Conservative estimates expect the UAV global market to reach €12 billion per year by 2026. Autonomous flight capabilities are commonplace in current UAV platforms, thanks to advanced flight control computers and integrated IMUs and GPS navigation. However, the ability to autonomously sense and avoid obstacles is not yet as advanced.
Collison avoidance in manned aircraft is pilot driven, either visually or using a transponder. To create a fully autonomous mode of UAV operation, the system must be capable of completing a flight mission in unknown conditions through unknown/unmapped areas (e.g. natural disasters, war-zones, emergency response scenarios), without any real-time pilot input. Therefore, an obstacle detection and collision avoidance system is essential.
Currently, on- board image/mapping data processing is power and memory intensive. Although mapping applications can recreate local topographies within which the UAV is operating, this is generally performed on a base station rather than autonomously on-board the UAV . Vision, ultrasonic and laser systems will be investigated, with respect to power, accuracy and processing requirements. A low-cost solution will be developed to integrate with open-source flight control software (e.g. PixHawk, ArduPilot). Algorithms will be developed to detect objects in the vehicle’s flight path and determine trajectory corrections while still tracking to its original target location.
Targeting two journal publications: IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems, and a conference publication at the International Conference on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (ICUAS 2019).
Strengthen engCORE competencies in unmanned vehicle technologies. Expand the research base to facilitate possible collaboration with an industrial partner.
Completing this Masters degree at Liverpool John Moores University will give you the knowledge and practical skills to become a specialist in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles or UAVs.
This taught masters degree will give you the practical, theoretical and regulatory knowledge to lead and undertake all aspects of the implementation and operation of UAV systems within a commercial enterprise in a safe, efficient and legal manner.
You will also secure essential practical skills in constructing, flying and operating drone systems. You will build your own, professional standard, multi-rotor drone system; test fly this system and then use it for practical assignments during the programme, including undertaking a research dissertation project. At the end of the course you can take your drone system with you and use as part of your career.
In today’s world, to be commercially successful in drone applications, you must be safe and operating totally with the aviation law. That’s why the programme includes a specialist module on UAV Operations and the Law. Not only will you know the legal and regulatory framework, more importantly you will learn how to interpret it so that you can design complex and challenging UAV operations within the current legal and regulatory framework.
Please see guidance below on core and option modules for further information on what you will study.
Level 7
UAV Technology and Operations: This will teach you the basics of the technology at systems level. As part of this module you will learn to fly UAVs under experienced qualified instructors, first on simulators and then out in the field.
Drone Construction: You build your own multi-rotor drone, complete with flight controller, GPS systems and radio control system. Under the guidance of the teaching team, you will test and then fly your drone in a series of increasingly demanding exercises.
Research Methods: In order to obtain your masters degree you will have to undertake an individual research project and write it up as a dissertation. In this module you will learn the research, presentation and critical appraisal skills you will need to successfully complete your project.
Advanced UAV Technology and Operations: Practical flying and operating experience, now in more advanced scenarios, is an important element of this module with further simulator exercises and another 5 full-day flying sessions.
UAV Operations and the Law: It is important to know the legal and regulatory framework within which UAVs operate, to become qualified for commercial UAV use it's essential. Here you will learn about the law, the guidelines and get to practice your understanding with 'moot' exercises – debating complex operational scenarios.
Optical Measurement and Sensing: Of all the data gathering devices carried by UAVs the overwhelming majority are optical and to get the best results you will need to understand this technology. It's not just video cameras; you need to fully understand technologies including stereo photogrammetry, LIDAR, structured light and shape from motion systems if you are to be effective in data gathering from drones.
Dissertation Project: On successful completion of the taught part of the programme you will complete an individual research or advanced practice project. Project topics can be self-generated, or drawn from a range of real-world applications originating from outside of the University among the research team’s industrial contacts.
