Aeronautics and Astronautics with Industrial Placement Year

Aeronautics and astronautics is the engineering discipline concerned with the design, development and operation of aircraft and spacecraft. It is among the most technically demanding areas of engineering, requiring mastery of aerodynamics, structural mechanics, propulsion systems, materials science, control engineering and systems integration, and applying them to objects that must perform reliably in extreme conditions and at the edge of human technological capability. Whether the goal is a commercial airliner, a racing car, a launch vehicle or a satellite, the principles are demanding and the consequences of error are severe.

This five-year full-time degree at the University of Southampton includes an industrial placement year, giving you extended professional experience in the aerospace or related engineering industry as part of the programme. You will learn to design future aircraft, race cars, rockets and satellites, covering advanced aerospace engineering including the design and manufacture of fast-moving aircraft and spacecraft. The curriculum spans the full technical breadth of the discipline, from subsonic and supersonic aerodynamics to structural analysis, propulsion, avionics and spacecraft systems, developing both theoretical understanding and the practical engineering skills to apply it.

Graduates work in the aerospace, defence, space and motorsport industries, as well as in automotive, energy and advanced manufacturing sectors that value high-performance engineering expertise. Roles in aerodynamic design, structural analysis, propulsion engineering, systems engineering, spacecraft engineering and project management are all relevant destinations. The industrial placement year significantly enhances employability by giving you real engineering experience before you graduate.

Professional chartership with the Royal Aeronautical Society or the Institution of Engineering and Technology is a natural next step. Further study at postgraduate level in aeronautics or astronautics is an option for those seeking research or advanced technical careers.