Aerospace engineering is a field of engineering that deals with the design, development, production, testing, and maintenance of aircraft, spacecraft, and related systems.
Aerospace engineering includes some foundation-level subjects like Mechanics, Solid Mechanics, Fluid Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Heat Transfer, & Materials Science. These subjects then lead to a set of applied subjects like Aerodynamics, Gas Dynamics, Propulsion, Flight Mechanics, Theory of Mechanics, Aerospace Structures, Manufacturing Processes, and Automatic Control. There are also a set of elective subjects that will help to deepen and widen the knowledge base.
Along with the core subjects, the course also introduces some Basic Sciences, Electrical & Electronics Systems, Economics, Management, and Humanities. Then there are a set of laboratory subjects to help students gain practical knowledge for real-life phenomena and systems. At the end of semesters, the students can go for internships and work on their project works.
The candidates who want to build their career in the automotive sector, power sector, manufacturing industry, R&D sectors, etc should take up this course. Some of the job positions available to them are Aerospace Designer, Aircraft Production Manager, Aerospace Engineer, Thermal Design Engineer, etc.
Check out: Top Aerospace Engineering colleges in India
Table of Contents
- Aerospace Engineering Syllabus: Quick Facts
- List of Aerospace Engineering Courses
- Aerospace Engineering Subjects List
- Aerospace Engineering Syllabus Year Wise
- Aerospace Engineering Syllabus in MIT
- Aerospace Engineering Syllabus in Anna University
- Aerospace Engineering Elective Courses
10.1 GATE Syllabus
Aerospace Engineering Syllabus: Quick Facts
- Aerospace Engineering courses are available at UG, PG, and doctorate levels.
- For UG courses, the candidates should have completed 10+2 with science.
- For PG courses, they should have completed BTech/ BE degree in aerospace or related fields.
- Finally, for doctorate courses, candidates should have an MTech degree in relevant fields or other equivalent PG degree.
- Admission into any of the aerospace engineering courses requires clearing an entrance exam.
- There are national-level entrance exams like JEE-Mains, GATE, BITSAT, MET, etc, and also state-level entrance exams like COMEDK UGET, AP EAMCET, MHTCET, WBJEE, etc.
Aerospace Engineering Course List
The aerospace engineering courses are available at UG, PG, and doctorate levels. The table below mentioned basic details about the course like the course duration, eligibility, admission process, etc.
| Aerospace Course | Eligibility | Admission Process |
|---|---|---|
| BTech/BE Aerospace Engineering | 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. | Entrance Exams like JEE-Main |
| MTech/ME Aerospace Engineering | BTech/ BE in Aerospace Engineering or related field | Entrance exams like GATE |
| PhD in Aerospace Engineering | MTech/ ME in Aerospace Engineering or related field | Entrance Exams like UGC-NET, GATE, etc |
Also Read: Aerospace Engineering entrance examinations
Aerospace Engineer Subject List
The aerospace engineering courses do not just include the professional core subjects. They also have basic science subjects, basic engineering subjects, humanities & social science subjects, elective subjects, and finally the labs.
The subjects taught under these categories have been mentioned in the table below:
| Professional Core Subjects | Introduction to Aerospace Engineering | Aero Engineering Thermodynamics |
| Manufacturing Technology | Space Science | |
| Aerodynamics | Aerospace Structural Mechanics | |
| Flight Systems Instrumentation | Mechanics and Machines | |
| Space Mechanics | Air Breathing Propulsion | |
| Flight Dynamics | Fundamentals of Aerospace Control Engineering | |
| Finite Element Methods | Space Propulsion | |
| Elements of Space Flight | Rockets and Launch Vehicles | |
| Computational Fluid Dynamics for Aerospace Engineering | Vibration and Elements of Aeroelasticity | |
| Hypersonic Aerodynamics for Aerospace Vehicles | Spacecraft Dynamics & Avionics | |
| Basic Sciences Subjects | Engineering Mathematics | Engineering Physics |
| Materials Science | Transforms and Partial Differential Equations | |
| Engineering Chemistry | Numerical Methods | |
| Engineering Sciences Subjects | Problem Solving and Python Programming | Engineering Graphics |
| Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering | Engineering Mechanics | |
| Strength of Materials for Mechanical Engineers | Mechanics Fundamentals | |
| Basic Electrical | Fluid Mechanics and Machinery | |
| Humanities and Social Sciences Subjects | Communicative English | Environmental Science and Engineering & Technical English |
| Elective Subjects | Computer-Aided Design and Analysis | Aerospace Materials |
| Cryogenics | Launch Vehicle Aerodynamics | |
| Experimental Stress Analysis | Additive Manufacturing | |
| Machining and Precision Manufacturing | Launch Vehicle Configuration Design | |
| Reliability and Quality Assurance | Foundation Skills in Integrated Product Development | |
| Intellectual Property Rights | Disaster Management | |
| Fundamentals of Nanoscience | Top Quality Management | |
| Combustion Engineering | Economics and Principles of Management | |
| Spacecraft Sensors and Instrumentation | Spacecraft Systems Engineering | |
| Professional Ethics in Engineering | Spacecraft Structures | |
| Space Missions | Human Rights | |
| Satellite Navigation and Control | Spacecraft Power Systems | |
| Automatic Control Systems | Composite Materials and Structures | |
| Heat Transfer in Space Applications | Missile Guidance and Control |
Read More: How to preparations for entrance exams
Aerospace Engineering Year Wise Syllabus
The 1st year will usually have basic science and basic engineering subjects to build the foundation.
