BEng (Hons) Aerospace Engineering with Foundation Year

Our engineering courses are built around problem- and activity-based learning and live industrial project work rather than lecture theatres alone, and every course meets the latest Engineering Council accreditation standards. Aerospace Engineering is accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) — and that accreditation covers this Foundation Year route just the same as direct entry.

We've put over £7m into new engineering facilities at our Springfield Campus, directly addressing the regional and national shortage of graduate-qualified engineers. That means access to subsonic and supersonic wind tunnels (including an F1-specification rolling road wind tunnel), an aircraft flight demonstrator, engine test facilities, composites and materials testing labs, and metal 3D printing.

There's plenty going on outside the timetable too. The Flight Simulator Club and the University of Wolverhampton Aerospace (UWA) club give you the chance to put design and build skills into practice — competing in the British Model Flying Association (BMFA) Challenge and the national UAS Challenge, or getting involved in re-engineering our very own two-seater aircraft. These aren't add-ons: they're where you build genuine engineering components, follow industry-standard procedures, and build a CV that stands out — starting from your Foundation Year, not just once you reach the main degree.

We sit in the heart of the UK's engineering and manufacturing region, within easy reach of major aerospace, automotive and supply chain employers, and we back that up with real support: academic skills help through our library's Skills for Learning programme, and dedicated wellbeing and disability support services — support that matters even more on a route designed to bring students in from a wider range of starting points.

It adds up to strong, consistent results: the University improved across every theme in the National Student Survey 2026, performing above sector benchmark, and has been recognised in the WhatUni Student Choice Awards among the UK's leading institutions for student experience.

Your Foundation Year builds the base-level skills — solving problems mathematically and scientifically, applying knowledge across technical subjects, and communicating clearly — that every later outcome builds on. By the time you graduate, you'll have developed the full range of skills expected of a professional aerospace engineer, mapped against the Engineering Council's AHEP 4 standards:

• Science & Maths. Apply advanced mathematics, statistics and natural science to analyse and solve genuinely complex aerospace engineering problems.
• Engineering Analysis. Use computational and analytical techniques — including CFD, FEA and MATLAB — together with technical literature, to model and resolve real aerospace challenges.
• Design & Innovation. Design integrated aerospace solutions that balance safety, environmental impact, cost and performance.
• The Engineer & Society. Evaluate the environmental and societal impact of your engineering decisions, and make ethical, informed choices as a professional engineer.
• Engineering Practice. Build hands-on capability across materials, technologies and manufacturing processes, while managing risk, ensuring quality and communicating clearly.
• Research & Development. Conceptualise, plan and deliver a complex aerospace project independently, supported by literature review and critical milestones, reporting to a professional standard.

The University is committed to a transparent fee structure, with no hidden costs, to help you make an informed decision. This includes information on what is included in the fee and how fees are calculated and reviewed.

If a tuition fee is not showing, we may not offer this intake for this course. Please check the start date information on the course finder for start dates.

Academic Pathway:-

Typical entry requirement: 48 UCAS points

• A Levels - grades DD / EEE
• BTEC L3 Extended Diploma or OCR Cambridge L3 Technical Extended Diploma - grades PPP
• BTEC L3 Diploma - grades MP
• Access to HE Diploma (60 credits) of which a minimum of 45 must be at Level 3 (48 UCAS point equivalence, minimum 45 credits at merit)
• T Levels with an overall grade of Pass and a minimum grade of D or E in Core

International entry requirements and application guidance can be found here

Use the UCAS Tariff calculator to check your qualifications and points

Prepare for Foundation Pathway: - We will consider applicants who have not achieved level 3 qualifications if you have a keen interest in this subject area or hold relevant experience. To receive an offer through this route you will be required to successfully attend and pass a Prepare for Foundation event. This is a one-day programme which is designed to assess your keen interest or recent experience in the subject, through a written assessment and a variety of activities. During the event you will have the opportunity to ask questions, be introduced to studying a higher education foundation course and meet staff and fellow students. If you would like more advice and guidance about this admissions pathway, please contact Gateway to discuss and support you making an application to us.

Other Requirements: Applicants must be 18 years old or above at the start of the course.

“Since I started my BEng Aerospace Engineering course with the University of Wolverhampton, I have been able to advance my theoretical knowledge. Starting with the basic principles of what makes an aircraft fly and the varying forces applied to that aircraft. Currently in my second year, I can further those skills by partaking in a more focused subject with various systems within aircraft. With this university I was also able to take extracurricular activities, partaking in designing a fuselage for a UAS Drone challenge”. Daniel Copson – BEng Aerospace Engineering with Foundation Year student and UWA Student Design Engineer.

“Aerospace Engineering is an interesting degree to study with many exciting extracurricular activities alongside the course, which students can pursue. For example, the IMechE UAS challenge creates a big learning curve for all those involved, as well as providing opportunities whereby all theoretical knowledge gained from study can be applied to a real-life scenario, taking students from design to manufacture and test flying their UAS. All of this gives students essential experience in working in the aviation industry”. Jake Adams – BEng Aerospace Engineering student and UWA Student team leader.

"I am employed in an aerospace engineering role that I would not have been able to get if it wasn’t for my degree. The modules I learned have given me an insight into the engineering world and provided me with skills necessary to choosing my career path and becoming successful in the future." Oliver Hickman - BEng Aerospace Engineering graduate 2021

Tuition Fees Loan (Home Fee Status):

Most students will be able to apply for a loans to pay for these subject to eligibility. To find out more information please refer to the government Student Finance website.

Changes for EU students:

The UK government has confirmed that EU students starting courses from 1 August 2021 will normally be classified as having Overseas Fee status. More information about the change is available at UKCISA:

EU citizens living in the UK with 'settled' status, and Irish nationals living in the UK or Ireland, will still be classified as Home students, providing they meet the usual residency requirements, for more information about EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS)

Self-funding:

If you don’t want to take out a loan to pay your fees or if you aren’t eligible to receive a loan, you might want to take advantage of the University’s scheme to pay by instalments: See How to pay.

For more information please contact the Gateway.

Your employer, embassy or organisation can pay for your Tuition fees:

If your employer, embassy or organisation agrees to pay all or part of your tuition fees; the University will refer to them as your sponsor and will invoice them for the appropriate amount.

We must receive notification of sponsorship in writing as soon as possible, and before enrolment, confirming that the sponsor will pay your tuition fees.

Financial Hardship:

Students can apply to the Dennis Turner Opportunity Fund.

for help with course related costs however this cannot be used for fees or to cover general living costs.

Bursaries and Scholarships:

In addition the University also offers a range of Bursaries and Scholarships packages

You can find more information on the University’s Funding, cost, fee and support pages.

Telephone

01902 32 22 22

Email

enquiries@wlv.ac.uk

Online

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