There are so many Aerospace Engineering universities in the UK, which results in difficulty in choosing the right one. As the aerospace industry continues to evolve, the need for top-notch education and research in this field has never been more critical.
Most of the universities listed in this article welcome international students. Each university may have specific admission requirements for international students, such as English language proficiency tests (e.g., IELTS or TOEFL).
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Why Study Aerospace Engineering in the UK?
Studying aerospace engineering in the UK offers students exposure to both theoretical and practical knowledge, with top-ranked universities offering top-ranked courses.
UK universities also offer scholarships to cover tuition and other expenses.
Career opportunities and salaries are abundant, with opportunities to grow in government research institutions, the Ministry of Defence, and airline businesses.
Graduates also receive high-standard salaries due to the attractive packages provided to fresh graduates.
The UK has a long and rich history of aerospace innovation, from the first powered flight by the Wright brothers in 1903 to the development of the jet engine by Frank Whittle in 1937 to the launch of the first British satellite Ariel 1 in 1962.
Popular Aerospace Engineering Courses
Aerodynamics and Fluid Mechanics: This course covers the principles of aerodynamics and fluid mechanics, which are essential for understanding the flight of aircraft and spacecraft.
Aircraft Structures and Materials: This course covers the design and analysis of aircraft and spacecraft structures, as well as the materials used in their construction.
Flight Mechanics and Control Systems: This course covers the principles of flight mechanics and control systems, which are essential for designing and controlling aircraft and spacecraft.
Aircraft Propulsion Systems: This course covers the design and analysis of aircraft and spacecraft propulsion systems.
Aerospace Systems Design and Integration: This course covers the design and integration of aerospace systems, such as aircraft, spacecraft, and missiles.
List of the Top 100 Aerospace Engineering Universities in the UK
Below is a table showing the top 100 Aerospace Engineering Universities in the UK:
Top 20 Aerospace Engineering Universities in the UK
1. University of Cambridge
- Founded: 1209
- Location: Cambridge, England.
- Tuition fee: For international students, the tuition fee for 2023-24 is £37,293 per year.
- Ranking: The University of Cambridge is ranked #1 in the world for aerospace engineering by QS World University Rankings.
- Accreditation: The aerospace engineering program at the University of Cambridge is accredited by the Engineering Council UK.
- Financial aid: The University of Cambridge offers a variety of financial aid options for students, including scholarships, grants, and loans.
The aerospace engineering program at the University of Cambridge is part of the Department of Engineering.
It is a 4-year Master of Engineering (MEng) degree program that provides students with a strong foundation in the fundamentals of aerospace engineering, as well as the opportunity to specialize in a particular area of interest.
2. Imperial College
- Founded: 1907
- Location: London, England.
- Tuition fee: £ 37,900 per year.
- Ranking: The Aerospace program at Imperial College London is ranked 8th in the world by the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023.
- Accreditation: The Aerospace program at Imperial College London is accredited by the Engineering Council UK.
- Financial aid: Imperial College London offers a variety of financial aid options to students, including scholarships, grants, and loans.
The Aerospace program at Imperial College London is a highly ranked, 4-year undergraduate degree that provides students with a comprehensive education in the field of aerospace engineering.
Here are some additional details about the Aerospace program at Imperial College London:
- World-renowned experts in the field of aerospace engineering teach the program.
- The program has strong industry connections, and graduates are highly sought-after by employers.
- The program offers a variety of specialization options, allowing students to tailor their studies to their interests.
- The program has state-of-the-art facilities, including wind tunnels, flight simulators, and computing resources.
3. University of Oxford
- Founded: 1096
- Location: The University of Oxford is located in Oxford, England.
- Ranking: The University of Oxford is ranked #1 in the world for aerospace engineering by QS World University Rankings.
- Accreditation: The aerospace engineering program at Oxford is accredited by the Engineering Council, the UK’s professional engineering body.
- Financial aid: The University of Oxford offers a variety of financial aid options for students, including scholarships, grants, and loans.
The aerospace engineering program at Oxford is a part of the Department of Engineering Science. It is a four-year Master of Engineering (MEng) degree that provides students with a broad foundation in engineering, with the option to specialize in aerospace engineering in the third and fourth years.
4. University of Manchester
- Founded: 1824
- Location: The University of Manchester is located in Manchester, England.
- Tuition fee: £9,250 per annum for UK students and £30,000 per annum for international students.
- Ranking: The University of Manchester is ranked 2nd in the UK for Engineering and Technology by the Complete University Guide 2023.
- Accreditation: The Aerospace Engineering program at the University of Manchester is accredited by the Engineering Council UK.
- Financial aid: The University of Manchester offers a variety of financial aid options for students, including scholarships, grants, and loans.
The Aerospace Engineering program at the University of Manchester is a 4-year undergraduate degree that provides students with a strong foundation in the principles of aerospace engineering.
5. University College London
- Founded: The UCL Aerospace Engineering program was founded in 1907.
- Location: London, England.
- Tuition fee: £ 20,760 per year.
- Ranking: The UCL Aerospace Engineering program is ranked 1st in the UK and 8th worldwide by QS World University Rankings.
