Aircraft Engineering BEng (Hons) top-up
Subject and course type
- Engineering: Aerospace, Aviation and Aircraft
- Undergraduate
Take your engineering skills to the next level. If you have a Kingston University foundation degree or an EASA Cat B aircraft engineering licence, this one-year top-up course will give you the advanced skills you need to reach BEng level.
You are reading:
Manufacture and fire your own engine designs
You’ll explore the performance of fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, analysing their structures and evaluating materials for aircraft applications.
Studying this Aircraft Engineering BEng top-up at Kingston University will give you strong foundations for a career for a senior engineering role in aviation. Previous graduates have gone on to work at high-profile organisations including British Airways and the Royal Navy.
Through a blend of practical work and theoretical learning, you’ll study air transport economics principles and how they affect management decision-making and project planning and mapping.
During the course, you’ll complete group and individual projects on industry-related topics. You’ll even have the opportunity to enhance your learning through an industrial placement with an approved employer.
When you graduate, you’ll have a BEng (Hons) in Aircraft Engineering – either from one year of full-time study, or two years studying part-time.
Kingston University is a wonderful place for you to learn, develop and better yourselves for the future – not only for your career but also as individuals.
Why choose this course
While you study, you’ll benefit from top quality teaching at Kingston University. Not only are we ranked Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework, our staff are leading practitioners and researchers with strong professional networks to help you grow.
This programme aligns with the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC). It also meets the academic requirements for Incorporated Engineering (IEng) Membership of the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS).
Your learning will take place at our Roehampton Vale campus, which features a wide range of modern facilities. The fully-equipped rocket propulsion laboratory has everything you need to test and fire live rockets for data acquisition, including:
- A gaseous oxygen and propane bi-propellant engine
- A nitrous oxide and PMMA hybrid engine
- A liquid oxygen and high density polyethylene (HDPE) 300 N engine
- A fully automated and programmable firing sequence
- A blast chamber with extraction system for safety
- Thermochemistry software packages for simulation of rocket combustion
You’ll also have access to a fully equipped workshop where you can manufacture your rocket engine designs using an extensive range of equipment, including CNC machines. Other facilities include:
- A 3D rapid prototype printer
- Industry-standard test and experimental equipment for metrology, robotics, fatigue and quality control
- State-of-the-art computing facilities for CADand other specialist software
- A mission control room with high-performance, tri-screen PCs
- The Merlin flight simulator
- Large-scale wind tunnels with speeds of up to 90mph
- A laser doppler anemometry system
Course content
You will study fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft performance and will analyse aircraft structures. You will evaluate materials for aircraft applications and the fundamental principles of air transport economics and their application to management decision-making.
You will also learn about the fundamentals of project planning and mapping, and will complete significant group and individual projects on industry-related topics.
Partner institutions
The following partners also deliver the top-up course:
- Nilai University, Malaysia. This course is currently only available to students who complete the Nilai University Diploma in Aircraft Engineering. For further information, contact louie@nilai.edu.my.
- Sri Lankan Aviation College (SLAC). For further information, contact thiwanka.sundarapperuma@srilankan.com.
Application for places on these courses must be made directly to the institute. Please note that local restrictions apply.
Modules
You will study fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft performance and will analyse aircraft structures. You will evaluate materials for aircraft applications and the fundamental principles of air transport economics and their application to management decision-making.
You will also learn about the fundamentals of project planning and mapping, and will complete significant group and individual projects on industry-related topics.
Core modules
30.00 credits
Throughout the course of your studies, you will have so far studied material that has been focused on a specific role or roles within the air transport industry whether it be aircraft design, maintenance, operations or repair and overhaul. The aim of this module is to take a step back and explore how employers within the various sectors of the air transport industry combine all these functions in order to make a profit.
In addition to looking in detail at the overall profit and loss equation:
Traffic x Yield - Output x Cost = Profit or Loss
The module also compares the operation of the air transport market with that in other sectors and, in more general terms, looks at what makes the industry tick. The standard method of recording and reporting financial performance is also considered.
On successful completion of this module, you will not only understand how your future role will contribute to your employer's success but, should you decide to move away from the air transport sector, you will have a firm grounding in the general economic principles by which all industries operate.
30.00 credits
This module is designed for students from a range of aerospace-related programmes. It provides an understanding of how the principles of aerodynamics, propulsion, structures and materials science all determine the configuration and performance of fixed and rotary wing aircraft.
30.00 credits
The overarching aim of this individual project module is to provide each student with the opportunity to impress. Working on a topic of their own choosing, the student, with minimal guidance from their supervisor, should apply approximately 300 hours of individual effort into the analysis of a problem and determination of the best solution and/or course of action. The analysis can take a variety of forms ranging from an in-depth comparison of a number of already documented potential solutions to the collection and comparison of experimental and theoretical data. The topic investigated should ideally be of an aircraft maintenance or engineering nature, though other topics may be permitted with the agreement of the module leader.
By completing a capstone project of this type, each student is able to demonstrate that they can draw together the information from all the other teaching and learning on the course and past learning and experience; and through innovation and analysis, demonstrate that they truly are independent learners.
30 credits
This module is designed to encourage independent learning and develop the skills required of those holding senior posts in the aviation industry; particularly in the field of aircraft maintenance. It therefore provides an ideal opportunity for you to develop and demonstrate a number of intellectual, practical and transferable skills.
The module starts by briefly examining maintenance cost drivers, airline logistic support processes and cooperative logistic support strategies before moving onto project planning. In project planning, the basic processes of determining tasks, writing aims and objectives and estimating time are considered before looking at the planning and mapping of projects using network diagrams and finally network analysis.
