Key Info

Bachelor/Masters of Engineering in Aeronautical Engineering

NFQ Level 8 major Award Honours Bachelor Degree/ Level 9 Major Award Honours Masters Degree 
CAO points history
556
Course code
LM077
Duration
4/5 Years
Subject area
Engineering
Course Director
Dr Anthony Comer
Email
anthony.comer@ul.ie
Tel
+353 (0 )61 20 2778
Admissions:
Tel
+353 (0)61 233755

If you like science and its application to solving real-world problems, then engineering may be for you. If you are also enticed by the thought of working in the exciting field of aeronautics, then you should almost certainly choose Aeronautical Engineering at UL.

Why Study Aeronautical Engineering At UL?

The Aeronautical Engineering course at UL is your gateway into the hugely exciting aerospace industry. This elite course is one of the most respected in Europe and is supported by outstanding facilities, including wind tunnels and composites manufacturing equipment. Right now, job prospects have never been brighter for Aerospace Engineers, with a major shortage in Europe. More than 70% of our graduates work in the Aerospace industry and 63% live in the Republic of Ireland.

Our graduates have reached the highest echelons of the Aerospace industry and job prospects have never been brighter for Aerospace Engineers. In 3rd year, top performing students can spend a semester at the world-renowned Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida, USA, or at Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, USA which is currently ranked in the top 5 US engineering schools.

Learn more about our courses and upcoming events

What you will study

The Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) and Masters of Engineering (M.E.) programmes are 4 years and 5 years in duration, respectively. Both include an eight month period of Cooperative Education spent in an appropriate industrial environment. The course provides a broad and practical programme of study, which gives you a good understanding of aircraft design, aerodynamics, structures, propulsion, control, materials, avionics, business and maintenance, and enables you to work in all sectors of the aerospace industry.

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 or third year of the programme.

The first two years provide you with a foundation in the fundamental engineering disciplines, and subjects taught include:

  • Air Transportation Management
  • Mathematics
  • Thermodynamics
  • Materials Science
  • Introduction to Engineering
  • Production Technology
  • Aerodynamics
  • Aircraft Maintenance
  • Engineering Mechanics
  • CAD (Computer Aided Design)
  • Fluid Mechanics
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Chemistry

The eight-month industry placement occurs at the end of year two. The University has 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

The Flight Mechanics module deserves special mention as the laboratory element of this course is conducted in-flight. A series of flight exercises are carried out over the course of a week, in a twin-engine turboprop aircraft, in which students are provided with individual consoles for monitoring the aircraft's performance.

In fourth year M.E. students will get the opportunity to apply their knowledge of aircraft design in the Design, Build and Fly project. Run over two semesters, the students are required to Design, Build and Fly a model aircraft that has to satisfy specifications set annually by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). For videos of previous designs check out YouTube (search for “UL DBF”).

 

Semester 1

 

Semester 2

Summer

MA4001

Engineering Maths 1

MA4002

Engineering Maths 2

 

ME4121

Engineering Science 1

ME4111

Engineering Mechanics 1

 

CH4701

Chemistry for Engineers

ME4412

Fluid Mechanics 1

 

EE4011

Engineering Computing

ME4042

Introduction to Design for Manufacture

 

EE4001

Electrical Engineering 1

MT4002

Materials 1

 

ME4001

Introduction to Engineering 1

     

 

Semester 3

 

Semester 4

Summer

MA4003

Engineering Maths 3

MA4004

Engineering Maths 4

Cooperative Education

ME4213

Mechanics of Solids 1

MG4604

Air Transport & Management

 

ME4523

Thermodynamics 1

ME4113

Applied Mechanics

 

ME4424

Aerodynamics 1

ME4031

Aerospace Structures

 

ME4112

Engineering Mechanics 2

ME4114

Engineering Design and Communication

 

Semester 5

 

Semester 6

Summer

Cooperative Education

MA4006

Engineering Maths 5

 
 

ME4226

Mechanics of Solids 2

 
 

ME4116

Aircraft Vibrations

 
 

ME4124

Flight Dynamics Laboratory

 
 

ME4726

Flight Mechanics

 

 

ME4134

Aircraft Design

 

 

Semester 7

 

Semester 8

Summer

ME4807

Aircraft Conceptual Design

ME4528

Propulsion Systems

 

ME4128

Aircraft Flight Dynamics and Simulation

ME4038

Project 2

 

ME4227

Aircraft Structures

ME4048

Project 3

 

ME4027

Project 1

 

Specialist Elective

 

 

Specialist Elective

 

Specialist Elective

 

Year 4

Semester 7

 

Semester 8

Summer

ME4807

Aircraft Conceptual Design

ME4528

Propulsion Systems

 

ME4128

Aircraft Flight Dynamics and Simulation

ME4158

Design, Build, Fly 2

 

ME4031

Aerospace Structures

 

Specialist Elective

 

ME6111

Aerodynamics 2

 

Specialist Elective

 

ME4127

Design, Build, Fly 1

 

Specialist Elective

 
         

Year 5

Semester 9

 

Semester 10

Summer

ME6051

Advanced Technical Communications for Engineers

ME6172

Advanced Aerospace Structures

 

ME6103

Research Project 1

ME6104

Research Project 2

 

 

Specialist Elective

 

Specialist Elective

 

 

Specialist Elective

 

Specialist Elective

 
 

Specialist Elective

 

 

 

Entry requirements

CAO points history
556
Minimum grades

Applicants are required to hold at the time of enrolment the established Leaving Certificate (or an approved equivalent) with a minimum of six subjects which must include: Two H5 (Higher Level) grades and Four O6 (Ordinary Level) grades or four H7 (Higher Level) grades. Subjects must include Mathematics, Irish or another language, and English.

