Aviation Engineering BEng

About the Course

This specialist degree programme is aimed at those students who wish to undertake senior engineering roles within the operational side of the aviation industry, but who also retain an interest in flying. The engineering content is accredited by the Royal Aeronautical Society and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

The course runs alongside the Pilot Studies course, replacing flying training with greater design content, making this particularly suitable for anybody aiming for a professional engineering career, but not in a flying role.

Accordingly, the programme integrates basic flight principles and the opportunity to train on a flight simulator with a solid grounding in general engineering and a background in management and operations. The programme will draw on the close proximity of Heathrow and the other London airports and, on completion, graduates will be equipped to follow careers within the aviation industry.

Aims

This specialist course has been developed to allow graduates the widest possible range of career options within the aircraft industry.

The course differs from the Aviation Engineering with Pilot Studies programme in that students do not undertake the practical flying training at Level 1; instead, an additional design project is undertaken. The aim here is to allow students to avoid paying the additional fees needed for the Pilot Studies option, but still to follow an engineering degree that is heavily biased towards aviation and which develops skills in flying practice (using the flight simulator) and flight theory. All Aviation Engineering students also take the PPL ground school.

From Level 2 onwards, the Aviation Engineering course is identical to the Aviation Engineering with Pilot Studies course and so covers flying basics and the wider aspects of the aviation industry. This includes airport design  and environmental issues. The course aims to prepare graduates for the many career opportunities within the aviation industry.

Enquiries

Mrs Petra Gratton
Admissions Tutor

School of Engineering and Design
Brunel University
Uxbridge
Middlesex
UB8 3PH

Tel +44 (0)1895 266633
Email me-ug-admissions@brunel.ac.uk

Related Courses

• Aerospace Engineering BEng
• Aerospace Engineering MEng
• Aerospace Engineering with Professional Development MEng
• Aerospace Engineering with Professional Development BEng
• Mechanical Engineering with Aeronautics BEng
• Mechanical Engineering with Aeronautics with Professional Development BEng
• Mechanical Engineering with Aeronautics MEng
• Mechanical Engineering with Aeronautics with Professional Development MEng
• Aviation Engineering with Pilot Studies BEng
• Aviation Engineering with Pilot Studies with Professional Development BEng
• Aviation Engineering with Pilot Studies MEng
• Aviation Engineering with Pilot Studies with Professional Development MEng

Special Features

• You will have the unique opportunity to train on the School’s own six-axis engineering flight simulator.
• You will take the PPL ground school, so if you wish to learn to fly in your own time, you will only need to carry out the flying training.
• Staff teaching on the course carry out much of their research with collaborators outside the University, including oil companies, aircraft manufacturers, and other leading industrial firms.  This means that links between the Aviation Engineering staff and industry are very strong.
• If you enter on the BEng route, you can transfer to the MEng programme at the end of Level 2 by obtaining a pre-set progression standard.
• If you start on the full-time course, you can transfer to the sandwich course at any time before the end of Level 2.
• Students benefit from excellent laboratory facilities which are extensive, modern and well-equipped.  Industry-standard specialist software for engineering design is available to students 24 hours a day in dedicated computer clusters.
• You have the opportunity to study abroad in Europe as an Erasmus exchange student.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).  

Fast-track route to Incorporated Engineer (IEng) Status

To become an Incorporated Engineer you must fulfil certain requirements laid down by the Society and Institution. The duration for these usually takes seven years, as follows:

• An accredited three-year BEng degree.
• A minimum of two years’ approved industrial training with an appropriate company.
• A minimum of two years’ professional experience as a practising engineer.

Brunel’s sandwich courses help smooth the way through this stage because the integrated work experience is approved by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. With a large proportion of industrial training already completed, students are well down the road to registration, even before graduation.
 

Facts and Figures

The Aviation Engineering degree course is hosted by the Mechanical Engineering Subject Area which has about 700 undergraduate students, 300 postgraduates and around 100 research students and assistants. Each year we take in about 160 new students, of which about 20-25 are studying for a degree in Aviation Engineering.

Course Content

Level 1 provides grounding in engineering fundamentals and all students will study for the ground examinations for the European Private Pilot’s Licence, including air law, meteorology, principles of flight and human factors.
Levels 2 and 3 are common to both courses and will comprise specialist engineering and aerospace subjects.
Flight simulation, making extensive use of the University’s flight simulator, is used throughout the course.

Typical Modules

Level 1

• Fundamentals of Solid Body Mechanics
• Fundamentals of Thermofluids
• Analytical Methods and Skills
• Aircraft Ground Theory and Design Project
• Engineering Materials, Manufacturing and Electrical Machines
• Aerospace Laboratories, Technical Drawing and Workshop Experience

Level 2

• Solid Body Mechanics
• Thermofluids
• Performance and Control of Aircraft
• Principles of Aircraft Design
• Professional Engineering Applications and Practice
• 
  

Work Placement (thick-sandwich mode of study)

Level 3

• Major Individual Project
• Flight Testing and Propulsion Systems
• Propulsion Systems, Aircraft Structures and Materials
• Professional Engineering Practice
  

Teaching and Learning

Our philosophy is to provide students with a sound knowledge and understanding of scientific principles in aviation engineering, and to provide them with the transferable skills that are designed to meet the challenges of employment within the engineering sector of the global economy.

