University of Southampton
Aeronautics and Astronautics / Materials and Structures MEng
University of Southampton

Key Course Facts

Course Description

Aeronautics and astronautics focuses on fast-moving aircraft and spacecraft in the Earth’s atmosphere and outer space. This course focuses on building your knowledge of structural design and materials selection for aerospace applications.

The first two years are the same across our Aeronautics and Astronautics degrees and focus on core engineering science, such as aerodynamics, propulsion systems, mechanics of flight, fluid dynamics and control, giving you a professional grounding for the design and operation of air vehicles and spacecraft.

In your third and fourth years, you will develop your understanding of how materials behave, and enhance your skills in the structural analysis of aircraft and spacecraft. In your third year you will also carry out an individual project, bringing together the concepts and skills you have learned.

During your fourth year, you will take further advanced and specialised modules and participate in a group design project, applying your engineering knowledge to solve a real-world problem.

You will have access to extensive facilities, which include dedicated student design studios and workshops, the largest wind tunnel in any UK university, state-of-the-art jet engine and space propulsion facilities, a flight simulator and a professional manufacturing centre.

Our courses are fully accredited by the Royal Aeronautical Society and Institution of Mechanical Engineers and offer a route to chartered status.

The accredited MEng fully meets the exemplifying academic benchmark requirements, for registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng).

Accredited by the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer.

Student Reviews

Below you can see course specific reviews for 51 graduates of Aeronautics and Astronautics / Materials and Structures MEng at University of Southampton for each of the survey questions in comparison to the average for all UK degree courses in Aeronautical Engineering.

Overall student satisfaction
78 /100
51 total respondents

Primarily based on data from undergraduate degree students.

The NSS is commissioned by the Office for Students

Salary

Salary of Graduates of Aeronautics and Astronautics / Materials and Structures MEng at University of Southampton

Important: Salary data below is not course specific, but contains data of all students of Aeronautics and Astronautics / Materials and Structures MEng at the university. Due to data collection methodology, salary data is mainly based on data related to undergraduate students.

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £29000 £33500 £41500
25-75 percentile range £27000 - £31000 £30500 - £39500 £35500 - £48000


Salary of all UK Graduates of Aeronautical Engineering

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £27597 £32050 £37396
25-75 percentile range £23821 - £30797 £25785 - £37213 £30105 - £44675

Jobs & Career Perspectives

15 months after graduation, graduates of this course were asked about what they do and, if they are working, about their current job and their perspectives.

Current jobs

Job in line with future plans

Utilise skills from studies

Work is meaningful

Required skill level of job after 15 months

% Skilled jobs

Jobs of graduates of this course (15 months after graduation)

Example below based on all graduates of Aeronautics and Astronautics / Materials and Structures MEng at University of Southampton

35% Engineering professionals
20% Information Technology Professionals
5% Skilled trades occupations
5% Managers, directors and senior officials
5% Natural and social science professionals
5% Business, Research and Administrative Professionals
5% Science, engineering and technology associate professionals
0% Administrative occupations
0%
0% Sports and fitness occupations

Grading & Study Time

Assessment Methods

Study Time Distribution



Testing is conducted through a combination of unseen written examinations and assessed coursework in the form of problem-solving exercises, laboratory reports, design exercises, essays, and individual and group projects. Experimental, research and design skills are assessed through laboratory reports, coursework exercises and oral presentations.

Grading Distribution

Students of the course received the following grades

Entry Requirements / Admissions

Minimum Required UCAS Tariff

UCAS Tariff of Accepted Students for this course

Qualification requirements

Typical Offer: A*AA including grades A*A in mathematics and physics (in any order) with a pass in the physics Practical If you are taking an EPQ in addition to 3 A levels, you will receive the following offer in addition to the standard A level offer: A*AB including grades A*A in mathematics and physics (in any order) with a pass in the physics Practical, and grade A in the EPQ We are committed to ensuring that all students with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a student’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Students who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme, as follows: AAA including mathematics and physics with a pass in the physics Practical or A*AB including A*A in mathematics and physics (in any order) with a pass in the physics Practical Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking. Pass in the associated science Practical is required where applicable.

We normally consider applicants who offer at least 1 Advanced Higher. Applicants presenting with only Highers will be considered on a case by case basis. Where Highers are taken over two years it might be expected that higher grades are achieved, particularly in any specific subjects required. For example, S5 – S6 (2 years): AABBB (A in specific subject) or S6 (1 year): ABBBB (A in specific subject). Unless a more advanced level (Higher or Advanced Higher) is specified in the stated entry requirements, all applicants will be required to have achieved a pass in Mathematics and English at Standard Grade, Grade 3 or National 5, Grade C, the equivalent of GCSE Grade C/ Grade 4" We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner's potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.

Typical offer: AAA to include Mathematics and Physics. All applicants will be required to have achieved a pass in Mathematics and English at Standard Grade, Grade 3 or National 5, Grade C, the equivalent of GCSE Grade C/Grade 4.

D in the BTEC Subsidiary Diploma plus A*A in A-level mathematics and physics (in any order) with a pass in the physics Practical We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme. The University’s qualifications equivalencies table will be used: https://www.southampton.ac.uk/studentadmin/admissions/admissions-policies/index.page#_ga=2.143280181.1285720294.1533033883-1673588377.1531313130 We do not accept the BTEC Extended Diploma We do not accept the BTEC Diploma Applicants with a BTEC Extended Diploma or the BTEC Diploma should apply for the Engineering/Physics/Mathematics/Geophysics Foundation Year

Typical entry criteria will be to achieve Grade A* in A-level Maths plus DD in the Tech Level or Grade A in A-level Maths plus D*D in the Tech Level Accepted subjects: Engineering. Must be offered in combination with A-level Mathematics and units M1 and M2 must be taken.

