Curious about studying Aerosystems MScat Cranfield University? We've gathered all the key details—entry requirements, modules, fees, and more. Hear from real students by checking out reviews, or take the next step by booking an open day to explore it for yourself.
MSc - Master of Science
Shrivenham Campus
Part Time
Aug 2026
3 Year
The Aerosystems course is multidisciplinary, covering the areas of uninhabited aircraft systems, guided weapons, electro-optics, communications, radar, electronic warfare and information networks. The course covers the key concepts, fundamental principles, and considerations of design and critical thinking associated with the above mentioned areas. The course is offered on a part-time basis. This involves completing in August the Pre-sessional 2-week module which is designed to refresh your academic knowledge relevant to the Aerosystems course. In addition it is expected to successfully complete 6 modules in year 1, and further 6 modules in year 2. In year three you will be allocated a Thesis/dissertation topic and a supervisor with an aim to complete a Thesis document by the end of year 3. The course has a Course Director, Year Tutor and an administration member of staff who will be supporting you throughout your studies. Most modules are of a 5-day duration and require you to attend in person at the Defence Academy of the UK.
To provide an understanding of the concepts and techniques employed in modern communication systems.
To introduce the you to the field of EO/IR technology and give an understanding the underlying principles. To give an appreciation of the likely future advances in the technology and the importance of EO/IR technology in the wider defence system.
Increase the depth of knowledge in the field of EO/IR technology and give an understanding of the underlying principles. Give an appreciation of the likely future advances in the technology and the importance of this technology in the wider defence system.
To provide you with an understanding of electromagnetic propagation, antennas and devices relevant to military sensor, communications and electronic warfare systems.
To make you aware of the roles, concepts and applications of modelling and simulation in defence, and to understand how to construct simple models.
The aim of this module is to: provide a general overview of guided weapon systems and technology; introduce students to the theoretical design of guided weapon subsystems; demonstrate how these subsystems form the overall guided weapon system.
To provide you with an understanding of networks in a modern military electronic sensor or communications system, their vulnerabilities and how they can be protected.
This course is specifically designed for those coming to study a technical MSc, particularly after a break from academic studies. Its aims are to:
To provide you with an understanding of the principles, design and analysis of the electronic threats to radar systems and how radar systems may be protected.
To provide you with an understanding of the fundamental principles of radar, allowing you to relate this to the design and analysis of radar systems.
This module provides a multi-perspective, multi-methodological approach to research as the basis for the range of research questions that may be addressed in the student's thesis and also in investigations in future professional work. This module supports both these needs through challenging the student to think about research tasks and methods suitable for achieving the goal of obtaining actionable knowledge about a variety of research topics.
To provide you with an understanding of the subjects supporting the specialist modules and to provide you with the essential signal analysis and statistical tools used in the course.
To execute self-driven research applying the principles, processes, and practices developed in the course to an Aerosystems real-world problem of interest and relevance to the student.
This module focuses on the up-to-date UAV systems level technologies and Artificial Intelligence based methods for mission planning and energy-based range extenders, autopilots. Furthermore, the course covers the connectivities of airworthiness and Cyber Threat in the modern airspace. The aim is to provide you with the understanding of the fundamental concepts and challenges of UAS/RPAS with a Military Airworthiness perspective including a group interactive activity involving VR UAS flight experience.