Postgraduate
courses in
© Lockheed Martin
Advanced Lightweight Structures and Impact
Aerospace Computational Engineering
Aerospace Dynamics
Aircraft Engineering
Astronautics and Space Engineering
Autonomous Vehicle Dynamics and Control
Computational Fluid Dynamics
Pre-master’s in Engineering
Aerospace Vehicle Design:
Aircraft Design
Avionics Systems Design
Structural Design
Aerospace
2018-2019
Computational and Software
Techniques in Engineering:
Computer Aided Engineering
Digital Signal and Image Processing
Software Engineering for Technical
Computing
Thermal Power:
Aerospace Propulsion
Gas Turbine Technology
Power, Propulsion and the Environment
Rotating Machinery, Engineering and
Management
Cranfield University
We are an exclusively postgraduate UK university with
long-standing relationships with some of the most
prestigious global companies. Our close collaboration with
industry, and passion for the areas we operate in, mean
that studying at Cranfield will open doors for you.

Exclusively
postgraduate
A career-focused
learning environment 81% of our research is world-leading
or internationally excellent.

World-class Winner
facilities of 4
prestigious
The only university in the world Queen’s Anniversary
to own and run an airport with Prizes for Higher and
full airline status on-campus Further Education

A professional
We work with over businesses and
4,600+
1,500
network of
governments
60,000+ based in over
learners
alumni 40 countries

“Cranfield has definitely helped in gaining my current

employment. Cranfield’s alumni are making huge
positive influences wherever they are, which
contributes highly to the reputation of the University
around the world. The quality of its education is
recognised in the professional world, which helps
gaining credibility when looking for job opportunities.”
Cyrille Antony, Aerospace Vehicle Design MSc, 2015

2
Reasons to study
Aerospace with us
1 Aerospace Integration
Research Centre
Co-funded by Airbus, Rolls-Royce plc and
the Higher Education Funding Council for
England, this £35 million collaboration
between industry and academia will soon
be developing the breakthrough solutions
that will radically change the design of
aircraft in the future.
2 Specialist technical
facilities
In addition to our own airport, runway,
wind tunnels and flight simulators, our
numerous specialist centres are working
at the cutting edge of aeronautics,
propulsion engineering, cyber-physical
systems and intelligent automation.
3 From concept to flight
Our industry-scale production and
testing capabilities ensure that our
ground-breaking, research-generated
design concepts can be taken from the
drawing board to the runway.
4 Global contribution
Our work embraces the entire spectrum of
aviation, combining academic excellence
and strong industry focus. We work with
1,500 businesses and governments
worldwide, including Airbus, AVIC, BAE
Systems, Boeing and Rolls-Royce plc,
directly contributing to the economic
growth of the global aerospace sector.
5 Centre of aerospace
excellence
We have more than 200 doctoral students
and 400 MSc Aerospace students drawn
from universities around the world. We
are the UK’s top destination for aerospace
engineering postgraduate students
and the largest provider of accredited
aerospace degree courses.
6 Career development
Our alumni go on to enjoy succesful
careers in aerospace, space and
associated industries. Many senior
employees in aerospace organisations
around the world have a connection to
Cranfield, as former students, researchers
or through one of our professional
development programmes.
3
Aerospace courses
Cranfield University is at the
forefront of the global aerospace
technology industry and has
provided world-class postgraduate
education and training for 70 years.
Together with our commercial arm,
Cranfield Aerospace Solutions Ltd,
we have the unique capability and
approvals to design, build and fly
innovative aircraft systems.
The programmes described in this
brochure are a perfect illustration
of the breadth and depth of our
aerospace portfolio, delivering
graduates of the highest quality,
with skills and expertise valued
around the world. Within a number
of programmes there are a range of
options to suit individual interests
and career focus areas.
As the largest provider of accredited
aerospace degree courses in the UK,
studying with us also enables our
graduates to qualify as Chartered
Engineers (CEng).
4
Career prospects
Our multi-disciplinary approach, marrying
aeronautical engineering, materials and
manufacturing excellence with aviation
business processes, practices and
management, gives our graduates notable
breadth and depth of expertise. It is this
combination of technical excellence and real-
world business and commercial appreciation
that gives our people a unique ‘Made in Cranfield’
identity - and value in the marketplace.
Graduates go on to forge careers in Aerospace,
Energy, Automotive and Defence sectors and
with some of the world’s most respected blue
chip organisations including:
Airbus, Dassult Aviation, Messier-Bugati Dowty,
Safran, BAE Systems, Avanti Communications,
Petronas, Rolls-Royce, Siemens, Alstom, Altran,
General Electric and Quest Global Engineering.
Roles our people routinely fill include:
Aerospace Engineer, Flight Test Engineer,
Structural Integrity Engineer, R&D Engineer,
Project Manager, Senior Systems Engineer,
Systems Engineer, Design Engineer, Mechanical
Engineering, CAE Engineer, CFD Engineer,
Aerospace Engineer, Consultant Engineer,
Design Engineer, Mechanical Engineer,
Performance Engineer, Turbine Designer, CAE
Engineer and Stress Engineer.
Course information
Cranfield has been a global leader in the research, development and practical
application of aerospace technology since 1946. Aerospace is in our DNA – we were
founded on the site of RAF Cranfield and our students helped to develop the iconic
Harrier Jump Jet – and we are still the only university in Europe with our own airport
and runway on campus.

