Military Aerospace and Airworthiness MSc/PgCert/PgDip:
Course Description:
Today’s military aviation platforms are complex systems and it is essential, therefore, that they are deployed and maintained in such a way as to ensure their continued airworthiness and the safety of the crew operating them. To achieve this requires engineers to be cognisant of a broad range of aerospace engineering, airworthiness and safety disciplines.
The MSc in Military Aerospace and Airworthiness has been designed to address these needs by providing a course aimed specifically at employees in the MoD, the Armed Forces and the international defence industry. It provides practicing engineers with the knowledge and skills to enable them to work more effectively in aerospace engineering, airworthiness, and safety. The course structure allows students to continue in full-time employment whilst they are studying.
Start Months:
September and January
School:
CDS
Theme:
Defence and Security
Entry Requirements:
A first or second class UK Honours degree (or equivalent) ideally in a related subject. Other recognised professional qualifications or several years relevant industrial experience may be accepted as equivalent; subject to approval by the Course Director. For further and specific information please visit the course page.
English Language:
If you are an international student you will need to provide evidence that you have achieved a satisfactory test result in an English qualification. The minimum standard expected from a number of accepted courses are as follows:
IELTS - 7
TOEFL - 100
Pearson PTE Academic - 68
Cambridge English Scale - 190
Cambridge English: Advanced – with a minimum of Grade A
Cambridge English: Proficiency – with a minimum of Grade B
In addition to these minimum scores you are also expected to achieve a balanced score across all elements of the test. We reserve the right to reject any test score if any one element of the test score is too low. We can only accept tests taken within two years of your registration date (with the exception of Cambridge English tests which have no expiry date). Students requiring a Tier 4 (General) visa must ensure they can meet the English language requirements set out by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and we recommend booking a IELTS for UKVI test.
Duration:
Part-time MSc - up to three years, Part-time PgCert - two years, Part-time PgDip - two years
(For MOD status students the duration may vary, subject to annual review.)
Course format:
Overview:
This course has been designed to address the needs of employees in the MoD, the Armed Forces and the international defence industry. It provides practicing engineers with the knowledge and skills to enable them to work more effectively in aerospace engineering, airworthiness, and safety.
Who is it for?:
The course draws students from the UK and Western Europe giving an eclectic mix to the classroom environment. Maximum number of places: 25 per year.
The course structure allows students to continue in full-time employment whilst they are studying.
Why this course?:
Today’s military aviation platforms are complex systems and it is essential, therefore, that they are deployed and maintained in such a way as to ensure their continued airworthiness and the safety of the crew operating them. To achieve this requires engineers to be cognisant of a broad range of aerospace engineering, airworthiness and safety disciplines.
The MSc distinguishes itself from similar courses offered by leading UK Universities by offering one focused specifically on the Military context and offers unique subject areas unavailable elsewhere. You will be taught by staff, primarily from Cranfield Defence and Security and the School of Aerospace, Transport and Manufacturing , many of them world leaders in their field. Visiting lecturers also include experts from industry, research establishments, and the MoD.
Accreditation:
The course is accredited by the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS).
Your teaching team:
- Dr Alessio Balleri
- David Barry
- Dr Derek Bray
- Professor Karen Carr
- Dr John Economou
- Professor Ian Horsfall
- Professor Phil Irving
- Professor Kevin Knowles
- Laura Lacey
- Dr Panagiotis Laskaridis
- Dr Wen-Chin Li
- Professor Pericles Pilidis
- Dr Hamd Rashid
- Dr Simon Place
- Dr Alistair Saddington
- Dr Xiang Zhang
Course details:
The course is delivered on a part-time basis and It contains five compulsory modules. Students choose one further module to complete the PgCert or a further seven modules to complete the PgDip (MSc taught phase).
This provides students with the flexibility to tailor their studies to account for prior educational and work experience and the current and future needs of their employment role. The modules taken in the taught phase of the MSc (the PgDip) provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to complete a research-based project, which forms the final part of the Masters award.
Individual project:
The individual research project will focus on a topical subject area covered by the taught phase of the course. The subject of the project can be chosen to match the research needs of the sponsor and/or the interests of the individual student and students are encouraged to utilise their employment resources to place the project in context. Lecturing staff on both campuses will undertake supervision of research projects.
Assessment:
A mixture of written assignments, essays, examinations, individual and group design exercises. In addition, for MSc students a written dissertation and viva voce examination.
Core modules:
- Study Skills (non-assessed)
- Airworthiness of Military Aircraft
- Aviation Safety Management
- Fixed-Wing Aeromechanics
- Propulsion Systems
- Safety Assessment of Aircraft Systems
- Research Project (MSc only)
Elective
- Aircraft Accident Investigation and Response
- Aircraft Fatigue and Damage Tolerance
- Aircraft Survivability
- Air Transport Engineering - Maintenance Operations
- Design Durability and Integrity of Composite Aircraft Structures
- Fundamentals of Aircraft Engine Control
- Guided Weapons
- Human Factors in Aircraft Maintenance
- Introduction to Aircraft Structural Crashworthiness
- Introduction to Human Factors
- Mechanical Integrity of Gas Turbines
- Military Aircraft Systems
- Military Avionics -STA Communications and Navigation
- Practical Reliability
- Rotary-Wing Aeromechanics
Fees and funding:
Home EU Student Fees:
- MSc Part-time £17,250 *
- PgDip Part-time £13,900 *
- PgCert Part-time £6,950 *
Oversees Fees:
- MSc Part-time £17,250 *
- PgDip Part-time £13,900 *
- PgCert Part-time £6,950 *
* Students will be offered the option of paying the full fee up front, or to pay in four equal instalments at six month intervals (i.e. the full fee to be paid over the first two years of their registration).
Fee notes:
- The fees outlined apply to all students whose initial date of registration falls on or between 1 August 2017 and 31 July 2018.
- All students pay the tuition fee set by the University for the full duration of their registration period agreed at their initial registration.
- Additional fees for extensions to the agreed registration period may be charged and can be found below.
- Fee eligibility at the Home/EU rate is determined with reference to UK Government regulations. As a guiding principle, EU nationals (including UK) who are ordinarily resident in the EU pay Home/EU tuition fees, all other students (including those from the Channel Islands and Isle of Man) pay Overseas fees.
Security clearance for Shrivenham:
Some Cranfield University courses are delivered at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, Shrivenham which is a Ministry of Defence (MOD) site. All applicants to courses that are wholly or partially delivered at Shrivenham must complete the BPSS (HMG Baseline Personnel Security Standard V4 April 2014) prior to registration on the course or must already hold a security clearance to this level or higher.
Your application and BPSS clearance application will be shared during the application process with the MOD who have ultimate discretion over whether to admit applicants to the Shrivenham site. This information will be returned by the MOD to Cranfield University after checks are completed and no copies will be retained by the MOD.
BPSS checks may involve confirmation of the following:
- Identity (e.g. Photo ID)
- Nationality and Immigration Status
- Employment/Academic History (covering the past 3 years)
- Criminal record (unspent convictions only)
Additionally, applicants are required to give a reasonable account of any significant periods (6 months or more in the past 3 years) of time spent abroad.
This may be revised from time to time dependent on national security requirements. For more details, please consult the BPSS Guidance.
It will take additional time to process your BPSS clearance application once you have completed your course application.
Inability to access the Shrivenham site as a result of failure to meet security clearance requirements will result in a withdrawal of offer, or, if already registered, a termination of registration.
Your career:
The course creates opportunities to develop your career at a more senior level and in achieving Incorporated or Chartered Engineer status.