Aerospace engineering in the UK

What’s it like studying Aerospace Engineering in the UK?

So I’m at the end of Year 12, just started doing my AS exams and I’m confident I’ll get A’s in all three of my subjects (Maths, Physics, Chemistry). I’ve studied for a while and I generally think I’m a good academic when I put my mind to it. But anyway, since I was a very young boy I’ve wanted to do Aerospace engineering in uni and then go on to becoming a pilot in the Hellenic (Greek, I’m from Greece btw) Air Force. But before I go of on a tangent here, is aerospace engineering hard? What grades did you need to get admitted to your uni? Did you do anything special to boost your chances?

Reply 1

Helloworld_95

All engineering degrees are hard.

I would say aerospace engineering isn't necessarily the best preparation for becoming a pilot, it's really very different and there's maybe a page or two worth of overlap.

Reply 2

PhoenixFortune

Moved to Engineering forum. :smile:

Reply 3

CptCold

I have a friend who is studying aeronautical engineering at Imperial college. She did 5 A-Levels and got 4 A* and an A. This probably is not the standard, I'd say having 2 A* and an A is around the usual standard for a course like that at a good uni. But tbh, she is in the process of converting courses to software engineering and computer science because she says the course is not too fun and there are not a lot of opportunities for it here in the UK. Obviousely if you want to serve in the Hellenic Air Force thats fine, but just foreworing, the jobs back here in the UK are not too great.

Reply 4

Epiriot

Original post by Helloworld_95

Really? I come from a line of pilots and almost all of them have engineering backgrounds. Granted, not all of them were in the Air Force, but some were. But what would you say could be a better course of preparation for becoming a pilot from your knowledge?

Reply 5

Epiriot

Original post by CptCold

Well like I said, my first choice is to become a pilot, preferably in the military field but tbh I wouldn’t mind being a civilian pilot, like I said in my previous post I come from a line of pilots so I would say I have a good knowledge of the requirements. But if I do turn out to be an engineer, I wouldn’t say living in the UK would be my top choice, maybe somewhere else in Europe like France (Where airbus is based) or maybe the USA? Idk

I understand that your friend might’ve found the course boring but that could just be her opinion. I’ve been fascinated with aerospace since I was about 7 or 8 years old. I flew my first plane when I was 14 and I honestly cannot see myself doing something for a living that doesn’t involve aeroplanes. But hey, that’s just my two cents.

Thank you!

Reply 6

Helloworld_95

Original post by Epiriot

At least in the UK going straight into the air force or a flight school is more common.

Reply 7

mnot

Universities Forum Helper

Original post by Epiriot

I do mechanical but i've done a lot of aerospace specialist modules at masters level and know the Mech/Aero degrees well.

Degree difficult is variable it will have generally both high demand with lots of coursework and at times it can seem very difficult (both the exams & CW), the reality is how well you do in the degree is more how motivated you are, intelligence is essential but not everything.

Grades top Unis want A*/A's lower end Unis might want something like BBB. Getting offers to good Unis generally isn't too difficult (with the exception of OxBridge & Imperial, these Unis are very competitive), the main criteria for entrance is A level subjects and grades. I would say the most important skill in your success will likely be maths!

Some degrees include flight training might be worth considering.