MEng Aeronautical Engineering with a Year Abroad (five years)
Enrich your study of Aeronautical Engineering with a year abroad in this professionally accredited, integrated Master's degree.
Key information
Award
MEng
Duration
5 years
full-time
Applications : admissions ratio
9 : 1
Based on 2021 entry data
- UCAS course code: n/a*
- ECTS: 300
- Start date: October 2023
- Department: Department of Aeronautics
- Campus: South Kensington
* Apply initially for MEng Aeronautical Engineering (H401)
Overview
This professionally accredited course aims to provide you with a broad base of engineering, computational and analytical skills, as well as the specific knowledge and experience required for careers in the aeronautical industry.
You also have the chance to complete an integrated year abroad at one of our partner universities where you can challenge yourself in a different academic and cultural environment. You will then return to Imperial to complete your studies during your fifth and final year.
Study programme
The first two years are the same across all of our Aeronautical Engineering courses. You will develop a strong grounding in the three disciplinary pillars of aerospace engineering; aerodynamics, lightweight structures and structural mechanics, and flight mechanics and control.
Year two includes further specialised aeronautical material such as mechatronics, flight mechanics, propulsion and turbomachinery, plus the chance to attend a flight testing course at the National Flying Laboratory Centre at Cranfield University.
Both years include laboratory-based coursework plus design, make and test exercises to develop your design and analysis skills.
In the third, fourth and fifth of your studies you will be able to tailor your studies towards areas you are interested in within aerospace and related disciplines.
A group project in year three gives you the chance to simulate the work of a design team to take a design concept through the different stages of feasibility. Working in design teams, you are tasked with developing a particular design concept to the stage where feasibility has been fully explored. Recent examples include a manned mission to Mars and an electric race car.
In your third, fourth and fifth year you will select from a wide collection of optional modules offered by the Aeronautics Department and your host university (Year Abroad placement), alongside some core modules. The option to choose from a limited list of electives offered by other Engineering Departments is also available.
In the final year of your studies, you will complete an individual research project in your chosen area, either working with one of the Department’s specialist researchers and academics and their research group or by undertaking an external project working with an internationally leading engineering company, typically at their site. External projects are assessed jointly by your industrial supervisor and academics from within the Department.
Year abroad
You also have the chance to complete an integrated year abroad at one of our partner universities where you can challenge yourself in a different academic and cultural environment.
We offer two year abroad courses:
- MEng Aeronautical Engineering with a Year Abroad (four years)
- MEng Aeronautical Engineering with a Year Abroad (five years)
In the four year course, the year abroad replaces your final year at Imperial. Instead of your final year at Imperial, you study at one of our partner institutions.
In the five year course, the year abroad is in addition to your course at Imperial. This allows you to experience our full undergraduate offering with the chance to expand on it abroad. By spending a year in one of our partner institutions you can specialise further, through the range of specialised subjects available to study.
Facilities
Imperial’s Department of Aeronautics is at the cutting edge of aerospace teaching and research. Throughout the course, you will benefit from access to our first-class facilities, which include:
- a Mach 9 hypersonic gun tunnel and a variable Mach supersonic wind tunnel
- a range of low-speed wind tunnels for road vehicle studies
- a large flight test arena for the development of next-generation aerial robots
- a state-of-the-art flight simulator where you can test-fly your own aircraft designs
Transfer between courses
Students interested in this degree should initially apply to our standard Aeronautical Engineering course (H401).
At the end of your third year, if you are on target to achieve a 2:1 or above, you may apply to transfer to this course, our Year Abroad (four years) course, Year in Industry course, or Spacecraft Engineering course.
If you are an international student, transferring to a different course could have an impact on your student visa. Please visit our International Student Support webpage for further information.
Structure
Find out more about the limited circumstances in which we may need to make changes to or in relation to our courses, the type of changes we may make and how we will tell you about them.
