Spacecraft Engineering with Foundation Year BEng Bachelor of Engineering (with Honours) - BEng (Hon)

Why choose this course?

* Study spacecraft engineering at a university with a proven track record in space innovation. Surrey launched UoSAT-1 (its first satellite) in 1981 and has built more than 40 years of expertise in small satellites and space systems engineering. That heritage continues to shape the teaching, research and engineering challenges you'll explore throughout your degree.

* Build broad engineering knowledge before specialising in spacecraft systems. You'll study a shared first year alongside Mechanical, Aerospace and Biomedical Engineering students, giving you a strong grounding in core engineering principles before following a dedicated spacecraft engineering pathway.

* Learn from researchers helping to advance the space sector. Teaching is informed by the work of academics from the Surrey Space Centre and our new Space Institute, giving you opportunities to explore real mission data and case studies that connect theory with current engineering practice.

* Develop the practical skills to tackle real engineering challenges. Through individual and group design projects, you'll apply your learning to solve complex problems while building the analytical, technical and collaborative skills expected of professional engineers. You can also choose to take a Professional Training Year in the UK or overseas to gain valuable industry experience.

* Stand out through award-winning extracurricular engineering opportunities. Put your knowledge into practice by joining one of our successful student clubs and societies, where you'll develop practical, teamwork and leadership skills while working on ambitious engineering projects. These include the UAS Challenge team (champions in 2021 and 2022), and our Team Peryton rocketry and satellite design teams (both category winners in 2023).

We’re preparing you for the future by integrating AI into every course, building digital skills, confidence and creativity that employers value in tomorrow’s workplace.

What you will study

In your first year, you’ll build core engineering foundation in mathematics, mechanics, thermodynamics, fluids, materials, electronics and design, alongside students on other Engineering programmes. In your second year, you’ll deepen your knowledge of mechanical and aerospace topics while beginning to apply them to space systems. Through the Space Missions and Environment module, you’ll work in teams to design a complete space mission concept, developing your skills in system-thinking, problem-solving and collaborative engineering.

BEng students then progress to specialist modules in space dynamics, aerospace materials and structures, systems design and engineering management, alongside an individual project where you’ll apply your learning to an engineering challenge.

MEng students continue into an integrated masters year focused on advanced topics such as spacecraft avionics and AIT, launch vehicles and propulsion, space environment and protection, guidance, navigation and control, and a multi‑disciplinary design project.

You can choose to add a Professional Training Year between your second and final years, gaining industrial experience in the UK or overseas.

In Spacecraft Engineering at Surrey, you’ll explore every stage of a space mission – from developing the initial concept and refining requirements, through spacecraft design, manufacture, assembly, integration, testing and operations. You’ll learn to think like a systems engineer, understanding how spacecraft components, payloads, launch vehicles and the space environment work together, and how engineers design reliable and sustainable missions.