More than 500,000 international students visit the United Kingdom to pursue higher education every year. The UK is considered one of the top study destinations for various disciplines, especially engineering, offering the finest education with hands-on experience for a scopeful career.
Engineering programs in the country are widely popular for their global accreditation and the educational experience they offer. International students aspiring to pursue aeronautical engineering often choose the UK to pursue the program.
This article dives deep into studying aeronautical engineering in the UK, its perks, eligibility requirements, top universities and courses, career options, and others.
Table of Contents
Overview of Aeronautical engineering in the UK
| Course-type | Full-time |
| Course duration |
|
| Course entry requirement |
|
| English proficiency | IELTS: 6.0-6.5, TOEFL: 90, PTE: 59, Duolingo: 105-120 |
| Entrance exam | SAT: Above 1400, GRE: Above 310 |
| Work experience | Postgraduate degree: Relevant work experience for at least two years. |
| Fees range | £14,000 - £70,000 |
| Visa | UK Student Visa |
Data updated as of Jan 2025
Scope of studying aeronautical engineering in the UK
- Aeronautical engineering is the branch of aerospace engineering that studies the vehicles used at an atmospheric level. The field of study involves the design, development, production, testing, and maintenance of these vehicles and systems.
- Aeronautical engineering has a variety of disciplines, including mathematics, physics, material science, and fluid mechanics, among others.
- The UK is one of the top study destination choices for aerospace engineering courses, as the country is home to some excellent educational institutions. These universities strive to help students with the theoretical and practical aspects.
- The country has a well-established aerospace industry with more than 3,000 companies and endless possibilities for international students.
Also read: International student life in the UK
Common subjects in aeronautical engineering courses in the UK
| Physics | Aerodynamics | Material science |
| Aircraft structures | Fluid dynamics | Aircraft control |
| Mechanics | Propulsion | Flight communications |
| Aircraft structure | Control engineering | Aircraft transportation system |
International student eligibility to pursue aeronautical engineering in the UK
Educational institutions in the UK have pre-determined eligibility criteria for international students to verify their readiness to pursue the course. Before applying for aeronautical engineering in any institution abroad, make sure your profile satisfies the requirements before submitting your application.
Eligibility criteria to study aeronautical engineering in the UK
| Eligibility factor | Standard requirement |
|---|---|
| Educational qualification | Undergraduate degree: An international student with a subject background in maths, physics, and chemistry with a score of at least 60-70%. Postgraduate degree: An international student with an undergraduate degree in aeronautical engineering or a related specialisation with GPA above 3.0. |
| English proficiency | IELTS: 6.0-6.5, TOEFL: 90, PTE: 59, Duolingo: 105-120 |
| Entrance exam | SAT: Above 1400, GRE: Above 310 |
| Student visa | UK Student Visa |
Data updated as of Jan 2025
Note: The eligibility criteria differ with every program, university, and location. Check the university course page to understand the requirements and prepare your application.
How much does it cost to study aeronautical engineering in the UK?
The educational expenses for international students pursuing aeronautical engineering are comparatively high in terms of the program and location. This is because the course program involves more practical education and hands-on experience for its students.
The average annual cost of studying aeronautical engineering in the UK ranges from £14,000 to £70,000.
