Discover how to design, build and test different aircraft on this MSc (Eng) for graduates in engineering and physical sciences. This accredited master’s includes a practical aircraft design project, independent research project, and opportunities to explore the principles of space flight and spacecraft design.
Prepare for a career designing, developing and testing aircraft, spacecraft and satellites on this accredited master’s.
Building on your existing knowledge of engineering, you’ll learn flight handling qualities for different types of aircraft and design tasks for use in piloted simulation missions.
We’ll provide an overview of the aerodynamic characteristics of aircraft components and reveal the role of computer-based design techniques, computational fluid dynamics, flow diagnostics and finite element analysis in aerospace engineering.
You’ll put theory into practice on an aircraft design project where you’ll work as part of a small team to develop an aircraft from an initial conceptual design to simulated flight testing. To further enhance your employability, we’ll also immerse you in a variety of entrepreneurial activity and hone your project management skills.
Optional modules include opportunities to discover the principles and challenges of space flight and explore spacecraft design, navigation and operations for planetary missions.
Accredited by the Royal Aeronautical Society and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, the programme includes a supervised independent research project. This enables you to enhance your skills and knowledge in an area of aerospace engineering of your choice, supported by our specialist research and flight simulation facilities.
This programme is designed for engineers and physical scientists who want to develop specialist skills and knowledge in advanced aerospace engineering.
This programme is accredited by:
This means that successful completion of the programme will contribute towards the academic requirements for registration with RAeS and IMechE as as a Chartered Engineer.
All mechanical engineering programmes are accredited, or pending accreditation, by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. This is the professional body for Mechanical Engineers. Our programmes are a recognised qualification on the route to Chartered Engineer status.
The Royal Aeronautical Society is licensed by the Engineering Council to accredit academic programmes that provide the exemplifying level of understanding, knowledge and skills to underpin professional competence to help graduates on their way to registration as Chartered Engineers (CEng) or as Incorporated Engineers (IEng).
Discover what you'll learn, what you'll study, and how you'll be taught and assessed.
Module AERO420 Aerospace Capstone Group Design Project spans semesters one and two.
UK students are exempt from module ENGG596 Technical Writing for Engineers in semester one. EU and international students with strong English language skills may also be exempt, subject to the approval of the programme director.
If you’re exempt from ENGG596, you’ll select a total of 30 credits of optional modules across semesters one and two. If you need to study ENGG596, 22.5 credits of optional modules will be chosen.
Please note: University of Liverpool graduates will not be able to choose optional modules on this programme that you have already studied on your degree.
| Optional modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| SPACEFLIGHT (AERO319) | 7.5 |
Programme details and modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change.
Module AERO420 Aerospace Capstone Group Design Project spans semesters one and two.
UK students are exempt from module ENGG596 Technical Writing for Engineers in semester one. EU and international students with strong English language skills may also be exempt, subject to the approval of the programme director.
If you’re exempt from ENGG596, you’ll select a total of 30 credits of optional modules across semesters one and two. If you need to study ENGG596, 22.5 credits of optional modules will be chosen.
Please note: University of Liverpool graduates will not be able to choose optional modules on this programme that you have already studied on your degree.
| Compulsory modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| AEROSPACE CAPSTONE GROUP DESIGN PROJECT (AERO420) | 30 |
| AEROELASTICITY (AERO415) | 7.5 |
| ENTERPRISE STUDIES (MNGT414) | 7.5 |
Programme details and modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change.
You will undertake your research project over the summer.
| Compulsory modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| MSC(ENG) PROJECT (60 CREDITS) (ENGG660) | 60 |
Programme details and modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change.
This programme aligns with, and is co-taught with, the final year of our four-year MEng (Hons) degree in aerospace engineering.
You’ll be taught through a combination of traditional lectures and practical classes, benefitting from research-led teaching and active learning methods.
There will be a mixture of lectures, seminars, tutorials, laboratory work, simulation and practical activities, and independent study.
You’ll be assessed through a combination of written exams, revision tests, individual and group presentations, written reports, log books, posters and a dissertation.
We have a distinctive approach to education, the Liverpool Curriculum Framework, which focuses on research-connected teaching, active learning, and authentic assessment to ensure our students graduate as digitally fluent and confident global citizens.
The Liverpool Curriculum framework sets out our distinctive approach to education. Our teaching staff support our students to develop academic knowledge, skills, and understanding alongside our graduate attributes:
Our curriculum is characterised by the three Liverpool Hallmarks:
All this is underpinned by our core value of inclusivity and commitment to providing a curriculum that is accessible to all students.
The School of Engineering has world-class, modern, engineering teaching and learning facilities. Within the School there are traditional lecture theatres as well as teaching laboratories, PC teaching centres, smaller study rooms and one of the University’s largest PC teaching/study rooms with over 160 high-specification workstations with specialist engineering software installed. The School also houses impressive specialist engineering research laboratories and research facilities that provide the setting for student practical work and many student projects.
Take a look inside the School of Engineering.
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If you’re seeking a career designing, developing and testing aircraft, spacecraft, satellites and missiles, well-qualified and industry-ready engineers are in high demand in the aerospace industry in both the UK and abroad.
The programme includes a strong practical element and incorporates the latest academic and industry research, enabling you to work effectively at the forefront of engineering.
Our professional accreditation with the Royal Aeronautical Society and Institution of Mechanical Engineers means you’ll graduate with a recognised qualification on the route to Chartered Engineer status.
You’ll graduate from this MSc (Eng) ready for a career in the aerospace industry. Your skills can also be applied to a range of other exciting opportunities in engineering, manufacturing or industrial research.
