CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY

Watch your career take flight at Manchester. The question is: How far?

OUR CAREERS SERVICE

Think of our award-winning Careers Service (accredited by the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services) as your backstage pass to the world of work.

Book one-to-one appointments to polish your CV, rehearse interviews, or get insider tips on placements, internships, and job hunting.

Whether you’re exploring options, planning your next step, or just curious about what’s out there, we’ve got what it takes to help you turn applications into acceptances.

VISIT OUR CAREERS SERVICE

YOUR EMPLOYABILITY JOURNEY STARTS IN FIRST YEAR. HERE'S HOW TO START THINKING ABOUT IT.

Click the plus signs to learn how your employability journey progresses throughout your degree

  • Follow your curiosity: Think about what interests you, not just what looks impressive on paper
  • Connect the dots: Link what you learn in lectures and seminars to the real world
  • Show up: Go to career talks, employer events, and taster sessions even if you’re “just looking”
  • Get involved: Join societies, build your network, and take on projects outside the lecture hall
  • Gear up: Track your experience, identify skills to develop, and explore options with our Careers Service
  • Scope it out: Explore careers fairs, niche roles, and where your subject can take you
  • Get the experience: Apply for placements, internships, or research projects
  • Polish up: Get your CV and LinkedIn ready, attend application and interview workshops hosted by our Careers Service
  • Level up: Visit career fairs, book a one‑to‑one careers appointments
  • Learn from others: Apply for a career mentor with Careers Service

Industrial placements let you hit pause on lectures and dive straight into real-world work. You will boost your skills, build your network, and come out with a CV that actually catches the eyes of employers.

Plus, you might even land your dream job before graduation.

Our industrial placement students share how to make the most out of your placement year.

FURTHER INFORMATION ON PLACEMENT
  • Find your fit: Identify roles that match your skills, values, and lifestyle goals
  • Explore your options: See which sectors and roles appeal to you and align with your skill set
  • Speak their language: Translate your degree and experience confidently to employers
  • Start early: Apply ahead for graduate roles, and tailor your CVs and cover letters
  • Engage your network: Lean on classmates, alumni, tutors, and employers you’ve met to open doors
  • Ace it: Leverage our Careers Service to prepare for interviews and assessment centres
  • Further study: Consider furthering your studies with an MSc, explore our alumni discount and fast track
EXPLORE OUR MASTER'S BROCHURE

AVERAGE SALARY

Spoiler: your skills do pay the bills

is the average salary for Aerospace Engineering students 15 months after graduation

(Graduate Outcomes Survey 2023, as presented by Discover Uni)

DID YOU KNOW?

The University of Manchester is the number-one most sought-after university by the UK's Top Graduate Employers.

(High Fliers Graduate Market Report, 2026)

WHAT YOU COULD BE WORKING ON AFTER GRADUATION

Discover some exciting projects our graduates go on to work on:

  • Aerodynamic optimisation using CFD Comparing design variants in CFD to reduce drag or flow separation and feeding results back to CAD
  • Flight dynamics and control modelling Developing and validating aircraft models in MATLAB/Simulink and tuning control laws using simulation and test data
  • Composite manufacturing support Defining layups, tooling, and processes, and resolving production non-conformances for composite aerospace structures

TRANSLATING YOUR DEGREE FOR EMPLOYEES

Here's how what you've learned becomes what makes you desirable:

Group Labs & Coursework
➡️ Collaboration, communication, time management
Programming & Simulation Tasks
➡️ Computational skills, coding (MATLAB/Python), model-building
Final Year Project
➡️ Project management, research skills, independent problem-solving, technical reporting
Aerodynamics & Propulsion Modules
➡️ Engineering analysis, critical thinking, real-world application
Flight Mechanics Labs
➡️ Experimentation, precision, data analysis, troubleshooting
CAD & Technical Drawing
➡️ Visualisation, attention to detail, technical proficiency