Also read: Cost of studying in the UK for Indian students
Top aeronautical engineering universities in the UK
| University name | QS Rankings 2025 |
|---|---|
| Imperial College London | 02 |
| University of Bristol | 54 |
| University of Leeds | =82 |
| University of Glasgow | 78 |
| University of Southampton | =80 |
| University of Nottingham | 108 |
| University of Sheffield | =105 |
| Queen Mary University of London | =120 |
| University of Bath | =150 |
| University of Liverpool | =165 |
| Loughborough University | =224 |
| Swansea University | =298 |
| Coventry University | =526 |
| Kingston University | 601-610 |
| University of Hertfordshire | 851-900 |
| University of Salford | 901-950 |
Data updated as of Jan 2025
Related articles
Top aeronautical engineering universities in the UK: An overview
Aeronautical engineering in Scotland
University of Glasgow
| QS Rankings 2025 | 78 |
| Aeronautical engineering courses in Scotland at Glasgow | BEng Aeronautical Engineering MEng Aeronautical Engineering |
| Cost of studying for aeronautical engineering at Glasgow University | £30,240-£67,880 |
| Available intakes | Fall 2025 |
| Acceptance rate | 74% |
Data updated as of Jan 2025
Aeronautical engineering in England
Imperial College London
| QS Rankings 2025 | 02 |
| Courses offered | MEng Aeronautical Engineering MEng Aeronautics with Spacecraft Engineering MSc Advanced Aeronautical Engineering MSc Advanced Computational Methods for Aeronautics, Flow Management and Fluid-Structure Interaction |
| Cost of studying | £40,900-£40,940 |
| Available intakes | Fall 2025 |
| Acceptance rate | 14.3% |
Data updated as of Jan 2025
University of Bristol
| QS Rankings 2025 | 54 |
| Courses offered at the University of Bristol for aeronautical engineering | BEng Aerospace Engineering MEng Aerospace Engineering |
| Cost of studying | £31,300 |
| Available intakes | Fall 2025 |
| Acceptance rate | 67% |
Data updated as of Jan 2025
University of Leeds
| QS Rankings 2025 | =82 |
| Courses offered at the University of Leeds for aeronautical engineering | BEng Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering MEng Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering MSc Aerospace Engineering |
| Cost of studying | £30,250-£31,000 |
| Available intakes | Fall 2025 |
| Acceptance rate | 77% |
Data updated as of Jan 2025
University of Southampton
| QS Rankings 2025 | =80 |
| Courses offered at the University of Southampton for aeronautical engineering | BEng Aeronautics and Astronautics BEng Aerospace Electronic Engineering MEng Aerospace Electronic Engineering MEng Mechanical Engineering / Aerospace Engineering MEng Aeronautics and Astronautics / Aerodynamics MEng Aeronautics and Astronautics / Engineering Management MSc Aerodynamics and Computation MSc Space Systems Engineering |
| Cost of studying | £27,400-£32,300 |
| Available intakes | Fall 2025 |
| Acceptance rate | 84% |
Data updated as of Jan 2025
University of Nottingham
| QS Rankings 2025 | 108 |
| Courses offered at the University of Nottingham for aeronautical engineering | |
| Cost of studying | £28,600 |
| Available intakes | Fall 2025 |
| Acceptance rate | 11% |
Data updated as of Jan 2025
University of Sheffield
| QS Rankings 2025 | =105 |
| Courses offered | BEng Aerospace Engineering (Private Pilot Instruction) MEng Aerospace Engineering - Private Pilot Instruction BEng Aerospace Engineering with an Industrial Placement Year MEng Aerospace Engineering with an Industrial Placement Year |
| Cost of studying | £27,500-£29,110 |
| Available intakes | Fall 2025 |
| Acceptance rate | 85% |
Data updated as of Jan 2025
Queen Mary University of London
| QS Rankings 2025 | =120 |
| Courses offered | BEng (Hons) Aerospace Engineering |
| Cost of studying | £25,150-£28,350 |
| Available intakes | Fall 2025 |
| Acceptance rate | 43.6% |
Data updated as of Jan 2025
University of Bath
| QS Rankings 2025 | =150 |
| Courses offered at the University of Bath for aeronautical engineering | BEng (Hons) Aerospace Engineering BEng (Hons) Aerospace Engineering with Professional Placement MEng (Hons) Aerospace Engineering with Professional Placement |
| Cost of studying | £28,800 |
| Available intakes | Fall 2025 |
| Acceptance rate | 10-20% |
Data updated as of Jan 2025
University of Liverpool
| QS Rankings 2025 | =165 |
| Courses offered | BEng (Hons) Aerospace Engineering MEng (Hons) Aerospace Engineering |
| Cost of studying | £24,500-£26,350 |
| Available intakes | Fall 2025 |
| Acceptance rate | 14% |
Data updated as of Jan 2025
Loughborough University
| QS Rankings 2025 | =224 |
| Courses offered for aeronautical engineering at Loughborough University | BEng (Hons) Aeronautical Engineering MEng (Hons) Aeronautical Engineering |
| Cost of studying | £19,750-£27,250 |
| Available intakes | Fall 2025 |
| Acceptance rate | 68% |
Data updated as of Jan 2025
Also read: Working while studying in the UK
Swansea University
| QS Rankings 2025 | =298 |
| Courses offered at Swansea University for aeronautical engineering | |
