows phenomena with a particular focus on how they apply to aircraft.
Supervised Work Experience (SWE)
Course Highlights
How you’ll learn
The BEng Aeronautical Engineering course combines lectures, tutorials, labs, and seminars. Significant self-study, including research and assessment preparation, is essential.
Students can visit industry giants like Rolls Royce, GE Aviation, and Airbus, benefitting from guest lectures by prominent industrialists and academics discussing contemporary technological progress.
Assessment methods include exams, coursework, simulations, and problem-solving tasks. Group projects emphasise presentation skills, requiring students to speak before peers.
Notably, in the final year, students pilot a real aircraft, deepening their grasp on aircraft behaviour and control principles.
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Teaching staff
The staff that deliver the modules have a breadth of expertise in their subject areas.
Some have developed this expertise through high quality research. The research areas are international in their scope whilst also having a relevance locally, often working with international companies that operate locally.
Others have developed their expertise through successful careers in industry and are now using that knowledge to teach and prepare the students for their own careers.
This blend of backgrounds represented in the academic staff give a breadth to the student experience and develops them technically and professionally.
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Placements
We know the value of placement and work experience and are passionate about seeing our students take up these opportunities. We work with several local and national companies in order to assist students to take up these opportunities
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Facilities
The University has invested £3.3m in its aerospace facilities, including a two-storey Aerospace Centre extension, offering engineering students 1,000m2 of workshop and lab space, two aircraft hangars, and a MP521 flight simulator.
The Centre houses a Jetstream 31 aircraft, gas turbine maintenance, riveting, hand tool, and welding workshops. Additionally, it features clean and dirty composite workshops, labs for electronic tasks, avionics, hydraulics, and pneumatics. Sub-sonic wind tunnels facilitate aerodynamic instruction.
The Merlin MP521 simulator, programmable for any aircraft type, is pivotal in design testing and flight test preparation.
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Top 10 in the UK and top in Wales for Aerospace Engineering (Guardian University Guide 2025)
Top in the UK
Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering at USW is top in the UK for teaching quality.
National Student Survey 2024Top 10 in the UK and top in Wales for Aerospace Engineering (Guardian University Guide 2025)
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ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Typical qualification requirements:
- A Level: DD
- Welsh BACC: N/A
- BTEC: BTEC Extended Diploma Pass Pass Pass or BTEC Diploma Pass Pass
- Access to HE: Pass Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 48 UCAS Tariff points.
- T Level: Pass (D or E)
Additional requirements include:
The University normally requires a minimum 3 GCSEs including Mathematics/Numeracy and English at Grade C or Grade 4 or above, or their equivalent, but consideration is given to individual circumstances.
International applications welcomed:
We welcome international applications with equivalent qualifications of our entry requirements. For more details related to your country of residence, please view our dedicated country pages.
English language requirements
International applicants will need to have achieved an overall of IELTS 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component/TOEFL 72 overall and a minimum of 18 in reading, 17 in listening, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing or equivalent.
Equivalents can be located on our English Language pages.
If you have previously studied through the medium of English, IELTS might not be required, please visit our country specific page for further details. If your country is not featured, please contact us.
If you do not meet the English entry criteria, please visit our Pre-Sessional course pages.
Contextual offers
We may make you a lower offer based on a range of factors, including your background (where you live and the school or college that you attended, for example), your experiences and individual circumstances (as a care leaver, for example). This is referred to as a contextual offer, and we receive data from UCAS to support us in making these decisions.
USW prides itself on its student experience and we support our students to achieve their goals and become a successful graduate. This approach helps us to support students who have the potential to succeed and who may have faced barriers that make it more difficult to access university.
We're here to help
Whether you a have a question about your course, fees and funding, the application process or anything else, there are plenty of ways you can get in touch, and we'd love to talk to you. You can contact our friendly admissions team by phone, email or chat to us online.
Fees and Funding
£9,535
per year*£16,200
per year*Additional Costs
Whilst in most cases these resources are more than sufficient in supporting you with completing your course, additional costs, both obligatory and optional, may be required or requested for the likes of stationery, printing, or equipment during your foundation year. For costs after you progress to year 1 of your degree programme, please see the list below.
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Introducing Calon
We are investing in the future of STEM at USW with an exciting new Computing, Engineering and Technology building at our Pontypridd Campus.
University Quality Assurance
At USW, we regularly review our courses in response to changing patterns of employment and skills demand to ensure we offer learning designed to reflect today’s student needs and tomorrow’s employer demands.
If during a review process course content is significantly changed, we’ll write to inform you and talk you through the changes for the coming year. But whatever the outcome, we aim to equip our students with the skillset and the mindset to succeed whatever tomorrow may bring. Your future, future-proofed.
How to apply
All applications for full-time undergraduate courses or foundation degrees should be made via UCAS. Take the next step: Apply through UCAS. You can apply to us directly for all part-time undergraduate courses, if you’re seeking advanced entry or you’re an international student. To apply directly, please choose the application form below for your preferred start date and mode of study (full-time or part-time.)
Advanced entry
If you already have a relevant qualification or experience related to the course you're applying for, you may be eligible to start at a later stage of the course. For example, students from partner colleges can ‘top up’ their qualifications to a degree by joining us in Year Two or Year Three of a course. This process is known as ‘advanced entry’, you can apply directly to the University for 'advanced entry' using the application forms provided above.
International admissions
International applicants can apply to us directly. If the University has an in-country team in your region, your application will be assigned to them for assistance.