The purpose of completing the preparatory studying is to prepare you for what is to follow: a significant group exercise in which you work together to produce a realistic and cost effective maintenance solution for an airline operation. The details of which (routes, flight schedule, aircraft details etc.) are provided by the course team. The project involves reviewing the 'scenario' to determine the exact requirements, planning for successful completion of the project, identifying options and determining costs through research, analysing data collected and formulating an evidence-based solution and presenting the findings. As part of the project, you will produce a project plan, do a group presentation, produce a substantial written report, and maintain a project log book.
Future Skills and career opportunities
You’ll complete this course with the knowledge and skills needed for a senior engineering role. Our graduates work at British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, KLM UK Engineering, DHL, the Royal Navy, the British Army and BAES. We have a successful history of placing graduates in the aviation industry, especially around Heathrow and Gatwick airports.
Careers advice
Tap into high-quality careers and recruitment guidance from our specialist employability team. From job-seeking tips to help with CV prep, application forms, interview techniques and finding work as an international student, it’s here to get you started after studying. The team even runs regular events to help you network with employers in an informal setting.
Future Skills
Every course at Kingston University teaches a range of Future Skills. From problem-solving and adaptability to digital competency, these are the attributes you’ll need to get the edge in the job market and a head start on your career.
At Kingston University, we're not just keeping up with change, we're creating it
For more information on how Kingston prepares you for the future job market, visit our Future Skills page.
Teaching and assessment
When not attending timetabled sessions, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. This typically will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for final assignments. Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities including online resources, the library and CANVAS, the online virtual learning platform.
Our academic support team here at Kingston University provides help in a range of areas.
When you arrive, we'll introduce you to your personal tutor. This is the member of academic staff who will provide academic guidance, be a support throughout your time at Kingston and show you how to make the best use of all the help and resources that we offer at Kingston University.
Year 1: 21% timetabled learning and teaching activity
You’ll spend 252 hours in scheduled learning, and should aim for a further 948 hours of self-managed study.
Year 1:
- Coursework: 55%
- Practical: 10%
- Exams: 35%
We aim to provide feedback on assessments within 20 working days.
Your individualised timetable is normally available to students within 48 hours of enrolment. Whilst we make every effort to ensure timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled learning and teaching can take place on any day of the week between 9am and 6pm. For undergraduate students, Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities, but there may be occasions when this is not possible. Timetables for part-time students will depend on the modules selected.
To give you an indication of class sizes, this course normally enrols 10 students and lecture sizes are normally 10. However this can vary by module and academic year.
Fees and funding
| Fee Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| Home (UK students) | £9,535* |
| International | £18,500 |
The tuition fee you pay depends on whether you are assessed as a 'Home' (UK), 'Islands' or 'International' student. In 2025/26 the fees for this course are above.
This fee applies to students studying for the BSc (Hons) or BA (Hons) top-up in the 2025/26 academic year.
* Your annual tuition fees cover your first attempt at all of the modules necessary to complete that academic year. A re-study of any modules will incur additional charges calculated by the number of credits. Home tuition fees may be subject to annual increases but will not increase by more than the fee caps as prescribed by the Office for Students or such other replacing body. Full time taught International fees are subject to an annual increase and are published in advance for the full duration of the programme.
Eligible UK students can apply to the Government for a tuition loan, which is paid direct to the University. This has a low interest rate which is charged from the time the first part of the loan is paid to the University until you have repaid it.
Need to know more? Our fees and funding section provides information and advice on money matters.
Scholarships and bursaries
For students interested in studying this course at Kingston, there are several opportunities to seek funding support.
Additional course costs
Some courses may require additional costs beyond tuition fees. When planning your studies, you’ll want to consider tuition fees, living costs, and any extra costs that might relate to your area of study.
Your tuition fees include costs for teaching, assessment and university facilities. So your access to libraries, shared IT resources and various student support services are all covered. Accommodation and general living expenses are not covered by these fees.
Where applicable, additional expenses for your course may include:
Our libraries have an extensive collection of books and journals, as well as open-access computers and laptops available to rent. However, you may want to buy your own computer or personal copies of key textbooks. Textbooks may range from £50 to £250 per year. And a personal computer can range from £100 to £3,000 depending on your course requirements.
While most coursework is submitted online, some modules may require printed copies. You may want to allocate up to £100 per year for hard-copies of your coursework.
3D printing is never compulsory. So if you choose to use our 3D printers, you’ll need to pay for the material. This ranges from 3p per gram to 40p per gram.
Kingston University will pay for all compulsory field trips. Fees for optional trips can range from £30 to £350 per trip.
Your tuition fees don’t cover travel costs. To save on travel costs, you can use our free intersite bus service. This route links the campuses and halls of residence with local train stations - Surbiton, Kingston upon Thames, and Norbiton.
Kingston University will supply you with a lab coat and safety goggles at the start of the year. You’ll also get a £10 voucher to help cover the cost of the safety boots when purchasing with our supplier, Activity Work Wear. Safety boots can cost between £25 and £100.
Course changes and regulations
The information on this page reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. To improve your student experience and the quality of your degree, we may review and change the material information of this course. Find out more about course changes
Programme Specifications for the course are published ahead of each academic year.
Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.
What our students and graduates say
I found that both the courses I took at Kingston University were well thought out and were designed to give students the skills demanded by industry. Another aspect that top-up students in particular appreciated was how accessible the course was; both in terms of pre-requisites where they received credit for licences and experience, and also in terms of its part-time delivery.
My career has involved many disciplines, cultures, environments and has certainly involved many challenges. The broad-based foundation I received at Kingston, together with the dedication of its faculty, contributed in no small way to my being able to achieve my goals to date, both academic and career.