Further guidance on modules
The information listed in the section entitled ‘What you will study’ is an overview of the academic content of the programme that will take the form of either core or option modules. Modules are designated as core or option in accordance with professional body requirements and internal Academic Framework review, so may be subject to change. Students will be required to undertake modules that the University designates as core and will have a choice of designated option modules. Additionally, option modules may be offered subject to meeting minimum student numbers.
Academic Framework reviews are conducted by LJMU from time to time to ensure that academic standards continue to be maintained.
Please email [email protected] if you require further guidance or clarification.
The global market for aerial, ground, and marine Autonomous Vehicles has grown rapidly due to the advent of drones and driverless cars. Defence, Aerospace, Automotive, and Marine Industries seek graduates conversant in key aspects of Autonomy including: dynamics & control, guidance & navigation, decision making, sensor fusion, data & information fusion, communication & and networking. These durable and transferrable skills are the bedrock of this unique MSc course whose content has been based on advice from the Industrial Advisory Board, comprising the relevant Industrial representatives from Big Primes to Small and Medium-sized Enterprises.
The Autonomous Vehicle Dynamics and Control MSc is a unique course for graduates in engineering, physics, or mathematics wishing to acquire durable and transferrable skills in Autonomous Vehicles to pursue career opportunities in Defence, Aerospace, Automotive, and Marine Industries.
We are unique in that we offer a combination of subjects much sought after in the Autonomous Vehicle Industry and not covered in a single MSc course anywhere else. Successful graduates of our MSc course become conversant in key aspects of Autonomy which advantageously differentiates them in today's competitive employment market
The Autonomous Vehicle Dynamics and Control MSc course begins with the fundamentals of autonomous vehicle dynamics and control, and progresses to the core subjects of guidance & navigation, decision making, sensor fusion, data & information fusion, communication & and networking. A choice of optional modules allows individual tailoring of these subjects to specialise in appropriate subject areas.
The taught part of the course is followed by Individual Research Projects (IRPs) and the topic of each of the IRPs is provided by one of the member of the Industrial Advisory Board. The real-world relevance of the IRP topics is another unique feature of our MSc course and can be another effective differentiator in the job market.
This course is also available on a part-time basis enabling you to combine studying with full-time employment. This is enhanced by a three-stage programme from a Postgraduate Certificate, to a Postgraduate Diploma through to an MSc.
The relevant, competent and pro-active Industrial Advisory Board includes:
who not only continuously advise on updating the course content but also provide topics for Individual Research Projects (IRPs). After the final oral exams in early September, all students present posters summarising their IRPs to the whole Industrial Advisory Board thus exposing their work to seasoned professionals and potential employers. The IRPs benefit from our own lab where real autonomous vehicles can be designed and tested.
Accreditation is being sought for the MSc in Autonomous Vehicle Dynamics and Control from the Royal Aeronautical Society, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) and the Institution of Engineering & Technology (IET) on behalf of the Engineering Council as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for registration as a Chartered Engineer. Candidates must hold a CEng accredited BEng/BSc (Hons) undergraduate first degree to comply with full CEng registration requirements.
The taught course element consists of lectures in three areas: dynamics, control systems, and autonomous systems and technology. The MSc consists of two equally weighted components, taught modules and an individual research project.
Individual project
Our industry partners sponsor individual research projects allowing you to choose a topic that is commercially relevant and current. Topics are chosen during the first teaching period in October and you begin work during the second half of the MSc course (May - August). The project allows you to delve deeper into an area of specific interest, taking the theory from the taught modules and joining it with practical experience.
Projects encompass various aspects of operations, not only concerned with design but including payloads, civil applications, system, sensors and other feasibility studies industry wishes to explore.
For the duration of the project, each student is assigned both a university and industry supervisor. In recent years, students have been based at sponsor companies for sections of their research and have been given access to company software/facilities.
During the thesis project all students give regular presentations to the course team and class, which provides an opportunity to improve your presentation skills and learn more about the broad range of industry sponsored projects.
Previous projects have included:
Assessment
Taught modules 50%, Individual research project 50%. Please note: Modules for this course are under review, to incorporate the latest advice from the Industrial Advisory Board.