Hours
In Level 1, contact between students and academic staff is relatively high at 17 hours per week. This will assist you in adjusting from school/college to university life. As the course progresses the number of contact hours is steadily reduced as you undertake more project-based work.

How will I be taught?

Lectures - These provide a broad overview of the main concepts and ideas that you need to understand, and give you a framework on which to expand your knowledge by private study.

Laboratories - Practicals are generally three-hour sessions in which you can practice your observational and analytical skills, and develop a deeper understanding of theoretical concepts.

Design Studios - In a studio you will work on group projects with guidance from members of staff.  In this situation you can develop your management and leadership skills and ensure that all members of the group deliver their best.  You may be required to design and produce an artefact or develop a solution to an engineering problem. These sessions allow you to develop your intellectual ability and practice your teamwork skills.

One-to-one - On registration for the course, you will be allocated a personal tutor whose role is to provide academic and pastoral support during your time at university. You will also have one-to-one academic supervision on Level 3 project work.

Assessment

You will undertake assignments, project work, reports on laboratory practicals, oral presentations and short tests.  There are written examinations in May of each year.  In Level 3, all students undertake a major individual project.  This is worth a third of the overall marks for the year.

The final degree classification is calculated from a combination of Level 2 and Level 3 grades.  Level 1 does not count towards your final degree, but you must pass the year in order to progress.

Employability

The four-year thick-sandwich degree programme enables you to gain high-quality, relevant professional experience which is sought by employers.  This puts graduates from the course in a strong position when entering the job market.  Students have the opportunity to change from the full-time mode of study to the thick-sandwich course up to the end of Level 2.

Careers

Aviation Engineering graduates can enter almost any professional aerospace career, for example as an aeronautical engineer, commercial or military pilot, air traffic controller, aeronautical researcher.
Graduates have gone on to work for:

• the RAF
• Easyjet
• British Airways
• Airbus
• BAE Systems
• Transport for London

Placements

You can choose to study either a full-time course or the prestigious sandwich course.  Sandwich students undertake high-quality, paid work placements in aviation or related industry.  We have very good links with local and international businesses, and furthermore, Brunel is situated only five miles from Heathrow Airport.  The placement in industry is taken between Levels 2 and 3 for at least 44 weeks.  This time can count towards becoming an Incorporated or Chartered Engineer.

Brunel’s award-winning Placement and Careers Service will support you to get the best placement to suit your aspirations.  They can help you with advice to compose the best possible applications, and coach you with mock interviews – often with the support of industry visitors.

The organisations that employ the students on placement are checked to ensure they can provide suitable training experiences.  Quite often, Brunel graduates within firms mentor current students. 
The placement is assessed, and students must pass it to graduate with the words ‘with Professional Development’ in their degree title.  Each student is allocated both a mentor within the company and an Industrial Tutor from Brunel, who is on hand to help ensure that the placement yields the best possible experience for the student’s personal professional development.

Fees for 2013/14 entry

UK/EU students: £9,000 full-time

International students: £15,000 full-time

We are introducing over 700 scholarships for 2013, meaning that one in five applicants who join Brunel next year will receive financial support from the University. See our fees and funding page for full details

Fees quoted are per annum and are subject to an annual increase.

Entry Requirements for 2013 Entry

• GCE A-level ABB, including Grade B in Maths and Grade B in Physics (General Studies and Critical Thinking not accepted).
• Irish Leaving Certificate AABBB, including Grade B in Higher level Maths and Grade B in Higher level Physics.
• Scottish Advanced Highers ABB, including Grade B in Maths and Grade B in Physics.
• Advanced Diploma Progression Diploma Grade A in Engineering, plus the Specialist Unit in Maths for Engineers at grade C along with 1 AS-level (excluding General Studies) at Grade B for Additional and Specialist Learning.
• BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma D*DD, including Distinctions in Further Mathematics for Technicians, and Further Mechanical Principles or equivalent.
• IBDP 33 points, including 5 in Higher Level Maths and 5 in Higher Level Physics.
• Foundations of Engineering See the course page; for external foundation courses, please contact the Admissions Tutor.
• Access Complete and pass Access to Engineering course with 45 credits at Level 3, of which 30 credits must be at Distinction and 15 credits at Merit or higher. All Maths and Physics units must be Distinctions at level 3.

For all of the above, 5 GCSEs or equivalent at Grade C or above are also required, to include English and Maths (please note that these must have been gained by the time you submit your UCAS application).

English Language Requirements

Brunel also offers our own BrunELT English Test and accept a range of other language courses. We also have a range of Pre-sessional English language courses, for students who do not meet these requirements, or who wish to improve their English.