Aerospace engineering is the branch of engineering that studies how vehicles moving through the air and through space are designed, how they fly and how they stay safe. Degree names vary: aeronautical engineering, aerospace engineering, astronautical engineering or space engineering.
What an aerospace engineer does
The work is mostly calculation and design. An engineer computes the lift of a wing, analyses the thrust of an engine, checks with a computer model which loads a structure can carry, and then confirms the calculation by testing.
ABET, which accredits engineering programmes in the United States, lists the topics these programmes must cover: aerodynamics, aerospace materials, structures, propulsion, flight mechanics, and stability and control. That list is a good summary of the profession.
Employers include aircraft and engine manufacturers, the defence industry, satellite and space companies, airline engineering departments and research institutes.
Education routes
The route is an engineering degree. In the United Kingdom selective universities require specific subjects: for example, Imperial College London asks for Mathematics and Physics at A level for Aeronautical Engineering, and Mathematics and Physics at Higher Level for IB students. In the United States many students start in general engineering and choose the major later.
In Turkey these departments admit students through the YKS exam with the numerical (SAY) score type. Examples are Aerospace Engineering at METU and the Aeronautical and Space Engineering programmes at the ITU Faculty of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Some Turkish universities also accept exams such as the SAT from students with a foreign diploma; rules differ by university.
Which school subjects build the foundation
Mathematics is the language of the profession. Derivatives, integrals, vectors and trigonometry are used from the first week of university.
In physics the key area is mechanics: force, moment, energy and motion. Fluids and thermodynamics come later, but they build on school mechanics.
English matters as a working tool, since most technical literature and standards are written in English. Programming is also becoming a basic skill, because most of the calculation is done on a computer.
Which international courses help
AP Physics C is the closest AP course to this field, because its mechanics uses calculus. AP Calculus BC covers a large part of first year university mathematics.
For IB students, Math AA HL and Physics HL is the pair most often required for engineering. At IGCSE level, Mathematics, Additional Mathematics and Physics are the early foundation. The Digital SAT Math section is visible proof of quantitative preparation for US applications.
Common mistakes
The first is confusing the profession with flying. An engineer designs and calculates the aircraft and does not fly it. A student who wants to fly follows a different route.
The second is loving physics while postponing mathematics. Students who struggle in this degree usually struggle with the mathematics inside the physics, not with the physics itself.
The third is choosing subjects too late. The IB mathematics level or the AP physics course is decided early in high school and is hard to change later.