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Studies & Degrees in Aerospace Studies

Aerospace studies deal with vehicles that fly in the atmosphere and in space: how they are designed, built, tested and operated. The core of the field is aerospace engineering. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) describes aerospace engineers as people who design, develop and test aircraft, spacecraft, satellites and missiles, and it distinguishes two branches. Aeronautical engineers work with aircraft and flight within the Earth's atmosphere. Astronautical engineers work with spacecraft and how they perform inside and outside the atmosphere, including small satellites.

Students learn mathematics and physics first and then the aerospace subjects. According to the BLS, bachelor's degree programmes in engineering usually include classroom, laboratory and field courses in subjects such as stability and control, structures and mechanics. Around this engineering core there are related programmes in aviation management and flight operations, and at many US universities "Aerospace Studies" is also the name of the Air Force ROTC course sequence.

Qualifications and levels

  • Bachelor's degree in the United States. The usual route is a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering. At Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University the degree has 129 credits and is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. Its Daytona Beach campus offers four tracks (aeronautics, astronautics, jet propulsion and rocket propulsion) and its Prescott campus two (aeronautics and astronautics). At the University of Dayton, aerospace engineering can be taken as a co-major or as a concentration within mechanical engineering.
  • Integrated master's degree in the United Kingdom. Imperial College London teaches a four-year MEng in Aeronautical Engineering, with versions that add a year abroad or a year in industry. The degree is professionally accredited by the Royal Aeronautical Society and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers on behalf of the Engineering Council. The minimum entry standard is A*A*A at A-level or 40 points in the International Baccalaureate.
  • Master's degrees and doctorates. The Pennsylvania State University, for example, lists a B.S., a one-year non-thesis M.Eng., an M.S. and a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering. The University of Dayton lists an M.S. in Aerospace Engineering.
  • Aviation-oriented degrees. Some degrees with "aerospace" in the name are not engineering degrees. Middle Tennessee State University teaches an Aerospace B.S. with an Aviation Management concentration that prepares for management positions at airports, airlines and other aviation companies.
  • Air Force ROTC. At Texas Tech University, cadets of Air Force ROTC take Aerospace Studies coursework and a Leadership Laboratory alongside their degree. The programme is a pathway to commissioned service in the United States Air Force and Space Force, so it is aimed at future officers and not at international students in general.

Where to study aerospace

SpainExchange lists 12 active schools for aerospace studies: ten in the United States and two in the United Kingdom, all of them universities that teach in English. The US schools include Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, The Pennsylvania State University, the University of Dayton, Texas Tech University, Middle Tennessee State University, Duke University, Boston University, the University of North Texas, the University of California at Berkeley and the University of California, Davis. The two British schools, Imperial College London and King's College London, are both in London.

Programme names differ from one university to the next (aerospace, aeronautical, astronautical or mechanical engineering with an aerospace option), so it is worth comparing the course lists and not only the titles. Accreditation is a useful check: ABET for engineering programmes in the United States, and the professional institutions that act for the Engineering Council in the United Kingdom.

Careers

Graduates work in the design, testing and manufacture of aircraft, spacecraft, satellites and propulsion systems, in companies, research centres and government agencies. In the United States, aerospace engineers held 68,700 jobs in 2025, and the BLS projects employment to grow 8 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 3,800 openings a year on average. The BLS states that aerospace engineers typically need a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering or a related field to enter the occupation.

Two points matter for international graduates. A licence is not required for entry-level aerospace engineering jobs in the United States; experienced engineers may later obtain a Professional Engineering (PE) licence. And engineers who work on projects related to national defence may need a security clearance, and some types and levels of clearance require US citizenship.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between aeronautical and astronautical engineering?

Aeronautical engineering deals with aircraft and flight within the Earth's atmosphere. Astronautical engineering deals with spacecraft, such as launch vehicles and satellites. Aerospace engineering covers both.

How long does an aerospace engineering degree take?

It depends on the country. The MEng in Aeronautical Engineering at Imperial College London lasts four years. The Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has 129 credits.

Can international students work in the aerospace industry in the United States?

It depends on the job. According to the BLS, engineers on projects related to national defence may need a security clearance, and some types and levels of clearance require US citizenship.

Is "Aerospace Studies" the same as aerospace engineering?

Not always. At US universities such as Texas Tech University, Aerospace Studies is the coursework of Air Force ROTC, which prepares cadets to become officers. Engineering degrees are normally called aerospace, aeronautical or astronautical engineering.