You are successfully registered
15th June 2023
Aeronautical and aerospace engineering is a challenging, exciting branch of engineering that is concerned with designing, implementing and maintaining vehicles and structures that allow us to move through the atmosphere or beyond. It’s a magnet for analytical, creative problem solvers who like to get involved in technical issues.
Graduate opportunities for postgraduate students in this field are varied, ranging from defence industries to commercial aviation, government or engineering consultancies, to name a few. A postgraduate degree is a perfect way to develop specialised skills and prepare yourself for success across a range of niche and complex engineering roles.
With so many study options open to you, it can be confusing trying to choose the best aerospace engineering universities for your needs.
According to the Complete University Guide 2024 league tables, there are three universities in the UK who top the charts when it comes to studying aeronautical and aerospace engineering. While not necessarily the best choice for everyone, they’re great options and are a sensible place for anyone to begin their search for their ideal course.
The top universities for aerospace engineering, according to Complete University Guide, are:
Student satisfaction is an important consideration for all students searching for the best universities in aerospace engineering. This ranking type includes everything related to the personal experiences of students on this course type; whether it’s the support they receive during their course, the facilities they get to use, the students’ union or the general lifestyle offered when living near that university, it’s crucial for any successful postgraduate journey.
The top-ranking university for aerospace and aeronautical engineering in aeronautical and aerospace engineering is the University of Sheffield.
Almost every aerospace and aeronautical engineering student will be thinking about graduate prospects when it comes to choosing a postgraduate course and university, and you should be no exception. After all, many students will be studying at postgraduate level in order to prepare for their ideal career and find relevant employment quickly after graduating. Graduate prospects can relate to the connections that the university helps students make, the skills and technological training they receive, and careers support outside of the course.
The best university for graduate prospects in aerospace and aeronautical engineering is Imperial College London.
While research quality should be an important consideration for all prospective postgraduate students in this field, it will be particularly essential for those who want to move onto further studies—like a PhD—or go onto work in research focused roles.
For aerospace and aeronautical engineering students, this ranking will focus on the quality of the research facilities available, the impact and quality of research conducted by staff in the department, and students’ capacity to get involved in the work of research groups and centres at the university.
The University of Southampton ranked highly for research quality in aeronautical and aerospace engineering.
The information and rankings for this article have been gathered from the Complete University Guide League Tables, which derive data from a range of leading higher education sources including the National Student Survey, the 2021 Research Excellence Framework, and the Higher Education Statistics Agency. This information was collated using Complete University Guide’s unique methodology, giving subject rankings that reflect the priorities and needs of prospective students.
Go to: See the 2024 Complete University Guide aeronautical and aerospace engineering subject league table
Many of the universities offering postgraduate courses in aeronautical and aerospace engineering receive highly positive reviews from their students on Whatuni, including many five star ratings. One such university is the University of Strathclyde, with students saying things like, “The facilities provided by the University are of an excellent standard, in particular the new modern Student union and Learning and Teaching building.”
There are around 60 postgraduate degree programmes available in this subject area, on offer at more than 25 universities in the UK. With so many study options to choose from, it can be hard to work out which are the top aerospace engineering universities for you. Our course search tool is an ideal way to find out about the top universities for aeronautical engineering and apply to your favourite courses.
Next: Search for aeronautical and aerospace engineering courses
Certificates are a perfect stepping stone to a Masters degree as you’ll not only...
Not sure where to start when it comes to writing a PhD personal statement? We have...
A PhD is both financially draining and incredibly challenging. ...
