The aerospace industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the UK and it’s no surprise that there are so many aerospace engineering universities offering degree programs in this field.
If you’re looking for an opportunity to study at a university that offers cutting-edge technology, then a degree from one of these 15 schools will be sure to get your career off on the right foot.
Choosing which university to study at can be difficult, but it’s made even harder when you’re choosing between schools with varying degrees of prestige and reputation.
Because of the reputation that comes with having top aerospace engineering universities, students from around the world apply to British universities to study Aerospace Engineering, hoping their degree will land them the most desirable jobs after graduation.
This list of the UK’s top 15 aerospace engineering universities aims to help you find the perfect university for your career in aerospace engineering.
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A Career in Aerospace Engineering
Aerospace engineering is a branch of engineering that deals with designing aircraft, spacecraft, and satellites.
They are responsible for the construction, operation, and maintenance of these vehicles. They also examine problems that occur during flight such as bird strikes, engine failures, or even pilot errors.
Many aerospace engineers have to be licensed to work in their field and they will often need a degree related to aerospace engineering such as aeronautical or astronautical engineering.
If you’re interested in being an aerospace engineer then it is worth checking out some of the best universities for this career path in the UK below
Why Study Aerospace Engineering in the UK?
The UK has a long history in the aerospace engineering industry. This includes various aircraft manufacturers and research groups, leading to a rich aerospace engineering culture across the country.
There are many universities that offer degrees in this field which means that there is plenty of choices when it comes to finding the perfect course for you.
Here are 15 of the UK’s top aerospace engineering universities, with information about their ranking, location, and what they have to offer students interested in studying aerospace engineering.
List of the Best Aerospace Engineering Universities in the UK
Below is a list of the top 15 aerospace engineering universities in the UK:
- Imperial College London
- University of Bristol
- University of Glasgow
- University of Bath
- University of Leeds
- University of Cambridge
- Cranfield University
- University of Southampton
- University of Sheffield
- University of Surrey
- Coventry University
- University of Nottingham
- University of Liverpool
- University of Manchester
- Brunel University London.
Top 15 Aerospace Engineering Universities in the UK
1. Imperial College London
- Acceptance Rate: 15%
- Enrollment: 17,565
Imperial College London is ranked 1st in the UK for Aerospace Engineering. It was founded in 1907 and offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses across the spectrum of engineering, technology, and humanities.
The University of Cambridge is ranked 2nd in the UK for Aerospace Engineering by The Times Good University Guide 2019 results.
It also has an international reputation as one of the world’s leading universities for research into space exploration, satellites, and other technologies that may be useful there or elsewhere on Earth.
2. University of Bristol
- Acceptance Rate: 68%
- Enrollment: 23,590
The University of Bristol’s Department of Aerospace Engineering is one of the largest in the UK. Established more than 50 years ago, it has a long and distinguished history that includes many awards for research excellence.
The department’s alumni include many notable aerospace engineers, including Sir David Leigh (former CEO of Airbus), Sir Richard Branson (founder Virgin Group), and Lord Alan Sugar (TV personality).
The university’s aerospace engineering research is well known for its excellence, with publications appearing in journals such as Aviation Space & Environmental Medicine or Aerospace Technology Letters.
As an institution committed to providing affordable alternatives to traditional universities’ tuition fees so that students from all backgrounds can access higher education regardless of their financial status or background.
3. University of Glasgow
- Acceptance Rate: 73%
- Enrollment: 32,500
The University of Glasgow is a public research university in Glasgow, Scotland. The university was founded in 1451 and is the fourth oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland’s four ancient universities.
It was named after St Salvator’s Chapel which lies on the north bank of the River Clyde at High Street (now Renfield Street).
The city is home to a thriving aerospace engineering community with a number of world-leading programs.
The Glasgow School of Art houses an internationally recognized aerospace engineering school, which has been ranked 5th in the world for its undergraduate aerospace engineering degrees by QS World University Rankings.
It offers an integrated four-year BEng degree as well as a combined five-year BA/BEng program.
4. University of Bath
- Acceptance Rate: 30%
- Enrollment: 19,041
The University of Bath is a public university located in Bath, Somerset, United Kingdom. It received its Royal Charter in 1966 but traces its roots to the Merchant Venturers’ Technical College, founded in 1854.
The University of Bath is one of the best aerospace engineering schools in the world. It offers various courses including space science and technology, aircraft structures design and construction, and spacecraft design and construction.
Bath is a top aerospace engineering school because it offers courses in various areas of aerospace engineering, including space science and technology, aircraft structures design and construction, spacecraft design and construction, etc.
The University of Bath has an excellent reputation worldwide as one of the best aerospace engineering schools.
