Master's in Aerospace Engineering
A postgraduate degree, usually one or two years after a bachelor's, that takes you deeper into one area of a field and often ends with a research project or thesis.
Overview
Why study a Master's in Aerospace Engineering?
A master's in Aerospace Engineering is for students who already hold a bachelor's in aerospace, aeronautical, mechanical or a closely related branch of engineering. It deepens one part of the field, such as aerodynamics, propulsion, structures and materials, flight dynamics and control, or space systems. Titles include MSc, MS, MEng, MASc and Master of Engineering. A UK taught MSc usually lasts one year, while programmes in the United States, Canada, Germany and Japan typically take one and a half to two years.
There are two main types. Taught or course-based master's degrees combine advanced modules with a design project and dissertation, and suit students heading for industry. Research master's degrees, such as a thesis-based MS in the United States or an MASc in Canada, centre on a supervised research project and are a common step towards a PhD. Some UK programmes are built around an aircraft or spacecraft group design project with industrial input, and in Germany many students write their thesis at a company or a research centre such as DLR.
Expect a clear step up in modelling. Students use high-fidelity CFD, nonlinear finite element analysis, multidisciplinary design optimisation and flight simulation, often with industry-standard codes. Many programmes add modules on certification, systems engineering and project management, reflecting how aerospace work is organised in practice. Students from outside Europe on UK aerospace master's courses usually need an ATAS certificate before applying for a visa, and in the United States some research projects may be restricted under export controls, so ask about this before accepting an offer.
Curriculum
What you may study
Master's programmes in Aerospace Engineering commonly offer modules such as these.
- Advanced and computational aerodynamics
- Aeroelasticity and structural dynamics
- Composite structures and damage tolerance
- Gas turbine performance and design
- Rocket and electric space propulsion
- Guidance, navigation and control
- Spacecraft systems and mission design
- Aircraft design and multidisciplinary optimisation
- Airworthiness, certification and safety assessment
- Research methods and dissertation
Course guides for Aerospace Engineering at Master's
No course guides for Aerospace Engineering at Master's are published yet.
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Admission
Getting into Master's in Aerospace Engineering
Most programmes ask for a bachelor's in aerospace, aeronautical or mechanical engineering, and some accept electrical engineering, physics or applied mathematics where the transcript includes fluid mechanics, structures or control. Indian BE and BTech degrees are widely accepted, with the minimum percentage or CGPA set by each university. Many US universities no longer require the GRE for engineering master's applicants, though some still ask for it or will consider it. Expect to submit a statement of purpose, CV, academic references and an IELTS, TOEFL or PTE score.
Country rules add extra steps. In the UK, students from outside the UK, EEA and Switzerland, including India, generally need a free ATAS certificate for postgraduate aerospace study, which can take several weeks to arrive. German universities often check your credits module by module, and Indian applicants usually need an APS certificate, with many applications made through uni-assist. Japanese graduate schools may ask you to contact a prospective supervisor first. Deadlines for scholarships and assistantships often fall well before the main application dates.
Careers
Career pathways
A master's often leads to specialist analysis, design and systems roles such as these.
- Aerodynamicist
- CFD Engineer
- Stress and Damage Tolerance Engineer
- Propulsion Engineer
- Flight Control Engineer
- Guidance, Navigation and Control Engineer
- Spacecraft Systems Engineer
- Mission Analyst
- Flight Test Engineer
- Certification Engineer
- Composites Engineer
- Aerospace Systems Engineer
Sectors
Industries
Aircraft and Engine Manufacturing
Master's graduates take specialist roles in aerodynamics, loads, stress, propulsion performance and certification for new and in-service aircraft.
Space Systems and Launch
Graduates design satellite subsystems, plan missions and orbits, and work on propulsion and guidance for launch vehicles.
Research and Technology Centres
National laboratories and agencies hire master's graduates as research engineers on wind tunnels, test rigs and new aircraft concepts.
Engineering Simulation and Services
Simulation software firms and engineering service companies use specialists to run analyses and support aerospace clients.
Defence and Security
Where nationality rules permit, graduates work on military aircraft, missiles, radar and uncrewed systems.
Urban Air Mobility and Drones
Start-ups developing electric aircraft and drones hire master's graduates for flight control, battery integration and certification work.
Who hires
Employers
- Airbus
- Rolls-Royce
- Safran
- GE Aerospace
- Dassault Aviation
- MTU Aero Engines
- Thales Alenia Space
- Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
- Indian Space Research Organisation
- Skyroot Aerospace
Named for illustration only; not a ranking, endorsement or partnership.
Outlook
Looking ahead
New propulsion is the main technical shift ahead. Open-rotor engines, hybrid-electric systems, hydrogen combustion and fuel cells are all being studied as ways to cut emissions, and each raises new problems in thermal management, materials, safety and certification. Master's graduates who understand both the physics and the route to certifying such technologies may be well placed as demonstrators turn into products over the coming years.
Digital engineering is changing how aircraft and spacecraft are developed. Model-based systems engineering, digital twins and machine learning for fast surrogate models and flight data analysis are becoming routine, and employers increasingly expect specialists to write code. The space economy, including Earth observation, satellite communications and in-orbit servicing, is also creating demand for mission and systems engineers in organisations of every size, from start-ups to large contractors.
Specializations
Other Engineering specializations at Master's
Subject
Engineering at Master's
Questions
Questions about Master's in Aerospace Engineering
Can I take an Aerospace Engineering master's with a mechanical engineering degree?
Yes, this is one of the most common routes. Mechanical graduates usually have the mathematics, mechanics and thermodynamics that aerospace master's programmes build on. You may need to catch up on aerodynamics or flight mechanics through preparatory reading or a bridging module, so check the programme's assumed knowledge before you start.
What is an ATAS certificate and when do I need it?
ATAS, the Academic Technology Approval Scheme, is a UK government security clearance for postgraduate study in certain sensitive subjects, and most aerospace master's and PhD programmes fall within it. Nationals of the EU, EEA, Switzerland and a short list of other countries are exempt, but Indian applicants generally need it. It is free, you apply after receiving an offer, and it must be in place before your visa application, so allow several weeks.
Should I choose a thesis-based or course-based master's?
Choose a thesis route if you are considering a PhD or a research and development career, because it gives you a supervised research project and often a publication. A course-based route suits students heading straight into industry and is usually shorter. Thesis places are more likely to come with assistantship funding, while course-based places are mostly self-funded.
Can I specialise in space engineering at master's level?
Yes. Many aerospace master's programmes offer a space or astronautics stream, and some are dedicated to space engineering, covering spacecraft design, orbital mechanics, space propulsion and mission analysis. Bear in mind that parts of the space sector are subject to export controls, so check how this might affect projects and jobs in the country you choose.
Plan
Plan your Master's
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