Our master’s programmes attract students from around the world, drawn by the combination of
academic excellence and strong industry focus. Our work embraces the entire spectrum of aviation,
helping to define and deliver the Aircraft of the Future, the Airport of the Future, the Airline of the
Future and Airspace Management of the Future.

Our long and close relationship with business is perfectly illustrated by our new, world-leading
Aerospace Integration Research Centre. Co-funded by Airbus, Rolls-Royce plc and the Higher
Education Funding Council for England, this £35 million collaboration between industry and academia
will, through the integration of airframes, propulsion and other systems and technologies, soon be
developing the breakthrough solutions that will radically change the design of aircraft in the future.

For full information about each course see www.cranfield.ac.uk/study

5
Our specialist courses
Advanced Lightweight Structures and Impact* MSc, PgDip, PgCert
Designing advanced structures through novel, lightweight materials is one of the key technologies
used by both the aerospace and automotive sectors to reduce carbon. But in reducing inherent
structural weight, it is essential not to compromise structural integrity, crashworthiness or safety.

Understanding how aluminium or composite structures and materials perform under static and
dynamic loading, including crash and bird strike, requires broad expertise. This industry-supported
course equips participants with a strong, applied understanding in structural analysis, together with
competent technical skills in numerical simulation.

Aerospace Computational Engineering* MSc, PgDip, PgCert

This new and unique course blends skills-based and subject-specific material to provide students
with generic practical skills and cutting-edge knowledge for a wide range of applications in the field
of aerospace computational engineering. Focusing on fully integrated digital design for aerospace,
you will be able to meet the demands of an evolving workplace that requires highly-qualified
engineers possessing core software engineering skills, combined with competency in mathematical
analysis techniques.

Aerospace Dynamics MSc, PgCert

This course provides both fundamental and applied knowledge related to the understanding and
simulation of airflows together with the dynamics, simulation and control of flight vehicles. Students
gain practical experience in the measurement, analysis, modelling and simulation of the aerodynamic
characteristics of ground and air vehicles and the flight dynamic characteristics of aircraft.

There are two specialist options available within the course:

•A erodynamics, for those interested in flow physics, experimental aerodynamics, aerodynamic
modelling and simulation and flow control techniques.
• Flight Dynamics, which covers aircraft stability, control, simulation and modelling.

