Best Universities for Aerospace Engineering in the UK 2027
Northumbria University, Newcastle ranks first for aerospace engineering in 2027, followed by Swansea University in second and the University of Sheffield in third. The ranking compares 30 UK universities across eight academic, career and student-experience measures.
The table is designed to help students compare overall performance without treating salary, reputation or any single teaching measure as the complete answer. Graduate earnings range from £28,000 to £37,000 in the published data, while the strongest teaching, satisfaction and academic-support results are spread across different universities.
Before choosing a course: compare the exact BEng or MEng programme, its current accreditation, compulsory modules, facilities, placements and entry requirements. Graduate earnings are comparative outcomes rather than guaranteed starting salaries.
Top universities for aerospace engineering in 2027
The top three combine different strengths. Northumbria leads the overall ranking, Swansea records strong teaching and satisfaction figures, and Sheffield pairs third place with the highest graduate earnings among the podium universities.
Northumbria University, Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne
The leading combined score, supported by 86% teaching quality and 94% academic support.
Swansea University
Swansea
Second overall, with 79% satisfaction and a teaching-quality result of 91%.
University of Sheffield
Sheffield
The highest-ranked Russell Group university, with 92% academic support.
How the aerospace engineering ranking works
Eight measures shape the final result
The final ranking combines academic and graduate outcomes with the wider experience of studying at each university and in its city.
Aerospace Engineering University Rankings 2027
Search or sort all 30 universities. Sorting changes the comparison order only; each university's official published rank remains in the first column.
| Rank | University | Graduate earnings | Satisfaction | Teaching | Academic support | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northumbria University, Newcastle Newcastle upon Tyne | £31,000 | 74% | 86% | 94% | 242 |
| 2 | Swansea University Swansea | £30,000 | 79% | 91% | 84% | 112 |
| 3 | University of Sheffield Sheffield | £33,500 | 75% | 87% | 92% | 101 |
| 4 | University of South Wales Pontypridd | £28,000 | 72% | 89% | 90% | 98 |
| 5 | University of Liverpool Liverpool | £30,500 | 71% | 86% | 90% | 97 |
| 5 | University of Brighton Brighton | £30,000 | 72% | 98% | 95% | 97 |
| 6 | University of Leeds Leeds | £32,000 | 74% | 88% | 80% | 95 |
| 7 | Nottingham Trent University Nottingham | £30,500 | 76% | 81% | 90% | 92 |
| 7 | Newcastle University Newcastle upon Tyne | £31,000 | 75% | 82% | 85% | 92 |
| 7 | University of Surrey Guildford | £35,000 | 78% | 91% | 89% | 92 |
| 7 | University of Bath Bath | £33,000 | 80% | 92% | 83% | 92 |
| 8 | Sheffield Hallam University Sheffield | £28,000 | 73% | 83% | 87% | 87 |
| 9 | University of Southampton Southampton | £37,000 | 76% | 89% | 86% | 84 |
| 10 | University of Bristol Bristol | £34,000 | 73% | 73% | 73% | 83 |
| 10 | Kingston University Kingston upon Thames | £32,000 | 71% | 85% | 92% | 83 |
| 11 | Coventry University Coventry | £30,000 | 72% | 83% | 90% | 82 |
| 11 | University of Nottingham Nottingham | £33,000 | 74% | 86% | 88% | 82 |
| 12 | Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh | £32,000 | 75% | 85% | 91% | 78 |
| 13 | University of the West of England, Bristol Bristol | £31,500 | 74% | 48% | 48% | 76 |
| 14 | University of Hertfordshire Hertfordshire | £30,000 | 71% | 80% | 85% | 73 |
| 15 | University of Leicester Leicester | £30,000 | 73% | 81% | 83% | 70 |
| 16 | University of Manchester Manchester | £32,500 | 70% | 75% | 67% | 69 |
| 17 | University of Glasgow Glasgow | £33,000 | 75% | 76% | 74% | 67 |
| 18 | University of Birmingham Birmingham | £32,000 | 72% | 78% | 86% | 64 |
| 19 | Teesside University Middlesbrough | £30,000 | 78% | 88% | 82% | 63 |
| 20 | Brunel University London Uxbridge | £31,000 | 68% | 83% | 58% | 55 |
| 21 | University of Central Lancashire Preston | £31,000 | 71% | 71% | 81% | 51 |
| 21 | Queen Mary University of London London | £29,000 | 69% | 77% | 75% | 51 |
| 22 | University of Wolverhampton Wolverhampton | £30,000 | 71% | 83% | 75% | 46 |
| 23 | City St George's, University of London London | £30,000 | 67% | 73% | 75% | 30 |
Key findings from the aerospace engineering ranking
Northumbria leads the ranking
Northumbria University, Newcastle records the highest overall score at 242, alongside 94% academic support.
University of Southampton
Southampton has the highest graduate-earnings figure in the table at £37,000 and ranks ninth overall.
University of Brighton
Brighton records the highest teaching-quality score at 98% and also leads academic support at 95%.
University of Bath
Bath has the highest student-satisfaction result in the table at 80%.
University of Sheffield
Sheffield places third overall with £33,500 graduate earnings and 92% academic support.
Median earnings are £31,000
The median across all 30 graduate-earnings figures is £31,000.
What this ranking tells you about studying aerospace engineering
Aerospace engineering courses combine demanding mathematical and engineering study with practical design work. The precise balance varies by university, so the overall ranking is most useful when it is paired with a close comparison of the course structure.