Year 1
Core modules
- Aerodynamics 1
- Computing and Numerical Methods 1
- Engineering Practice 1
- Introduction to Aerospace
- Materials 1
- Mathematics 1
- Mechanics
- Structures 1
- Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer
Year 2
Core modules
- Aerodynamics 2
- Computing and Numerical Methods 2
- Engineering Practice 2 – Project Development
- Engineering Practice 2 – Technical
- Flight Dynamics and Control
- Materials 2
- Mathematics 2
- Mechatronics
- Propulsion and Turbomachinery
- Structures 2
Year 3
Core modules
- Aerodynamics 3
- Aerospace Vehicle Design
- Control Systems
- Group Design Project
- Structures 3
Optional modules
You will choose two optional modules from below and one I-Explore module.
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Advanced Propulsion
- Aeroelasticity
- Aerothermodynamics of Launchers and Re-Entry Vehicles
- Applications of Fluid Dynamics
- Applied Computational Aerodynamics
- Computational Fluid Dynamics
- Computational Mechanics
- Finite Elements
- High Performance Computing
- Innovation Management
- Introduction to Turbulence and Turbulence Modelling
- Lightweight Structures
- Mathematics 3
- Orbital Mechanics
- Separated Flows and Fluid-Structure Interaction
- Spacecraft Structures
- Spacecraft Systems
Year Abroad
Opportunities
The fourth year consists of an agreed programme of study at an approved university in either France, Germany, Singapore or the USA. We currently have exchange agreements with:
- Ecole Centrale de Lyon, France
- Rheinisch-Westfalische Technische Hochschule, Germany
- National University of Singapore, Singapore
- MIT, USA
- University of California, USA
This is an integrated year abroad so the grades you achieve will count directly towards your Imperial degree.
Conditions
Language proficiency
Teaching is in the language of your host country in France and Germany, so you will need to reach an acceptable proficiency in the relevant language before you go. Free language classes are available at the College to help you prepare.
Availability
There are limited places available on the Year Abroad programme, which means that competition for selection is strong and a placement cannot be guaranteed.
Normally, only students with marks of 60% or above will be eligible for placements in France and Germany. Only students with marks of 70% and above will be eligible for placements in Singapore and the USA.
Other
- Please note the above is an illustrative list of universities located abroad which the Department is currently partnered with. Partnerships with universities are subject to continuous review and individual partnerships may or may not be renewed.
- There may be limitations placed upon your ability to live and study in these locations. If applicable you will need to successfully apply for the relevant visa. This applies to all students, including Home students, in light of the UK’s decision to leave the European Union. Find the latest information on Imperial and the EU.
- Study abroad placements in Europe are currently available through the Erasmus scheme. Imperial College now has approval to continue implementing its 2020-21 Erasmus project into 2021-22. Find the latest information on the Erasmus scheme.
- This department is taking part in the Imperial College London–Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) student exchange pilot. Find out more about the study abroad opportunities that will be created through this two-year pilot, which launched in 2018.
Year 5
Core modules
- Individual Project
Optional modules
You choose five modules from below. Some modules may be available for study in multiple years but you will only be able to study each module once.
- Aeroelasticity
- Aerothermodynamics of Launchers and Re-Entry Vehicles
- Advanced Propulsion
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Applications of Fluid Dynamics
- Applied Computational Aerodynamics
- Computational Fluid Dynamics
- Computational Mechanics
- Finite Elements
- High Performance Computing
- Introduction to Turbulence and Turbulence Modelling
- Innovation Management
- Lightweight Structures
- Mathematics 3
- Orbital Mechanics
- Separated Flows and Fluid-Structure Interaction
- Spacecraft Structures
- Spacecraft Systems
Download the programme specification [PDF] – this is the most up-to-date version available for this course. It may change for your year of entry. If/when changes to this course are approved by the College, we will update this document and the information on this course page.
I-Explore
Through I-Explore, you'll have the chance to deepen your knowledge in a brand new subject area, chosen from a huge range of for-credit modules.
All of our undergraduate courses include one module from I-Explore's wide selection. The module you choose will be fully integrated into your course's curriculum and count as credit towards your degree.