5. University of Leeds
- Acceptance Rate: 77%
- Enrollment: 37,500
Leeds University is one of the largest and most prestigious universities in the UK. The university is a member of the Russell Group, which represents 24 leading research-intensive universities.
It has been ranked 7th in the UK for graduate employability by The Times (2018).
Leeds’ aerospace engineering department offers undergraduate degrees in aeronautical engineering, applied aeronautics and astronautics, mechanical engineering, and aerospace engineering.
Postgraduate courses include MPhil degrees in spaceflight dynamics or space robotics, and PhDs are available on topics such as computational fluid dynamics.
6. University of Cambridge
- Acceptance Rate: 21%
- Enrollment: 22,500
The University of Cambridge is a public research university in Cambridge, England.
Founded in 1209 by Henry III, the university was the fourth oldest in the English-speaking world and one of the first to be founded on the basis of having a college affiliated with it.
As such, it is one of only two institutions to earn this distinction along with Oxford University (the other being St Edmund Hall).
it has grown into one of the largest, most famous universities in all of Europe. It also boasts an impressive aerospace engineering school and offers undergraduate degrees in both aeronautical engineering and astronautics engineering.
The school also offers postgraduate degrees that focus on various aspects of aerospace engineering such as flight vehicle design, aircraft design, and production, space flight dynamics, and propulsion systems.
In addition to its main campus at Cambridge, the university has over 40 research centers in locations around the globe including London, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Beijing.
7. Cranfield University
- Acceptance Rate: 68%
- Enrollment: 15,500
Cranfield University is the UK’s only university specializing in engineering, technology, and management.
It has over 10,000 students from around 100 countries and over 50 academic departments including aeronautical engineering, aerospace power systems, and propulsion.
The university also has a number of research centers that are focused on providing solutions for global problems such as sustainable energy systems or human health issues related to space travel.
The university has a number of aerospace engineering courses that are accredited by the British Engineering Council, including a four-year BEng (Honours) in Aeronautical Engineering.
Cranfield also offers MEng and Ph.D. degrees in the field. The university has an excellent reputation for developing graduates who are highly employable, with many of their students going on to work at leading companies such as Rolls-Royce or Airbus.
8. University of Southampton
- Acceptance Rate: 84%
- Enrollment: 28,335
The University of Southampton is a public research university located in Southampton, United Kingdom.
It was founded in 1834 and is a member of the University Alliance, Universities UK, the European University Association, and an accredited institution of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
The school has two campuses with more than 25,000 students studying a wide variety of subjects.
Southampton ranks as one of the top 20 universities in Europe and among the world’s top 100 institutions for engineering and technology.
The university has been at forefront of aerospace engineering research with some notable achievements such as building an aircraft capable to fly over Mount Everest and designing a robot to explore the water on Mars.
The university is housed in one of Europe’s largest engineering buildings and is ranked 1st for research power in Britain.
In addition to aerospace engineering, Southampton offers excellent degree programs in physics, mathematics, chemistry, computer science, and business.
Other notable areas of study include oceanography, medicine, and genetics.
The school also has a number of degree programs that give students from other disciplines a chance to learn more about aerospace engineering including astronomy and astrophysics.
9. University of Sheffield
- Acceptance Rate: 14%
- Enrollment: 32,500
The University of Sheffield is a public research university in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England.
It received its royal charter in 1905 as the successor to the University College of Sheffield, which was established in 1897 by the merger of Sheffield Medical School (founded in 1828) and Sheffield Technical School (founded in 1884).
The university has a large student population and is one of the largest providers of higher education courses in Europe.
The University of Sheffield is one of the top engineering universities in England and it has been ranked first for aerospace engineering. One thing that sets this university apart is its ability to provide graduates with a career as well as an education.
As part of their curriculum, students will spend time with industry professionals to get a head start on their careers.
The school also offers an aerospace engineering degree program that includes coursework in aircraft design, aerodynamics, and control systems.
10. University of Surrey
- Acceptance Rate: 65,000
- Enrollment: 16,900
The University of Surrey has a long history of aerospace engineering education, with aviation and space science being its most prominent fields.
The university has also been home to many notable engineers and companies in this field, including Airbus Helicopters, which was founded here by Dr. Hubert LeBlanc in the 1970s.
The University of Surrey is located in Guildford, Surrey which had previously been known as the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst but changed its name in 1960 due to its proximity to London (which was then called Greater London).
It had also been founded by a royal charter issued by King Charles II on 6 April 1663 under the name “College Royal”.
The university has been ranked highly by the QS World University Rankings, coming in at number 77 for its overall rating in 2018.
It has also been awarded a Gold rating by the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) which assesses universities’ performance on student satisfaction, retention, and graduate employment rates.
