UCAS code H401
If you are interested in becoming either private or professional pilot, this is the programme for you.
In addition to studying the core aerospace engineering topics outlined below, you will also take the pilot studies modules and develop knowledge, skills and experience of flying. As well as the flight training, pilot studies students also have access to and use of the students pilots lab and can join the Flight Simulation Group (FSG). Study Aerospace Engineering and by the end of your time at Liverpool, you will be able to show that you can now design, build, test and fly an aircraft.
As an aerospace engineering student, you will experience a wide variety of topics and modes of study, whether it be conducting research, analysing reports or designing and building an aircraft. You will have have the opportunity to study a wide range of topics during your time at Liverpool such as; aerodynamics, aerostructures, flight dynamics and control, propulsion systems, avionics, aerospace materials and aircraft design.
Aerospace engineers design, analyse, build, test and maintain vehicles, their sub-assemblies and components as well as their associated systems that fly. Flight is not limited to simply within the Earth’s atmosphere, and can also be outside of it.
Conducting independent research as part of an individual project will provide you with the knowledge to develop innovative concepts in your preferred technical area of interest. All of our Aerospace Engineering degree programmes are accredited, or pending accreditation, by our professional bodies, the Royal Aeronautical Society and the Institute of Mechanical Engineers and are a recognised qualification on the route to Chartered Engineer status.
All of our BEng/MEng degree programmes are accredited, or preparing for accreditation, by at least one professional engineering institution, providing you with a solid foundation for your career. We have excellent links with the professional engineering institutions and benefit from their support.
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.
You will study the core engineering topics that provide a firm background and understanding of aerospace engineering, in addition you will also study pilot studies modules and develop your knowledge, skills and experience of flying.
The pilot studies module is based on the Private Pilot’s License (PPL) ground school syllabus. It is studied alongside either the mandatory 20-hour flight training programme for fixed-wing flying (aeroplanes) or the 20-hour flight and ground training programme for rotary-wing flying (helicopters). For the latter, the 20-hour training programme is divided between 10.5 hours flight training and 9.5 hours of helicopter-relevant ground school.
Programme details and modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change.
Year two includes a two-day flight test course in the national flying laboratory aircraft. In year two, the pilot studies modules are based on the Air Transport Pilot’s Licence (ATPL) ground school syllabus.
Students will continue to study the core engineering topics as well as taking part in a two-day flight test course in the national flying laboratory aircraft.
Programme details and modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change.
During your third year you will undertake an individual project. This provides you with the opportunity to conduct independent research and/or develop innovative concepts in your preferred technical area of interest.
| Optional modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| SPACEFLIGHT (AERO319) | 7.5 |
| ROTORCRAFT FLIGHT (AERO314) | 7.5 |
Programme details and modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change.
We are leading the UK’s involvement in the international Conceive-Design-Implement-Operate (CDIO) initiative – an innovative educational framework for producing the next generation of engineers.
Our degree programmes encompass the development of a holistic, systems approach to engineering. Technical knowledge and skills are complemented by a sound appreciation of the life-cycle processes involved in engineering and an awareness of the ethical, safety, environmental, economic, and social considerations involved in practicing as a professional engineer.
You will be taught through a combination of face-to-face teaching in group lectures, laboratory sessions, tutorials, and seminars. Our programmes include a substantial practical component, with an increasing emphasis on project work as you progress through to the final year. You will be supported throughout by an individual academic adviser.
Assessment takes many forms, each appropriate to the learning outcomes of the particular module studied. The main modes of assessment are coursework and examination. Depending on the modules taken, you may encounter project work, presentations (individual and/or group), and specific tests or tasks focused on solidifying learning outcomes.
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.
Studying with us means you can tailor your degree to suit you. Here's what is available on this course.
University of Liverpool students can choose from an exciting range of study placements at partner universities worldwide.
Immerse yourself in Chinese culture on an optional additional year at Xi'an Jiaotong Liverpool University in stunning Suzhou.
Broaden your world by spending an additional year of study at a partner university abroad following your second year of study.
Spend a summer abroad on a study placement or research project at one of our worldwide partner institutions.
Year in industry placements give you an in-depth workplace experience where you can develop your skills and apply your learning.
If you'd like to undertake a year in industry, you can transfer to Aerospace Engineering with Pilot Studies with a Year in Industry BEng (Hons) during your studies, subject to meeting the academic requirements of your course.
To spend a year in industry, you'll need to secure a placement with an organisation. If you're unable to find a placement, you'll continue with the standard version of the course without a year in industry.
Every student at The University of Liverpool can study a language as part of, or alongside their degree. You can choose:
This course is also available as a four year MEng programme.
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.
From arrival to alumni, we’re with you all the way:
I've never looked back since picking Liverpool because it's got everything I need in terms of the student lifestyle; the life experience plus the study. The flight simulators really caught my eye and that's something that really appeals to me. The course provides you with a really valuable degree and I know that employers see it as a valuable degree.
