Aerospace Engineering MSc

Why choose this course?

This course provides a strategic and practical overview of aerospace engineering and management. You will apply techniques such as advanced computer-based design, Computational Fluid Dynamics and Finite Elements Analysis. Complementary subjects include advanced CAD/CAM and green engineering and energy efficiency.

This course will also broaden your understanding of the challenges facing the aerospace engineering industry. To prepare you for your future career, the course covers entrepreneurship, business, finance, research techniques and environmental issues.

Mode Duration Attendance Start date
Full time 1 year Delivered in one-week blocks September 2023, January 2024, September 2024
Full time 2 years including professional placement Delivered in one-week blocks plus placement year September 2023, January 2024, September 2024
Part time 2 years Delivered in one-week blocks September 2023, January 2024, September 2024

Important: if you are an international student requiring a Student Route visa to study in the UK you will also need an ATAS certificate for this course.

Location Roehampton Vale

Reasons to choose Kingston University

  • This course will enhance your career prospects in the aerospace industry and meets the requirements of the Engineering Council for the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC).
  • Through an individual research-based project, you will be able to specialise in a chosen field. This can be an excellent selling point when seeking a job or promotion.
  • Facilities include two teaching flight simulators, a Learjet aircraft, wind tunnels, materials testing, rapid prototyping and high-performance computing facilities.

What you will study

You will gain a broad understanding of the practical requirements of aerospace engineering, as well as an in-depth knowledge of aerospace stress analysis and advanced materials, alongside computational fluid dynamics (CFD) for aerospace applications. Complementary subjects covered include computer-integrated product development, advanced CAD/CAM plus green engineering and energy efficiency. In addition, the Engineering Research Techniques, Entrepreneurship and Quality Management module will develop your business and management skills. The Aerospace Individual Design Project module provides you with the experience of working in a multidisciplinary team within an engineering organisation – with real industrial constraints. You'll get the chance to apply the theory you've learnt to real-world contexts and evaluate methodologies, whilst developing your critical thinking and creativity.

As well as the professional, analytical and management skills necessary for employment, the course will provide you with the transferable skills required in the workplace, such as communication, IT, teamwork, planning, decision making, independent learning ability and problem solving. 

For a student to go on placement they are required to pass every module first time with no reassessments. It is the responsibility of individual students to find a suitable paid placement. Students will be supported by our dedicated placement team in securing this opportunity.

Core modules

Optional modules (choose one)

Core modules

Engineering Research Techniques, Entrepreneurship and Quality Management

30 credits

This is a core module for engineering students on various taught MSc programmes. The module is designed to provide the student with the research skills and techniques necessary to select and justify a research topic, plan project execution, use various resources to carry out a literature search and successfully complete the project and other module assignments on the course. It also addresses issues related to presentation of technical reports at MSc level and for the purpose of wider publication in learned media.

The module further develops the students' knowledge and skills in business and management, with a particular focus on entrepreneurship and innovation. It supports students in producing proposals for enterprise ideas such as new products or services, or innovations in existing processes or organisations. Concepts of total quality management to enhance quality of products and processes in an industrial setting are presented and application of supporting quality tools and techniques are discussed.

The module content will enhance the students' employability potential in a variety of national and international industrial organisations, or career opportunities in research and development arena. It also equips students with a set of skills to set up their own business in an engineering innovation area should they wish to do so.

Computational Fluid Dynamics for Aerospace Applications

30 credits

This module is designed for students in aerospace engineering and allied subject areas that have a prior exposure to relevant computational techniques and advanced mathematics. It intends to extend your knowledge and skills beyond the basic fluid mechanics methods, normally introduced at early undergraduate level, and to provide a theoretical and practical introduction to computational fluid dynamics (CFD). In the practical sessions, emphasis is placed on the solution of fluids problems in a realistic aerospace engineering context and on giving you the opportunity to develop awareness of the limitations of CFD software and to develop an understanding of good practice in your applications. The software used for this module is ANSYS ICEM/CFX/Fluent.