Then from the 2nd year, the core subjects will be included along with labs, humanities, and social science subjects. There will be elective courses in the last 2 years and the final year will include internships and project work.
Aerospace Engineering Subjects in First Year
- The BTech/ BE course will include foundational subjects whereas the MTech course will start off with its advanced courses from the very beginning.
BTech/ BE Aerospace Engineering First Year Subjects
The subjects taught in the first year of the BTech/ BE Aerospace Engineering has been mentioned in the table below:
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
|---|---|
| Calculus | Vector Calculus and Ordinary Differential Equations |
| Physics - I | Physics - II |
| Chemistry | Material Science and Metallurgy |
| Basic Electrical Engineering | Basic Electronic Engineering |
| Communication Skills | Engineering Graphics |
| Environmental Science and Engineering | Computer Programing and Application |
| Physics Lab | Basic Electrical and Electronics Engineering Lab |
| Basic Engineering Lab | Chemistry Lab |
MTech/ ME Aerospace Engineering First Year Subjects
The subjects taught in the first year of the MTech/ ME Aerospace Engineering has been mentioned in the table below:
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
|---|---|
| Propulsion | Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Aero Elasticity |
| Experimental and Computational Combustion | Material Characterization |
| Liquid Atomization | Composite Materials and Smart Structures |
| Turbo Machinery | Structural Dynamics and stochastic modeling Aeroelasticity |
| Thrust Vectoring | Helicopter theory Structural design and optimization |
| Electric Propulsion | Damage Modeling |
Also Read: BTech in Aeronautical Engineering Admission Process
Aerospace Engineering Subjects in Second Year
- The second year of the BTech/ BE degree will be an introduction to the aerospace core subjects but will include mainly foundational courses, basic engineering, and humanities subjects.
- While in the MTech degree, the subjects will be based on the design and working of the flights.
BTech/ BE Aerospace Engineering Second Year Subjects
The subjects taught in the second year of the BTech/ BE Aerospace Engineering has been mentioned in the table below:
| Semester 3 | Semester 4 |
|---|---|
| Linear Algebra, Complex Analysis, and Fourier Series | Integral Transforms, PDE, and Calculus of Variations |
| Engineering Thermodynamics | Aerodynamics |
| Mechanics of Solids | Heat Transfer |
| Fluid Mechanics | Applied Dynamics and Vibration |
| Materials Processing Techniques | Machining and Precision Manufacturing |
| Introduction to Economics | Introduction to Social Science and Ethics |
| Introduction to Machine Elements and Drawing | Metrology and Computer-Aided Inspection |
| Strength of Materials Lab | Thermal and Fluid Lab |
MTech/ ME Aerospace Engineering Second Year Subjects
The subjects taught in the second year of the MTech/ ME Aerospace Engineering has been mentioned in the table below:
| Semester 3 | Semester 4 |
|---|---|
| Flight mechanics and control | Aerodynamics |
| Design and control | Experimental aerodynamic |
| Missile guidance and control | High-speed jets, acoustics |
| Flights testing | Unsteady aerodynamics and flapping wings |
| Instrument and parameter estimation | Transition and turbulence Hypersonic aerodynamics and microfluidics CFD high-performance computing |
| Unmanned and autonomous air vehicle Space dynamics | Flow control/ wind energy and design Field structure interaction |
Check out: Career as a Aerospace Engineer
Aerospace Engineering Subjects in Third Year
- The third year of the BTech/ BE Aerospace Engineering will have the core subjects and two elective courses.
