Course Structure

Introduction

The BEng degree provides a solid foundation in all the basic engineering technologies required by an aerospace engineer in the development of the next generation of aerospace products.

Stage 1

• Introduction to Aerospace Engineering
• Laboratory Programme 1
• Mathematics 1
• Mechanics of Materials 1
• Thermo and Fluid Mechanics 1
• Dynamic Systems 1
• Engineering Design 1

Stage 2

• Professional Studies 2
• Compressible Flow and Propulsion 2
• Aircraft Structures 2
• Manufacturing Technology 2
• Maths and Computing 2
• Aircraft Design 2
• Aircraft Aerodynamics & Performance 2

Stage 2 Optional Course

• Employability 2

Stage 3

• Avionic Systems 3
• Professional Studies 3
• Project 3B
• Aeronautical Engineering 3
• Computer-Aided Engineering 3
• Manufacturing 3

Learning and Teaching

The School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering plays a leading role in CDIO, an international initiative to reform engineering education, which involves well over 100 universities worldwide. Support for participation in this initiative was secured through funding to set up a Centre of Excellence in Active and Interactive Learning at Queen's. As a result, our degree programmes have many innovative features that enhance student learning:

Stage 1

The first year includes an introductory course focussed on developing important professional engineering skills, built up around a series of team-based design and build projects. Students are not only provided with the opportunity to learn about engineering practice but also to engage with the other students within their class, helping to develop a strong sense of identity and community within the student body. In subsequent years, engineering knowledge is further developed through structured project work.

Stage 2

The group design exercises allow students to demonstrate their technical ability in a team environment.

Stage 3

The individual research project provides opportunities for in-depth study and engagement with Aerospace engineering design and development.

Through the program, there is an emphasis placed on the development of a balanced set of personal, interpersonal and professional skills.

At Queen’s, we aim to deliver a high quality learning environment that embeds intellectual curiosity, innovation and best practice in learning, teaching and student support to enable students to achieve their full academic potential. Students studying for the BEng in Aerospace Engineering are provided with a broad range of learning experiences to enable them to develop as individuals, to engage with subject experts from both academia and industry, and to develop an enquiring mind to enhance their development as independent, lifelong learners. Access to industry standard engineering tools, a world class library facility and courses taught by industrial experts provides a breadth of opportunity to develop students’ interests in the aerospace sector, supported by formal lectures and tutorials. There are a wide range of learning opportunities, including:

• E-Learning technologies
  The Canvas Virtual Learning Environment provides access to a wealth of information and supporting learning information, including additional module resources, reading lists and message boards to communicate with class members.
• Field Trips
  Northern Ireland has a vibrant Aerospace industry, and as part of the BEng Aerospace Engineering degree programme, students will undertake a number of visits to Aerospace companies across Northern Ireland to understand what the role of a practicing Aerospace Engineer is in industry, and to relate module content to a real-life work environment.
• Individual research projects
  As part of the degree, students will undertake a research project in their final year in conjunction with an academic supervisor, looking in detail at a specialist topic in Aerospace Engineering. This will provide students the opportunity to engage with the aerospace engineering design and development process, while embedding core skills in project management, reporting and presentation skills.
• Lectures
  Formal lectures are timetabled to introduce basic information and concepts about key topics and themes in Aerospace engineering, and to provide a starting point to guide further self-directed private study. This provides an invaluable opportunity to both engage with academic subject experts and also to gain feedback and advice. Through the degree course, a number of lectures are also given by industrial subject matter experts, to ensure that students have the opportunity to discuss the industrial applications.
• Personal Tutor
  Undergraduates are allocated a Personal Tutor who meets with them during the year to support their academic development.
• Practicals
  A key aspect of any engineering degree is the ability to be able to competently transfer engineering scientific principles into practice. Students will be provided with numerous opportunities to develop core technical skills through practical laboratories and design exercises during your degree programme, and will become confident in the use of a wide range of industrial standard engineering design and analysis tools/software. For example, in Stage 1, students undertake two lab weeks.
• Self-directed study
  This is an essential part of life as a Queen’s student when important private reading, engagement with e-learning resources, reflection on feedback to date and assignment research and preparation work is carried out.
• Tutorials
  The majority of lectures are supported through tutorial sessions, providing opportunities for discussion about problems posed in accompanying lectures. Again, tutorials provide valuable opportunities to engage with academic staff to obtain help and feedback outside of the formal lecture environment.
• Work placements
  As part of our MEng sandwich program, students may elect to take a work placement after Stage 2. An employability program provides support on application and CV completion, interviews, and what to expect on placement, while our dedicated Placement Officer provides both information on current placement opportunities, and ‘on placement’ support.

Assessment

Details of assessment procedures are outlined below:

The way in which students are assessed will vary according to the learning objectives of each module. Most modules are assessed through a combination of coursework, class tests and end of semester examinations. Some modules [e.g. final year Honours Project module] are assessed through project work, written assignments, presentations and interviews. Details of how each module is assessed are shown in the Student Handbook which is provided to all students during their first year induction.

Feedback

As students progress through their course at Queen’s, they will receive general and specific feedback about their work from a variety of sources including lecturers, module co-ordinators, placement supervisors, personal tutors, advisers of study and peers. University students are expected to engage with reflective practice and to use this approach to improve the quality of their work. Feedback may be provided in a variety of forms including:

• Feedback provided via formal written comments and marks relating to work that you, as an individual or as part of a group, have submitted.
• Face-to-face comment. This may include occasions when you make use of the lecturers’ advertised “office hours” to help you to address a specific query.
• Placement employer comments or references.
• Online or emailed comment.
• General comments or question-and-answer opportunities at the end of a lecture, seminar or tutorial.
• Pre-submission advice regarding the standards you should aim for and common pitfalls to avoid. In some instances, this may be provided in the form of model answers or exemplars which you can review in your own time.
• Feedback and outcomes from practical classes.
• Comment and guidance provided by staff from specialist support services such as, Careers, Employability and Skills or the Learning Development Service.
• Once you have reviewed your feedback, you will be encouraged to identify and implement further improvements to the quality of your work.

A degree in Aerospace Engineering from Queen’s will assist you in developing the core skills and employment-related experiences that are valued by employers, professional organisations and academic institutions alike. Our graduates are well-regarded by many employers (local, national and international) and the versatility of Aerospace Engineering graduates makes them well-suited for a wide range of future careers, both within engineering and in the wider graduate sector.

Although the majority of our graduates are interested in pursuing careers in Engineering, significant numbers develop careers in a wide range of other sectors.

£25,000 average starting salary for graduates from this School.

Close links with employers.

Queen’s University Belfast has strong links with both the local and international aerospace community, and we participate in regular consultations with local aerospace and wider engineering employers, including Bombardier, Rolls Royce, Thales Air Defence, Rockwell Collins, and FG Wilson.

Placement Employers

Our past students have also gained work placement with organisations such as:

• Rolls Royce
• Airbus UK
• Bombardier
• BAE Systems
• FlyBE
• Rockwell Collins

Alumni Success

Many of our former graduates have risen to the top of their fields and include many famous figures; for example:

• Michael McKay: Flight Operations Director for ESA Mars and Lunar Missions, European Space Agency
• Michael Ryan: Vice President and General Manager, Bombardier Aerospace, Belfast
• Bob Bell: Chief Technical Officer, Renault Sport F1
• Air Commodore David Case: Royal Air Force

Prizes and Awards

The School receives valued support from the business community and private sponsors. This enables us to award over 50 prizes and scholarships totalling an annual fund of approximately £150K.

Degree plus award for extra-curricular skills

In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised by a world-leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Degree Plus. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.