The module is also designed to provide you with advanced computational skills in fluid dynamics hence enhancing your employment potential in aerospace, automotive, energy and other similar industries. Additional support materials including excerpts from core texts will be available through Canvas.
This module consists of two week long block sessions, the lecture programme forms the first block (and is delivered by the mechanical department). The second week consists of additional tutorials, workshops and where possible guest lectures.

Aerospace Stress Analysis and Advanced Materials

30 credits

This module builds on the prior knowledge gained in stress analysis and structure of aircraft materials and other properties or an equivalent course of study. It is designed to extend your knowledge of the analytical techniques of stress analysis, plasticity theory and the importance of modern materials in advanced manufacturing processes.

Some of the more advanced theory behind finite element analysis is investigated. The module is primarily delivered through lectures supported by tutorials and by laboratories where applicable. Course materials are available via Canvas where appropriate.

Engineering Individual Project

60 credits

This is a core module for MSc courses in the School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, forming a capstone experience for students on these courses. The module allows you to research and study an engineering topic which is of personal interest. This will enable you to demonstrate the mastery of your subject and develop your ability to analyse and evaluate specific areas that may not have been previously covered in depth on the course.

The vigorous structure of the module provides you with an opportunity to identify an industry-based (or research-focused) project area, establish a feasible hypothesis, find creditable solutions, analyse results and offer recommendations. The module enables you to acquire and appraise new knowledge and apply individual judgement to solve new and often complex engineering problems using cutting-edge technology. It also allows you to demonstrate high levels of responsibility, organisational capability and effective communication with others including the supervisor, wider research community and other stakeholders. The module also encourages you to recognise, question and deal with the ethical dilemmas that are likely to occur in engineering professional practice and research.

The project applications can be individually tailored to support your career plan and prepare you to tackle real industrial problems with maturity and rationality hence enhancing your employability potential.

Optional modules

Engineering Projects and Risk Management

30 credits

This module is designed to equip you with the essential project management techniques so that you can take leadership in initiating and managing new projects in engineering companies. Such projects include new products, new services, setting up international collaborations, establishing supply chains, and to name but a few. Many successful organisations use project management as a core management tool to drive their business forward and to explore new territories.

The module is skill-driven and provides a comprehensive learning platform for you to master not only the theoretical techniques of project management, but also assess their applications through a variety of structured hands-on practical sessions and discussion forums. You will study and analyse reasons of success and failure of real projects through a series of case studies, and will learn how to establish and mitigate potential risks associate with a new project. Project and risk management is a sought-after subject area by industry and this module enhances your employability potential in a wide spectrum of national and international industrial organisations.

Green Engineering and Energy Efficiency

30 credits

This option module deals with the criteria and practice of sustainable development within engineering industries. To be able to critically assess energy sources as to usage performance of engineering systems, components and processes in order to minimise industrial waste, scrap and pollution through the use of analytical methods; leading to recommendations for the design, specification  and manufacture of environmentally benign products.

On successful completion of the module, you will be able to:

  • Recognise the importance of National and European regulations in relation to renewable technologies in the construction and automotive industries.
  • Discuss environmentally related technologies and materials that are fundamental in a range of industries including construction, structural mechanics, automotive and environmental operations.
  • Discuss environmental issues related to resource provision and consumption necessary for the manufacture of engineered products, and analyse potential for the application of alternative energy sources.
  • Analyse manufactured product design in relation to materials and other resource requirements and apply key concepts to redesign or design products to be recyclable, sustainable with a minimisation of waste.
  • Specify and develop energy efficient and environmentally conscious products.
  • Critically evaluate the life cycle assessment in incorporation of sustainability at the conceptual design stage.
Advanced CAD/CAM Systems

30 credits

The module covers advanced CAD/CAM techniques in the conceptual design and manufacture and is heavily focussed on the surface modelling and reverse engineering methods prior to manufacture. Also this module will cover rapid manufacturing methods involving mould design and machining tool path optimisation and full machining simulation verification, and machining collision avoidance.