The industry-led education makes Cranfield graduates some of the most desirable all over the world for recruitment by companies competing in the autonomous vehicle market including:
Graduates from this course will be equipped with the advanced skills which could be applied to the security, defence, marine, environmental and aerospace industries. This approach offers you a wide range of career choices as an autonomous systems engineer, design engineer or in an operations role, at graduation and in the future. Others decide to continue their education through PhD studies available within Cranfield University or elsewhere.
Small Unmanned Aircraft (SUA) which are more commonly referred to as Drones are now being used for commercial purposes in an exciting and booming business sector predicted to be worth more than £15 billion in the next 10 years.
This practical orientated MSc in Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Technology has been specifically designed for professionals whose occupational fields would benefit from applications of UAS technology. These are as diverse as agriculture, logistics, surveying, mining, forestry, ecology, archaeology, emergency services, estate management, virtual reality and computer gaming. This course is also ideal for those who are keen to enter this industry sector and wish to develop a thorough understanding of UAS Technology.
During this course you will construct a Drone and gain an in depth understanding of drone and payload sensor technology. This course will also help to build your confidence as a drone operator, allowing you to safely undertake simulated and actual UAS missions in the knowledge that you have complied with all of the relevant statutory requirements.
UAS are frequently used for data-gathering purposes and during this course you will have the opportunity and the analytical support to gather and analyse data as part of the project dissertation. Typical forms of data gathering are 3D terrain mapping and surveying using PIX4D software.
The structural design and component architecture of UAS is also a rapidly evolving field of technology. Here at Wrexham Glyndwr University we have the facilities and technical support staff necessary to realise the conceptual ideas that you may have. Our Advanced Composite Centre facility allows the manufacture and testing of high performance UAS airframes, there are rapid prototyping and 5-axis CNC machining facilities, wind tunnels for aerodynamic testing and our electrical and electronic build and test laboratories are available for the production and testing of control, sensor and power supply circuitry.
Specific Modules
Drone Technology & Operations.
Drone Construction.
Advanced UAV Operations and the Law.
UAV Sensor Technology and Measurement Techniques.
Common Modules
Research Methods.
Sustainable Design and Innovation
Dissertation
Report
Critique based on a quantitative or qualitative research framework or methodology.
Research Proposal
Individual report and presentation relating to a proposed research strategy.
Presentation and Group Report
Learning Logs/Journals
Practical & Coursework
A series of Flight Tests.
Report
Based on an investigation or comparison of a relevant UAS technology.
Learning Logs/Journals relating to the design and build of a UAS.
Practical
Test-Flight of a UAS.
Examination relating to UAS commercial legislation.
Essay
Critical evaluation of a realistic scenario relating to UAS payloads, telemetry and transmission systems.
Examination
Based on sensor technology and theory.
Essay
A critical evaluation of an aspect of current sensor technology, research and advanced scholarship.
Presentation
Dissertation
The unmanned systems industry is currently undergoing explosive growth; as a result there is an increased demand for unmanned vehicle systems designers. Our MSc Unmanned Aircraft Systems Design course has been created to provide graduate engineers with the necessary skills and knowledge to design unmanned airvehicle systems.
The future of exploration, transportation and conflict is in unmanned aircraft. Be the future and start a fascinating career on the precipice of national intelligence and technological advancements with a masters in Unmanned Aircraft Systems Design. Sometimes referred to as drones, UAVs, UAS or RPAS, unmanned aircraft are revolutionising our ability to monitor and understand our environment.
This industry-led course focuses on the cutting-edge design of these sophisticated vehicles and is ideally suited to engineers looking to specialise or to enter into this fast-paced industry.
Due to the explosive growth of the industry, unmanned aircraft systems designers are in high demand. This course has been created to provide graduate engineers with the skills and knowledge needed to design unmanned aircraft systems.
You will be taught by leaders in the field. The University has a strong reputation in autonomous systems with many world firsts including: SULSA, the first 3D printed plane and the first low-cost maritime surveillance UAV, 2SEAS.