- The subjects taught in the third year are mentioned below:
| Semester 5 | Semester 6 |
|---|---|
| Probability, Statistics, and Numerical Methods | Air-Breathing Propulsion |
| Compressible Flow | Aerospace Structures |
| Atmospheric Flight Mechanics | Optimization Techniques in Engineering |
| Spaceflight Mechanics | Principles of Management Systems |
| Theory of Elasticity | Elective I |
| Automatic Control | Elective II |
| Aerodynamics Lab | Aerospace Structures Lab |
| Manufacturing Processes Lab | Modeling and Analysis Lab |
Check: How to prepare for JEE Mains
Aerospace Engineering Subjects in Fourth Year
- The fourth year of the BTech. BE Aerospace Engineering will include the core subjects, elective subjects, internships & training, and project work.
- The subjects taught in the 4th year are mentioned below:
| Semester 7 | Semester 8 |
|---|---|
| Rocket Propulsion | Comprehensive Viva-Voce |
| Aerospace Vehicle Design | Project Work |
| Environmental Science and Engineering | - |
| Elective III | |
| Elective IV | |
| Flight Mechanics and Propulsion Lab | |
| Instrumentation and Control Systems Lab I | |
| Summer Internship and Training |
Also Read: PG Diploma in Aeronautical Engineering
Aerospace Engineering Top Colleges
The top institutes that offer Aerospace Engineering courses have been mentioned below along with their ranking and annual fees. The institutes mentioned have been ranked by NIRF.
| Institute Name | Annual Course Fee (BTech) | Annual Course fee (MTech) |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Institute of Technology, Madras | INR 75,116 | INR 2,11,847 |
| Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay | INR 2,28,000 | INR 32,000 |
| Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur | INR 2,15,600 | INR 2,14,050 |
| Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur | INR 82,070 | INR 2,31,500 |
| Anna University | INR 50,000 | - |
| Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur | INR 70,000 | - |
| Amity University, Noida | INR 2,30,000 | INR 1,44,000 |
| Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram | INR 1,44,900 | INR 90,900 |
| Birla Institute of Technology Mesra, Ranchi | - | INR 2,44,000 |
| SRM Institute of Technology | INR 3,85,000 | INR 1,70,000 |
Check: JEE Main Syllabus
Aerospace Engineering Syllabus in IIT
IIT Madras has been ranked at the first position among the top engineering colleges and it happens to offer courses in Aerospace Engineering.
- IIT Bombay, IIT Kharagpur, and IIT Kanpur are the other IITs that offer this course.
- The syllabus designed is almost similar for all the IITs, thus for reference, the syllabus of IIT Madras has been mentioned below:
IIT Madras BTech Aerospace Engineering Syllabus
The syllabus offered by IIT Madras for BTech Aerospace Engineering has been mentioned below.
| Year 1 | |
|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
| Introduction to Aerospace Engineering | Engineering Mechanics |
| Concepts in Engineering Design | Computational Engineering |
| Calculus I Functions of One Variable | Chemistry: Structure, Bonding & Reactivity |
| Thermodynamics | Calculus II Functions of Several Variables. |
| Engineering Drawing | Physics II |
| Physics I | Physics Lab II |
| Chemistry Lab 1 | Workshop 2 |
| Physics Lab 1 | - |
| Life Skills | - |
| Workshop 1 | - |
| Year 2 | |
| Semester 3 | Semester 4 |
| Fluid Mechanics | Gas Dynamics |
| Basic Strength of Materials | Aerodynamics |
| Life Sciences | Aerospace Structural Mechanics |
| Basic Electrical Engineering | Vibrations |
| Ecology and Environment | Humanities Elective |
| Humanities Elective | Complex Variables and Transform Techniques |
| Differential Equations | Low-Speed Lab |
| Introduction to Aerospace Lab | - |
| Year 3 | |
| Semester 5 | Semester 6 |
| Flight Dynamics | Introduction to Space Technology |
| Experimental Aerodynamics | Flight Dynamics II |
| Aerospace Structures | Industrial Lecture |
| Propulsion | Department Elective 1 |
| Mathematics Elective | Department Elective 2 |
| Minor Elective 1 | Department Elective 3 |
| Propulsion Lab | Minor Elective 2 |
| Aero Lab 1 | Aero Lab 2 |
| - | Aerodynamic Design (Self Study) |
| Year 4 | |
| Semester 7 | Semester 8 |
| Project 1 | Project 2 |
| Department Elective 4 | Professional Ethics |
| Department Elective 5 | Free Elective 2 |
| Department Elective 6 | - |
| Free Elective 1 | - |
| Humanities Elective | - |
| Minor Elective 3 | - |
Check out: Top MTech Aerospace colleges in India
IIT Madras MTech Aerospace Engineering Syllabus
The syllabus offered by IIT Madras for MTech Aerospace Engineering has been mentioned below.