If you are taking an EPQ in addition to 3 A levels, you will receive the following offer in addition to the standard A-level offer: A*AB including grades A*A in mathematics and physics, with a pass in the physics Practical and grade A in the EPQ Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking. Pass in the associated science Practical is required where applicable.

Typical entry criteria will be to achieve Grade A* in A-level Maths plus DD in the Technical Diploma or Grade A in A-level Maths plus D*D in the Technical Diploma Accepted subjects: Engineering

Pass, with 38 points overall with 19 points required at Higher Level, including 6 at Higher Level in Physics and 6 at Higher Level in Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches or 7 at Higher Level in Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme. International Baccalaureate Career Programme (IBCP) offer Offers will be made on the individual Diploma Course subject(s) and the career-related study qualification. The CP core will not form part of the offer. Where there is a subject pre-requisite(s), applicants will be required to study the subject(s) at Higher Level in the Diploma course subject and/or take a specified unit in the career-related study qualification. Applicants may also be asked to achieve a specific grade in those elements. Please see the University of Southampton International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme (IBCP) Statement for further information. Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.

H1 H1 H1 H2 H2 H2 including mathematics at H1 and physics at H1 We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme. There are no additional requirements

D in the BTEC National Extended Certificate plus grades A*A in A-level mathematics and physics (in any order), with a pass in the physics Practical We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme. The University’s qualifications equivalencies table will be used: https://www.southampton.ac.uk/studentadmin/admissions/admissions-policies/index.page#_ga=2.143280181.1285720294.1533033883-1673588377.1531313130 We do not accept the BTEC National Extended Diploma We do not accept the BTEC National Diploma Applicants with a BTEC National Extended Diploma should apply for the Engineering/Physics/Mathematics/Geophysics Foundation Year

Typical entry criteria will be to achieve an A*A in Maths and Physics at A-level plus D in the Technical Extended Certificate

A*AA from 3 A levels including grades A*A in mathematics and physics (in any order), with a pass in the physics Practical or A*A from two A levels including mathematics and physics (in any order) with a pass in the physics Practical and A from the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Skills Challenge Certificate We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme. Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking. Pass in the associated science Practical is required where applicable.

D2, D3, D3 in three Principal subjects including mathematics and physics, one of which must be at D2. We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme. Cambridge Pre-U's can be used in combination with other qualifications such as A levels to achieve the equivalent of the typical offer, where D2 can be used in lieu of A-level grade A* or grade D3 can be used in lieu of A-level grade A.

If you are not sure that your qualifications meet the requirements of this course please contact our Admissions Teams.

Requirements for international students / English requirements

IELTS academic test score (similar tests may be accepted as well)

    • 6.5
    • Graduate Degrees
    • 6.5
    • Undergraduate Degrees
Do you not fulfill the minimum requirements in terms of UCAS score, A levels, or English language requirements?
Get advice on which foundation courses are best for you to still be able to join Aeronautics and Astronautics / Materials and Structures, MEng.

Costs

Tuition Fees Aeronautics and Astronautics / Materials and Structures MEng

Ireland £9250 year 1
EU £22760 year 1
International £22760 year 1
England UK £9250 year 1
Northern Ireland £9250 year 1
Scotland £9250 year 1
Wales £9250 year 1
Channel Islands £9250 year 1

Additional fee information

Please note that the Fees shown are those charged for entry in September 2021. Fees for entry in September 2022 will be available at the end of August 2021. Please see our website for further details and updates : www.southampton.ac.uk/uni-life/fees-funding.page

Average student cost of living in the UK

Rent £518
Water, gas electricity, internet (at home) £50
Supermarket shopping £81
Clothing £35
Eating out £33
Alcohol £27
Takeaways / food deliveries £30
Going out / entertainment (excl.alcohol, food) £24
Holidays and weekend trips £78
Transport within city £17
Self-care / sports £20
Stationary / books £13
Mobile phone / internet £13
Cable TV / streaming £7
Insurance £51
Other £95
  
Average student cost of living £1092

London costs approx 34% more than average, mainly due to rent being 67% higher than average of other cities. For students staying in student halls, costs of water, gas, electricity, wifi are generally included in the rental. Students in smaller cities where accommodation is in walking/biking distance transport costs tend to be significantly smaller.

How to apply

Application deadline:

January 1, 2024

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Possible Entry Points:

  • year 1 (Default entry point)

University Rankings

Positions of University of Southampton in top UK and global rankings.

Rankings of University of Southampton in related subject specific rankings.

Computer Science

    • #12 
    • #110 
    Technology
    URAP University Ranking by Academic Performance - By Subject
    [Published 06 June, 2020]

Engineering

    • #1 
    • #20 
    Aerospace Engineering
    ARWU by subject - Academic Ranking of World Universities - ShanghaiRanking
    [Published 26 May, 2021]
    • #5 
    • #100 
    Engineering
    URAP University Ranking by Academic Performance - By Subject
    [Published 06 June, 2020]

See all university rankings of University of Southampton

What students say about studying Aeronautical Engineering in the UK?

  • A DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING STUDENT // LINDA
  • A week in my life at University (Aeronautical Engineering, First Year, University of Brighton)
  • Aircraft Maintenance Engineers

About University of Southampton

The University of Southampton, often abbreviated to Soton, is a research university located in Southampton, England. Although the university was founded in 1862, it has only enjoyed full university status from 1952 onwards. The university has five campuses in total, with the main one based in the Highfield area of Southampton.

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Where is this programme taught

Southampton
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Main Site - Highfield Campus
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