Best Engineering Aerospace University's

[ItsNowOrNever]

Hi all

Looking for top 5 university ranking for Aerospace or Aeronautical engineering and any advice on the top markers of extra curricular to hit for the applications, model making, clubs etc?

We're finding it really hard to get access to relevant work experience, is this due to lack of knowledge or just looking in the wrong place?!

Would you suggest 3 or 4 A levels?
Studying Physics, Maths and FM. Chemistry also but she may drop this.

First generation University attendee so no prior experience to draw on.

I'll start with what I think:

1. Imperial
2. Cambridge

3...

Work experience in any role and also work experience in specific related role.

Please share your expert knowledge and experience.

Thanks

Typo!! I mean Universities - bloody autocorrect 🙄

Bump?!

Anybody who can help?

Thanks

There are lots of uni guides around, and the top 10 are usually fairly consistent.
Bath, Bristol, Imperial and Southampton are generally in the top 5.

My DS studied aerospace engineering with space craft design at Southampton as it was the uni he preferred from the list above (also had offers from Bath and Bristol, didn’t apply to any London unis).

He took his A levels a few years ago and had maths, fm, physics and chemistry at A level plus AS geography. The chemistry was really useful for the materials part of the degree but those without A level chemistry had extra lectures and tutorials to bring them up to speed.
It’s more important to get top grades in the first 3 rather than risk a lower grade because of taking 4.

Has your DD/DS visited any unis? It’s not just the course, but also that you’ll be living in that city for the next 4 years, so it’s important that s/he can see them self being happy in the location too.

Re work experience , DS had a week at BA, and read around the subject a lot. We had a subscription to New Scientist magazine (though to be honest he could’ve read it at the local library! )

Cambridge degree is a General Engineering degree, not aero. You can specialise in Y2 and Y3 but your knowledge will not be as detailed as a 4 year Aero degree. Read the specifications carefully..my son ended up applying (and now going) to Warwick which doesn't even do aero despite his declaration that he wanted to do aero...

Applying for General and Aero on the same application is a tricky one. I think you should stick to applying for one type of course. applying for different courses gives them a reason to reject you (eg Cambridge says..well..they are really interested in aero but we don't do aero. Bristol says..well..they aren't that devoted to aero. Look there's lots of non aero stuff in this personal statement).

Apply for the MEng if your grades support it not the BEng, It is more prestigious and means you are funded for your masters (which you will need to become chartered).

I think top Aero are 1. Imperial 2. Bristol 3. Bath 4. Southampton 5. Loughborough . Some would put Sheffield and Leeds in there somewhere. Some people swap Bath and Bristol.

Standards are very high. My son got rejected from Bristol despite 3A* predictions. They have a list of preferred schools which you should probably check out. They do a lot of outreach stuff.

For Personal Statement:

lot of the unis do summer schools , definitely check into those (Cambridge also do Masterclasses where they run through a lecture, cost £12.50, sign up for alerts)
Read books, listen to podcasts
Maths olympiad medals
Personal projects
Start a school club
Write an article for a magazine
Essay

We found work experience very difficult to get. We ended up with general engineering work experience. The lessons of general engineering (eg understanding the problem, evaluating solutions, overcoming obstacles in executing a solution, environment considerations) are as relevant to aero as any other type of engineering.

Could try volunteering at air museums? air cadets?

Re Chemistry. No extra credit for 4th A Levels. Chemistry is difficult. I would drop it.

Best of luck!

Cambridge degree is a General Engineering degree, not aero
Yes... but I gather they're good on the bloody hard maths parts of the subject.

There isn't an issue with applying for gen eng at Cambridge and one specific discipline at the 4 other choices - the PS can focus on that subject, the Cambridge supplemental PS can explain why they want to do their 'generalise then specialise' course. (DD went to Cambridge, her other 4 offers were all for EEE. Nothing tricky about it).

One of her pals is now working at airbus in their space division - he was heavily into rocket making before uni. I've no idea how teenagers get into that sort of hobby but it must be possible.

We ended up with general engineering work experience. The lessons of general engineering (eg understanding the problem, evaluating solutions, overcoming obstacles in executing a solution, environment considerations) are as relevant to aero as any other type of engineering.

That's true... one fairly obvious option often accessible to youngsters is some sort of robotics, in clubs and/or as solo projects.

Would you suggest 3 or 4 A levels?
Studying Physics, Maths and FM. Chemistry also but she may drop this.

I think what the PP said about chemistry being useful (materials, propellants in space applications....) but to only do 4 if it doesn't jeopardise top grades in the physics, maths and FM is correct.

DS' friend was convinced that Strathclyde Uni was particularly good for aeronautical engineering when he was (successfully) applying 6 years ago, He enrolled straight onto their 5 year masters programme. This was someone who usually won the school prize for physics and engineering so I'd have thought he'd have had his pick of courses.

@ItsNowOrNever
Bristol. Always has been superb for this subject with huge employer nearby. That’s the key. MEng and the possibility of work afterwards. General engineering is not really the way to go. The specialist degree is better.

Isn't Nottingham supposed to be good?

My son applied for entry this sept.
Imperial, Nottingham, Sheffield and Southampton for higher ranking uni's. Swansea for back up.
Nottingham was 1st choice - it gives you a double offer - one for MEng and one for BEng. You get in on either. Progression to the MEng depends on achieving a minimum (55%?) in 1st and 2nd year. He accepted this as it essentially served as both 1st choice and insurance.

Also look at degree apprenticeships - he achieved grades for Nottingham but is actually going to do an apprenticeship instead.