A significant feature of the course is the degree of choice available within the Taught Component
of the course (80/200 credits) – candidates can select from a range of modules to reflect their
chosen career objectives and preferences. There is no need to specify an option before starting
the programme. Your chosen specialisation will depend on the modules selected and the Research
Thesis topic (100/200 credits) undertaken from the wide range on offer. The course also includes a
Flight Experimental Methods element (20/200 credits) where candidates undertake a series of flights
in the National Flying Laboratory (NFLC) Jetstream aircraft collecting and analysing experimental
data. Candidates benefit from access to facilities including subsonic, transonic, supersonic and
hypersonic wind tunnels, high performance computing facilities and industry standard software
packages.

* Full-time only

6
Aerospace Vehicle Design* (Three options) MSc
Aerospace Vehicle Design is one of the flagship courses at Cranfield, running successfully since the
University was established 70 years ago and constantly developing, it is a world-leading programme.
The MSc focuses on the technical, business and management aspects of aircraft design and
development. The course is attended by students from all continents, also including double degrees,
delegates from major aerospace companies such as Airbus, GKN, AVIC, COMAC, HAL and technical
officers from a number of air forces.

The programme offers two intakes (October and March) to accommodate its global reach. Students
can choose from a number of options covering airframe design, systems, structures, avionics and air
traffic management. An essential and unique part of the course is the group design project. It puts
the students in charge of the aircraft design as a whole system. The project emulates a real industrial
setting and is overseen by our experienced staff and experts from industry. Amongst our unique
facilities, the course offers a flying experience with Cranfield’s own aircraft.

There are three specialist options available:

•A
 ircraft Design delivers a comprehensive overview of aircraft performance, structures and systems.
An holistic teaching approach is taken to explore how the individual elements of an aircraft can be
designed and integrated using the latest methods and techniques.
•A
 vionics Systems Design provides an understanding of the design of avionic systems, analysis,
development, test and airframe integration. This includes a detailed look at robust and fault-tolerant
flight control, advanced 4D flight management and RNP navigation, self-separation and collision
avoidance and advanced digital data communications systems, as well as pilot-friendly and
intelligent cockpit displays and situation awareness.
•S
 tructural Design delivers an understanding of aircraft structures, airworthiness requirements,
design standards, stress analysis, fatigue and fracture, and fundamentals of aerodynamics and
loading. It also covers the appropriate selection of materials, both metallic and composite.

Computational and Software Techniques in Engineering

(Three options) MSc
If you are looking to develop a career in software development, whether it is in the data centre, on
the desktop or in the rapidly expanding mobile application space, you need to have a strong basis
in software engineering. This programme combines software engineering with high performance
computing and technology management perspectives, giving you a distinct advantage in the job
market. Depending on your specific interest or focus area, you can specialise in:
• Computer Aided Engineering aims to provide the skills necessary to develop and use core CAE
solution software in diverse industrial settings.
•C  omputer and Machine Vision develops highly qualified engineers for real-time and off-line
systems operating over a range of mobile, embedded and workstation platforms.
•S  oftware Engineering for Technical Computing provides a unique insight into the development of
computer applications across modern computing environments.

7
Our specialist courses
Computational Fluid Dynamics MSc, PgDip, PgCert
Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) uses numerical analysis and algorithms to simulate the
interaction of liquids and gases with surfaces as they flow past.

This programme enables students to understand, write and apply CFD methods across a wide broad
range of fields, from aerospace, turbomachinery, multi-phase flow and heat transfer, to microflows,
environmental flows and fluid-structure interaction problems. You can tailor your course by choosing
from a range of specialist modules covering application-specific methods and techniques.

Aircraft Engineering** MSc, PgDip, PgCert

With a projected demand for 27,000 new civil airliners by 2030, the industry faces a shortfall in
postgraduate level engineers to meet future industry needs. Aircraft engineers need a combination of
technical and business skills for today’s aerospace engineering projects.

This part-time course will broaden your understanding of aircraft engineering and design subjects
and provide you with a strong foundation for career development in technical, integration and
leadership roles.

Astronautics and Space Engineering MSc

The space sector contributes more than £13.7 billion per annum to the UK economy, and there
is continual growth in space activity across the world. There is a continuing need for talented
employees with a good understanding of spacecraft systems engineering, coupled with a broad
range of technical skills. Suitable for graduates in engineering, physics or mathematics, this course
will prepare you for a career in this exciting field, in a wide variety of roles, from earth observation to
planetary exploration, launch vehicles to spacecraft operations, and much more.

