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Engineering Space & Defence Degree

Aerospace Engineer

Design, test and improve aircraft, spacecraft and their systems, from wings to propulsion.

A day in the life

Run computer simulations of airflow, review wind-tunnel data, work with materials specialists, and help assemble prototype parts.

Typical route

Helpful A-levels

Physics + Maths (Further Maths useful)

Typical qualification and training

  • Accredited Aerospace / Mechanical Engineering degree
  • Graduate scheme or engineering apprenticeship

These are common routes, not compulsory subject combinations. Entry requirements vary between universities, training schemes and employers, so always check the current provider requirements.

Indicative UK salary

Starter
£26,000-£32,000
Experienced
£40,000-£60,000
Senior
£70,000+

Chartership and project-lead roles increase senior pay.

Salary range checked against Prospects.ac.uk: Aerospace Engineer.

UK employers

  • Rolls-Royce
  • BAE Systems
  • Airbus UK
  • GKN Aerospace

Worldwide employers

  • Boeing
  • Lockheed Martin
  • SpaceX
  • Airbus

Useful route links

These links are good starting points for courses, apprenticeships, graduate routes and professional training. They open the official or specialist sites rather than another summary page.

UCAS course search: aerospace engineering Compare degree prospectuses, entry requirements, open days and course structures. ucas.com Engineering apprenticeships Search current engineering apprenticeship and degree apprenticeship vacancies. findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk UK Space Agency recruitment Official recruitment information for the UK Space Agency. gov.uk UCAS Physics and astronomy courses Search UK undergraduate physics, astrophysics and related degree options. ucas.com Prospects: what can I do with a physics degree? Independent overview of careers that physics graduates enter. prospects.ac.uk Find an apprenticeship on GOV.UK Search current apprenticeship and degree apprenticeship vacancies in England. gov.uk

Key skills

Spacecraft Engineer

Design, build and test satellites, probes and spacecraft systems that operate in extreme environments.

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Mechanical Engineer

Apply physics and mechanics to design machines, tools and moving systems used across every industry.

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Defence Scientist

Apply physics and engineering to develop and evaluate technologies that protect national security.

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Sources and further reading

External links open in a new tab.

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