Work experience - minimal. Spent a day helping at a local steam museum. Wrote to several steam railways too.
Talked about RC planes he'd made in his personal statement, visits to air shows and museums, things he was inspired by, some (minimal and under duress) reading.
Maths challenge, GCSE engineering project, scout.

4 / 5 offers received within 10 days.
Imperial does a maths test in Feb and April prior to interviews.

He did same 4 a Levels and continued with all 4 to the end.
Check with admissions tutors if they'd value chem or FM more.
Most unis only offer based on 3 and don't need the 4th. I don't believe 4 gives an advantage. DS planned to drop FM after yr 12 (they sat AS FM then) but enjoyed it and continued.

Look out for financial support for 1st generation uni students / bursaries / lower income bursaries (if applicable - We're not free school meals, but he would have been elligable for £1000 a year at Nottingham - I was surprised!)

I studied aero at Glasgow. Think still up there in terms of ranking?

Do you live near an airport? I did work experience at air traffic control and also at a small engineering firm who serviced engines. I did an amazing project with them that got me an award. Worth looking at smaller companies round airports near to you.

I cannot see any advantage in doing a MEng in Scotland (Strathclyde) for 5 years unless you live there. The top universities in England are a cheaper and better option. There is no advantage in doing general engineering if you know you want to specialise. Maths is not all you need to be a successful engineer. A specialist department serves some branches of engineering much better.

Therefore look at something like the Complete University Guide and look at the traditional engineering universities. They are world class. Do look at entry requirements for each MEng course. FM may well make DC have a more competitive application.

I had a quick look at Bristol. They consider the PS, GCSEs as well as A level predictions and give clear guidance at what they are looking for. For anyone researching this degree, it’s a good place to start.

I'm an Engineer in the aerospace industry (25 years), working for a very large Tier 1 multinational currently. Firstly I love hearing about the next generation starting their journey in the industry, we're in need of new talent coming through and wish her well.

Does she have any initial ideas of what role she would like with the aero industry? As in my experience, a good Engineering degree from the various disciplines will be fine to get a work placement. I would also argue a broader Engineering degree with some specialism within that (depending on preference) will be handy as you easily find yourself switching between roles during your career and having a broad understanding of the disciplines helps with this.

Also engage early doors with some of the aerospace companies, you might find they will take on work experience/internships during holidays. That will be invaluable. We do this on occasion - I personally would like to see more of it.

Happy to answer any questions.

And in answer to your question, any of the top universities will be good. Check the best performing ones in terms of Engineering degrees. Get a short list and visit them.

I looked at Bath, Bristol, Exeter and Southampton at the time, but went to Exeter as that felt right for me.

Smallpeice Trust and Headstart offer engineering experience courses often staying in university accommodation so they can get a real feel for what university will be like. They typically involve a project and a visiting speaker.

Aerospace degrees are broad. MEng is 4 years and has the same core as other engineering degrees in first year or so. You specialise later.

Wow!!

Thanks so much to all of you for your replies 

I thought my thread had disappeared into the night and just checked back now.

I'm very grateful and will read them with much interest.

@AvocadoPlant @mellicauli @ErrolTheDragon @mibbelucieachwell @TizerorFizz @NCTDN @Sortingfinances2 @Rainbowshit @stuffnthings @Potcallingkettle

DC applied to Cambridge (long shot!!) Bath, Bristol and Loughborough and Leeds with A star A star A , plus an A* EPQ on aerodynamics in F1 car design, and several years as a air cadet. Had 4 offers.

First two years of MEng is common to Mech Eng, Automotive and Aeronautical, and many swap between disciplines for their final degree as interests develop. DC recently started a 12 month placement with a major manufacturer. It's very competitive to get decent internships.

@ShaunaTheSheep
That’s not the case at Bristol. Students there work on subjects organised into three streams which are specialised from year one with aerospace applications and examples.

Airbus advertise online work experience weeks. Generally in the autumn I think. They used to yo the traditional face to face variety before Covid, worth checking to see if those have resumed.

For engineering, lots of local companies and consultants can help. Even if it’s just work shadowing. Look up who is around. Yes, big companies have schemes but if you don’t live near, it’s a problem. So look for any type of engineeing and consider consultancies. Not every engineering firm manufactures things.

It’s a massive shame schools do nothing to support engineering. My DH did all sorts of engineering projects at his grammar school because he did Engineering A level when it was actually considered worth doing. They even arranged a short architecture course for students. Their big project was a monorail built in the school grounds. He preferred Civil and Structural but any engineering experience and understanding of how engineers solve problems is useful.

It’s a massive shame schools do nothing to support engineering.
It's probably gone downhill in the last few years thanks to funding cuts and curriculum/exam changes. DDs girls' grammar was fortunately pretty good when she was there - participated in the Arkwright awards, did all the Go4Set/Crest award types of things. They all did a range of tech subjects inc electronics and d&t in ks3, and were encouraged to do a tech subject at gcse (and also comp sci was very popular). It helped a lot, I think, that at least two of the tech teachers had been engineers.
Hopefully there are still some schools managing at least some of these sorts of things. Many so at least manage computing and robotics clubs which are good.

I'd also suggest looking at BAE Systems for ideas - they are one of the biggest engineering company in the uk and have a schools & apprenticeships programmes including work experience.

www.baesystems.com/en/careers/careers-in-the-uk/getting-ready-for-work

Thanks so much, I've had a quick look at the links and advice.

Very grateful!

@TizerorFizz
@NCTDN
@ShaunaTheSheep
@Missillusioned
@FemaleEngineer

Would you mind if I DM'd you @stuffnthings regarding this topic?

Thank you