Bachelor of Engineering in Aeronautical Engineering

General Information

The Honours Bachelor Degree of Engineering in Aeronautical Engineering has been operating since 1992.The course is accredited by Engineers Ireland and is the only degree course in Aeronautical Engineering in the State. Since the course started the number of students has grown three-fold and our graduates have found exciting and rewarding jobs in Ireland and throughout Europe and beyond. Many have climbed to highly responsible positions making key decisions on the design and operation of the aircraft we fly in. Others have stayed in UL to undertake aerospace research leading to higher degrees.Within Ireland the aerospace sector has experienced steady growth with around 6,000 people employed in over 160 companies. Across Europe the aerospace industry is one of the largest and most strategic industries, directly employing over 375,000 highly skilled staff in over 700 prime contracting companies, with a further 1,000,000 other jobs supported through the supply chain.When our graduates return to visit UL the enthusiasm they show in describing their jobs is second to none.

Course Structure

The programme is of four years duration, and includes an eight month period of Cooperative Education spent in an appropriate industrial environment.The programme consists of eight semesters, seven of which are spent on academic studies within the University and one (semester five) which is spent in industry.The course provides a broad and practical programme of study to give the graduate a good understanding of aircraft design, manufacture, operation, testing and control.

The programme is fully ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) compliant, allowing student mobility across Europe. In addition, students wishing to transfer from Level 6 or Level 7 Engineering programmes can gain access into the second year of the programme. The first year of the programme is identical to the programmes in Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering and CAED allowing students to transfer between these programmes if desired.The second year is also similar to the Mechanical Engineering programme, although three specialist aeronautical engineering modules are introduced.These first two years provide the student with a foundation in the fundamental engineering disciplines.

The subjects which are taught include:

• Mathematics
• Engineering Mechanics
• Thermodynamics
• Aerodynamics
• Materials Science
• CAD (Computer Aided Design
• Mechanics of Solids
• Introduction to Engineering
• Production Technology

The business aspects of aviation operations are taught as part of a second year module,Air Transportation. At the end of year two the student spends eight months in industry, under the framework of the Cooperative Education programme.The University has established significant national and international links throughout the aviation industry, which has enabled students to be placed in prestigious aerospace companies such as Boeing and Airbus.

During the third and final years, all students study fundamental aeronautical engineering subjects such as:

• Flight Mechanics
• Aircraft Design
• Aircraft Stability and Control
• Aircraft Propulsion
• Aircraft Structures
• Avionics

The flight mechanics module deserves special mention as the laboratory element of this course is conducted in-flight.The University of Limerick contracts Cranfield University to conduct a series of flight exercises in a twin engine turbo-prop aircraft, in which students are provided with individual consoles for monitoring the aircraft's performance.

Other exciting modules include Aircraft Design, where students design, build and fly an unmanned aircraft, and Aircraft Structures where students carry out a full stress analysis of an aircraft wing.

For further details, log on www.mae.ul.ie

Entry Requirements

Applicants are required to hold at the time of enrolment the established Leaving Certificate (or an approved equivalent) with at least Grade C3 in two Higher Level subjects and Grade D3 in four Ordinary or Higher Level subjects (including Mathematics; Irish or another language; and English).

In addition, applicants are required to hold at least the following in the Leaving Certificate, or an approved equivalent: Grade C3 in Higher level Mathematics and a grade D3 in a Higher or Ordinary Level paper in any one of the following:Applied Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Physics with Chemistry, Engineering,Technical Drawing/Design & Communication Graphics,Technology, Biology,Agricultural Science.

Students can also enter this programme of study via the Engineering Choice degree LM116. A Special Mathematics Examination will be offered at UL following the Leaving Certificate results for those students who did not achieve the Mathematics requirement.

Career Prospects

B.E.Aeronautical Engineering graduates are currently pursuing careers within the following areas:

• Aircraft aerodynamic design and analysis
• Aircraft structural design and analysis
• Flight test instrumentation;Airframe maintenance
• Design of airframe structural repair procedures
• Engine maintenance and repair;
• Aircraft systems engineering
• Aircraft composite structures design and research;
• Computer Aided Engineering
• software development
• Aircraft electrical systems installation
• Pneumatics and cabin systems
• Flight physics
• Aircraft financial services and operations management
• Industrial fluid flow simulation using computational fluid dynamics
• Gas turbine engine design and manufacture
• Automobile aerodynamic and structural design and analysis