Professional accreditation
This degree leads to a Master’s level qualification. It is accredited by the following organisations on behalf of the Engineering Council:
Achieving a professionally accredited integrated Master's degree (MEng) means that you have satisfied the first step to becoming a Chartered Engineer (CEng) in your chosen field by meeting the educational requirements of professional registration. To gain Chartered status, you will need to demonstrate your ability to meet additional graduate level competencies described in the Engineering Council's UK-SPEC.
A CEng is a highly respected qualification earned by professionals working in engineering, which can lead to higher earning potential and better career prospects.
Professional registration also brings international recognition of your qualification, which is particularly useful for students preparing for a career abroad.
Our accreditation agreements with RAeS and IMechE are renewed every five years. The RAeS and IMechE accreditation agreements last until the 2024-25 academic year intake.
Associateship
As well as your main Imperial degree, you will also receive the award of the Associateship of the City and Guilds of London Institute (ACGI) on completion of this course.
The City and Guilds of London Institute is one of three historic Colleges that came together to form Imperial College London in 1907.
Find out more about our Associateships.
Teaching and assessment
Teaching and learning
You can expect to be taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials and problem sessions. Further active learning sessions involving self-study, reinforcement and guided problem-solving sessions will build your learning experience.
Teaching, independent study and placement hours
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures, seminars and similar | 320 hours | 320 hours | 225 hours | Varies by institution | 125 hours |
| Independent study | 1,180 hours | 1,180 hours | 1,275 hours | Varies by institution | 1,350 hours |
| Placement | – | – | – | Varies by institution | |
| Based on the typical pathway through the course | |||||
Assessment
Assessment varies between modules, but for the majority, it involves a combination of written exams and continuous assessment of coursework and tutorial material. In the final years, interim and final oral presentations and progress reports are also assessed.
From the first year, you will take part in hands-on design exercises and laboratory tests using state-of-the-art equipment in the Department. This project work increases in complexity as you progress through the course.
Staff expertise
At Imperial, you will be taught by a range of teachers of all levels from Professors to PhD students, including some who undertake groundbreaking research and are regarded as experts in their field.
You may also experience peer teaching and be taught by specialists external to the College.
Entry requirements
We welcome students from all over the world and consider all applicants on an individual basis – see selection process below.
For advice on the requirements for the qualifications listed here please contact the Department (see Contact us).
We also accept a wide range of international qualifications. If the requirements for your qualifications are not listed here, please see our academic requirements by country page for guidance on which qualifications we accept.
A-levels
Minimum entry standards
Our minimum entry standard for 2023 entry is A*A*A or A*AAA overall, to include:
- A* in Mathematics
- A/A* in Physics (A* is required if applying with three A-levels. At least an A is required if applying with four A-levels)
- A in a third and/or fourth subject
Further Mathematics is recommended but not essential.
General Studies and Critical Thinking are not accepted.
Students taking English exam board science A-levels will be required to pass the practical endorsement.
Typical offer range
As a guide, here are the typical offers made to at least 80% of A-level applicants for 2021 entry:
- Three A-level offer: A*A*A*
- Four A-level offer: A*A*AA
Practical endorsement (practical science assessment)
If you are made an offer you will be required to achieve a pass in the practical endorsement in all science subjects that form part of the offer.
The practical endorsement is part of the reformed English linear A-levels.
Language requirement
Grade B or Grade 6 in GCSE French or German may be required if you intend to take the Year Abroad course in a European country.
Alternative language qualifications may be required for those who did qualifications other than GCSEs.
Additional Mathematics support
Our A-level Mathematics online course covers a range of key topic areas to help you gain a deeper understanding of the skills and techniques required to succeed in your A-level Mathematics exams.
This optional course has been built around the A-level syllabus with the aim of developing your thinking skills, fluency and confidence.
Please note: this course is not compulsory and does not form part of the entry requirements for this course. It is available free of charge via the EdX website. It is self-paced so you can start it at any time.