Practical learning is a fundamental part of this one-year course. You will design, build and fly your own unmanned vehicle as part of a group design project. Visit the Design Show website to see examples of students' projects. We provide you with access to world-class facilities to put your design through mission validation including: a UAV test pilot base and dedicated flying site, state-of-the-art wind tunnels and rapid prototyping labs. You will also have the opportunity to study for a pilot’s licence.
Your core modules will give you a solid foundation of aerospace control systems and avionics. You will master design methodologies and put these into practice. Each semester, you can select specialist modules that are aligned to your interests.
The emphasis of the course is on the design of the vehicle, rather than the wider systems such as ground station and software associated with navigation and communications. The course will explore civil and commercial applications of unmanned systems. Although some of the teaching material may reference military technology, the course will not cover military, defence or weapon-specific systems.
In addition to group work, you will undertake an individual research project. Previous examples include the development of a hybrid vehicle and a multi-rotor automated Li-Po battery changer. Our students also benefit from our many industry partnerships and external contributors, including QinetiQ and Rolls-Royce.
View the specification document for this course
Created in partnership with companies such as the Ford Motor Company and Jaguar Land Rover, the programme is also aimed at existing or prospective product development engineers and those working in manufacturing, particularly those working alongside product design personnel in the context of cross-functional teams and simultaneous working practice.
Students study three compulsory modules and a further three modules from a choice of five. In addition, full-time students undertake a university-based project and part-time students undertake an industry-based project.
An online study support system provides additional information and materials to facilitate student discussion.
The programme is accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (towards Chartered status).
This course is aimed at engineers working in the automotive industry who wish to extend and deepen their skills and understanding of the field, as well as recent graduates who intend to start a career in the industry.
Though primarily aimed at product development engineers, the course offers significant value to those working in the manufacturing side of the industry and those who work alongside colleagues from product design in the context of cross-functional teams. Individual modules of this MSc can be studied as short courses.
The programme is very much one of technical engineering content, sitting in a systems engineering framework.
See the website http://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/programmes/departments/aero-auto/automotive-systems-engineering/
Students study three compulsory modules, three optional taught modules and carry out an individual project. In total the course comprises 180 modular credits, made up from 6 taught modules valued at 20 credits each, plus the project which is valued at 60 credits.
The course is mostly delivered as a series of block taught modules. An online study support system provides additional information and materials to facilitate learning and discussion. Full time students undertake a University based project and part time students undertake an industry based project.
Assessment: Examination, coursework assignments and project dissertation.
- Incorporates a systems thinking framework, referring to product lifecycle, target setting, requirements capture and cascade, plus elements of business-related drivers for engineering practice.
- Provides clear links between design and manufacture, for example presenting examples where manufacturing capabilities have a large impact on design and system robustness.
- Develops advanced and specialist themes via the optional modules.
- Expertise provided from industry-based specialists.
- Individual modules can be studied as short courses.
- The MSc course was originally developed in partnership with Ford Motor Company, and we continue to work closely with the automotive industry in designing, developing and delivering our courses.
- Manufacturing Systems and Integrated Design
- Vehicle and Powertrain Functional Performance
- Vehicle Systems Analysis
- Project
- Body Engineering
- Powertrain Calibration Optimisation
- Sustainable Vehicle Powertrains
- Vehicle Dynamics and Control (for full time programme only)
- Vehicle Electrical Systems Integration
Graduates work primarily in product design and development groups and are sought after by a wide range of automotive companies. Students that wish to pursue other careers are well-equipped to work in a wide range of sectors within the vehicle industry.
Loughborough University offers five merit based competitive scholarships to the value of 10% of the programme tuition fee for international students applying for the MSc in Automotive Systems Engineering. All students applying for the course will be considered for the scholarship.
The Department of Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering is a specialist centre within one of the UK’s largest engineering universities.