Professional Placement

120 credits

The Professional Placement module is a core module for those students following a masters programme that incorporates an extended professional placement. It provides students with the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills in an appropriate working environment and develops and enhances key employability and subject specific skills in their chosen discipline. Students may wish to use the placement experience as a platform for the major project or future career.

It is the responsibility of individual students to find and secure a suitable placement opportunity. This should not normally involve more than two placements which must be completed over a minimum period of 10 months and within a maximum of 12 months. The placement must be approved by the Course Leader, prior to commencement to ensure its suitability. Students seeking placements will have access to the standard placement preparation activities offered by Student Engagement and Enhancement (SEE) group.

Read more about the postgraduate work placement scheme.

Please note

Optional modules only run if there is enough demand. If we have an insufficient number of students interested in an optional module, that module will not be offered for this course.

Work placement scheme

Many postgraduate courses at Kingston University allow students to take the option of a 12-month work placement as part of their course. The responsibility for finding the work placement is with the student; we cannot guarantee the placement, just the opportunity to undertake it. You may find securing a professional placement difficult as they are highly competitive and challenging, but they are also incredibly rewarding. It is very important to prepare and apply yourself if this is the route you wish to take. Employers look for great written and oral communication skills and an excellent CV/portfolio. As the work placement is an assessed part of the course, it is covered by a student's Student Route visa.

Find out more about the postgraduate work placement scheme.

Accreditation

The Aerospace Engineering MSc course is accredited by the Royal Aeronautical Society under licence from the UK regulator, the Engineering Council. Accreditation is a mark of assurance that the degree meets the standards set by the Engineering Council in the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC).

An accredited degree will provide you with some or all of the underpinning knowledge, understanding and skills for eventual registration as an Incorporated (IEng) or Chartered Engineer (CEng). Some employers recruit preferentially from accredited degrees, and an accredited degree is likely to be recognised by other countries that are signatories to international accords.

Find out more about the full criteria and validity for Chartered Engineer (CEng) status and Incorporated Engineer (IEng) status.

Please check the Engineering Council website for more information.

Hear from our students

Women in Engineering

The Faculty champions the excellent work our female staff members contribute across engineering.

We also encourage women from all backgrounds into the field.

"Your strengths and weaknesses define you, so follow your strengths by focusing on the subjects you like. If I can do it, you can too.

"The world that we live in today, and the technological advancements we have made, have opened up so many more career opportunities for you."

Ifrah Mussa – PhD Researcher in Aerospace Engineering

Entry requirements

Typical offer

  • A 2:2 or above honours degree, or equivalent, in aerospace engineering or a related discipline (such as aircraft or mechanical engineering).

Please note: each application is assessed on an individual basis and may be subject to additional requirements, such as undertaking short course(s), work experience and/or English language qualification(s). Meeting particular minimum entry requirements does not automatically guarantee a place.

International

In order to complete your programme successfully, it is important to have a good command of English and be able to apply this in an academic environment. Therefore, if you are a non-UK applicant* you will usually be required to provide certificated proof of English language competence before commencing your studies.

For this course you must pass IELTS academic test in English with an overall score of 6.5, with no element below 6.0, or meet the scores listed on the alternative online tests. Please note that we do not accept Standard XII as proof of Academic English.

Applicants who do not meet the English language requirements may be eligible to join our pre-sessional English language course.

Please make sure you read our full guidance about English language requirements, which includes details of other qualifications we'll consider.

* Applicants from one of the recognised majority English speaking countries (MESCs) do not need to meet these requirements.

Country-specific information

You will find more information on country specific entry requirements in the International section of our website.