International Baccalaureate
Minimum entry standards
Our minimum entry standard for 2023 entry is 40 points overall, to include:
- 7 in Mathematics at higher level
- 7 in Physics at higher level
Typical offer range
As a guide, the typical offer made to at least 80% of IB applicants for 2021 entry was 40 points.
Language requirement
Grade B or Grade 6 in GCSE French or German may be required if you intend to take the Year Abroad course in a European country.
Alternative language qualifications may be required for those who did qualifications other than GCSEs.
Mathematics Higher Level
Mathematics Analysis and Approaches or the Applications and Interpretation syllabi will be accepted at higher level, but Analysis and Approaches is preferred.
Additional Mathematics support
We have recently launched an A-level Mathematics online course, which is available free of charge via the EdX website.
Although this optional course has been built around the A-level syllabus, it is relevant to your curriculum too. It will help familiarise you with how Mathematics is taught at UK universities, and will prepare you for study at Imperial.
Please note: this course is not compulsory and does not form part of the entry requirements for this course. It is self-paced so you can start it at any time.
Advanced Placements
The grades detailed below are the minimum requirements for students offering only Advanced Placements as their exams for entry to Imperial.
If you are studying a High School Diploma that is accepted by Imperial alongside Advanced Placements, requirements may apply to both your Diploma and Advanced Placements.
Please consult our country index to check whether we accept your High School Diploma programme for admission.
Our minimum requirement for this course is grades 5, 5, 5, 5 to include:
- 5 in Calculus BC
- 5 in Physics
- 5 in two further relevant subjects
You may also require a relevant language qualification for this year abroad degree.
Additional Mathematics support
We have recently launched an A-level Mathematics online course, which is available free of charge via the EdX website.
Although this optional course has been built around the A-level syllabus, it is relevant to your curriculum too. It will help familiarise you with how Mathematics is taught at UK universities, and will prepare you for study at Imperial.
Please note: this course is not compulsory and does not form part of the entry requirements for this course. It is self-paced so you can start it at any time.
Selection process
Assessing your application
Admissions Tutors consider all the evidence available during our rigorous selection process and the College flags key information providing assessors with a more complete picture of the educational and social circumstances relevant to the applicant. Some applicants may be set lower offers and some more challenging ones.
Post-application open day and interview
The Department employs a two-stage admissions process:
- Stage I: Online Mathematics Test (30 min)
- Stage II: e-Interview with a member of staff
On the day of your e-Interview, you'll have the chance to join us on a virtual tour of the Department and have the opportunity to converse informally with our students and staff in our topical/themed e-rooms.
The purpose of the interview is to enable us to explore your technical ability, your interest in the subject and your motivation to study aeronautics.
A decision on your application will be made as soon as possible after the interview day. However, it is sometimes necessary to defer a final decision until later in the admissions process but we strive to minimise this inconvenience to applicants wherever possible.
Foundation programmes
A foundation course is a one-year preparation course, designed for international students, which leads to undergraduate programmes in the UK. Foundation programmes are normally for school-leavers who have studied a non-British curriculum but wish to pursue a degree at a UK university.
Foundation programmes are offered by many UK universities, but only two would be considered for entry to Imperial:
- UCL’s Undergraduate Preparatory Certificate for Science and Engineering (UPCSE), and
- Warwick’s International Foundation Programme (IFP) in Science & Engineering
UCL UPCSE
A year-long programme for international students whose school leaving qualifications do not allow them direct entry to UK universities. Students must complete four modules across the year – two compulsory and two elective modules:
| Module | Status |
|---|---|
| Research and Academic Skills: Science and Society | Compulsory |
| Academic English | Compulsory |
| Biology | Elective |
| Chemistry | Elective |
| Mathematics | Elective |
| Physics | Elective |
| Information correct at time of publishing, but subject to change | |
To be considered for admission to the Department of Aeronautics, international students studying UCL UPCSE must achieve:
- 80% overall
- 80% Mathematics + Physics
Warwick IFP Science and Engineering
A year-long programme for international students whose school leaving qualifications do not allow them direct entry to UK universities.
