Research Activities
The Faculty of Engineering has approximately 170 academic staff supported by a similar number of research staff. Many are directly involved in aerospace research and have an input to the Aerospace Engineering Programme. Much of this research is directly linked with industry.
Research Assessment Exercise 2008
Aerospace together with Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering has received an outstanding result in the recent Research Assessment Exercise (RAE).
The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) has independently assessed research carried out by staff in every university department in the country. The quality of our research outputs, the research environment, research income, professional esteem, and PhD students are all rated and compared with our peers. Our profile is a 30% 4*, 45% 3*, 20% 2* and 5% 1*.
This is an exceptionally good result and places us second in the country for Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering (Times Higher Education, 18 December 2008).
Research Excellence
All five contributing departments to the Aerospace Engineering programme were in the top research rating band of 5*/5 in the last Research Assessment exercise.
Research Groups
There are five main research groups within the Faculty of Engineering centred on Aerospace, each containing a large number of research themes. This enables our staff to establish collaborations across the Department and the University.
Read more on our research groups page
World Class Research Centres
The Aerospace programme is also affiliated to seven internationally renowned research centres which concentrate on defined and high profile areas of research.