What Can I Do With a Masters in Aerospace Engineering?

A Masters in Aerospace Engineering will equip you with the specialist skills needed to meet the demands of a fast-growing aerospace engineering industry. Demand for graduates in this sector is high, and you’ll be well be well positioned to seek employment within the engineering industry itself, or in related consultancies.

In this guide, we’ll cover what you’ll learn from a Masters in Aerospace Engineering and the career paths that are available to graduates. We’ve also taken a look at some official UK government data to give you an idea of your employment prospects and the average salary you can expect to earn.

What skills will I gain with a Masters in Aerospace Engineering?

Most postgraduate qualifications in Aerospace Engineering are Master of Science (MSc) programmes. Some have a specific focus on aeronautical engineering, which is the study of aircraft systems that operate within the Earth’s atmosphere, while others also include the study of spacecraft for use beyond it.

Some topics you might study on the course include:

• Computational fluid dynamics
• Mathematical modelling in aerospace engineering
• Aerodynamics
• Propulsion systems
• Flight safety
• The environmental impact of aviation
• Fuel efficiency
• Autonomous aerospace vehicles

Teaching is delivered through a combination of lectures, personal tutorials, group seminars and lab-based activities.

You’ll have the opportunity to refine your independent research skills through completing an extended dissertation or project. Many courses also include group projects, meaning you’ll develop the collaborative skills essential to success in the field. You’ll often be required to produce technical reports and deliver oral presentations, allowing you to demonstrate attributes that would be very useful in a professional environment.

What jobs can I get with a Masters in Aerospace Engineering?

Many Aerospace Engineering graduates will go on to work within the aerospace and aeronautical engineering fields, but many related industries (such as automotive engineering) utilise similar technology – meaning you’ll have a broad selection of roles open to you!

Depending on your role you might be involved in the design, production or testing of technologies such as civil or military aircraft, satellites, space vehicles or missiles.

Here are a few examples of roles you might pursue:

• Aerospace systems analyst
• Senior manufacturing engineer
• Systems engineer
• Mechanical design engineer
• Quality engineer
• Research engineer
• Aerospace quality manager

What salary can I earn with a Masters in Aerospace Engineering?

Having an idea of your future earnings can help you decide whether to invest in a Masters degree. The good news is that studying Aerospace Engineering at the postgraduate level can definitely help boost your earning potential!

• The median salary for Engineering Masters graduates five years after completing their course was £44,500.
• The median salary for Engineering Bachelors graduates five years after completing their course was £37,200.

So, on average, Engineering graduates with a Masters degree earn around 19% more than those who only hold an undergraduate degree.