Learning and assessment

Our varied programme of study has been designed to create the optimum learning environment for our students.

Teaching methods

• Lectures: Delivered by academic staff, lectures are usually made up of large groups of students and are designed to introduce you to a subject and provide guidance on further reading.
• Academic tutorials: Smaller groups where you'll exchange ideas and discuss topics in more detail with your peers and your academic tutor.
• Labs and practicals: Most of the practical learning takes place in lab sessions where you'll get to apply the theory you've been taught in lectures and tutorials.
• Personal tutorials: You'll gain both academic and pastoral support from your personal tutor.
• Independent study: Alongside your formal learning, you'll also carry out independent study, such as research and further reading.
• Group work: A key skill for your future career, part of your learning will take place in teams.
• Industrial Training Programme: You will work in groups to analyse and solve a relevant open-ended problem set by some of the biggest names in industry as part of the four-year MEng.

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How you'll be assessed

You'll be assessed in a variety of ways throughout your course.

Some assessments are intended to help you understand how you are doing and identify any areas for improvement. Some will also help you prepare for the assessments that count towards your overall marks.

You will be assessed by:

• Formal exams
• Online tests
• Coursework
• Presentations
• Group projects
• Peer assessment

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Enabling improvement

Feedback is an essential component of our courses and enables both us and you to improve.

Feedback takes many forms and will vary depending on the type of assessment you've undertaken. For example, an essay will include formal, written feedback from your tutor, whereas an online test will provide you with immediate feedback about your knowledge and understanding of a subject.

We're always looking for ways to improve and we welcome feedback at any time. You'll be able to provide feedback in a number of ways, such as participating in our regular staff-student committee meetings, completing a module survey, visiting the Aerospace office, or by completing our online feedback form.

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High-level, intensive courses

As one of the UK's leading aerospace engineering courses, we attract the best students and we expect a lot of you whilst you're here.

You will receive approximately 28 hours of contact time each week. You will also be expected to undertake approximately 30 hours of independent learning each week in addition to your formal programme of study.

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Course structure

A modular degree

Our courses are modular, which means you'll take a set number of modules each year. Each module is worth a certain number of credits - usually 10 or 20.

Core modules

In each year of the course, you'll study a pre-set range of core modules. These are designed to give you the best foundation in aerospace engineering principles. The first year of study is the same across all courses and is made up solely of core modules.

Elective modules

From the second year onwards, you'll begin to specialise in your preferred area of study and will take elective modules in either Avionics or Aeromechanics.

Module credits

Module credits are awarded if you pass the assessment requirements for the module. You have to complete a total of 120 credits in your first year in order to progress to year two. To be awarded your degree, you have to gain a total of 240 credits (BEng) or 360 credits (MEng) across years two, three and four. The marks you gain in these years will contribute to your final degree classification. Extra weight is given to the results in third and fourth year modules.

Module codes

Alongside the module title, your timetable will include a module code which indicates the area of study.

• AER - Aerospace Engineering
• MEC - Mechanical Engineering
• ACS - Automatic Control and Systems Engineering
• EEE - Electrical and Electronic Engineering
• MAT - Materials Science and Engineering
• COM - Computer Science
• MGT - Management
• MAS - Maths

Year one

Enhancing your knowledge

The first year of study on all our courses is the same and focuses on enhancing your existing knowledge. You'll study a core range of modules covering subjects from across the engineering and mathematical sphere to give you an excellent understanding of general engineering concepts, as well as an introduction to aerospace engineering.

Year two

Understanding your areas of interest

By year two, you'll have grasped the fundamental principles of engineering and will have begun to work out which areas you're most interested in. Alongside a comprehensive programme of core study, in year two you'll begin to specialise on either our Avionics or Aeromechanics stream.

• Avionics: Concentrating on the electronic side of aviation, you'll study aircraft sensor and actuation systems and flight control systems.
• Aeromechanics: This stream focuses on the combustion, propulsion and materials manufacturing of aircraft.

Year three

Consolidating your knowledge

Your third year is all about consolidating your knowledge and beginning to develop a deeper understanding of your chosen field of study. You'll now get to specialise further on your chosen stream.

• Avionics - Aircraft Power and Actuation Systems: How aircraft sensor and actuation systems are powered and controlled, including electromagnetics, signal processing, sensor fusion and the theory of radar systems.
• Avionics - Flight Control Systems: Navigation, embedded systems and software, advanced control, hardware and software testing and verification.
• Aeromechanics - Aerodynamics and Propulsion: Advanced computational methods for designing aerodynamic components and their interaction with the whole aircraft.
• Aeromechanics - Aerospace Materials, Structures and Manufacturing: The design, manufacture and analysis of advanced metallic and composite materials for aircraft.

Year four

Next-level learning

You'll take your learning to the next level on the final year of the MEng, gaining the in-depth knowledge, skills and practical experience needed to excel in the jobs market. Whichever stream you're on, you'll continue on this in your final year.

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Sample timetable

Here's a sample year one timetable to give you an idea of how your academic week will look.