Undergraduate

Aeronautical Engineering Aeronautical Engineering is concerned with the design and construction of aircraft. It is a distinct yet broad and multidisciplinary subject which covers a varied range of disciplines in an integrated and unified way. Whatever your career choice, you will be able to appreciate the subtle interplay inherent in the complex aeronautical design process. For example, structures must be light in weight, but strong and stiff; aerofoils and bodies must provide lift efficiently without disproportionate drag; flight should be fuel efficient, but controllable and safe. Engineering involves the realisation of concepts and ideas. This process involves many stages, including conceptual thinking, analysis of ideas, detail design, testing, and production. During this process, many cycles of refinement may be needed to optimise performance, especially in complex systems such as those found in aircraft. Thus engineering is a synthesis involving many skills, and a practical engineer must be able to analyse concepts and understand the fundamental theories that underlie them. If you enjoy problem solving, perform well in maths and physics and have a strong interest in aircraft then this could be the programme for you. Aeronautical Engineering graduates go on to have a wide range of careers and are extremely successful in diverse occupations from engineering through to consultancy and finance. Why study Aeronautical Engineering at Bristol? Bristol is the ideal place to study Aeronautical Engineering because of both the dedication and expertise of the staff and its location at the

heart of the UK aerospace industry. Airbus UK, BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, Agusta Westland Helicopters, Dowty and GE Aviation are all located within a 50-mile radius. The department provides a challenging learning environment for the education of engineers, and the completion of the £15 million BLADE (Bristol Laboratory for Advanced Dynamic Engineering) project now provides fantastic world-class facilities in a cutting-edge research environment. ‘Teaching in a Research Environment’ is the philosophy at the heart of the undergraduate programme. The vibrant nature of the department is reflected in terms of our external links and support. We have significant interactions with Rolls-Royce (University Technology Centre in Composites), GE Aviation (University Technology Strategic Partnership in Composites) and Agusta Westland Helicopters (University Technology Centre in Vibration). We also have many ongoing projects with companies such as Airbus, Qinetiq and BAE Systems. We are founding members of the UK Applied Aerodynamics Consortium, and partners in the Centre for Fluid Mechanics Simulation (CFMS). International interest from non-academic centres includes, NASA Langley, Los Alamos National Laboratories, US Air Force and EADS Military Air Systems (Germany).

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What will I study? The Aeronautical Engineering degree is a fouryear MEng programme (H410), which enables you to graduate with an engineering qualification acceptable throughout Europe. The early years of the programme lay a broad and unified foundation in basic engineering. The later, more advanced studies develop these skills and lead to understanding the complexity of modern engineering. Four themes extend throughout the programme; aerodynamics and propulsion, structures and materials, dynamics and control and design and systems. These subjects have applications to a wide variety of engineering situations, but are developed in an aeronautical context, which produces a challenging programme. It also provides prime examples of the interdisciplinary activities of engineering. Years one and two lay the foundations of the main areas and also include mathematics and computing. The fact that much of engineering is concerned with multidisciplinary projects is introduced in the first year via lectures in design. This is developed in the second year within a unit in Systems Engineering, combining diverse engineering disciplines to satisfy a requirement: the successful achievement of this is acknowledged to be central to the success of engineering industry. Third- and fourth-year units develop knowledge, skills and understanding in the main areas and include a substantial amount of project work. Senior design staff at Airbus UK lead the third-year group design project; groups of about 12 students work competitively to the same design specification, and many factors contributing to the design of an aircraft are considered. For students with a particular interest in rotary wing aircraft design, a helicopter

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design project, supported by Augusta Westland is also available for one student group. These projects provide a major opportunity for the application of systems engineering principles. The fourth-year project gives the opportunity of investigating a single problem in detail, and may be research, design or systems study orientated, and involve theoretical, computational or experimental work. It usually involves some industrial contact, and is frequently associated with departmental research objectives. There are options available each year. In years one and two you may study a foreign language. In years three and four a range of options is available, and you may choose options from other University programmes. The second and third year contains elements of professional engineering studies: topics covered include management, marketing, accounting, economics, politics and law. We also offer a four-year MEng programme in Aeronautical Engineering with Study in Continental Europe (H401). The first two years are identical, except that the foreign language element is usually mandatory. Selection criteria includes grade A at GCSE, or equivalent, in the language. The third year is spent at a European Higher Education Institution, studying Aeronautical Engineering and related subjects, including a project. The fourth year is spent back at Bristol. What support is available? The Department of Aerospace Engineering operates a formal tutor system throughout the four-year programme. In your first year you are placed in a group of four or five students and meet once a week throughout the year with an academic tutor.

These meetings offer the opportunity to discuss recent practicals, lab write-ups, assessed tests and questions, upcoming assignments and individual courses. Some additional topics are covered by your tutor, such as improving your presentation skills. Your tutor also serves as a first point of call for any work or university related queries. You remain with your tutor throughout the second and third years, providing academic support throughout your time at university. The frequency of the meetings reduces in these years, reflecting a reduced need for constant contact. In the fourth year your project supervisor takes on the role of your personal tutor What’s life like as a student? Aeronautical Engineering is a demanding but extremely rewarding subject with a careful balance between lectures, lab exercises and tutorials. There are several external trips and activities timetabled throughout the degree programme including a firstyear visit to the Fleet Air Arm Museum at Yeovilton and a second year visit to the British Airways Maintenance in Cardiff where all the 747 and 777 fleet heavy maintenance is carried out. Wednesday afternoons are kept free for students to participate in sports or other extra-curricular activities. The opportunities are numerous for involvement in sport, the Air Squadron, music, community action and so on. Many students enjoy these activities as an important complement to the challenge of the programme. More information can be found at www.ubu.org.uk.