Find your country:

Teaching and assessment

Guided independent study (self-managed time)

When not attending timetabled sessions, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. This typically will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for exams. Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities including online resources, the library and CANVAS, the online virtual learning platform.

Support for postgraduate students

As a student at Kingston University, we will make sure you have access to appropriate advice regarding your academic development. You will also be able to use the University's support services

Your workload

Type of learning and teaching

Year 1

Year 1
  • Scheduled learning and teaching: 380 hours
  • Guided independent study (self-managed time): 1120 hours

25% of your time is spent in timetabled learning and teaching activity.

Please note: the above breakdowns are a guide calculated on core modules only. Depending on optional modules chosen, this breakdown may change.

How you will be assessed

Assessment typically comprises exams (e.g. test or exam), practical (e.g. presentations, performance) and coursework (e.g. essays, reports, self-assessment, portfolios, dissertation). The approximate percentage for how you will be assessed on this course is as follows, though depends to some extent on the optional modules you choose:

Type of assessment

Year 1

Year 1
  • Coursework: 84%
  • Exams: 13%
  • Practical: 4%

Please note: the above breakdowns are a guide calculated on core modules only. Depending on optional modules chosen, this breakdown may change.

Feedback summary

We aim to provide feedback on assessments within 20 working days.

Class sizes

­You will be part of an intimate cohort of students which provides dedicated academic guidance and advice as well as the opportunity to build a life-long network of colleagues. Some modules are common across other postgraduate programmes; you may therefore be taught alongside postgraduates from other courses.

Who teaches this course?

The course is taught by the Department of Aerospace and Aircraft Engineering. Staff have a wide range of experience across research and industry and continue to practise and research at the cutting edge of their discipline. This ensures that our courses are current and industry-informed, ensuring you get the most relevant and up-to-date education possible.

We have a dedicated campus for engineering students at Roehampton Vale, on the outskirts of Kingston town centre and close to Richmond Park.

We offer a wide range of specialist facilities on site, supported with software technology and laboratory technicians.

The University has a long historical association with training aerospace engineers, dating back to the Sopwith Aviation company in 1912. Today we are the largest aerospace provider in higher education (HESA data 07/08).

Students benefit from the specialist facilities at Roehampton Vale – from a Boeing 737 fuselage to large scale wind tunnels – all with programmes supported with the latest software technology.

Postgraduate students may run or assist in lab sessions and may also contribute to the teaching of seminars under the supervision of the module leader.

Fees for this course

2024/25 fees for this course

Home 2024/25

  • MSc full time £10,900
  • MSc part time £5,995

International 2024/25

  • MSc full time £18,500
  • MSc part time £10,175

2023/24 fees for this course

Home 2023/24

  • MSc full time £9,860
  • MSc part time £5,423

International 2023/24

  • MSc full time £15,800
  • MSc part time £8,690

Tuition fee information for future course years

If you start your second year straight after Year 1, you will pay the same fee for both years.

If you take a break before starting your second year, or if you repeat modules from Year 1 in Year 2, the fee for your second year may increase.

Fees for the optional placement year

If you choose to take a placement as part of this course, you will be invoiced for the placement fee in Year 2. Find out more about the postgraduate work placement scheme and the costs for the placement year.

Postgraduate loans

If you are a UK student, resident in England and are aged under the age of 60, you will be able to apply for a loan to study for a postgraduate degree. For more information, read the postgraduate loan information on the government's website.

Scholarships and bursaries

Kingston University offers a range of postgraduate scholarships, including:

If you are an international student, find out more about scholarships and bursaries.

We also offer the following discounts for Kingston University alumni:

Additional costs

Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs that are not covered by tuition fees which students will need to consider when planning their studies. Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessment and operating University facilities such as the library, access to shared IT equipment and other support services. Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees. 

Where a course has additional expenses, we make every effort to highlight them. These may include optional field trips, materials (e.g. art, design, engineering), security checks such as DBS, uniforms, specialist clothing or professional memberships.