** Part-time only

8
Autonomous Vehicle Dynamics and Control MSc, PgDip, PgCert
The global market for unmanned and autonomous vehicles is expanding rapidly. This unique
programme equips graduates and engineering professionals with the fundamental knowledge and
enabling skills required to develop a successful career, as an autonomous systems engineer, design
engineer or in an operations role within the security, defence, marine, environmental and aerospace
industries. Optional modules and an individual research project enable you to tailor the course to
your own particular interests and career aspirations.

Pre-master’s in Engineering*
This programme provides an ideal route into an MSc in Engineering for those candidates whose
circumstances do not currently allow them direct entry. You may be seeking a change in career
direction, have been away from education for a while, you may not meet standard MSc entry
requirements or need to improve your English.

This intensive full-time course is delivered through a combination of taught modules (lectures,
practical laboratory sessions, assignment) and an individual research project which covers most
aspects of engineering principles as they relate to different fields of engineering including aerospace,
automotive, offshore, and energy sectors.

Thermal Power* (Four options) MSc

Thermal Power MSc graduates are making vast contributions to the international gas and turbine
industry worth, annually, USD 20 billion. This course delivers fundamental and applied knowledge on
the design, operation and maintenance of gas turbine engines for air, sea and land applications.

The course has a March and October entry to suit different international circumstances, and four
options are available to address different aspects and market sectors. The MSc consists of 50%
project work which benefits from the extensive research and development activities within the
Propulsion Engineering Centre. Projects have been carried out alongside Rolls-Royce, BP, Shell,
easyJet, ITP, Lufthansa Technik, Clean Sky, RMC, HAL, AVIC, AECC and many other key organisations.

The available options are:

• Aerospace Propulsion is for those seeking a career in the design, development, operation and
maintenance of propulsion systems.
•G  as Turbine Technology examines its increasing application in power generation, oil and gas
pumping, chemical processing and power plants for ships and other large vehicles.
• Power, Propulsion and the Environment is for those seeking a challenging and rewarding career in a
growing international industry.
•R  otating Machinery, Engineering and Management focuses on the operation of rotating machinery
for aeronautical, marine and industry applications.

* Full-time only

9
A distinctive learning process
Our specialist, sector-facing master’s courses are set up and developed in close
collaboration with industry partners, ensuring the content of our courses remain
industry-relevant and employers remain impressed with our graduates’ business-
readiness. The structure of your learning programme is likely to be different from
your undergraduate experience.

This diagram below is an illustration of most of the full-time master’s courses shown in this brochure
– it is not indicative of all courses. Some courses do not have a group project and the value of each
element of the course varies as shown – please check your particular course on our website for
specific details, modules and information about part-time study.

An intensive learning The ability to understand An opportunity to work in an

experience, providing how your part of a project original way, for example, as
knowledge you need to affects the whole, giving a consultant for one of our
excel in your chosen you a head start for the industrial partners on a
specialist field. world of work. real-world challenge.

Taught
programme Group Individual
(A mixture of compulsory project* thesis
and elective modules)

40% 20% 40%

80 credits 40 credits 80 credits
800 hours 400 hours 800 hours

40% Courses without group project

60%
80 credits 120 credits
800 hours 1200 hours

Registration Completion
(February, March, (Full-time: 1 year
September or October) Part-time: up to 3 years)
200 credits
2000 hours
1 credit = 10 learning hours

Only courses listed on the right hand page include group projects.
*

10
Group projects
The following courses include a group project:

Advanced Lightweight Structures and Impact

Aerospace Computational Engineering
Aerospace Vehicle Design
Aircraft Engineering
Astronautics and Space Engineering

The group project is designed to provide you with invaluable experience of delivering a collaborative
piece of work in a team environment.

