Aerospace Systems

Aerospace systems sits at the intersection of engineering, physics and computing, concerned with the onboard technologies that keep aircraft and spacecraft functioning safely and efficiently. From avionics and flight control systems to propulsion management, navigation and communication networks, this discipline asks how complex, safety-critical machines can be designed, integrated and operated in some of the most demanding environments humans have created. As aerospace becomes increasingly software-driven and electrified, engineers who understand the whole-system picture are in growing demand across commercial aviation, defence and the emerging space sector.

At the University of Glasgow, you will study the principles underpinning aerospace vehicle dynamics, electronic systems, signal processing and control theory, developing the analytical habits of an engineer who thinks across subsystems rather than in isolated components. The programme runs across five years and includes a year abroad, giving you the chance to study at a partner institution overseas and to engage with aerospace engineering from a different national and industrial perspective. This broadens technical vocabulary and cross-cultural working skills that are increasingly expected at major aerospace primes and their supply chains.

The quantitative rigour of the course builds fluency in modelling, simulation and systems integration, preparing you for roles in aerospace and defence engineering, aviation consultancy, air traffic management technology, satellite systems and space exploration programmes. Many graduates continue to postgraduate research or conversion programmes in closely related engineering disciplines, while others move directly into graduate engineering schemes with aerospace manufacturers and technology companies. The typical entry tariff for this programme is 232 points, reflecting the mathematically intensive nature of the degree.