MSc in Aerospace Computational Engineering
Cranfield, United Kingdom
MSc
DURATION
3 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
GBP 29,025 *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for overseas students | £13,005 - for home students
Key Summary
Within the next five years, there will be a demand for engineers and leaders who will be using 100% digital techniques for aerospace applications, design and testing. This unique course covers a wide range of applications focused on aerospace computational aspects.
The MSc in Aerospace Computational Engineering aims to enhance your skills through a detailed introduction to the state-of-the-art computational methods and their applications for digital age aerospace engineering applications. You will be able to meet the demand of an evolving workplace that requires highly qualified engineers possessing core software engineering skills, together with competency in mathematical analysis techniques.
This course is suitable for those with backgrounds in mathematics, physics, computer science or an engineering discipline. We also welcome applicants with relevant industrial experience, such as qualified engineers working with computational methods, wishing to extend their knowledge.
The part-time option is suitable for qualified engineers looking to extend their knowledge and incorporate CFD into their skill set.
To help students find appropriate funding, we have created a funding finder where you can search for suitable sources of funding by filtering the results to suit your needs.
Master's Loan from Student Finance England
A Master's Loan is now available for UK applicants to help you pay for your master’s course.
Cranfield University GREAT Scholarship
In partnership with the British Council and the GREAT Britain Campaign, Cranfield University is offering 3 scholarships of financial support to the value of £10,000 to students from Bangladesh, Thailand and Vietnam.
Commonwealth Scholarships for Developing Countries
Students from developing countries who would not otherwise be able to study in the UK can apply for a Commonwealth Scholarship, which includes tuition fees, travel and a monthly stipend for master’s study.
Chevening Scholarships
Chevening Scholarships are awarded to outstanding emerging leaders to pursue a one-year master’s at Cranfield University. The scholarship includes tuition fees, travel and a monthly stipend for master’s study.
Lendwise Postgraduate Student Loan
The Lendwise Postgraduate Student Loan provides tuition fees and maintenance loans of between £5,000 and £100,000 for eligible applicants studying at Cranfield University.
Compulsory Modules
All the modules in the following list need to be taken as part of this course.
- C++ Programming
- Computational Methods
- Computational Aerodynamics
- Validation and Verification for Aerospace Applications
- Modelling Approaches for Aerospace Applications
- Numerical Modelling for Compressible Flows
- Computational Engineering Structures
- CAD & Airframe Design
- Cranfield University has been ranked amongst the world’s top universities in the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject.
- In Engineering – Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing, Cranfield has been ranked 27th in the world and attained top scores in Employer and Academic Reputation.
The MSc in Aerospace Computational Engineering is designed to equip you with the skills required to pursue a successful career in computational aerospace design and engineering, both in the UK and globally.
Our courses attract enquiries from companies in the rapidly expanding aerospace, computational and digital engineering industrial sector across the world who wish to recruit high-quality graduates who have strong technical programming skills, and can assess and evaluate the results of digital/numerical simulations. They are in demand by CAD vendors, commercial engineering software developers, aerospace and computational science-related industrial sectors and research organisations, and have been particularly successful in finding employment.
Graduates of this course have gone into roles including:
- Aerospace Engineer
- Business Engineer
- CFD Application Engineer
- Computational Modelling Engineer
- Data Analyst
- Data Science Specialist
- Flight Operations Engineer
- Mechanical Engineer
- Pilot Officer
- Research and Development Project Manager
- Software Development Engineer
- Structural Engineer
- Technical Project Leader
- Test & Reliability Engineer
The taught modules are delivered from October to April via a combination of structured lectures and computer-based labs. Many of the lectures are given in conjunction with some form of programming; you will be given time and practical assistance to develop your software skills.
Students on the part-time programme complete all of the compulsory modules based on a flexible schedule that will be agreed with the Course Director.
Taught modules: 40%, group project: 20%, individual research project: 40%
Group Project
The group project is related to a wide range of aerospace applications, including a unique digital wind tunnel development. Projects are available for a) full-aircraft simulations and development of advanced turbulence models, b) structural analysis, c) fluid-structure interaction, d) coupling these aforementioned computational methods, including an integrated digital design, e) advanced visualisation techniques, and f) the next generation of computational methods relevant to the aerospace industry.
Individual Project
The taught element of the course finishes in May. From May to September, you will work full-time on your individual research project. The research project gives you the opportunity to produce a detailed piece of work either in close collaboration with industry or on a particular topic which you are passionate about.