The Department has 37 academic staff and nearly 150 postgraduate students on taught and research programmes. In the Government’s External Subject Review, the Department was awarded an excellent score (23/24) for the quality of its teaching.In the most recent Research Excellence Framework our subject areas featured in the top ten nationally.
- Facilities
The Department has extensive laboratories and facilities including: wind tunnels; anechoic chamber; indoor UAV testing; structures testing facilities; gas-turbine engines; eight purpose-built engine test cells; Hawk aircraft; 6-axis simulator (road and aircraft); chassis dynamometer and numerous instrumented test vehicles.
The Department hosts the Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre (UTC) in Combustion Aerodynamics and the Caterpillar Innovation and Research Centre (IRC) in engine systems.
- Research
The Department has four major research groups working across the technologies of automotive and aeronautical engineering. Each group works on a variety of research topics, ranging from the development of new low emissions combustion systems for gas turbine engines, through to fundamental investigations into the operation of hydrogen powered fuel cells.
- Career prospects
Over 90% (DLHE, 2016) of our graduates were in employment and/or further study six months after graduating. The Department has particularly close links with BAE Systems, Bentley, British Airways, Ford Motor Company, Group Lotus, Jaguar Land Rover, JCB, MIRA, Perkins Caterpillar, Rolls-Royce and many tier one automotive suppliers
Find out how to apply here http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/aae/postgraduate/apply/
Geographic information systems have become really interesting to all of us with the increased innovation in smart phones and IOT, whether we are searching for a venue to eat and drink or looking for something specific in a difficult to reach location. At one time GIS was heavily used in planning and map creation, now we all have access to those maps on our mobiles and tablets and we now expect sensors in our phones to connect automatically to satellite systems to tell us our every move, whether we are walking or in the car. This has made the discipline incredibly interesting and opened up a lot more opportunities in terms of work. On top of the more obvious GIS enabled systems many businesses rely on this technology to inform them about weather, shipping, coastal locations, risks and hazards, agriculture and energy and minerals exploration.
Geospatial technologies are increasingly important across all industries and this programme gives you skills in developing remote sensing, working with wide ranging expertise from coastal, marine, ecology, energy, geology, spatial planning, and archaeology. You learn some very useful skills in programming, simulation and modelling, spatial databases and global positioning systems, plus cartography, remote sensing, digital image processing, geographic information systems, field data capture for a variety of devices.
It is worth visiting the Scottish Innovation Centres to find out more about innovations using GIS and the technologies it uses
Semester 1
Optional
Semester 2
Semester 3
Dissertation
Find out more detail by visiting the programme web page
Find out more about the online version
Find out about international fees:
Find out more about fees on the programme page
*Please be advised that some programmes also have additional costs.
View all funding options on our funding database via the programme page and the latest postgraduate opportunities
Living in Aberdeen
Find out more about:
Find out more about living in Aberdeen and living costs
This course has been designed to reflect the wide applications of Computational Fluid Dynamics. You will learn to understand, write and apply CFD methods across a wide broad range of fields, from aerospace, turbomachinery, multi-phase flow and heat transfer, to microflows, environmental flows and fluid-structure interaction problems. Tailor your course by choosing from a range of specialist modules covering application-specific methods and techniques.
Designed to meet the education needs of graduates and professional engineers who are looking to kick-start an industrial or research career in the rapidly growing field of Computational Fluid Dynamics. This course bridges the gap between the introductory level of undergraduate courses and the applied expertise acquired by engineers using CFD in industry. You will gain the knowledge and appreciation of CFD methods necessary for a strong foundation to a career in this exciting engineering discipline.
The MSc in Computational Fluid Dynamics provides a solid background so that you will be able to apply CFD methods as a tool for design, analysis and engineering applications. With a strong emphasis on understanding and application of the underlying methods, enthusiastic students will be able to write their own CFD codes during the course.
Sharing some modules with the MSc in Aerospace Dynamics gives you the opportunity to interact with students from other disciplines. In recent years, our students have been had the opportunity for work-based placements at the Aircraft Research Association (ARA), European Space Agency (ESA), Ricardo and DAF Trucks.