| Year 1 | |
|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
| Engg. Aerodyn. & Flt. Mech. | Introduction to Space Technology |
| Elements of Gas Dynamics and Propulsion | Flight Dynamics & Performance |
| Aircraft and Aerospace Structures | Laboratory II |
| Laboratory I | Project Phase I |
| Department Elective | Aerodynamic Design |
| Mathematics Elective 1 | Department Elective |
| - | Department Elective 3 |
| Year 2 | |
| Semester 3 | Semester 4 |
| Project Phase II | Project Phase III |
| Structural Design | - |
| Department Elective 4 | - |
Aerospace Engineering Syllabus in MIT
The MIT University, Pune is among the top private universities in India and it also offers courses in aerospace engineering. The syllabus followed by the institute for its BTech course has been mentioned below:
MIT BTech Aerospace Engineering Syllabus
The syllabus offered by MIT University for BTech Aerospace Engineering has been mentioned below
| Year 2 | |
|---|---|
| Semester 3 | Semester 4 |
| Machines & Mechanisms | Numerical Methods |
| Introduction to Aerospace Engineering | Thermodynamics of Propulsion |
| Fluid Mechanics | Manufacturing Technology |
| Linear Differential Equations and Complex Variables | Aerodynamics |
| Mechanics of Solids | Electronics & Instrumentation |
| Fluid Mechanics Lab | Thermodynamics of Propulsion Lab |
| Machines & Mechanisms lab | Aerodynamics Lab |
| Machine Drawing | Electronics & Instrumentation Lab |
| Year 3 | |
| Semester 5 | Semester 6 |
| Aircraft Flight Mechanics | Aircraft Structures - II |
| Aircraft Structures - I | Avionics |
| Aircraft Propulsion | Heat Transfer |
| Gas Dynamics | Rocket Propulsion |
| Control Theory | Economics and Management for Engineers |
| Aircraft Structures Lab | Avionics Lab |
| Aircraft Propulsion Lab | Computer-Aided Drawing and Design Lab |
| Control Theory Lab | Mini Project |
| Year 4 | |
| Semester 7 | Semester 8 |
| Introduction to Space Technology | Elective - III |
| Vibrations & Aeroelasticity | Project Phase - II |
| Aircraft Design | - |
| Elective - I | - |
| Elective - II | - |
| Aircraft Design Lab | - |
| Vibrations & Aeroelasticity Lab | - |
| Project Phase - I | - |
Also Read: BTech in Aeronautical Science Syllabus
Aerospace Engineering Syllabus in Anna University
Anna University is one of the top government colleges that have been ranked by the NIRF among the top engineering institutes.
Anna University offers courses in Aerospace Engineering and its syllabus has been mentioned below:
Check out: BTech Admission Process at Anna University
Anna University BE Aerospace Engineering Syllabus
The syllabus offered by Anna University for BE Aerospace Engineering has been mentioned below:
| Year 1 | |
|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
| Communicative English | Technical English |
| Engineering Mathematics - I | Engineering Mathematics - II |
| Engineering Physics | Materials Science |
| Engineering Chemistry | Basic Electrical |
| Problem Solving and Python Programming | Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering |
| Engineering Graphics | Introduction to Aerospace Engineering |
| Problem Solving and Python Programming Laboratory | Engineering Mechanics |
| Physics and Chemistry laboratory | Engineering Practices Laboratory |
| - | Basic Electrical, Electronics, and Instrumentation Engineering Laboratory |
| Year 2 | |
| Semester 3 | Semester 4 |
| Transforms and Partial Differential Equations | Numerical Methods |
| Aero Engineering Thermodynamics | Aerodynamics |
| Fluid Mechanics and Machinery | Aerospace Structural Mechanics |
| Strength of Materials for Mechanical Engineering | Flight Systems and Instrumentation |
| Manufacturing Technology | Mechanics of Machine |
| Space Science | Environmental Science and Engineering |
| Thermodynamics Laboratory | Low and High-Speed Aerodynamics |
| Strength of Materials Laboratory | Structures Laboratory |
| Fluid Mechanics and Machinery Laboratory | Flight Systems Laboratory |
| Year 3 | |
| Semester 5 | Semester 6 |
| Space Mechanics | Space Propulsion |
| Air Breathing Propulsion | Vibration and Elements of Aeroelasticity |
| Flight Dynamics | Finite Element Methods |
| Fundamentals of Aerospace Control Engineering | Spacecraft Dynamics |
| Elements of Spaceflight | Avionics |
| Open Elective I | Professional Elective I |
| Aerospace Propulsion Laboratory | CAD Laboratory |
| Space Launch Vehicle Mini Project - I | Space Launch Vehicle Mini Project - II |
| Professional Communication | Avionics Laboratory |
| Year 4 | |