Career destinations for our previous graduates include working for:
You’ll also be well placed to pursue PhD study. Some of our previous graduates have secured fully-funded PhD studentships.
Our campus Career Studio is a space for students and graduates to drop into and talk to a career coach. Career coaches are highly trained to help no matter what stage you are at in your career planning. You can access support to find and apply for full-time and part-time roles, placements, internships and graduate schemes. You will also find the help you need if you have a start-up idea or want to create a business plan. You can explore the world of work, prepare for job interviews, and access careers events and workshops. The Career Studio is open Monday to Friday from 10am-5pm, simply drop in at a time that works for you.
We develop our programmes with employers in mind. You will be supported to enhance your long-term employment prospects as you learn. We do this by exposing you to professionals, a variety of sectors and supporting you to work collaboratively with others to develop transferable skills. You are equipped with a clearer view of what to focus on in your area of interest, and to reflect on your studies. Our digital employability tools give you a tech-enhanced curriculum experience and make it easy for you to prepare for the world of work. You can use tools like the Handshake platform to connect with employers and message the Career Studio 24/7.
You can start building good professional networks by attending events and employability activities. Our events are designed to develop your skills and expose you to many different employers, as well as to help you make contacts in your field. We help you improve your confidence when speaking to employers and give you access to unique opportunities. Our networking events also boost your understanding of the competencies and skills that employers are looking for in their recruitment process, giving you a competitive edge.
Your tuition fees, funding your studies, and other costs to consider.
Full-time place, per year - £13,300
Full-time place, per year - £29,900
Fees stated are for the 2025-26 academic year.
Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching and assessment, operating facilities such as libraries, IT equipment, and access to academic and personal support.
You can pay your tuition fees in instalments.
All or part of your tuition fees can be funded by external sponsorship.
International applicants who accept an offer of a place will need to pay a tuition fee deposit.
If you're a UK national, or have settled status in the UK, you may be eligible to apply for a Postgraduate Loan worth up to £12,167 to help with course fees and living costs. Learn more about paying for your studies.
We understand that budgeting for your time at university is important, and we want to make sure you understand any course-related costs that are not covered by your tuition fee. This could include buying a laptop, books, or stationery.
Find out more about the additional study costs that may apply to this course.
We offer a range of scholarships and bursaries that could help pay your tuition and living expenses.
If you’re a University of Liverpool graduate starting this master’s degree with us, you could be eligible to receive a loyalty discount of up to £2,500 off your master’s tuition fees.
The qualifications and exam results you'll need to apply for this course.
| Qualification | Details |
|---|---|
| Postgraduate entry requirements | We accept a 2:2 honours degree from a UK university, or an equivalent academic qualification from a similar non-UK institution. This degree should be in Aerospace Engineering. If your degree is not in Aerospace Engineering, you will need a 2:1 honours degree from a UK university, or an equivalent academic qualification from a similar non-UK institution. |
| International qualifications |
Many countries have a different education system to that of the UK, meaning your qualifications may not meet our entry requirements. Completing your Foundation Certificate, such as that offered by the University of Liverpool International College, means you're guaranteed a place on your chosen course. |
You'll need to demonstrate competence in the use of English language, unless you’re from a majority English speaking country.
We accept a variety of international language tests and country-specific qualifications.
International applicants who do not meet the minimum required standard of English language can complete one of our Pre-Sessional English courses to achieve the required level.
| Qualification | Details |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 6.5 overall, with no component below 6.0 |
| TOEFL iBT | 88 overall, with minimum scores of listening 19, writing 19, reading 19 and speaking 20. TOEFL Home Edition not accepted. |
| Duolingo English Test | 125 overall, with writing not less than 125, speaking and reading not less than 115, and listening not below 110 |
| Pearson PTE Academic | 61 overall, with no component below 59 |
| LanguageCert Academic | 70 overall, with no skill below 65 |
| PSI Skills for English | B2 Pass with Merit in all bands |
| INDIA Standard XII | National Curriculum (CBSE/ISC) - 75% and above in English. Accepted State Boards - 80% and above in English. |
| WAEC | C6 or above |
Do you need to complete a Pre-sessional English course to meet the English language requirements for this course?
The length of Pre-sessional English course you’ll need to take depends on your current level of English language ability.
If you don’t meet our English language requirements, we can use your most recent IELTS score, or the equivalent score in selected other English language tests, to determine the length of Pre-sessional English course you require.
Use the table below to check the course length you're likely to require for your current English language ability and see whether the course is available on campus or online.
| Your most recent IELTS score | Pre-sessional English course length | On campus or online |
|---|---|---|
| 6.0 overall, with no component below 6.0 | 6 weeks | On campus |
| 6.0 overall, with no component below 5.5 | 10 weeks | On campus and online options available |
| 6.0 overall, with no more than one component below 5.5, and no component below 5.0 | 12 weeks | On campus and online options available |
| 5.5 overall, with no more than one component below 5.5, and no component below 5.0 | 20 weeks | On campus |
| 5.0 overall, with no more than one component below 5.0, and no component below 4.5 | 30 weeks | On campus |
| 4.5 overall, with no more than one component below 4.5, and no component below 4.0 | 40 weeks | On campus |
If you’ve completed an alternative English language test to IELTS, we may be able to use this to assess your English language ability and determine the Pre-sessional English course length you require.
Please see our guide to Pre-sessional English entry requirements for IELTS 6.5 overall, with no component below 6.0, for further details.
Discover more about the city and University.
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Last updated 28 March 2025 / / Programme terms and conditions