Our strategic links with industry ensures that all of the materials taught on the course are relevant, timely and meet the needs of organisations competing within the computational analysis sector. This industry led education makes Cranfield graduates some of the most desirable for companies to recruit.
The Industrial Advisory Panel is comprised of senior industry professionals provides input into the curriculum in order to improve the employment prospects of our graduates.
The MSc in Computational Fluid Dynamics will meet, in part, the exemplifying academic benchmark requirements for registration as a Chartered Engineer. Accredited MSc graduates who also have a BEng (Hons) accredited for CEng will be able to show that they have satisfied the educational base for CEng registration.
The taught modules are delivered from October to April via a combination of structured lectures, and computer based labs.
The core part of the course consists of modules which are considered to represent the necessary foundation subject material. The course is designed to reflect the broad range of CFD applications by providing a range of optional modules to address specific application areas. Students on the part-time programme will complete all of the compulsory modules based on a flexible schedule that will be agreed with the course director.
Individual project
The taught element of the course finishes in May, at which point you will have an excellent understanding of CFD methods and applications. From May to September you will work full-time on your individual research project. The research project gives you the opportunity to produce a detailed piece of work either in close collaboration with industry, or on a particular topic which you are passionate about.
Recent Individual Research Projects include:
Assessment
Taught modules 50%, Individual research project 50%
Strategic industrial links ensure that the course meets the needs of the organisations competing within the computational sector therefore making our graduates some of the most desirable in the world for companies to recruit. An increasing demand for CFD specialists with in depth technical knowledge and practical skills within a wide range of sectors has seen our graduates employed by leading companies including:
Roughly one third of our graduates go on to register for PhD degrees, many on the basis of their MSc individual research project. Thesis topics are often supplied by individual companies on in-company problems with a view to employment after graduation - an approach that is being actively encouraged by a growing number of industries.
With a projected demand for 27,000 new civil airliners by 2030, the industry faces a shortfall in postgraduate level engineers to meet future industry needs. Aircraft engineers need a combination of technical and business skills for today's aerospace engineering projects. This course will broaden your understanding of aircraft engineering and design subjects and provide you with a strong foundation for career development in technical, integration and leadership roles.
We recognise the challenge of undertaking part-time study while you are working. This course is specifically designed for people working in engineering or technical management positions in the aerospace industry who wish to study for an accredited master's degree while they are in employment.
You are required to attend a total of nine weeks of lectures over three years on a modular basis. The first year attendance pattern is two weeks in February, followed by one week in June and one week in November. Following a series of compulsory modules, you may choose three specialist optional modules in order to tailor the course to your particular interests and requirements.
This course provides accelerated development of engineering staff whilst delivering the right mix of technical and business skills for careers in the aerospace industry. The course will broaden your understanding of aircraft engineering and design subjects, and provide a strong foundation for career development in technical, integration and leadership roles. This accredited master's course supports your career development by meeting the further learning requirements for Chartered Engineer status. The Group project allows you to gain hands on experience of development and design lifecycle, and the Individual project allows you to investigate a topic that is of interest to your employer, with supervision from experienced staff.
Cranfield has been at the forefront of postgraduate education in aircraft engineering since 1946. We have a global reputation for our advanced postgraduate education and extensive applied research. You can be sure that your qualification will be valued and respected by employers.
The Industrial Advisory Panel, comprised of senior industry professionals, provides input into the curriculum in order to improve the employment prospects of our graduates. Panel members include:
The MSc in Aircraft Engineering will meet, in part, the exemplifying academic benchmark requirements for registration as a Chartered Engineer. Accredited MSc graduates who also have a BEng (Hons) accredited for CEng will be able to show that they have satisfied the educational base for CEng registration.
The MSc in Aircraft Engineering consists of three elements: taught modules, a group design project and an individual research project.
