About this course

This Postgraduate course is delivered by Cranfield University on behalf of the Defence College for Military Capability Integration, Defence Academy, at Shrivenham and Cranfield’s Bedford Campus.

Why this course

Today’s military aviation platforms are highly complex systems and it is essential these systems, and their related airworthiness risks, are properly understood and managed effectively. To achieve this requires personnel cognisant of a broad range of aerospace engineering disciplines (e.g. mechanical, electrical and system engineering) as well as aviation safety and airworthiness.

The MAA MSc has been designed to address these needs by providing a course aimed at British Military (officers and SNCOs) and MOD Civil Servants, especially Letter of Airworthiness Authority Holders or those working in the CAMO, Aviation Safety and RTSA environments, whilst providing a rich inject of beneficial practice from civil aviation.

Course delivery

The course is delivered on a part-time basis and contains five compulsory modules. Students choose one further module to complete the PgCert or a further seven modules to complete the PgDip (MSc taught phase).

This provides students with the flexibility to tailor their studies to account for prior educational and work experience and the current and future needs of their employment role. The modules taken in the taught phase of the MSc (the PgDip) provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to complete a research-based project, which forms the final part of the master's award.

Modules

Cranfield’s requirement to keep their courses up-to-date and current requires constant innovation and change. The modules they offer reflect the needs of business and industry and the research interests of their staff and, as a result, may change or be withdrawn due to research developments, legislation changes or for a variety of other reasons. Changes may also be designed to improve the student learning experience or to respond to feedback from students, external examiners, accreditation bodies and industrial advisory panels.

The module list detailed below. Modules are indicative only and may be subject to change for your year of entry.

Compulsory modules

All the modules in the following list need to be taken as part of this course:

Study Skills (non- assessed)

Airworthiness of Military Aircraft

Aviation of Safety Management

Fixed-wing Aeromechanics

Propulsion Systems

Safety Assessment of Aircraft Systems

Military Aircraft Systems

Research Project (MSc only)

Elective modules

A selection of modules from the following list need to be taken as part of this course:

Aircraft Fatigue and Damage Tolerance

Aircraft Survivability

Air Transport Engineering – Maintenance Operations

Aircraft Accident Investigation and Response – no web page available but must be undertaken with assessment.

Design Durability and Integrity of Composite Aircraft Structures

Fundamentals of Aircraft Engine Control

Guided Weapons

Human Factors in Aircraft Maintenance

Uninhabited Aircraft Systems UAS Technology

Military Avionics – STA Communications and Navigation

Practical Reliability

Rotary-wing Aeromechanics

Introduction to Aircraft Structural Crashworthiness - no web page available but must be undertaken with assessment.

Taking standalone modules as a short course

You may also elect to undertake a number of standalone modules as opposed to an MSc, PgDip or PgCert, with or without the associated assessment, less for Study Skills and the Research Project.  A number can only be taken with assessment; for the most up-to-date information on this, refer to the module web page.

Applications for standalone modules can be made direct to Cranfield via the web page linked above.  In the absence of a web page, request a link to the accredited application form for the module from Cranfield Admissions at: cdsadmissionsoffice@cranfield.ac.uk.

How this course will help your career

The course may create opportunities to develop your career at a more senior level and support achieving Incorporated or Chartered Engineer status.

Who can attend this course
Military
MOD civil servants
Industry
Internationals

All applicants to courses that are wholly or partially delivered at Shrivenham must complete the BPSS (HMG Baseline Personnel Security Standard V4 April 2014) prior to registration on the course or must already hold a security clearance to this level or higher.

Before you attend

You must have one of the following:

A first or second class honours degree or equivalent in science, engineering or mathematics. Alternatively, a lesser qualification together with appropriate work experience may be acceptable.

Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) Certificate

If you require a visa to study in the UK may need to apply for an ATAS certificate to study this course.  Refer to the Cranfield MSc web page for further detail.

How the course will be taught
Face-to-face/ Residential; Blended
How you will be assessed

A mixture of essays, examinations, individual and group design exercises and for MSc students, a written dissertation research project and viva voce examination,