Aerospace engineering

The degree programme in Aerospace Engineering sets out to train professionals with methodological and operative knowledge of basic research and industrial engineering science, in particular in the aeronautics and aerospace area. Aerospace Engineers are envisaged by ISTAT, National Institute for Statistics, (2.2.1.1.3), and have unique specific competencies compared to other industrial engineering graduates. In particular, graduates have the knowledge required to undertake professional activities in a number of areas, including planning, producing, managing and organising activities, assisting technical-commercial structures, risk analysis, safety management during prevention and emergency stages, both as self-employed professionals and as employees, in aeronautical and aerospace companies.
The programme forms professionals trained to take on responsibility roles in planning aircraft use, flight control, air traffic control, air fleet management, including from a strictly technical point of view (maintenance, aircraft and system updates, etc.). Graduates are able to acquire knowledge that helps them access the world of work in the aerospace sector (or sectors that use advanced technologies) with responsibility roles that deal with quality management systems, production systems, aircraft maintenance.
Additionally, the programme provides knowledge of the tools and procedures adopted by the main organisations involved in civil aviation with technical surveillance, certification, navigation and safety functions.
Students gain direct experience in professional environments by participating, either inside or outside the University, in activities coherent with their degree programme and aimed to develop the ability to work in teams, learn interpersonal skills and receive external incentives in areas that may be used for the final dissertation. The development of the dissertation provides graduates with synthesizing skills, the ability to carry out researches autonomously and following the guidance of a supervisor and to express and discuss personal ideas.

The course is structured in three learning contexts:
- Basic scientific training
This context includes, mathematics and the basics of physics and chemistry, but also information technology, economics and rational mechanics. The disciplines are included in the first two trimesters of lectures and during the first year's programme.
- Basic Principles of Industrial Engineering
This group of courses, scheduled during the second year, provides basic knowledge common to all industrial engineers. In particular, it includes technical design, the mechanical behaviour of materials, fluidodynamics, automatic controls and electrotechnics and electronics.
- Aerospace Engineering
This last group of courses, scheduled during the second and third year, provides traditional aerospace knowledge and constitutes its foundations, also in view of second cycle programmes within the same disciplinary area.
It includes aircraft flight dynamics, flight mechanics, aeronautical constructions and aerospace systems and aerospace propulsion. Aerospace Engineering graduates base their main technical knowledge, their continuous professional learning abilities and their predisposition to continue studying, on these foundations.
At the end of the programme, students are required to take a final exam, based on a written text elaborated autonomously, under the supervision of a supervisor, who is normally a teacher of the Degree Programme, and submitted to an Examination Board.
Subject to passing the state exam, as required by the law, graduates may practice the profession.

Admission to the degree programme in Aerospace Engineering requires possession of a secondary school diploma awarded after five years of study or a foreign qualification recognised as suitable.
Additionally, it requires a good knowledge of the Italian language, both oral and written, logical reasoning abilities, knowledge and ability to apply the basics of mathematics, physics and experimental sciences.
The methods for testing the knowledge required for admission are defined in the point on method of admission.
If the results of the test are not positive, additional learning requirements will be specified. Completion of the learning requirements is the subject of a separate test.
The testing method is defined in the point on method of admission.
Students who do not complete the additional learning requirements by the date established by the competent bodies and, in any case, by the end of the first year of the degree programme, will be required to repeat their enrolment for that year.