Typical projects enable the development of a range of skills, including learning how to establish
team member roles and responsibilities, project management, delivering technical presentations and
gaining experience of working in teams that include colleagues with a variety of expertise, and often
with members who are based remotely.

With the direct assistance of industry, group projects are formulated to mimic typical working
environments and scenarios within the sector or sectors most closely associated with the
programme. Wherever possible, groups are asked to address a specific, current challenge or issue.

Within the Aerospace Vehicle Design MSc for example, the group project is a major component of the
programme, with groups reporting and presenting findings to a panel of 100 senior engineers from
industry. For the Thermal Power MSc more than half of the projects contain industrial objectives
which enable students to experience working in an industrial environment on relevant issues.

We work with organisations such as:

11
Academic staff
You will be taught by a wide range of subject specialists drawn from the University
staff and industry professionals who draw on their research and industrial expertise
to provide stimulating and informed input to your learning experience.

Professor Kevin Garry, Head of Applied Aerodynamics Group

Kevin is the Head of the Applied Aerodynamics Group at the Cranfield Centre
for Aeronautics. His specific areas of expertise include instrumentation and
sensors, motorsport and vehicle aerodynamics. His current research focus is
on ground vehicle aerodynamics, drag reduction and improved fuel economy in
passenger cars and HGV’s.

Dr Karl Jenkins, Associate Professor of Computational Engineering

Karl is Head of the Centre for Computational Engineering Sciences and is the
Programme Director for the MSc’s in Aerospace Computational Engineering,
Computational and Software Techniques in Engineering and Computational
Fluid Dynamics. He leads a research activity in Computational Engineering with
particular expertise in High fidelity simulations and modelling. He contributes
to the UK Consortium on Turbulent Reacting Flows (UKCTRF) and has won the
Gaydon prize in 2004.

Dr Jennifer Kingston, Course Director, MSc in Astronautics and Space Engineering

Dr Kingston joined Cranfield University in 2003, first as a Research Fellow and
from 2005 as a lecturer. She spent 15 months working for the European Space
Agency, based at ESTEC in The Netherlands and the Centre Spatiale Guyanais in
French Guyana. During this time she was part of a team of young engineers who
built and launched a technology demonstration satellite, TEAMSAT, on Ariane
502. Dr Kingston had key roles in satellite integration, test, and flight operations,
and participated in the launch campaign.

Professor Pericles Pilidis, Head of Propulsion Engineering

Pericles has had a long and distinguished career at Cranfield stretching back 30
years. He is Head of Propulsion Engineering and Course Director of the Thermal
Power MSc. He has organised and contributed to many international teaching
and applied research programmes in the power, gas, oil and aviation industries
and is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.

Professor Antonios Tsourdos, Head of the Autonomous and Cyber-Physical

Systems Centre
Antonios was appointed Head of the Autonomous Systems Group at Cranfield in
2007, Professor of Autonomous Systems in 2009 and Director of Research 2015.
He leads the research on autonomous systems and has diverse expertise in both
unmanned and autonomous vehicles as well as complex systems. He conducts
basic and applied research in the fields of guidance, control and navigation for
single and multiple unmanned autonomous vehicles as well as research on
cyber-physical systems.

12
 time

Key facts and statistics

Part-
Exec
time
Full-
Coursetime
information Cohort profile*
Geographic
Start spread
date
Full-Part-
Exec
Full-time
Full-
time
time Up to 1 year
53% UK
time
14% EU
Full-
time
Average
work
Average
Geographic
cohort size
33% Rest of World
Part- spread
Part-Start Exec experience
Part- Exec
time
time date
time
Up to 3 years
Exec

£
Part-
Exec Geographic
time
Various (February, Geographic
Geographic
spread 20-30 years
Start
Start spread
Start
date
date
March, September
Average Average
spread
Average
cohort
work cohort size
age
date or October) experience
Delivery
method Geographic
Start spread
date

£ MSc, PgCert, PgDip

Average
Average
Average
work
work
work
experience
experience
Average
Average
cohort size
Average
cohort size
cohortAverage
size
Approximately 44
experience cohort age
Delivery
Average
method Average
Fees work cohort size