| Cost of studying | £21,700-£22,000 |
| Available intakes | Fall 2025 |
| Acceptance rate | 14% |
Data updated as of Jan 2025
Coventry University
| QS Rankings 2025 | =526 |
| Courses offered | MEng Aerospace Systems Engineering |
| Cost of studying | £19,850-£20,050 |
| Available intakes | Fall 2025 |
| Acceptance rate | 32% |
Data updated as of Jan 2025
Kingston University
| QS Rankings 2025 | 601-610 |
| Courses offered | BEng (Hons) Aerospace Engineering MEng (Hons) Aerospace Engineering BEng (Hons) Aerospace Engineering (Space Technology) MEng (Hons) Aerospace Engineering (Space Technology) BEng (Hons) Aerospace Engineering, Astronautics & Space Technology |
| Cost of studying | £15,400-£18,500 |
| Available intakes | Fall 2025 |
| Acceptance rate | 20-30% |
Data updated as of Jan 2025
University of Hertfordshire
| QS Rankings 2025 | 851-900 |
| Courses offered | BEng (Hons) Aerospace Engineering MEng (Hons) Aerospace Engineering BEng (Hons) Aerospace Engineering with Pilot Studies BEng (Hons) Aerospace Engineering with Space Technology MEng (Hons) Aerospace Engineering with Pilot Studies with Placement Year MEng (Hons) Aerospace Engineering with Space Technology with Placement Year |
| Cost of studying | £14,000-£14,750 |
| Available intakes | Fall 2025 |
| Acceptance rate | 70% |
Data updated as of Jan 2025
University of Salford
| QS Rankings 2025 | 901-950 |
| Courses offered at the University of Salford for aeronautical engineering | MSc/PGDip/PGCert Aerospace Engineering |
| Cost of studying | £16,380 |
| Available intakes | Fall 2025 |
| Acceptance rate | 8% |
Data updated as of Jan 2025
Career opportunities after pursuing aeronautics engineering in the UK
The aerospace industry has great career options for international students. The opportunities offer rewarding growth and high-paying professions.
The average annual salary of an Aeronautical Engineer in the UK is around £27,080. Fresh graduates earn over £23,400, while experienced employees earn £42,500 annually.
Here are some of the top career options for aeronautical engineering graduates in the UK.
- Aeronautical Engineer
- Aerospace Engineer
- Design Engineer
- Academic Lecturer
- Mechanical Engineer
- Academic Researcher
- Maintenance Engineer
- Flight System Engineer
- System Verification Engineer
- Computer-aided Design (CAD) Technician
Also read: 5 reasons why employers love foreign graduates
Top employers in the UK for aeronautical engineering graduates
- Airbus
- British Airways
- GE Aviation
- Rolla Royce
- BAE Systems, Inc.
- Babcock International
- Britten-Norman
Reach new heights in aeronautical engineering! Enrol now to unlock an exciting future!
Frequently asked questions
What are the best universities for masters in aeronautical engineering in the UK?
Here are some of the top universities in the UK where international students can pursue aeronautical engineering.
| Imperial College London | University of Bristol |
| University of Leeds | University of Glasgow |
| University of Southampton | University of Nottingham |
| University of Sheffield | Queen Mary University of London |
| University of Bath | University of Liverpool |
| Loughborough University | Swansea University |
| Coventry University | Kingston University |
| City University London | University of Salford |
| Teesside University | University of South Wales |
What are the aeronautical engineering entry requirements in the UK?
Universities that offer aeronautical engineering courses have set some eligibility requirements to evaluate an applicant’s readiness to attend the program. While the qualifications change with every university, here are the standard eligibility requirements to pursue aeronautical engineering.
| Educational qualification | Undergraduate degree: An international student with a subject background in maths, physics, and chemistry with a score of at least 60-70%. Postgraduate degree: An international student with an undergraduate degree in aeronautical engineering or a related specialisation with a GPA above 3.0. |
| English proficiency | IELTS: 6.0-6.5, TOEFL: 90, PTE: 59, Duolingo: 105-120 |
| Entrance exam | SAT: Above 1400, GRE: Above 310 |
What are the aeronautical engineering in the UK fees?
The average annual cost of pursuing aeronautical engineering in the UK is between £14,000 and £70,000.
What are the Loughborough aeronautical engineering entry requirements?
Here are the entry requirements for international students pursuing aeronautical engineering at Loughborough University.
| Educational qualification | Undergraduate degree: An international student with a subject background in maths, physics, and chemistry with a score of at least 78%. Postgraduate degree: An international student with an undergraduate degree in aeronautical engineering or a related specialisation. |
| English proficiency | IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 90, PTE: 59, Duolingo: Above 100 |
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