Textbooks

Our libraries are a valuable resource with an extensive collection of books and journals as well as first-class facilities and IT equipment. You may prefer to buy your own copy of key textbooks, this can cost between £50 and £250 per year.

Computer equipment

There are open-access networked computers available across the University, plus laptops available to loan. You may find it useful to have your own PC, laptop or tablet which you can use around campus and in halls of residences. Free WiFi is available on each of the campuses. You may wish to purchase your own computer, which can cost between £100 and £3,000 depending on your course requirements.

Photocopying and printing

In the majority of cases written coursework can be submitted online. There may be instances when you will be required to submit work in a printed format. Printing, binding and photocopying costs are not included in your tuition fees, this may cost up to £100 per year.

Field trips

All field trips that are compulsory to attend to complete your course are paid for by the University. There may be small fees incurred for optional field trips such as travel costs and refreshments.

3D printing

It is not compulsory as part of your degree to print projects using the 3D printer. However if you wish to, you will need to pay for the material. Printing costs are estimated by weight (cheapest material is 3p per gram and most expensive material is 40p per gram).

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Kingston University will supply you with a lab coat and safety goggles at the start of the year. A £10 voucher will be supplied to help cover the cost of the safety boots when purchasing with our supplier Activity Work Wear. Safety boots can range in cost between £25 and £100.

Travel

Travel costs are not included in your tuition fees but we do have a free intersite bus service which links the campuses, Surbiton train station, Kingston upon Thames train station, Norbiton train station and halls of residence.

Placements

If the placement year option is chosen, during this year travel costs will vary according to the location of the placement, and could be from £0 to £2,000.

Where this course will take you

Graduates have gained positions at Rolls-Royce, CAA, Sterling Aerospace, Marshalls Aerospace, Royal Navy, AmSafe Armour, Solion Solar Energy, EasyJet, Lufthansa, Flybe, Hawker Hind and Precision Press Parts Corp.

Examples of recent graduate destinations for the predecessor of this course (Aerospace Systems MSc) include:

  • airload master in the Royal Air Force, Swindon
  • lead trial officer in the Army, Wiltshire
  • mission system officer in the Royal Air Force, Wiltshire
  • research requirement engineer in the Royal Navy, Malvern
  • team systems leader in the Royal Air Force, Wiltshire
  • trials management officer at the RAF Air Warfare Centre, Waddington
  • trials officer at Qinetiq, Wiltshire.

Careers and recruitment advice

The Faculty has a specialist employability team. It provides friendly and high-quality careers and recruitment guidance, including advice and sessions on job-seeking skills such as CV preparation, application forms and interview techniques. Specific advice is also available for international students about the UK job market and employers' expectations and requirements.

The team runs employer events throughout the year, including job fairs, key speakers from industry and interviews on campus. These events give you the opportunity to hear from, and network with, employers in an informal setting. For example, in the picture here students are practising their interview skills with real employers at a 'speed interviewing' event on campus.

What this course offers you

  • The Aerospace Engineering course has been designed to meet the requirements of the Engineering Council for UK-SPEC. It provides you with a strategic overview of engineering and management issues.
  • The course will develop your professional, analytical, research, business and management skills, as well as improving your technical skills and knowledge. For example, you will gain communication, teamwork, planning, decision-making, IT and problem-solving skills which enhance your prospects of gaining employment and progressing your career in the aerospace industry.
  • The programme is built on a comprehensive application of techniques such as advanced computer-based design, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Finite Elements Analysis (FEA).
  • Each module combines a stimulating mix of lectures, practical laboratory work, group work, case studies and presentations.
  • The Aerospace Group Design Project gives you the chance to solve a real-world engineering problem.
  • You can choose to study either full time or part time to fit in with work commitments. September and January start dates give you extra flexibility.
  • There is a strong link between our academic staff research and teaching. Our teaching teams have been actively involved in the research of computational fluid dynamic, aerodynamics and advanced materials.
  • Postgraduates of this course have taken up posts in a variety of employment settings including Rolls-Royce, CAA, Sterling Aerospace, Marshalls Aerospace, Royal Navy, AmSafe Armour, Solion Solar Energy, easyJet, Lufthansa, Flybe, Hawker Hind and Precision Press Parts Corp. Some postgraduates have continued their studies in PhD research projects.
  • Kingston University is the biggest provider of undergraduate aerospace engineering courses in the UK.
  • The University has well-equipped laboratories including two teaching flight simulators, a Learjet business aircraft, large scale low-speed wind tunnels, materials testing, rapid prototyping and high performance computing facilities.

