Overview

Aerospace engineering research at Bristol is organised via cross-faculty research groups with interests spanning four key areas:

  • Fluid Flow and Aerodynamics
  • Bristol Composites Institute (BCI)
  • Dynamics and Control
  • Robotics.

This work is supported by at least 50 academic staff, more than 70 research staff and over 240 postgraduate students, plus a highly experienced administrative and technical support team.

Aerospace engineering is a specific discipline involving experimental, numerical, theoretical and computational research which is later applied to aerospace-related problems, for example, fixed-wing aircraft, rotorcraft, wind turbines and UAVs.

All postgraduates would expect to publish in high-quality journals and present at international conferences. Hence, research programmes are aimed at independent and self-motivated applicants.

Entry requirements

PhD applicants must hold/achieve a minimum of a master's degree (or international equivalent) in a science, mathematics or engineering discipline. Applicants without a master's qualification may be considered on an exceptional basis, provided they hold a first class undergraduate degree. Please note, acceptance will also depend on evidence of readiness to pursue a research degree.

MSc by Research applicants must hold/achieve a minimum of an upper second class honours degree (or international equivalent) in science, mathematics or engineering and demonstrate readiness to pursue a research degree.

See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website.

Read the programme admissions statement for important information on entry requirements, the application process and supporting documents required.

Go to admissions statement

If English is not your first language, you will need to reach the requirements outlined in our profile level E.

Further information about English language requirements and profile levels.

Fees and funding

UK: full-time
£4,758 per year
UK: part-time
£2,379 per year
Overseas: full-time
£26,000 per year

Fees are subject to an annual review. For programmes that last longer than one year, please budget for up to an 8% increase in fees each year.

More about tuition fees, living costs and financial support.

Alumni discount

University of Bristol students and graduates can benefit from a 25% reduction in tuition fees for postgraduate study. Check your eligibility for an alumni discount.

Funding for 2024/25

A number of funded studentships are available each year, supported by research council, industry, University or other funds. View the faculty website for a list of currently available funded projects or visit jobs.ac.uk.

View information on funding postgraduate study for prospective UK, EU and international postgraduate students.

Self-funded or sponsored students are also very welcome to apply.

Further information on funding for prospective UK and international postgraduate students.

Career prospects

Graduates from the department leave with a breadth of technical and personal skills and expertise, far beyond their particular degree specialism. They progress into a wide variety of careers within engineering (for example, aerospace, automotive/motorsport, transportation, consulting engineering), academia, public services (for example, civil service, air traffic management) and commerce (for example, IT, finance).

A higher degree can accelerate your career significantly, particularly into positions of greater responsibility. Furthermore, it increasingly provides entrepreneurial opportunities, which build on the skills and knowledge you acquire during the programme.

Meet our supervisors

The following list shows potential supervisors for this programme. Visit their profiles for details of their research and expertise.

giuliano.allegri@bristol.ac.uk;c.b.allen@bristol.ac.uk;karen.aplin@bristol.ac.uk;m.azarpeyvand@bristol.ac.uk;anna.b.baker@bristol.ac.uk;jonathan.belnoue@bristol.ac.uk;lucy.berthoud@bristol.ac.uk;i.p.bond@bristol.ac.uk;steve.bullock@bristol.ac.uk;stephen.burrow@bristol.ac.uk;neha.chandarana@bristol.ac.uk;j.e.cooper@bristol.ac.uk;sebastian.east@bristol.ac.uk;s.j.eichhorn@bristol.ac.uk;ian.farrow@bristol.ac.uk;ann.gaitonde@bristol.ac.uk;mark.s.graham@bristol.ac.uk;rainer.groh@bristol.ac.uk;stephen.hallett@bristol.ac.uk;ian.hamerton@bristol.ac.uk;josh.hoole@bristol.ac.uk;dmitry.ivanov@bristol.ac.uk;dorian.jones@bristol.ac.uk;luiz.kawashita@bristol.ac.uk;b.c.eric.kim@bristol.ac.uk;james.kratz@bristol.ac.uk;nick.lieven@bristol.ac.uk;m.lowenberg@bristol.ac.uk;terence.macquart@bristol.ac.uk;alberto.pirrera@bristol.ac.uk;d.j.poole@bristol.ac.uk;thomas.rendall@bristol.ac.uk;djamel.rezgui@bristol.ac.uk;arthur.richards@bristol.ac.uk;thomas.richardson@bristol.ac.uk;f.scarpa@bristol.ac.uk;m.schenk@bristol.ac.uk;o.thomsen@bristol.ac.uk;brano.titurus@bristol.ac.uk;r.s.trask@bristol.ac.uk;paul.weaver@bristol.ac.uk;shane.windsor@bristol.ac.uk;m.wisnom@bristol.ac.uk;ben.k.s.woods@bristol.ac.uk;nick.zang@bristol.ac.uk;beckett.zhou@bristol.ac.uk;b.kocer@bristol.ac.uk;desmond.lim@bristol.ac.uk;karthik.ramakrishnan@bristol.ac.uk;

Research groups

A list of research groups in Engineering can be found on the Faculty webpages.

Contact us

Contact

Faculty of Engineering Postgraduate Research Admissions Team

Email
admissions-engpgr@bristol.ac.uk