£
£
experience
Please see the individual course
pages on our website for full
fee information and full-time or Average
Average
part-time options. Terms and cohort age
Average

£
Delivery
Delivery cohort age
conditions apply.
Delivery
method cohort age
method
method
See www.cranfield.ac.uk/fee-information Average
Delivery cohort age
A deposit is required by all self-funding *These figures give an indication of the cohort
Aerospace students on these coursesmethod
(£500 for make-up at registration across our Aerospace
Home/ EU and £1000 for Overseas) programme for the entry year 2016-17.

Accreditations
The MSc award of selected courses are, or may be in the process of obtaining, accreditation by the
following professional institutions. To find out if a specific course holds accreditations, please visit
the course page on our website.

13
Finance and bursaries

Paying for a course at university and the associated living costs is a serious
investment and can be a major challenge for students. Some students are sponsored
by their employers, but many fund their studies from a combination of sources such
as bursaries or scholarships, savings or loans.

There are a range of funding

options, dependent on factors
such as which course you intend
to take, your country of origin,
your academic results, whether
you will study full or part-time and
even your gender. Some bursaries
cover part or all fees, and others
cover living expenses too.
Visit the ‘Fees and Funding’ section of the
course webpage to find details of course specific
funding. You will also discover information about
other, more general, scholarships, bursaries and
loans on our ‘MSc Funding Opportunities’ page.
Alternatively you can email study@cranfield.ac.uk
www.cranfield.ac.uk/funding

“As soon as I made up my mind to pursue my master’s at

Cranfield University, I was actively seeking funding. It was
a challenge, but signing up for the Cranfield Postgraduate
Loan Scheme was ideal for me as many other commercial
banks had given me significantly more expensive quotes.”

Sobit Thapa,
MSc student, 2015

14
How to apply
The application process Entry requirements
Please follow the application process
1 Visit the course page online and review the
entry requirements
shown below. Each of the courses described
in this brochure have their own specific

2 Click ‘Apply now’

Register to use our online application system,
3 you can then create, save and amend your
application before submitting it
4 Complete the online application form
entry requirements so always study those
carefully before beginning the application
process. If you do not fulfil the standard entry
requirements, the Pre-Masters programme
can provide an alternative entry route, as
successful completion will qualify you to move
into the course of your choice.

Submit supporting admission documentation

5 with your application or at a later date using
our online portal

You may be invited for interview, depending

6 on your course. If you are based outside the

UK you may be interviewed by telephone or
video call

7
You will receive a decision about your
application by email

Research degrees
We are a world-class destination for research degrees, endorsed and funded by several
UK councils. The Cranfield Doctoral Network provides a supportive community, offering
additional transferable skills training. Find out more www.cranfield.ac.uk/research

Executive development
Over 20,000 delegates benefit from our short courses every year, covering a wide range of
professional and technical topics. Find out more www.cranfield.ac.uk/exec-courses

Life at Cranfield
We have a range of accommodation options and extensive sports and recreation facilities.
Find out more www.cranfield.ac.uk/lifeatcranfield

Further information
There are other leaflets in this series covering other MSc courses and research degrees,
as well as a Student Guide for those moving to the UK and our prospectus.
Search for these on our website or email study@cranfield.ac.uk

15
Cranfield University is an impressive environment,
with cutting-edge research facilities. It is situated
in beautiful countryside, between Milton Keynes
and Bedford, with quick and convenient links to
London and major UK airports.
Full directions are available at www.cranfield.ac.uk/visit.

Cranfield University @cranfielduni

Cranfield
@cranfielduni
MK43 0AL, UK
T: +44 (0)1234 758083 /cranfielduni
E: studyaerospace@cranfield.ac.uk
Cranfield University

www.cranfield.ac.uk cranfielduni

Every effort is made to ensure that the information in this brochure is correct
at the time it is printed. Please check our website for the latest information.

SATM-A-September 2017