Our modern teaching environment

There is a wide range of facilities for practical work at our Roehampton Vale campus, where this course is based. You will have access to a modern environment with the latest technology, including:

  • a Learjet 25, providing a real-world environment for gaining practical engineering skills
  • the Merlin flight simulator - you can programme a mathematical model of your design into the simulator and then monitor the results
  • large-scale wind tunnels that enable testing in winds of up to 90 miles per hour
  • industry-standard test and experimental equipment for metrology, robotics, rapid prototyping, fatigue and quality control.

We also have a dedicated postgraduate workroom with high spec PCs and a range of software. Computer-aided design facilities include:

  • a range of CAD/CAM packages, such as Ideas, SolidWorks and AutoCad
  • finite element analysis
  • computational fluid dynamics
  • virtual instrumentation.

The recently enlarged library at Roehampton Vale provides collections of specialist engineering books and journals. The Graduate Centre, exclusively for postgraduate students, provides space for private study, meetings and socialising.

The £4 million Hawker Wing provides three floors of extra space for students and staff at Roehampton Vale, including improved learning and teaching facilities.

What our students say

I feel that the course at Kingston University enabled me to build the foundation of my future career and gain good understanding, confidence and enthusiasm to pursue the discovery of engineering principles. My main interests are in particular the design and structures of aerospace technology. Throughout my degree, I have had the opportunity to gain a unique insight into the complex nature of aerospace beyond atmosphere and up into space.

Alexandra Carpus

The course included interesting and in-depth lectures while the assessment based on coursework led to a lot of independent learning. This suited me perfectly and allowed me and the other students to take full responsibility for the depth of our understanding. There was substantial academic support and all the staff and students were helping each other often. Most importantly, there was a spirit of passion for engineering which allowed me to develop. I am particularly proud of my distinction because I had no engineering or aerospace background at the start of my course. The support of the department and university's resources helped convert my enthusiasm and passion into a solid knowledge base.

Kingston is a remarkable institution and I believe that recognition helped me get a job as Graduate Engineer at easyJet. So far I have worked with the maintenance planning department which included dealing with modifications and different levels of defects. In the next few months I expect to gain more hands-on experience and work with the power plant team. The Kingston course prepared me well for the challenges of the job and I believe it has helped me fit into my new role very quickly.

Martyna Snopek

Group Design Project – Christopher Antrobus

How the engineering staff work with industry partners

Our excellent industrial links have developed over many years and throughout many countries. Some examples include work with:

  • Matra-Marconi Space Ltd;
  • Ericsson;
  • Balfour Beatty;
  • The National Health Service; and
  • British Gas.

Our Industrial Advisory Committee reviews and advises industrial activities. The Committee acts as a forum for discussing teaching, research and consultancy to industry.

Industrial project review

The MSc features an Aerospace Design Project Dissertation module, an aircraft group design project. It provides you with the challenge of undertaking a real-world problem in a virtual engineering environment. You will also develop an awareness of working in a multidisciplinary team within an engineering organisation with real industrial constraints.