Group project
The group project is undertaken throughout year two of your studies and provides a wealth of learning opportunities. You will work together on a significant design project, progressing from concept to hardware. Each student takes on a technical design role related to a major structural, systems or avionics item as well as a management role such as Chief Engineer, Project Manager, Finance Manager, etc.
Recent Group Projects have covered:
Individual project
The individual research project allows you to delve deeper into an area of specific interest of your choice, and you are encouraged to select a project that is of relevance to your sponsoring company. You will complete the individual project during year three of your studies.
Recent individual research projects have included:
Assessment
Taught modules 40%, Group project 30%, Individual research project 30%
This course will provide you with the tools and experience to help enhance your career opportunities in the aerospace industry, enabling you to progress further in your present discipline, or move into other specialist or integration roles. Networking with students from different backgrounds is valuable to gain an appreciation of how other companies work.
This course can be used for Chartered Engineer status, which can result in new career opportunities for the future.
The Masters in Aerospace Engineering & Management introduces you to contemporary business and management issues while increasing your depth of knowledge in your chosen aerospace engineering speciality.
There are two semesters of taught material and a summer session working on a project or dissertation. September entry students start with management courses and January entry students with engineering courses.
You will be based in the Adam Smith Business School, developing knowledge and skills in management principles and techniques. We offer an applied approach, with an emphasis on an informed critical evaluation of information, and the subsequent application of concepts and tools to the core areas of business and management.
You will study engineering courses, which aim to enhance your group working and project management capability at the same time as improving your depth of knowledge in chosen aerospace engineering subjects.
You will undertake an individual project or dissertation work in the summer period (May–August). This will give you an opportunity to apply and consolidate the course material and enhance your ability to do independent work, as well as present results in the most appropriate format. Project and dissertation options are closely linked to staff research interests. September entry students have a choice of management dissertation topics in addition to aerospace engineering projects, and January entry students have a choice of aerospace engineering projects.
Career opportunities include positions in aerospace, defence, renewable energy, nuclear energy and management. You can also continue studying, for a research Masters or a PhD.
To design modern efficient aircraft requires a complex combination of aerodynamic performance, lightweight durable structures and advanced systems engineering. This specialist MSc Aerospace Vehicle Design option explores how different structural and systems elements can be designed and integrated using up-to-date methods and techniques.
This option is suitable for those students wishing to gain an overview of the whole aircraft design process as well as the design of aircraft structures and systems.
This Aircraft Design option aims to provide a comprehensive overview of whole aircraft configuration design as well as, structures and systems. A holistic teaching approach is taken to explore how the individual elements of an aircraft can be designed and integrated using up-to-date methods and techniques. You will learn to understand how to select and integrate specific systems such as fuel systems, and their effect on the aircraft as a whole.
We have been at the forefront of postgraduate education in aerospace engineering since 1946. Aerospace Vehicle Design at Cranfield University was one of the original foundation courses of the College of Aeronautics. Graduates of this course are eligible to join the Cranfield College of Aeronautics Alumni Association (CCAAA), an active community which hold a number of networking and social events throughout the year.
Cranfield University is well located for students from all over the world, and offers a range of library and support facilities to support your studies. This enables students from all over the world to complete this qualification whilst balancing work/life commitments.
The course has an Industrial Advisory Committee with senior members from major UK aerospace companies, government bodies, and the military services. The committee meets twice a year to review and advise on course content, acquisition skills and other attributes that are desirable for graduates of the course. Panel members include:
The MSc in Aerospace Vehicle Design is accredited by the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) & Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for registration as a Chartered Engineer. Candidates must hold a CEng accredited BEng/BSc (Hons) undergraduate first degree to comply with full CEng registration requirements.
The Aircraft Design option consists of a number of mandatory modules and a minimum of 60 hours of optional modules, which are selected from optional modules. You are also required to complete a group design project and an individual research project.
A unique feature of the course is that we have four external examiners, two from industry who assess the group design project and two from academia who assess the individual research project.
Group project
The extensive group design project is a distinctive and unique feature of this course. This teamwork project takes place over six months and recreates a virtual industrial environment bringing together students with various experience levels and different nationalities into one integrated design team.