What are my career prospects? Many of our graduates find employment in some part of the diverse aerospace industry. However you would find many opportunities for the application of the same principles in other high-technology industries. Our Aeronautical Engineering programmes open numerous career opportunities as they provide a framework for developing good numeracy and creative skills, with a broad technological basis and the ability to work creatively in a team. Our graduates are highly sought after, with the department’s strong relationships with the major aerospace companies enhancing career prospects. One quarter of graduates go on to further degrees and more than one half go into aerospace ie industry, operators or research establishments. Is there any advice you can give me on making my application? We look at all candidates to assess your strengths and suitability and try to interview everyone to whom we intend to make an offer. Most students have at least three A-levels with grade A in both Mathematics and Physics. We also make equivalent offers to candidates taking the International, French and European Baccalaureate, Abitur, Scottish or Irish Leaving Certificate and other qualifications. While our programmes attract those looking for careers in the aerospace industry, we encourage applications from those who are well motivated, with numeracy skills, a healthy and broad technological bias and the ability to work creatively in a team.

An important consideration beyond an applicant’s academic record relates to ‘fitness to practice’ engineering. That is whether the applicant has the motivation, temperament and character to practise engineering as a profession. Thus we look favourably on applications which demonstrate some or all of the following; a clear interest in and commitment to the subject; evidence of clear thinking and understanding, problem solving and analytical skills; clear evidence of relevant reading or research into the subject area; non-academic achievement and/or experience, or extra-curricular interests, positions of responsibility, voluntary or paid work. Can I get sponsorship for my studies? We encourage sponsorship in any way we can and about one fifth of our students are sponsored. We cannot, however, discriminate in favour of sponsored students as we believe this would be unfair. Unfortunately we are unable to put candidates in contact with potential sponsors.

Are your programmes accredited? All our degree programmes are accredited by the Royal Aeronautical Society for full exemption from academic requirements for Chartered Engineer status. The practical and industrial training necessary can be obtained by sponsorship or through postgraduate training schemes run by most major companies. Are there any specific scholarships or bursaries? The University currently offers in the region of 40 scholarships each year under the Eliahou Dangoor Scholarship Scheme. Each scholarship is valued at £1,000 and will be for one year’s duration. These scholarships aim to provide talented home (UK) undergraduate students the opportunity to study science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects at some of the leading universities in the UK.

We recognise that there are not enough sponsorship places to meet the demand, and in some cases sponsorship may not suit the candidate. We therefore treat candidates equally whether or not they are seeking sponsorship. We currently support the thick sandwich scheme, involving a year in industry before and after the degree programme. We do not offer thin sandwich programmes where you spend a year in industry during your degree. It is possible, under special circumstances, to arrange for a year out after the second or third year, provided this is for approved study or industrial experience.

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Entry data Typical offer for MEng Aeronautical Engineering Please visit www.bristol.ac.uk/ug12-aero for Study in Europe and other qualifications A-levels A*AA-AAB including Mathematics and Physics AS-levels None IB Diploma 38-35 with 6, 6, 6 at Higher Level including Mathematics and Physics Access Treated individually; minimum is to pass Access to HE Diploma with at least 12 credits at Distinction in relevant subjects and 21 credits at Merit IELTS 6.5 with minimum 6.0 in each part GCSE English Language, Mathematics and Science Selection UCAS form Part-time study Not available Deferred applications Welcomed

Top: James Rogers, former undergraduate and PhD student working for McLaren Middle: Sarah Wilde undertaking her industrial placement in Switzerland Bottom: Undergraduate students working on a UAV project

Contacts School information For more information about the Queens School of Engineering and the Department of Aerospace Engineering, please visit: www.bristol.ac.uk/aerospace www.bristol.ac.uk/engineering/schools/quen Useful contact information Admissions Undergraduate Admissions Office Tel: +44 (0)117 928 8150 Fax: +44 (0)117 925 1424 Email: [email protected] Accommodation Accommodation Office Tel: +44 (0)117 954 6640 www.bristol.ac.uk/accommodation Access Unit for D/deaf and Disabled Students Tel: +44 (0)117 331 0444 Fax: +44 (0)117 331 0456 www.bristol.ac.uk/accessunit

University guide to the city of Bristol www.bristol.ac.uk/citybristol International students International Advice and Support Tel: +44 (0)117 954 5849 www.bristol.ac.uk/international/studentsupport

If you need all or part of this publication in an accessible format (eg in Braille, in larger print or on CD), please contact Widening Participation and Undergraduate Recruitment Tel: +44 (0)117 928 8623 Email: [email protected]

Funding Student Funding Office Tel: +44 (0)117 331 7972 www.bristol.ac.uk/studentfunding

Photographic credit: William King, Destination Bristol; other photographs © University of Bristol. The information contained in this leaflet is correct at the time of printing (June 2011). Programmes and facilities are liable to alter or be withdrawn at the University’s discretion.

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