The highest overall score and highest earnings are different
Northumbria ranks first overall, while Southampton has the highest graduate-earnings figure at £37,000 and places ninth. Surrey is another strong earnings option at £35,000 and shares seventh place. This illustrates why salary is useful for comparison but cannot describe the complete academic and student experience.
Graduate Outcomes timing: HESA collects Graduate Outcomes information approximately 15 months after course completion. Earnings figures should be read as outcomes at that survey point rather than as guaranteed salaries for every graduate.
Accreditation needs to be checked course by course
Engineering accreditation applies to a named programme and defined intakes. An accredited course can contribute to the educational requirements for Incorporated Engineer or Chartered Engineer registration, but professional registration also depends on competence and commitment developed through engineering practice. Check the exact BEng or MEng in the Engineering Council course database and confirm its current status with the relevant professional body.
Facilities and design work can matter as much as the course title
Compare access to aerodynamics and propulsion teaching, structures and materials laboratories, control systems, computing, computer-aided design, simulation and substantial individual or group design projects. Students interested in spacecraft or satellites should look specifically for space-systems modules rather than assuming every aerospace course includes the same depth of astronautical engineering.
Teaching and support reveal different course strengths
Brighton leads both teaching quality at 98% and academic support at 95%, while Bath records the highest satisfaction figure at 80%. Northumbria, Sheffield, Kingston and Heriot-Watt also post strong support results. These columns can identify courses where the learning environment is a particular strength, even when another university has a higher earnings figure.
Russell Group membership is not a course-level score
Sheffield is the highest-ranked Russell Group university in third place, but several non-Russell Group universities appear above or alongside research-intensive institutions. Compare accreditation, facilities, project work, placements, teaching, support and cost alongside institutional reputation.
How to use the ranking when choosing an aerospace engineering degree
Check the exact accreditation and degree route
Confirm the current BEng or MEng accreditation, the intakes it covers and how the programme supports the educational route towards professional registration.
Compare aircraft, propulsion and space options
Review compulsory modules and later specialisms in aerodynamics, propulsion, structures, control, materials, spacecraft or satellite systems.
Look closely at facilities and engineering projects
Compare laboratories, simulation tools, design-build-test projects, team challenges and opportunities to work on industry-informed problems.
Investigate placements and employer-facing experience
Check placement-year availability, internship support, careers provision, professional societies and the destinations of recent aerospace graduates.
Related Unifresher rankings and city guides
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best university for aerospace engineering in the UK in 2027?
Northumbria University, Newcastle ranks first in the 2027 Unifresher aerospace engineering ranking with an overall score of 242. Swansea University is second with 112, and the University of Sheffield is third with 101.
How many universities are included in the aerospace engineering ranking?
The 2027 table compares 30 UK universities across eight academic, career and student-experience measures. All 30 universities are included in the published table.
What graduate earnings are shown for aerospace engineering?
The published graduate-earnings figures range from £28,000 to £37,000, with a median of £31,000 across the 30 universities. The University of Southampton has the highest figure at £37,000. These are comparative graduate-outcome figures rather than guaranteed starting salaries.
When are graduate outcomes measured?
HESA Graduate Outcomes information is collected approximately 15 months after students complete their higher education studies. The figures describe graduate outcomes at that survey point, not salaries six months after graduation.
Does accreditation matter for an aerospace engineering degree?
Accreditation can support the academic route towards professional registration, but it applies to the exact programme and intake rather than automatically to every engineering course at a university. Check the Engineering Council course database and the relevant professional body before applying.
Is a BEng or MEng better for aerospace engineering?
Both can lead to an aerospace career. An accredited integrated MEng can meet the educational requirements for Chartered Engineer registration, while an accredited BEng may need appropriate further learning at master's level. Professional registration also requires competence and commitment developed through engineering practice.
What is the difference between aerospace and aeronautical engineering?
Aeronautical engineering usually concentrates on aircraft operating within the atmosphere. Aerospace engineering is the broader term and may also include spacecraft, satellites and space systems. Course titles overlap, so compare the compulsory modules and final-year options rather than relying on the title alone.
What should I look for in an aerospace engineering course?
Compare current accreditation, BEng and MEng routes, aerodynamics and propulsion content, structures and materials, control systems, computing, design projects, laboratory facilities, placement opportunities, industry-sponsored work, teaching quality, academic support and the total cost of studying in the city.
What A-levels do I need for aerospace engineering?
Entry requirements vary by university and course. Mathematics is commonly central to aerospace engineering admissions, while many programmes also specify Physics or another relevant science. Check the exact 2027 requirements, accepted qualifications, grades and any admissions tests on each university's course page.
Is a Russell Group university automatically better for aerospace engineering?
No. The University of Sheffield is the highest-ranked Russell Group university in this table, but Russell Group membership is not a ranking metric. Compare the aerospace course itself, accreditation, facilities, projects, placements, teaching, support, graduate outcomes, affordability and location.
Ranking, accreditation and course information
- Unifresher university rankings methodology for the eight ranking measures and scoring approach.
- HESA Graduate Outcomes definitions for the approximately 15-month survey point.
- Engineering Council guidance on accredited courses for how programme accreditation supports professional registration.
- Engineering Council Chartered Engineer guidance for educational and professional requirements.
- Royal Aeronautical Society academic-course accreditation for aerospace-specific programme checks.
- UCAS aeronautical and aerospace engineering guide for course research and admissions guidance.
