Aerospace Engineering
Find a programme
| Run by | Faculty of Engineering |
|---|---|
| Awards available | PhD, MSc by research |
| Programme length |
MScR: One year full-time; two years part-time
PhD: Three years full-time; six years part-time Both programmes (part-time and full-time) then have one further year to write up. |
| Location of programme | Clifton campus |
| Part-time study available | Yes |
| Start date | Not fixed |
Programme overview
Research within the department and faculty is organised via cross-faculty research groups. Research interests are pursued via four major sections:
- Fluid Flow and Aerodynamics
- Bristol Composites Institute (ACCIS)
- Dynamics and Control
- Robotics.
This work is supported by at least 40 academic staff, more than 50 research staff and over 240 postgraduate students, plus a highly experienced administrative and technical support team.
There is a wide range of research in the department, spanning experimental, numerical, theoretical and computational, and all is applied to aerospace-related problems, for example fixed-wing aircraft, rotorcraft, wind turbines and UAVs.
All postgraduates would expect to publish in high-quality journals and present at international conferences. Hence, research programmes are aimed at independent and self-motivated applicants.
Applicants should contact a potential academic adviser to discuss available projects before submitting an application.
Fees for 2022/23
We charge an annual tuition fee. Fees for 2022/23 are as follows:
- UK: full-time
- £4,565
- UK: part-time
- £2,283
- Overseas: full-time
- £24,600
Following the recent changes to fee assessment regulation, Channel Islands and Isle of Man students will no longer be charged a separate tuition fee. From the 2021/22 academic year they will be charged the same fees as Home students.
Fees are subject to an annual review. For programmes that last longer than one year, please budget for up to a five per cent increase in fees each year. Find out more about tuition fees.
Alumni discount
University of Bristol students and graduates can benefit from a 25% reduction in tuition fees for postgraduate study. Check your eligibility for an alumni discount.
Funding for 2022/23
A number of funded studentships are available each year, supported by research council, industry, University or other funds. View the faculty website for a list of currently available funded projects or visit jobs.ac.uk.
Self-funded or sponsored students are also very welcome to apply.
Further information on funding for prospective UK, EU and international postgraduate students.
Entry requirements
PhD applicants must hold/achieve a minimum of a master’s degree (or international equivalent) in a science, mathematics or engineering discipline. Applicants without a master's qualification may be considered on an exceptional basis, provided they hold a first-class undergraduate degree. Please note, acceptance will also depend on evidence of readiness to pursue a research degree.
MSc by Research applicants must hold/achieve a minimum of an upper second-class honours degree (or international equivalent) in science, mathematics or engineering and demonstrate readiness to pursue a research degree.
See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language, you need to meet this profile level:
Profile E
Further information about English language requirements and profile levels.
Admissions statement
Read the programme admissions statement for important information on entry requirements, the application process and supporting documents required.
Research groups
Research within the department and faculty is organised via cross-faculty research groups.
Careers
Graduates from the department leave with a breadth of technical and personal skills and expertise, far beyond their particular degree specialism. They progress into a wide variety of careers within engineering (eg aerospace, automotive/motorsport, transportation, consulting engineering), academia, public services (eg civil service, air traffic management) and commerce (eg IT, finance).
A higher degree can accelerate your career significantly, particularly into positions of greater responsibility. Furthermore, it increasingly provides entrepreneurial opportunities, which build on the skills and knowledge you acquire during the programme.
Staff profiles
Aerospace Department
Dr Giuliano Allegri MSc, PhD, (Reader in Composite Structures, Visiting Fellow in Aerospace Engineering)
Professor Christian Allen MSc (Bristol), PhD (Bristol), (Professor of Computational Aerodynamics), Numerical solutions of unsteady fluid flows
Dr Karen Aplin PhD, BSc, (Associate Professor in Space Engineering), Electrical measurements; history of science and technology; ionisation in gases; novel instrumentation for space and atmospheric deployment; planetary analogue experiments
Professor Mahdi Azarpeyvand BSc, PhD(Soton.), (Professor of Aerodynamics and Aeroacoustics), aeroacoustics; aerodynamics; Airfoils
Professor Lucy Berthoud MEng (Bristol), PhD (Toulouse), (Professor of Space Engineering), Space platform design; systems integration
Professor Ian Bond BSc, PhD (Bath), (Dean of Engineering, Professor of Aerospace Materials), Development and performance of novel and multifunctional composite materials
Professor Stephen Burrow MEng, PhD (Bristol), (Head of Department of Aerospace Engineering, Professor of Avionics and Aircraft Systems), Aircraft systems; electrical energy; low-power systems
Professor Jonathan Cooper BSc (London), PhD (London), FRAeS (Royal Aeronautical Society), Royal Academy of Engineering, Airbus - Sir George White Professor of Aerospace Engineering, (RAEng Airbus Sir George White Professor of Aerospace Engineering), Aeroelasticity; Flight flutter testing; morphing structures; optimisation; structural dynamics
Professor Stephen Eichhorn BSc in Physics (Leeds), MSc in Materials (Manchester), PhD in Materials (Manchester), (Professor of Materials Science and Engineering), Multifunctional materials (e.g. energy storage, structural colour); nanocellulose; nanocomposite materials; natural fibres; stress and strain sensing using spectroscopy; sustainable materials
Dr Ian Farrow BSc (Soton), PhD (CranIT), (Senior Lecturer in Aerospace Structural Design), Design of aerospace composite structures
Professor Ann Gaitonde BSc (Exon), PhD (Bristol), ACE (Bristol), (Professor in Aerodynamics), Computational methods to calculate unsteady fluid flows
Professor Stephen Hallett BSc (Cape Town), DPhil (Oxon), (Professor in Composite Structures), Composite failure mechanisms and numerical modelling
Professor Ian Hamerton BSc in Chemistry (Surrey), PhD in High performance polymers (Surrey), (Professor of Polymers and Composites), Developing new closed loop recycling methodology for advanced composites; developing novel monomers, polymers and blends; developing novel process technology for 3-dimensional composite structures; examining materials of significance in cultural heritage; examining polymer stability and degradation mechanisms; introducing or enhancing the functionality of advanced polymer composites and nano composites.
