In your first year, you’ll learn the fundamental skills and knowledge required by a modern engineer, including principles of flight and aircraft operations. You’ll be introduced to computer packages commonly used in the aerospace industry. You’ll also have the opportunity, at an additional cost, to sign up for a Flight Experience course at our partner flying school, Northwestern Michigan College in the USA and fly over the great lakes.  

In your second year, the first-year core themes are developed for use in aerospace engineering. You’ll learn about the components and the electronics inside the airframe that enable the aircraft to be so widespread and the safest form of transport available. You’ll learn how aircraft are designed for their handling qualities, and expand your knowledge of aerodynamics, with wind tunnel experiments. You’ll also build your pilot skills by studying elements of PPL Ground School.  

Additionally, you’ll learn about the design process through our practical CDIO modules.  In a group, you will design and manufacture a model aircraft. The best models of the year will be taken to compete at the University Challenge organised by the British Model Flying Association. Your aircraft may be the winner!  

Work placement/study abroad option: Between your second and final year, you can choose to take a work placement or a study abroad year. Both are valuable experiences and something you can add to your CV to make you stand out.  

In your third year of study, in addition to your flight training you’ll work on two projects:   

• The Aerospace Design group project - is where you’ll showcase your engineering skills.  You will be allocated to a team to design a full-size aircraft and test fly it using our flight simulator.  Every year the design task is different – in previous years, our students designed wide body commercial airliners, heavy cargo aircraft, fire-fighting aircraft and even strategic bombers.    

• The Individual Project - is where you’ll immerse yourself in an area of aerospace engineering, you’re passionate about, using either the University or industrial facilities. This is a rewarding part of your degree that can lead to future employment.   

Flying training is supported further by a Pilot Studies and Flight Analysis module and our flight simulation facilities.  

In your final year, you will study at Masters level, deepening your knowledge and understanding of aerospace topics as well as developing your business and management skills. The Team Project is multi-disciplinary and involves applying your skills to solve an unusual and challenging problem, for example the design of an autonomous Unmanned Aerial Vehicle for surveillance on Mars. You could also participate in competitions such as IMechE UAS Challenge, where you and your fellow students have the chance to design and build your own UAV and compete against teams from other universities. 

Work placement

Graduate with invaluable work experience alongside your degree and stand out from the crowd.  

This course offers you the opportunity to enhance your study and CV with a work placement sandwich year. It’s a chance to explore career possibilities, make valuable contacts and gain sought after professional skills.  

Our dedicated Careers and Employment team are here to help guide you through the process.

If you take up a work placement between your second and third year of study, at the University of Hertfordshire you’ll pay no tuition fee for this year. We’ll ask you to make your decision in your second year, so there is plenty of time to think about it. 

What's next for my career?

In the past many of our aerospace systems engineering graduates have become professional pilots either with the RAF, Royal Navy, Commercial Airlines or private pilot instructors. By integrating the experience of flying in the initial stages of this degree, you will find the transition to working as a professional pilot easier. Alternatively, graduates may keep flying as a hobby and pursue an engineering career in an aerospace company or a smaller company in the aerospace supply chain.

Many of our graduates have become professional pilots with the RAF, Royal Navy and commercial airlines. Others have become private pilot instructors. Some graduates decide to keep flying as a hobby and pursue an engineering career in an aerospace organisation or a smaller company in the supply chain.