| Semester 7 | Semester 8 |
| Hypersonic Aerodynamics for Aerospace Vehicles | Professional Elective IV |
| Computational Fluid Dynamics for Aerospace Engineering | Project Work |
| Rockets and Launch Vehicles PC | - |
| Professional Elective II | - |
| Professional Elective III | - |
| Open Elective II | - |
| Computational Analysis | - |
| Industrial Training | - |
Check: JEE Main Syllabus
Aerospace Engineering Elective Courses
| Elective | Course Name |
|---|---|
| Elective - I | Reliability Engineering |
| Introduction to Composite Materials & Structures | |
| Operations Research | |
| Aircraft Systems | |
| Elective - II | Computational Fluid Dynamics |
| Aircraft Controls | |
| Optimization | |
| Introduction to Helicopter | |
| Elective - III | Aircraft Engine and Instrument Systems |
| Finite Element Analysis | |
| Cryogenics | |
| Spacecraft Technology | |
| Elective - IV | Airframe Maintenance and Repair |
| Aircraft Maintenance Management | |
| Supply Chain Management |
Aerospace Engineering Professional Electives (PE)
| Elective I | Elective II |
|---|---|
| Computer-Aided Design and Analysis | Aerospace Materials |
| Cryogenics | Launch Vehicle Aerodynamics |
| Experimental Stress Analysis | Additive Manufacturing |
| Machining and Precision Manufacturing | Launch Vehicle Configuration Design |
| Reliability and Quality Assurance | Foundation Skills in Integrated Product Development |
| Intellectual Property Rights | Disaster Management |
| Fundamentals of Nanoscience | Top Quality Management |
| Elective III | Elective IV |
| Automatic Control Systems | Combustion Engineering |
| Composite Materials and Structures | Economics and Principles of Management |
| Heat Transfer in Space Applications | Space missions |
| Missile Guidance and Control | Spacecraft Systems Engineering |
| Spacecraft Power Systems | Spacecraft Structures |
| Satellite Navigation and Control | Professional Ethics in Engineering |
| Human Rights | - |
Aerospace Engineering Entrance Exams Syllabus
For the UG level courses, the entrance exam syllabus has physics, chemistry, and mathematics subjects.
There is no such specific exam or syllabus for aerospace engineering. A common exam offers admission into the aerospace engineering UG course.
The PG course in aerospace engineering has a section for aerospace in their entrance exam.
Read More: How to qualify GATE exam
Aerospace Engineering GATE Syllabus
- GATE is the most important exam for admission into the MTech courses.
- The syllabus for the GATE exam for aerospace engineering has been mentioned in the table below:
| Subjects | Topics |
|---|---|
| Engineering Mathematics | Linear Algebra, Calculus, Differential Calculus, Numerical Methods |
| Flight Mechanics | Atmosphere, Plane performance, Static stability, Dynamic stability |
| Space Dynamics | Central force motion, Determination of trajectory, The orbital period in a simple case, Kepler’s laws, Escape velocity |
| Aerodynamics | Basic fluid mechanics, Airfoils & wings, Viscous flows, Compressible flows, Wind tunnel testing |
| Structures | Stress & strain, Flight vehicle structures, Structural dynamics, Propulsion, Turbomachinery, |
Read on: GATE entrance exam
Aeronautical Engineering Syllabus: FAQs
Ques. What are the subjects taught in BTech Aerospace Engineering?
Ans. The BTech Aerospace Engineering includes core subjects in aerospace, basic science subjects, basic engineering subjects, humanities & social science subjects, elective subjects, and finally the labs.
Ques. What is the syllabus for MTech Aerospace Engineering entrance exams?
Ans. The MTech entrance exams usually include topics from the subjects like Engineering Mathematics, Flight Mechanics, Space Dynamics, Aerodynamics, and Structures.
Ques. Is the BTech Aerospace Engineering syllabus tough?
Ans. It is not tough for those who are interested in mechanical or aerospace studies. The course is not much different from mechanical engineering. So if a person is good at maths and physics, then this course is for them.
Ques. Do the IITs follow the same syllabus for aerospace engineering courses?
Ans. The subjects taught in the BTech and MTech courses of Aerospace Engineering are similar in the IITs. The alignment of the subject may differ.
Ques. Are there practicals and internships included in the BTech Aerospace Engineering Syllabus?
Ans. Yes, labs are included in the first seven semesters of the program, and the internships are offered in the final year, usually in the seventh semester.
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