Want to find out more about student life?
Chat with our student ambassadors and ask any questions you have.
As a graduate of aerospace engineering, you will be equipped with the skills to work in the development and maintenance of aircraft, satellites, and space vehicles.
Typical types of work our graduates have gone on include:
Recent employers of our graduates are from the following industries and companies:
Hear what graduates say about their career progression and life after university.
Neha is the founder of Aviotron Automations, an education technology company that focuses on imparting practical education for K-12 level using trending technologies such as design thinking methodology, space education, aeromodelling and 3D printing.
Your tuition fees, funding your studies, and other costs to consider.
Full-time place, per year - £9,535
Year in industry fee - £1,905
Year abroad fee - £1,430 (applies to year in China)
Full-time place, per year - £29,100
Year in industry fee - £1,905
Year abroad fee - £14,550 (applies to year in China)
The tuition fees shown are correct for 2025/26 entry. Please note that the year abroad fee also applies to the year in China.
Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching and assessment, operating facilities such as libraries, IT equipment, and access to academic and personal support. 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 includes the cost of flight training, an aircraft checklist, and a study pack. All safety equipment, other than boots, is provided free of charge by the department.
Pilot studies students should expect to cover the following additional costs:
Stationery and equipment:
All essential safety equipment, other than boots, is provided free of charge by the department.
Flight training:
There is a one-off up-front fee of approximately £4,700 inclusive of VAT for training using the Tomahawk aircraft and £5,300 inclusive of VAT for the Warrior aircraft. A total of 20 hours of ground and airborne rotary-wing flight training is conducted by HELISPEED at Blackpool International Airport. There is a one-off up-front fee of £9112.20 inclusive of VAT for this training.
Please note, these prices are correct at the time of publication but may change at any time. Please check with the School for the correct pricing.
Study pack:
Costs are only for those doing their flight training at Liverpool Flying School. Students have to pay for their own travel to and from the airport.
Students are also required to purchase a study pack costing approximately £100 (for the smaller pack) or £210 (for the larger pack) and an aircraft checklist for £10 (2022 entry costs).
We offer a range of scholarships and bursaries that could help pay your tuition and living expenses.
If you’re a UK student joining an undergraduate degree and have a household income below £35,000, you could be eligible for a Liverpool Bursary worth up to £2,000 for each year of undergraduate study.
Apply for an Asylum Seekers Scholarship and you could have your tuition fees paid in full and receive help with study costs. You’ll need to have applied for asylum in the UK, or be the dependant of an asylum seeker, and be joining an eligible undergraduate degree.
If you’ve spent 13 or more weeks in Local Authority care since age 14, you could be eligible for a bursary of £3,000 per year of study. You’ll need to be a UK student joining an eligible undergraduate degree and be aged 28 or above on 1 September in the year you start.
Are you a UK student with a Black African or Caribbean heritage and a household income of £25,000 or less? You could be eligible to apply for a Cowrie Foundation Scholarship worth up to £8,000 for each year of undergraduate study.
If you’re a UK student identified as estranged by Student Finance England (or the equivalent UK funding body), you could be eligible for a bursary of £1,000 for each year of undergraduate study.
Joining a School of Biosciences degree and have a household income of less than £25,000? If you’re a UK student, you could apply to receive £4,500 per year for three years of your undergraduate course.
Do you live in the Liverpool City Region with a household income of £25,000 or less? Did neither of your parents attend University? You could be eligible to apply for a Nolan Scholarship worth £5,000 per year for three years of undergraduate study.
Are you a UK student with a household income of £25,000 or less? If you’ve participated in an eligible outreach programme, you could be eligible to apply for a Rigby Enterprise Award worth £5,000 per year for three years of your undergraduate degree.
Are you a UK student with a household income of £25,000 or less? Did neither of your parents attend University? You could be eligible to apply for a ROLABOTIC Scholarship worth £4,500 for each year of your undergraduate degree.
Apply to receive tailored training support to enhance your sporting performance. Our athlete support package includes a range of benefits, from bespoke strength and conditioning training to physiotherapy sessions and one-to-one nutritional advice.
Joining a degree in the School of Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Computer Science? If you’re a UK student with household income below £25,000, you could be eligible to apply for £5,000 a year for three years of study. Two awards will be available per academic year.
If you’re a young adult and a registered carer in the UK, you might be eligible for a £1,000 bursary for each year of study. You’ll need to be aged 18-25 on 1 September in the year you start your undergraduate degree.
