Cranfield University

MSc in Safety and Human Factors in Aviation

Who is it for?

This course attracts a wide variety of students from aviation professionals in civil and military domains to high-quality graduates in engineering and social science disciplines. The wide range of skills and knowledge represented by students on the course provides a learning environment unique to here.

Why this course?

Delivered through the specialist Safety and Accident Investigation Centre, operating for over 30 years to support global safety and investigation, this course is unique in that it synthesizes the study of human factors with the study of safety and safety assessment, creating a powerful combination to really add-on value in applied aviation and safety-critical contexts.

It is designed to provide the industry with successful and well-equipped graduates who can make a real and lasting improvement to performance and safety through the application of skills and knowledge learned on the course. Demand for human factors and safety expertise continues to be a growing area within aviation as well as other safety-critical industries. Safety-critical systems require high human performance in addition to engineering excellence to meet the safety and business requirements of the aviation industry. To meet these demands, the design of systems must match, support and augment the capabilities of the user.

We are very well located for visiting part-time students from all over the world and offer a range of library and support facilities to support your studies. This enables students from all over the world to complete this qualification whilst balancing work/life commitments.

Course details

The MSc comprises 12 modules; eight compulsory and two of the optional taught modules; and two group project modules. The PgCert consists of three compulsory modules with the remaining modules selected by yourself. You also complete an individual research project.

Compulsory modules

All the modules in the following list need to be taken as part of this course:

• Cognitive Ergonomics
• Human Performance and Error
• Human-Computer Interaction in Aviation
• Aviation Medicine
• Research Methods
• Safety Assessment of Aircraft Systems
• Aviation Safety Management
• Aircraft Accident Investigation and Response
• Safety and Human Factors in Aviation Course Induction
• Capstone (Group Project)

Elective modules

A selection of modules from the following list needs to be taken as part of this course:

• Flight Data Monitoring
• Training and Simulation
• Human Factors in Aviation Maintenance
• Work and Job Design

Your career

There are strong employment prospects for graduates in safety-related management and operational positions. Course graduates generally find suitable employment in a range of safety and human factors related roles. Previous graduates of the course have been successful in gaining employment with:

• Airbus
• BAE Systems
• British Airways
• Qinetiq
• Virgin Atlantic
• NATS
• Honeywell
• Easyjet
• DHL
• Royal Navy
• Frazer-Nash
• MBDA.