Subject requirements

In addition, applicants must hold a minimum grade H4 in Mathematics and grade O6/H7 in any one of the following: Applied Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Physics with Chemistry, Engineering, Design & Communication Graphics/ Technical Drawing, Technology, Computer Science, Biology, Agricultural Science, Construction Studies.

Additional considerations

A Special Mathematics Examination will be offered at UL following the Leaving Certificate results for those students who did not achieve the Mathematics requirement.

We welcome applications from mature students. Mature applicants must apply through the Central Applications Office (CAO) by 1 February.

Application information for mature student applicants (PDF)

QQI Entry

Certain QQI Awards are acceptable in fulfilling admission requirements for this programme. Visit the UL Undergraduate Admissions QQI site for a full list of modules.

Non-EU Entry Requirements

How to apply

Where are you applying from? How to Apply
Ireland Irish students must apply to UL via the CAO. More information can be found here. 
The UK  Students who have completed their A-Levels can apply to UL via the CAO. More information can be found on the Academic Registry website. 
The EU EU students can apply to UL via the CAO. More information can be found on the Academic Registry website.
Non-EU country If you are outside of the EU, you can apply for this degree here.

Fees and funding

Student course fees are broken into three components - Student contribution, Student Levy and Tuition Fees.

A number of illustrative examples of fees for this course based on the current fee levels have been set out in the tables below.

An explanation of the components, how to determine status and the criteria involved is provided below the examples as is a list of possible scholarships and funding available.

EU Students with Free fees status in receipt of a SUSI grant

HEA pays Tuition Fees €4,262
SUSI pays Student contribution €3,000
Student pays Student Levy €100
€7,362

EU Students with Free fees status not in receipt of a grant

HEA pays Tuition Fees €4,262
Student pays Student contribution €3,000
Student pays Student Levy €100
€7,362

Students with EU fee status not in receipt of a grant

Student pays Tuition Fees €4,262
Student pays Student contribution €3,000
Student pays Student Levy €100
€7,362

Non-EU Students

Student pays Tuition Fees €20,900
Student pays Student Levy €100
€21,000

Student course fees are comprised of the following components:

Student Contribution

Annual charge set by the government for all full-time third level students. All students are liable unless they have been approved for a grant by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI). Please refer to https://www.studentfinance.ie to determine your eligibility for a grant and for instructions on how to apply. The current student contribution is set at €3000.

Student Levy

All students are liable to pay the Student Levy of €100. Please note the Student Levy is not covered by the SUSI Grant.

Tuition Fees

These are based on Residency, Citizenship, Course requirements.

Review the three groups of criteria to determine your fee status as follows

  1. Residency
    • You must have been living in an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland for at least 3 of the 5 years before starting your course
  2. Citizenship
    • You must be a citizen of an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland or have official refugee status
  3. Course Requirements (all must be met)
    • You must be a first time full-time undergraduate (Exceptions are provided for students who hold a Level 6 or Level 7 qualification and are progressing to a Level 8 course in the same general area of study).
    • You must be undertaking a full-time undergraduate course of at least 2 year’s duration
    • You cannot be undertaking a repeat year of study at the same level unless evidence of exceptional circumstances eg serious illness is provided (in which case this condition may be waived)

Depending on how you meet these criteria your status will be one of the following -

  • Free Fee Status: You satisfy all three categories (1, 2 and 3) and therefore are eligible for the Higher Education Authority’s Free Fees scheme.
  • EU Fee Status: You satisfy the citizenship and/or residency criteria but fail to satisfy the course requirements and are liable to EU fees
  • Non EU Fee Status: You do not meet either the citizenship or residency criteria and are therefore liable to Non EU fees.