11. Coventry University
- Acceptance Rate: 32%
- Enrollment: 38,430
Coventry University is a public research university based in Coventry, England. It was established in 1843 as the Coventry School of Design and expanded into a larger and more comprehensive institution in 1882.
Today, Coventry is an international research university with over 30,000 students from 150 countries and staff from over 120 countries.
Coventry has been ranked as a world-class university for students to study aerospace engineering.
They offer a range of aerospace engineering courses that are accredited by the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS). Some examples include space systems and earth observation.
The university has active collaborations with NASA and Boeing, in addition to other companies such as:
- Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company
- QinetiQ Group plc
- Rolls Royce Plc
- Astrium Ltd.
- Rockwell Collins Inc.,
- British Airways
- Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH & Co KG
- AgustaWestland SPA
- Thales Group
12. University of Nottingham
- Acceptance Rate: 11%
- Enrollment: 32,500
The University of Nottingham is a public research university in Nottingham, United Kingdom.
It was founded as University College Nottingham in 1881 and was granted a Royal Charter in 1948.
The university as an Aerospace Engineering school offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses in engineering sciences, including aerospace engineering (Aeronautical Engineering).
It is one of only eight institutions to be ranked in the top 10 for every subject. It is also the UK’s sixth-best university for research intensity and has been voted as one of the world’s greenest universities.
The university was ranked in the top 100 worldwide for materials science, chemistry, and metallurgical engineering. It is also ranked in the top 50 worldwide for aerospace engineering.
13. University of Liverpool
- Acceptance Rate: 14%
- Enrollment: 26,693
The University of Liverpool is one of the most prestigious engineering schools in the world. Located in Liverpool, England, it was established as a university by royal charter in 1881.
It has been ranked among the top-five universities for aerospace engineering and is home to prestigious aerospace institutions
Also includes the National College for Nuclear Science and Technology, The Institute for Air Transport Systems, and The Department of Aerospace Engineering.
The university has over 22,000 students enrolled from over 100 different countries.
The school offers undergraduate degrees in subjects such as astrophysics, biochemistry, bioengineering, materials science, civil engineering, chemical engineering, physics, and mathematics.
14. University of Manchester
- Acceptance Rate: 70%
- Enrollment: 50,500
The University of Manchester is one of the largest single-site universities in the UK, with over 48,000 students and nearly 9,000 staff.
It has a long history of innovation in science, engineering, and technology as well as having been a global center for research since its establishment in 1907.
The University’s aerospace engineering department was established in 1969 by Professor Sir Philip Thompson who became the Dean of Engineering at that time.
Since then it has become one of the leading schools within this field worldwide with many world-leading researchers working there including Dr. Chris Paine who was awarded an OBE for his work on advanced materials for space applications (including carbon nanotubes).
15. Brunel University London
- Acceptance Rate: 65%
- Enrollment: 12,500
Brunel University London is a public research university located in Uxbridge, London Borough of Hillingdon, England. It is named after the Victorian engineer Sir Marc Isambard Brunel.
Brunel’s campus is located on the outskirts of Uxbridge.
As an Aerospace Engineering school, it has some great facilities including a wind tunnel and simulation lab which can be used by students for practical work experience or as part of their coursework.
The university also has a dedicated Aerospace Engineering Department, which offers both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.
The department is one of the best in the UK, with high-profile research projects underway which are supported by industry partners including Airbus and Boeing.
These projects include investigations into new materials for aerospace applications as well as the development of advanced manufacturing techniques for use in aviation industries.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What types of degrees do aerospace engineering universities in the UK offer?
Aerospace engineering universities in the UK offer undergraduate, master's, and Ph.D. degrees for students interested in pursuing a career in aerospace engineering, aircraft design, or related fields.
Are there any other pre-requisite courses that I need to take before I can start studying at an aerospace engineering university in the UK?
You may have to take a foundation course or preparatory program as your first-degree course before you're accepted into a degree program at an aerospace engineering university in the UK. The foundation course will teach you skills such as reading, writing, and maths but it won't award a qualification on its own.
How well can aerospace engineering be classified?
Aerospace engineering degrees in the UK usually consist of four main elements: theory, practical work, workshops, and lectures. Most courses also include a project which allows you to put together different knowledge and skill set gained throughout your studies.
How long does it take to study aerospace engineering in the UK?
Aerospace engineering degrees in the UK vary in length but all provide graduates with substantial training and expertise across a wide range of specialties. Qualified candidates should consider factors such as personal fit, available courses, location, and costs when choosing an aerospace engineering university.
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Conclusion:
When you’re looking for a university that can give your career a boost, it’s important to consider all of the options available to you.
We’ve outlined some of the best aerospace engineering universities in the UK so that you can get started with your search today!
As you can see, there are many options available to you. We hope that this article has helped you to decide which university is the best fit for your career.
