As a graduate of the Master’s in Mechanical Engineering with a specialisation in Aeronautics your career prospects are great. You will be perfectly prepared for a role as an engineer in the aeronautical sector, as well as other industries, or you could pursue a career as a consultant or researcher, to name some of your many options. You could also opt to further develop yourself by following a PhD- or EngD programme. Or what about starting up your own business?
Type of degree
When you have completed this Master’s with the specialisation in Aeronautics, you will receive a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. Also, you can title yourself Master of Science (MSc) or use the Dutch title Ingenieur (Ir.). Your specialisation will be mentioned specifically on your diploma supplement, highlighting your specialised knowledge and skills in the field of aeronautics.
Job opportunities
Opportunities posed by technological advancements and the need for more efficient, innovative and environmentally-friendlier aircraft designs have raised the demand for mechanical engineers in the aeronautical sector. In your future career, you can play a crucial role in the design, development, optimisation and maintenance of aircraft components, at aircraft manufacturers like Boeing, GKN/Fokker Aerospace, Embraer or Airbus, or work in engineering positions at airline companies like Air France-KLM or Lufthansa. You could also join a consultancy or engineering firm and advise organisations in the aeronautical industry on topics like noise reduction or lightweight material use. Or you could start a career within the growing market of drones and autonomous aircraft. Or what about joining NASA or ESA?
But of course, your career prospects extend beyond the aviation industry. Your in-depth knowledge in subjects like aerodynamics, aeroacoustics, fluid dynamics, structural dynamics, control, materials science and/or maintenance engineering could for example be highly relevant within the energy or transport sector. You might focus on wind turbine design or the improvement of the aerodynamics of a train or truck. Or what about improving ship acoustics and reducing nuisance to the environment above and below water? There’s a great variety of projects you might work on, either within industrial companies or, for example, within research institutes like TNO, Marin or NLR – Netherlands Aerospace Centre.
Start a business
At UT, we highly encourage entrepreneurship. The University of Twente is the birthplace of a large number of high-tech spin-off companies that market developed technologies. You could use your research or even inventions stemming from your master’s thesis and/or your PhD research to start up your own innovative company as well! UT has been voted the most entrepreneurial university in the Netherlands four times in a row. We have a unique approach of putting scientific knowledge to practical use and turning our expertise and yours into solutions that people and society actually need. As a catalyst for meaningful entrepreneurship, we offer you the Novel-T foundation and the start-up hub on campus.
Companies launched at UT
Did you know that the engineering firm Demcon was once started-up by graduates of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Twente? Just like EAZ wind, a start-up that designs and develops windmills and other sustainable energy packages for farms. Other examples of start-ups by ME-graduates include simulation software companies Aniform (focused on the forming processes of composite materials) and Triboform (focused on tribology, friction, and lubrication in metal-forming processes). Will you be next to start up your own company?
Post-master opportunities
Instead of pursuing a professional career right away after obtaining your Master’s degree, you can also opt for a more academically oriented career, by pursuing a PhD or EngD. An EngD programme is more practically oriented, aligned with the direct problem-solving or design needs of the industry, whereas a PhD programme is more focused on research. You can follow both types of programmes at the Twente Graduate School (TGS).
Continue as a researcher: obtain a PhD
A PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) involves spending four years of in-depth studying and researching in a particular area. You can do this within one of our research groups or in one of our structured PhD programmes. An integral part of a PhD is writing your PhD thesis at the end and then presenting and defending your research in public. Obtaining your PhD earns you the title of Doctor (Dr).
Follow an EngD programme
Other than obtaining a PhD, you can also opt to follow an EngD programme after graduation. Such a programme usually takes two years and is aimed at you becoming a high-level technological designer. Upon successful completion, you will receive a certified diploma and the academic degree Engineering Doctorate (EngD).