- Accreditation: The UCL Aerospace Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Council UK.
- Financial aid: UCL offers a variety of financial aid options for students, including scholarships, grants, and loans.
The UCL Aerospace Engineering program is a 4-year undergraduate degree that provides students with a comprehensive education in the field of aerospace engineering.
6. University of Southampton
- Founded: 1902
- Location: Southampton, England
- Tuition fee: £22,760 per year for international students (2022/23)
- Ranking: 5th in the UK for Aerospace Engineering (Complete University Guide 2023)
- Accreditation: The University of Southampton’s Aerospace Engineering program is accredited by the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).
- Financial aid: The University of Southampton offers a variety of financial aid options for students, including scholarships, grants, and loans.
The University of Southampton is a public research university in Southampton, England. It was founded in 1902 and is a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities.
7. University of Leeds
- Founded: 1874
- Location: Leeds, England.
- Tuition fee: INR 2,845,998.
- Ranking: The University of Leeds is ranked 9th in the UK for engineering and technology by the Complete University Guide 2023.
- Accreditation: The Aerospace Engineering program at the University of Leeds is accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IME) and the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS).
- Financial aid: The University of Leeds offers a variety of financial aid options for students, including scholarships, grants, and loans.
The Aerospace Engineering program at the University of Leeds is a 4-year undergraduate degree (BEng) or 5-year integrated master’s degree (MEng) that prepares students for careers in the aerospace industry.
8. University of Bristol
- Founded: 1876
- Location: Bristol, England
- Tuition fee: 25,300 GBP/year
- Ranking: 51-100 in the world for Aerospace Engineering (QS World University Rankings 2023)
- Accreditation: The University of Bristol is accredited by the Engineering Council, the professional body for engineers in the UK.
- Financial aid: The University of Bristol offers a variety of financial aid options for students, including scholarships, grants, and loans.
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, England. The undergraduate program is a 3-year course leading to a Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) degree.
9. University of Nottingham
- Founded: 1881
- Location: The University of Nottingham is located in Nottingham, England.
- Tuition fee: The tuition fee for international students ranges from £19,000 to £23,000 per year.
- Ranking: The Aerospace program at the University of Nottingham is ranked 11th in the UK for Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering by the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023.
- Accreditation: The Aerospace program at the University of Nottingham is accredited by the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS).
- Financial aid: The University of Nottingham offers a variety of financial aid options for students, including scholarships, grants, and loans.
The Aerospace program at the University of Nottingham is a 4-year undergraduate program that leads to a Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) or Master of Engineering (MEng) degree.
10. University of Birmingham
- Founded: 1825
- Location: The University of Birmingham is located in Birmingham, England.
- Tuition fee: The tuition fee for the Aerospace Engineering BEng course at the University of Birmingham for the academic year 2024/25 is £28,560 for international students.
- Ranking: The University of Birmingham is ranked 101-125 in the world for engineering and technology by QS World University Rankings 2023.
- Accreditation: The Aerospace Engineering program at the University of Birmingham is accredited by the Engineering Council, the professional body for engineers in the UK.
- Financial aid: The University of Birmingham offers a variety of financial aid options for students, including scholarships, grants, and loans.
The Aerospace Engineering program at the University of Birmingham is a 3-year Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) degree or a 4-year Master of Engineering (MEng) degree.
11. University of Sheffield
- Founded: 1828
- Location: The University of Sheffield is located in Sheffield, England.
- Tuition fee: For a three-year BEng in Aerospace Engineering, the tuition fee is £27,000 per year.
- Ranking: The University of Sheffield is ranked 73rd in the world for aerospace engineering by the QS World University Rankings 2023.
- Accreditation: The University of Sheffield Aerospace program is accredited by the Engineering Council UK and the Royal Aeronautical Society.
- Financial aid: The University of Sheffield offers a variety of financial aid options for students, including scholarships, grants, and loans.
The University of Sheffield Aerospace program is one of the top aerospace engineering programs in the UK.
12. University of Edinburgh
- Founded: 1583
- Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
- Tuition fee: The tuition fee for the MSc in Aerospace Engineering for international students is £25,500 per year.
- Ranking: Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023: 161-200
- Accreditation: The University of Edinburgh is accredited by the Engineering Council UK.
- Financial aid: The University of Edinburgh offers a variety of financial aid options for international students, including scholarships, grants, and loans.
The University of Edinburgh is a public research university located in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was founded in 1583 and is one of the oldest universities in the English-speaking world.
13. University of Glasgow
- Founded: 1451
- Location: Glasgow, Scotland
- Tuition fee: For the academic year 2023-24, the annual tuition fee for UK students is £11,5201, while the annual tuition fee for international students is £29,370.
- Ranking: Aerospace Engineering (Undergraduate): 43rd in the world (QS World University Rankings 2023)
- Accreditation: The University of Glasgow is accredited by the Royal Aeronautical Society and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
- Financial aid: The University of Glasgow offers a variety of financial aid options for international students, including scholarships, grants, and loans.
The University of Glasgow is a public research university in Glasgow, Scotland.