More information about fees can be found on the Finance website

These scholarships are available for this course

These scholarships are available for all courses

Your future career

Employability skills from this degree

  • Developing specialist knowledge in areas including aerodynamics, stress engineering, materials and structures, and sustainable aircraft design
  • Working effectively in multinational teams
  • Using creativity to establish innovative solutions
  • Managing the design process and evaluating outcomes
  • Meeting the changing needs of customers
  • Numeracy, IT skills and attention to detail
  • Teamwork
  • Leadership
  • Project management
  • Communicatiion (written and verbal)
  • Development of economically viable, ethically sound and sustainable solutions

Further Study Options

Job titles for graduates with this degree

Graduates progressing directly into employment take up a wide variety of roles. The following provides a sample of initial roles listed on the Graduate Outcomes Survey by graduates approximately one year after graduation:

  • Aero Design Engineer
  • Aeronautical Engineer
  • Aerospace Stress Engineer
  • Aircraft Design Engineer
  • Associate Technical Professional
  • Camo Engineer
  • Design Engineer
  • Design Liaison Engineer
  • Development Engineer
  • Engineering Technician
  • Graduate Engineer
  • Maintenance Coordinator
  • Maintenance Programme Engineer
  • Material and Process Engineer
  • Project Engineer
  • Quality Engineer
  • Research Assistant
  • Service Engineer
  • Support Engineer
  • Technical Consultant
  • Technical Designer
  • Technical Project Manager
  • Technical Representative
  • Technical Services Engineer
  • Trainee Pilot

Student Profiles

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Niamh Fitzgibbon

Aviation has always been a passion of mine – my eyes have always been turned skywards! It was a natural progression of my love of aviation, maths and design to choose Aeronautical Engineering. I opted to study in the University of Limerick as it is recognised across the globe as one of the leaders in Aeronautical Engineering, with a strong track record in the industry. After graduation, I chose a Masters in Advanced Aircraft Design Concepts, which I knew would be vital to a career as an aircraft design engineer.

My current employer is Aero Inspection and I am work on their Design Team. The company specialises in minor modifications and repairs for cabin interiors, and placards for both the interior and exterior of aircraft. I prepare drawings for certification purposes, carry out detailed analysis of aircraft structures, prepare weight & balance reports, and prepare aircraft manual updates. I then visit the aircraft to support the implementation of the modifications.

UL’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering includes modules like flight mechanics, aircraft conceptual design, structures, and stability & control. These modules have prepared me for the detailed design work that I do every day. The Design-Build-Fly module was very important for my development as a design engineer. This project involved all stages of the aircraft design process; from the initial concept sketches, to detailed design and mechanical analysis, production, and the final test flights. It was a very challenging module, but it was the perfect opportunity to put theory into practice.

Another aspect of the course that sets it apart from the rest, is the eight-month compulsory internship. I was placed in Rolls-Royce, in Derby. The experience I gained here really helped my CV to stand out from the others.

Niamh works with Airbus


 

John McLaughlin

UL has a long-standing association with the aerospace industry, an industry that I was eager to become a part of. During my research of courses, I saw that UL had a very high percentage of graduate engineers entering the aerospace industry, largely due to the Co-Op work experience with leading aerospace companies. I also saw how UL has many facilities on campus that are relevant to Aeronautical Engineering, such as wind tunnels and flight simulators, so I knew that this was a practical “hands-on” course that did not exclusively involve classroom learning.

Throughout the course, we get to apply “real-world” engineering experiences to projects like stress analysis of aircraft structures using Finite Element Analysis and the designing, building and flying of a radio-controlled (RC) aircraft in my final year.

One of my favourite modules is Flight Mechanics where we get to experience a flight test in a twin-engine turbo-prop aircraft out at Shannon airport, where the pilot performs various manoeuvres to highlight the flight characteristics of the aircraft. This allows us to apply classroom theory to real-life aircraft testing methods.

I undertook my Co-Op with Boeing, the world’s largest aerospace company, in Seattle, Washington where I worked on the engineering team of the 777X aircraft. One of my main roles was testing the functionality of the Autopilot which involved many fun hours in a flight simulator. I acquired many skills during my time at Boeing, such as writing Matlab scripts and using CAD packages such as Catia, all of which will assist me in my future career. This was an unforgettable experience in Seattle in which I was exposed to the many opportunities that are available in the aviation industry, not just in Ireland, but around the world.


 

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Jonathan Struthers - Graduate

UL is the only institute in the State which offers a fully accredited degree in Aeronautical Engineering. UL has some of the best facilities in the country for studying Aeronautical Engineering including wind tunnels, composite material processing facilities, a flight simulator, etc.

The course is challenging and thought-provoking. It will enable you to develop a naturally analytical approach to thinking, and will give you the mathematical tools to break down physical processes into some form of rational control. It has provided me with the opportunity to be considered highly employable in both the business and engineering industries.

In the 3rd year of my UL degree, I went on Erasmus to Georgia Institute of Technology in the US. The modules I studied included Jet and Rocket Propulsion and Aerospace Vehicle Performance. This differed from UL in that I gained an insight into the military, space and rotorcraft (Helicopter) sectors of the engineering industry. The experience really cemented my enthusiasm and my skills as a prospecting Engineer and challenged me to new levels.

I undertook my Co-Op with AWAS Aviation Leasing, a Dublin- based aircraft leasing company which provides more than 300 commercial aircraft to over 100 of the largest airlines in the world. Thanks to the UL Co-Op program, the experiences I gained during my time at AWAS have provided me with an excellent beginning to my professional career by allowing me to engage with some of the biggest names in the aviation industry from around the world.