To be considered for admission to the Department of Aeronautics, international students studying Warwick IFP Science and Engineering must achieve:
- 80% overall
- 80% Mathematics + Physics
To meet these requirements, students should choose from the following IFP pathways:
- Engineering
Contextual admissions
We want to make sure that the Imperial learning community is as diverse as the society we serve. So to make our admissions process as fair as possible, we have introduced admissions schemes for Home students that allow us to consider your application in the full context of any additional barriers you may face.
Find out if you meet the eligibility criteria for our contextual admissions schemes.
If your predicted grades meet the minimum College entry standard of AAA at A-level or an equivalent level qualification in the relevant subjects, this department will guarantee you an interview.
Read more about the contextual admissions scheme in this department and others.
ATAS certificate (overseas candidates)
An ATAS certificate is required for all visa-nationals, with the exception of EEA/Swiss nationals and nationals of the following countries: Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the USA.
To apply for an ATAS certificate online, you will need your programme’s Common Aggregation Hierarchy (CAH) code and ‘descriptor’, as well as your university supervisor name. For this course, these are:
| CAH code | Descriptor | Supervisor name |
|---|---|---|
| CAH10-01-04 | aeronautical and aerospace engineering | Professor Paul Robinson |
Your student visa application, or extension of stay, will automatically be refused if you need an ATAS certificate and cannot provide one.
For further guidance on obtaining an ATAS certificate please see the information on our International Student Support website.
English language requirement (all applicants)
All candidates must demonstrate a minimum level of English language proficiency for admission to the College.
For admission to this course, you must achieve the standard College requirement in the appropriate English language qualification. For details of the minimum grades required to achieve this requirement, please see the English language requirements for undergraduate applicants.
Competence standards
Our competence standards highlight the core skills students should be able to demonstrate by the end of this course.
View the Department of Aeronautics' competence standards [PDF]
We believe in providing the widest practicable access to all of our degree programmes and will make reasonable adjustments wherever possible to support your study. For more information, please contact the Department using the contact details below.
Department of Aeronautics
T: +44 (0)20 7594 5047
E: aero.admissions@imperial.ac.uk
Tuition fees and funding
We charge tuition fees for every year that your course lasts. The fee you will be charged is based on your fee status, which is determined by government regulations.
Home rate of tuition
2023 entry
£9,250 per year.
Please note, this fee is set by the UK government and is subject to change until it has passed into legislation. We will update this page when this happens.
Year abroad
For the 2022-23 year abroad, the fee was £1,385 for that year.
Read more about funding for year abroad placements.
For each subsequent year, you should expect and budget for your tuition fee to increase by an amount in line with inflation. The measure of inflation used will be the Retail Price Index (RPIX) value, taken from April in the calendar year in which the academic session starts.
For example, the RPIX value in April 2023 will apply to fees for the academic year 2023–2024.
Fee status
Whether you pay the Home fee or not depends on your fee status.
Your fee status is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status.
Find out more about how we assess your fee status.
Home fee eligibility
You can find the conditions you need to meet to pay the Home rate of tuition fees from the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA). These apply to higher education courses in England and reflect the regulations as they currently stand, noting that these are subject to amendment.
Because of the UK’s exit from the European Union, some frameworks of eligibility have been amended. Individuals affected by the amended frameworks should refer to the UKCISA publication, Who pays ‘home’ fees for higher education in England [PDF].
Government funding
If you're a Home student, you can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan from the UK government to cover the entire cost of tuition for every year of your course.
You can also apply for a means-tested Maintenance Loan to help towards your living costs.
Overseas rate of tuition
2023 entry
The fee for Overseas students has not been confirmed for the 2023-24 academic year. The fee is controlled by the College and we will update this page when it is announced.
As a guide, the Overseas fee for 2022-23 was £35,100.