Dr Paul Harper MEng, PhD, MSc, (Lecturer in Engineering Design), Design and analysis of composite structures; renewable energy systems
Dr Dmitry Ivanov BSc (Perm), PhD (Leuven), (Associate Professor in Composites Manufacturing), Innovative approaches to composites manufacture and modelling
Professor Dorian Jones MSc (Lond), BSc, PhD (Bristol), (Professor in Aerodynamics), Direct numerical simulation of incompressible turbulence; parallel processing and CFD for unsteady viscous flows
Dr Luiz Kawashita BEng, PhD (Lond), (Senior Lecturer in Composite Mechanics), Composite failure mechanisms and numerical modelling
Dr Eric Kim PhD (KAIST), (Associate Professor in Composites Design, Processing and Manufacture), Automated composites manufacturing axiomatic design ; composite design & manufacturing; computer aided design
Dr James Kratz B Eng (Carleton), MEng (McGill), PhD (McGill), (Senior Lecturer in Materials Engineering), The manufacturing process of composite structures
Professor Mark Lowenberg MSc (Eng)(Witw), PhD (Bristol), (Professor in Flight Dynamics), Application of bifurcation theory to aircraft stability analysis and controller design (fixed and rotary wing); non-linear flight dynamics; real-time controlled dynamic wind tunnel testing
Dr Terence Macquart MSc, PhD, (Lecturer in Aeroelastics), Servo-aeroelastic tailoring of wind turbines using new active-to-passive control systems
Dr Alberto Pirrera MSc(Palermo), PhD, (Associate Professor in Composite Structures), Design and optimisation; structural analysis
Dr Daniel Poole MEng, PhD, (Lecturer), Optimisation Methods for Engineering Design
Dr Tom Rendall MEng, PhD (Bristol), (Associate Professor in Aerodynamics), CFD for moving objects; computational optimisation of aerodynamic designs
Dr Djamel Rezgui MEng, PhD (Bristol), (Lecturer in Rotorcraft Dynamics), Aeroelastic stability of smart nonlinear helicopter rotor structures
Professor Arthur Richards MEng (Cantab), SM (MIT), PhD (MIT), (Professor of Dynamics and Control), Path planning; robust predictive control; vehicle control and autonomy
Professor Tom Richardson MEng, PhD (Bristol), (Professor of Flight Mechanics), Classical flight control; high-level decision-making and autonomy
Professor Fabrizio Scarpa Laurea, PhD (Torino), (Professor of Smart Materials and Structures), Auxetic materials; morphing structures; multi-domain design of components; smart materials and structures; structural dynamics
Dr Mark Schenk PhD (Cantab), MSc (Delft), (Senior Lecturer in Aerospace Engineering), Deployable structures; solid mechanics
Dr Brano Titurus MSc, PhD, (Senior Lecturer in Aerospace Dynamics), Damage detection in vibrating systems; helicopter dynamics; semi-active dampers; vibration control and damping
Dr Carwyn Ward BEng (Hons), MRes (Wales), PhD (Bristol), (Lecturer in Composites Design, Processing & Manufacture), Composites manufacturing; virtual manufacture
Professor Paul Weaver BSc, PhD (N'cle), (Professor in Lightweight Structures), Cellular structures and morphing composites; composite plates and shells, buckling structures; materials performance
Dr Shane Windsor BEng (Auck), PhD, (Senior Lecturer in Aerodynamics/Aeroelasticity), Bio-inspired fluid dynamics, sensing and control
Professor Michael Wisnom BSc (Lond), PhD (Bristol),, (Professor of Aerospace Structures, MIMechE), Application of finite element methods; predicting the behaviour of composite structures and materials
Dr Ben Woods BS (Maryland), MS (Maryland), PhD (Maryland), (Senior Lecturer in Composites Design), Adaptive and active structures ; cellular structures; compliant morphing aerostructures; continuous fibre composite 3D printing; human powered flight; negative stiffness mechanisms ; pneumatic artificial muscles; ultra-efficient wound composite truss structures ; wind turbines
Open days and visits
Watch on-demand recordings from November's virtual open week.
Get in touch
Graduate Administration Manager Phone: +44 (0) 117 394 0582 Email: came-pgr-admissions@bristol.ac.uk
School of Civil, Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
University of Bristol
Queen's Building
University Walk
Bristol BS8 1TR
School website: School of Civil, Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
Department website: Department of Aerospace Engineering
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REF 2021 results
The University of Bristol is ranked fifth for research in the UK (Times Higher Education), with 94% of our research assessed as world-leading or internationally excellent.
Full REF 2021 results for the University of Bristol.
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