Students are given responsibility for the detailed design of a significant part of the aircraft, for example, forward fuselage, fuel system, landing gear, environmental control system, wing. The project will progress from the conceptual phase through to the preliminary and detail design phases. You will be required to run project meetings, produce engineering drawings and detailed analyses of your design. Problem solving and project co-ordination must be undertaken on a team and individual basis. At the end of the project, groups are required to report and present findings to a large panel of senior engineers from industry.
This element of the course is both realistic and engaging, and places the student group in a professional role as aerospace design engineers. Students testify that working as an integrated team on real problems is invaluable and prepares them well for careers in a highly competitive industry.
Watch past presentation videos (YouTube) to give you a taster of our innovative and exciting group projects:
Individual project
The individual research project aims to provide the training necessary for you to apply knowledge from the taught element to research. The project may be theoretical and/or experimental and drawn from a range of topics related to the course and suggested by teaching staff, your employer or focused on your own area of interest. It provides the opportunity for you to deepen your knowledge of an area that is of particular interest, and is often associated with a real-world problem that one of our industry partners is looking to resolve.
Previous Individual Research Projects include:
Assessment
Taught modules 10%, Group project 50%, Individual research project 40%
This MSc is valued and respected by employers worldwide. The applied nature of this course ensures that our graduates are ready to be of immediate use to their future employer and has provided sufficient breadth of understanding of multi-discipline design to position them for accelerated career progression.
Graduates from this option have gone on to pursue engineering careers in disciplines such as structural design, stress analysis or systems design.
Many of our graduates occupy very senior positions in their organisations, making valuable contributions to the international aerospace industry. Typical student destinations include BAE Systems, Airbus, Dassault and Rolls-Royce.
Explore contemporary wildlife conservation on this Masters. The course is delivered by world-leading experts in wildlife conservation and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV/drone technology). You will be able to learn fieldskills during an overseas field trip and will have the opportunity to conduct your own conservation research project.
* The air fare, site accommodation and site costs are paid by Liverpool John Moores University. You will be required to meet other potential costs, such as field clothing, visas and immunisations if required.
This programme is ideal if you want to study flexibly around work or other commitments or you want to study from anywhere in the world if you have a very busy lifestyle. It is entirely delivered online to help you study at University of Aberdeen from any remote location with internet access. There is also an on campus delivery of this programme.
Geographic information systems have become really interesting to all of us with the increased innovation in smart phones and IOT, whether we are searching for a venue to eat and drink or looking for something specific in a difficult to reach location. At one time GIS was heavily used in planning and map creation, now we all have access to those maps on our mobiles and tablets and we now expect sensors in our phones to connect automatically to satellite systems to tell us our every move, whether we are walking or in the car. This has made the discipline incredibly interesting and opened up a lot more opportunities in terms of work. On top of the more obvious GIS enabled systems many businesses rely on this technology to inform them about weather, shipping, coastal locations, risks and hazards, agriculture and energy and minerals exploration.
Geospatial technologies are increasingly important across all industries and this programme gives you skills in developing remote sensing, working with wide ranging expertise from coastal, marine, ecology, energy, geology, spatial planning, and archaeology. You learn some very useful skills in programming, simulation and modelling, spatial databases and global positioning systems, plus cartography, remote sensing, digital image processing, geographic information systems, field data capture for a variety of devices.
It is worth visiting the Scottish Innovation Centres to find out more about innovations using GIS and the technologies it uses
Year 1
Compulsory
Year 2
Year 3
Find out more detail by visiting the programme web page
Find out about international fees:
Find out more about fees on the programme page
*Please be advised that some programmes also have additional costs.
View all funding options on our funding database via the programme page and the latest postgraduate opportunities
Find out more about:
Find out more about living in Aberdeen and living costs
You may also be interested in the on campus delivery of the programme
Help Engineer the future with Loughborough University’s School of Aeronautical, Automotive, Chemical and Materials Engineering