Year abroad
For the 2022-23 year abroad, the fee was 15% of the relevant fee for that year.
Read more about funding for year abroad placements.
For each subsequent year, you should expect and budget for your tuition fee to increase by an amount in line with inflation. The measure of inflation used will be the Retail Price Index (RPIX) value, taken from April in the calendar year in which the academic session starts. For example, the RPIX value in April 2023 will apply to fees for the academic year 2023–2024.
Fee status
Whether you pay the Overseas fee or not depends on your fee status.
Your fee status is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status.
Find out more about how we assess your fee status.
Home fee eligibility
You can find the conditions you need to meet to pay the Home rate of tuition fees from the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA). These apply to higher education courses in England and reflect the regulations as they currently stand, noting that these are subject to amendment.
Because of the UK’s exit from the European Union, some frameworks of eligibility have been amended. Individuals affected by the amended frameworks should refer to the UKCISA publication, Who pays ‘home’ fees for higher education in England [PDF].
Additional course costs
This section outlines additional costs relevant to this course. These are not included in your tuition fees. It's possible that all, or only some, of these will be relevant to you.
Figures are approximated, usually based on costs in the most recent academic year. They are likely to change each year but it's useful for you to be aware of the things you may have to pay for. This can help you budget for life at Imperial.
Mandatory costs are those that you will need to pay to fully participate in and complete your studies. Optional costs are not essential to your studies so you can opt-out of these.
| Description | Mandatory/optional | Guide to cost |
|---|---|---|
| Field trip (flight testing course) | Optional | £50 |
| Health insurance | Mandatory | Varies |
| Personal Protective Equipment | Mandatory | Provided |
| Return flight | Mandatory | Varies |
| Visa costs | Mandatory | Varies |
| Please review the information below for more information on the costs listed in the table. | ||
Flight testing course
The Easter break of second year includes an optional flight testing course at the Cranfield Institute of Technology.
The cost of this trip to the Department is approximately £320 per student. Students wishing to take part will be asked to pay £50 towards this cost. Payment is required before the end of the spring term (March), via bank transfer.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Wearing personal protective equipment is compulsory for some activities on this course. Where this applies, we will provide you with the necessary PPE free of charge.
Placements and year abroad
If you are undertaking a placement or year abroad, you may have to consider the costs involved. These will vary, depending on the location of your year abroad or placement.
Costs may include flights, transport, visas, travel insurance, health insurance and living expenses such as accommodation.
Find out more about the types of placement costs
Student status with the Year Abroad
If you spend an academic year abroad, you will retain your student status at Imperial so that you will normally remain eligible for the same loans and grants that you would receive in the UK. As an exchange student, you will not pay tuition fees to the host institution abroad.
Accommodation and living costs
Living costs, including accommodation, are not included in your tuition fees.
Most Imperial undergraduates choose to live in our halls of residence in their first year. You can compare costs across different accommodation options.
Bursaries and scholarships
Careers
All of our undergraduate courses lead to an integrated Master's degree, which includes study at postgraduate level. This makes our graduates highly sought after for a range of careers in the aerospace industry, manufacturing, consultancy, research and development, and in other fields as diverse as teaching or finance.
Recent graduates of the Department have become:
- Aerodynamics Engineer, Red Bull Racing
- Future Space Programs Engineer, Airbus
- Actuarial Consultant, EY
- Aerospace Engineer, Rolls Royce
- Technology Risk Analyst, KPMG
How to apply
UCAS key information
- UCAS course code: n/a*
- UCAS institution code: I50
Apply on UCAS
You can start and track your application on UCAS Hub. There you can add this course as one of your choices.
* Apply initially for MEng Aeronautical Engineering (H401)
Application deadlines
25 January 2023 at 18.00 (UK time).
If your application includes a medicine course, the deadline is 15 October 2022 at 18.00 (UK time).
Any questions?
Explore our step by step guide on how to apply. You can also find answers to your questions about admissions.
Related departments
You may also be interested in the following related departments and the courses they offer:
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