14. Cranfield University
- Founded: 1946
- Location: Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England
- Tuition fee: MSc in Aerospace Dynamics: £14,500 for UK and EU students and £26,000 for international students.
- Ranking: QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023: Top 30 for Engineering – Mechanical, Aeronautical & Manufacturing
- Accreditation: The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)
- Financial aid: Cranfield University offers a variety of financial aid options for students, including scholarships, bursaries, and loans.
Cranfield University is a British public research university located in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England. It is one of the UK’s leading universities for aerospace engineering.
15. University of Liverpool
- Founded: 1881
- Location: Liverpool, England
- Tuition fee: The tuition fee for the Aerospace Engineering with Pilot Studies BEng (Hons) program at the University of Liverpool is £9,250 per year for domestic students.
- Ranking: 10th in the UK for Aerospace Engineering (Guardian University Guide 2023)
- Accreditation: The University of Liverpool’s aerospace program is accredited by the Royal Aeronautical Society and the Institute of Mechanical Engineers.
- Financial aid: The university offers a variety of financial aid options for students, including scholarships, grants, and student loans.
The University of Liverpool is a public research university located in Liverpool, England.
16. University of Strathclyde
- Founded: 1796
- Location: The University of Strathclyde is located in Glasgow, Scotland.
- Tuition fee: For undergraduate students from the EU, the tuition fee is £19,500 per year.
- Ranking: The University of Strathclyde is ranked 101-125 in the world for engineering and technology by QS World University Rankings 2023.
- Accreditation: The Aerospace program at the University of Strathclyde is accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).
- Financial aid: The University of Strathclyde offers a variety of financial aid options for students, including scholarships, grants, and loans.
The University of Strathclyde Aerospace program is a world-renowned engineering program that offers undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in aerospace engineering.
17. University of Warwick
- Founded: 1965
- Location: Coventry, England.
- Tuition fee: The tuition fee for the 2023/24 academic year is £26,010 per year.
- Ranking: The University of Warwick is ranked 51st in the world for engineering and technology by the QS World University Rankings 2023.
- Accreditation: The University of Warwick is accredited by the Engineering Council, the professional body for engineers in the United Kingdom.
- Financial aid: The University of Warwick offers a variety of financial aid options for students, including scholarships, grants, and loans.
The University of Warwick does not offer a standalone aerospace engineering degree but does offer a Mechanical Engineering degree with a specialization in aerospace.
18. Loughborough University
- Founded: 1947
- Location: Leicestershire, England.
- Tuition fee: For students from England Scotland Wales Northern Ireland £9,250 per year.
- Ranking: The department is ranked 10th in the UK for aerospace engineering by the Complete University Guide 2023.
- Accreditation: The department is accredited by the Engineering Council, the Royal Aeronautical Society, and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
- Financial aid: The department offers a range of financial aid options, including scholarships, bursaries, and loans.
The Department of Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering at Loughborough University is one of the leading departments in the UK for aerospace engineering.
19. Queen Mary University of London
- Founded: 1887
- Location: London, England.
- Tuition fee: For the BEng (Hons) degree, which is a 3-year undergraduate program, the tuition fee for home students is £9,250 per year, and for overseas students is £28,350 per year.
- Ranking: The Queen Mary University of London is ranked 101-150 in the world for aerospace engineering by QS World University Rankings.
- Accreditation: The Aerospace Engineering program at Queen Mary is accredited by the Engineering Council UK.
- Financial aid: Queen Mary offers a variety of financial aid options for students, including scholarships, grants, and loans.
The Aerospace Engineering program at Queen Mary is a 3-year undergraduate degree that prepares students for careers in the aerospace industry.
20. Newcastle University
- Founded: 1834
- Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
- Tuition fee: AUD 40,490.
- Ranking: The University of Newcastle is ranked 80th in the world for aerospace engineering by the QS World University Rankings 2023.
- Accreditation: The aerospace engineering program at Newcastle University is accredited by the Engineering Council UK and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
- Financial aid: The University of Newcastle offers a variety of financial aid options for students, including scholarships, grants, and loans.
The aerospace engineering program at Newcastle University is a 4-year undergraduate degree that provides students with the knowledge and skills to design, develop, and operate aircraft and spacecraft.
FAQs on the Top 100 Aerospace Engineering Universities in the UK
How were the universities ranked in this article?
The universities in this article were ranked based on a variety of criteria, including academic reputation, research output, faculty expertise, student-to-faculty ratio, and more.
How can I apply to these universities for aerospace engineering programs?
The application process varies from university to university. Typically, you can apply through the university's official website or a centralized application system like UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) for undergraduate programs. For postgraduate programs, you'll typically apply directly to the university.
Are scholarships available for aerospace engineering students at these universities?
Many universities offer scholarships and financial aid for students pursuing aerospace engineering degrees. You can find information about scholarships and funding opportunities on the respective university websites and through scholarship databases.
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Conclusion
To learn more about the program, we provided links to the aerospace engineering departments of each university in the article. You can visit these links, including program details, faculty profiles, admission requirements, and contact information.
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