The qualifications and exam results you'll need to apply for this course.
| Qualification | Details |
|---|---|
| A levels |
AAB including Mathematics and a second science. Applicants with the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) are eligible for a reduction in grade requirements. For this course, the offer is ABB with A in the EPQ. You may automatically qualify for reduced entry requirements through our contextual offers scheme. Based on your personal circumstances, you may automatically qualify for up to a two-grade reduction in the entry requirements needed for this course. When you apply, we consider a range of factors – such as where you live – to assess if you’re eligible for a grade reduction. You don’t have to make an application for a grade reduction – we’ll do all the work. Find out more about how we make reduced grade offers. If you don't meet the entry requirements, you may be able to complete a foundation year which would allow you to progress to this course. Available foundation years: |
| T levels |
T levels are not currently accepted. |
| GCSE |
4/C in English and 4/C in Mathematics |
| Subject requirements | Mathematics and a second science. Applicants following the modular Mathematics A Level must be studying A Level Physics or Further Mathematics as the second science (or must be studying at least one Mechanics module in their Mathematics A Level). Accepted Science subjects are Biology, Chemistry, Computing, Economics, Electronics, Environmental Science, Further Mathematics, Geography, Geology, Human Biology, Physics and Statistics. For applicants from England: For science A levels that include the separately graded practical endorsement, a "Pass" is required. |
| BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate | Acceptable at grade Distinction* alongside BB in A Level Mathematics and a second science. |
| BTEC Level 3 Diploma | Distinction* Distinction* in relevant BTEC considered alongside A Level Mathematics grade B. Accepted BTECs include Aeronautical, Aerospace, Construction, Mechanical, Mechatronics and Engineering. |
| BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma | D*DD in acceptable BTEC, plus B in A level Maths (not accepted without B in A level Maths) |
| International Baccalaureate | 35 overall including 5 in Higher Level Mathematics and 5 in Higher Level Physics. |
| Irish Leaving Certificate | H1,H1,H2,H2,H2,H3, including H2 in Higher Maths and Higher Second Science. We also require a minimum of H6 in Higher English or O3 in Ordinary English |
| Scottish Higher/Advanced Higher | Pass Scottish Advanced Highers with grades AAB including Mathematics and second science |
| Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced | Acceptable at grade B alongside AA in A Level Mathematics and a second science |
| Cambridge Pre-U Diploma | D3 in Cambridge Pre U Principal Subject is accepted as equivalent to A-Level grade A M2 in Cambridge Pre U Principal Subject is accepted as equivalent to A-Level grade B Global Perspectives and Short Courses are not accepted. |
| Access | Considered if taking a relevant subject. Check with Department or Admissions team. |
| International qualifications |
If you hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, but don’t meet our entry requirements, you could be eligible for a Pre-Master’s course. This is offered on campus at the University of Liverpool International College, in partnership with Kaplan International Pathways. It’s a specialist preparation course for postgraduate study, and when you pass the Pre-Master’s at the required level with good attendance, you’re guaranteed entry to a University of Liverpool master’s degree. |
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 | 6.0 overall, with no component below 5.5 |
| TOEFL iBT | 78 overall, with minimum scores of listening 17, writing 17, reading 17 and speaking 19. TOEFL Home Edition not accepted. |
| TOEFL Paper | Grade 6 at Standard Level or grade 5 at Higher Level |
| Duolingo English Test | 115 overall, with speaking, reading and writing not less than 105, and listening not below 100 |
| Pearson PTE Academic | 59 overall, with no component below 59 |
| LanguageCert Academic | 65 overall, with no skill below 60 |
| Cambridge IGCSE First Language English 0500 | Grade C overall, with a minimum of grade 2 in speaking and listening. Speaking and listening must be separately endorsed on the certificate. |
| Cambridge IGCSE First Language English 0990 | Grade 4 overall, with Merit in speaking and listening |
| Cambridge IGCSE Second Language English 0510/0511 | 0510: Grade C overall, with a minimum of grade 2 in speaking. Speaking must be separately endorsed on the certificate. 0511: Grade C overall. |
| Cambridge IGCSE Second Language English 0993/0991 | 0993: Grade 5 overall, with a minimum of grade 2 in speaking. Speaking must be separately endorsed on the certificate. 0991: Grade 5 overall. |
| Cambridge ESOL Level 2/3 Advanced | 169 overall, with no paper below 162 |
| LanguageCert | Grade 4 at Standard Level or grade 4 at Higher Level |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 5.5 overall, with no component below 5.5 | 6 weeks | On campus |
| 5.5 overall, with no component below 5.0 | 10 weeks | On campus and online options available |
| 5.0 overall, with no component below 5.0 | 12 weeks | On campus and online options available |
| 5.0 overall, with no component below 4.5 | 20 weeks | On campus |
| 4.5 overall, with no component below 4.5 | 30 weeks | On campus |
| 4.0 overall, with 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 6.0 overall, with no component below 5.5, for further details.
Have a question about this course or studying with us? Our dedicated enquiries team can help.
Last updated 13 December 2024 / / Programme terms and conditions