Research areas

Engineering research

Many academic staff are engaged in a range of research and consultancy activities funded by the Research Councils, the European Union, the government, trade unions and industry. These activities ensure our staff are in touch with the latest industry thinking and bring best practice to your studies.

Research centres

Many of our staff in the Faculty are research active. This ensures they are in touch with the latest thinking and bring best practice to your studies.

The Aerospace Research Group specialises in space activities, ranging from electric propulsion and planetary robotic exploration to in-orbit servicing technology development. Current research projects are investigating topics within:

  • computational fluid dynamics
  • aircraft structures
  • astronautics and space systems.

Placement profile

  • Name: Ruchini Sumithrarachchi
  • Course: MSc Aerospace Engineering
  • Placement role: System Engineer
  • Placement company: NATS
  • Year: 2018/19

Why did you decide to do a placement as part of your degree?

An industrial placement is a good way to start off your career and to gain real world experience. It is a really good opportunity where you are able to gain an insight and knowledge of your field of interest.

What was the process for getting a placement and what support did you get from the University?

The start was to improve my CV by the help of one-on-one sessions with the University careers team and make it strong according to the company that I was applying to. That was to make sure that I highlighted the skills that the particular company was requiring.

During the application process I also practised the psychometric tests that were available in the careers and employability website which helped me during the online test.

And, before the assessment centre, I prepared for the interview by researching about the company and by preparing for possible interview questions.

There were three more activities to be completed during the assessment day, which were a group project, a written test and a short pitch delivery. You just need to prepare and practice.

What will your placement role involve?

During my placement I will be completing two six-month placements. And currently I am undertaking my first placement, in which I am working with the Service Operations team of the company. So far I have been involved mainly in three projects:

  • Project 1: Organising an interactive event for the Service Operations team where ITIL framework could be practised through a business game. I have been nominated for a reward of recognition for this project completed for the early careers conference which will be held at the end of the placement.
  • Project 2: Developing a Risk and Issue managing tool. The team that I am working with is currently going through some changes and therefore a management tool was developed in SharePoint and Power BI applications to capture the local risks and issues within the team.
  • Project 3: Validation of a Surveillance overview presentation.

What key elements of your job will involve what you had learned from your course?

The main area is working as a team and making decisions and improvements as a team. The process is quite similar to the group projects that I completed during the course where we had to work as a group in order to achieve a certain goal.

How do you feel that doing a placement will benefit your course and future employment?

Personally, since this was my first work experience in industry, it was about understanding how a company works which would help me during my future employment.

The other important benefit that I obtained was building my network within the company – which I realised is quite important as it generally helps you and makes your work a lot easier.

Being appreciated for the work I do makes me believe in myself and it has helped me to improve in self-confidence. And I've had the opportunity of delivering a few presentations so far. I could see a major improvement in my presentation skills, which my managers have commented, which will be beneficial in the future.

Are there any other benefits of doing a placement?

Other benefits would be that you get to work on actual projects which has an impact on the company and the world. It makes your work important and not just simulated/ training projects.

Also, you gain skills specific to your industry of choice as well as the employability skills required for real-life work.

What job will you be seeking when you graduate?

I will be applying for graduate schemes in a company related to the aerospace Industry.

What advice would you give to the students who are thinking of applying for placement?

  • Do not have a specific job/title in mind when applying for a placement.
  • Make the most of every opportunity that is given because you will never know if you like it or not until you actually do it.
  • Even after you start the placement, give it few months for you to settle in and be comfortable with the working environment. Trust me, it is going to be difficult during the first few months.
  • During the placement do not be afraid to ask questions. Be inquisitive.One thing I've observed is that everyone is more than happy to give you information, knowledge and advice. They'll be really supportive. And you do learn a lot by asking questions.
  • Most importantly be patient and enjoy.

Course changes and regulations

The information on this page reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. To improve your student experience and the quality of your degree, we may review and change the material information of this course. Course changes explained.

Programme Specifications for the course are published ahead of each academic year.

Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.