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 Program launching in September, 2026! Application portal will open on September 1st, 2025. To register for our email notification list, please click below.

Master of Engineering - Aerospace Systems Engineering

The Master of Engineering in Aerospace Systems Engineering equips mid-career professionals and recent graduates with the skills necessary to excel in the dynamic field of aerospace. The program emphasizes emerging topics, tools, and methodologies pertinent to Autonomous Aerial Vehicles (AAV). Students will engage in learning activities that integrate conventional aerospace engineering with advances in hybrid-electric propulsion systems, multifunctional composite materials, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and autonomous flight operations.

Key Learning Outcomes: Graduates of the MEng in Aerospace Systems Engineering will be able to:

• Design and develop advanced aerospace systems by integrating principles of mechanical engineering, hybrid-electric propulsion, and multifunctional composite materials.

• 51³Ô¹Ï machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques to enhance autonomous flight operations and aerospace system performance.

• Lead and contribute to interdisciplinary engineering teams through hands-on capstone projects focused on designing, building, and testing innovative aerial vehicles.

• Collaborate effectively within academic and industry research environments, including partnerships with organizations such as CfAR and student-led aerospace teams.

• Incorporate sustainable practices and ethical considerations into the design and deployment of aerospace technologies.

Curriculum: The program includes core courses in aerospace system design, autonomous flight technologies, hybrid-electric propulsion, and multifunctional composite materials, as well as machine learning for aerospace applications and space systems engineering. Students will also complete a hands-on capstone project under the supervision of a faculty advisor, involving the design, construction, and testing of an aerospace vehicle or system.

Co-op option: An optional co-op term provides students with the opportunity to gain practical experience in the aerospace industry, further enhancing their career prospects.

The ASE program prepares students for innovative careers in the aerospace sector, combining advanced engineering expertise with hands-on experience in emerging technologies.

Program details

The ASE program is one year in duration (3 academic terms of 4 months each). You may choose to pursue an optional co-op placement term after the completion of the program.

The program requires 16.5 course credits to be completed, and consists of:

5 compulsory academic courses, one of which is a capstone project course:

• ASE 501 - Autonomous Aircraft Systems Guidance, Navigation and Control (1.5)
• ASE 502 - Advanced Electric and Hybrid Flight Propulsion Systems (1.5)
• ASE 503 - Aircraft Composite Structures and Materials (1.5)
• ASE 504 - Aircraft Design (1.5)
• ASE 596 - AAV Design-Build-Fly Capstone Project (3.0)

Three professionalism courses:

• ECE 591 - Professional Foundation (1.0)
• ECE 592A - Professional Career Development I (1.0)
• ECE 592B - Professional Career Development II (1.0)

 And 4.5 units of technical electives, options of which may include:

• Mech 540 – Transport Phenomena (1.5)
• Mech 554 – Mechatronics (1.5)
• Mech 558 – Fundamentals of Hybrid Vehicles (1.5)
• Mech 601 – Advanced Engineering Analysis (1.5)
• Mech 520 – Computer Aided Design (1.5)
• Mech 521 – Computer Aided Manufacturing (1.5)
• Mech 549 – Fuel Cell Technology (1.5)
• Mech 563 – Advanced Finite Elements (1.5)
• Mech 580 – Robotics (1.5)
  
  
• ECE 503 - Optimization for Machine Learning (1.5)
• ECE 512 - Digital Communications (1.5)
• ECE 516 - Advanced Wireless Communications (1.5)
• ECE 482 - Electrical Drive Systems (1.5)

 Full program information can be found in the graduate calendar.

Admissions information

 Please ensure that you meet the minimum graduate school admission requirements.

Application deadlines

September 2026 start:

International students—apply by April 30

Domestic students—apply by June 30th

Visa processing times for international students may vary, and it is important to apply as soon as you are able to ensure that you can receive a student visa in time to attend. The capacity of this program is limited. Applications open on September 1st, 2025 and are processed in the order they are received and until the program is filled. Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible to secure their space in the program.

Tuition and fees

Program fee

You can a view the tuition fee estimator or you can find a per-term breakdown of tuition and related program fees in the academic calendar.

Application fee

Acceptance deposit

Upon receiving an offer of admission a $2,000 (CAD) acceptance deposit will be applied to your first term tuition. If you are an international student and your study permit is denied, we will address the potential of deferring your acceptance to a later term or refunding your deposit on a case-by-case basis.

Co-op

Students in the Aerospace Systems program may apply for a term of co-op after completion of the program (up to 4 months total). 

Please see the Engineering and Computer Science Co-op site for further details.

How to apply

You can apply through the graduation admissions application portal.

Please note that you do not need to find a supervisor to apply for the Master of Engineering, Aerospace Systems program.

FAQs

 My undergraduate degree isn’t in Engineering. Can I still apply?

Your undergraduate degree should be in engineering or applied science. If you have another type of degree or diploma combined with relevant industrial experience, you may be considered.

Can you please review my transcript and let me know if I am eligible to apply?

We can only evaluate completed applications once they have been submitted. Please refer to Graduate Admissions for admission requirements to Faculty of Graduate Studies and to the MEng in Biomedical Systems. 

Can my employer write a reference?

Yes. We require two assessment reports from professional or academic contacts. We strongly recommend that your referees attach a reference letter to the assessment report. Reference letters must be on official letterhead and signed by the referee.

Can I apply before finishing my undergraduate degree?

You can apply before finishing your undergraduate or another graduate degree if the degree is completed before the entry point for which you are applying. You will be required to submit unofficial transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended including the in-progress degree.

Applicants who receive a provisional offer of admission will need to submit all official documentation before being granted full admission and being allowed to register in courses.

Is there a minimum word length for the statement of intent?

Please keep your statement of intent to one page (normally 200-250 words double-spaced on size 12 font).

What happens after I submit my application?

Graduate Admissions and Records will review your application. If it meets the minimum requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, your application will be forwarded to the program for review and a decision.

How can I defer my start date?

You must have provisional, conditional or full offer of admission to request a deferral. Please contact the Graduate Secretary with your request for an entry point change. Deferrals are only granted once per student. If you need to change a second time, you will have to pay the application fee again.

What scholarships are available to me?

While UVic offers some  and  to students in professional graduate programs, there are many more external sources of funding that you may be eligible to apply for and receive. Some further opportunities are listed on the Professional Programs site and we encourage you to seek other funding that may be available to you. 

Please click here for teaching assistant positions in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Make sure that you review application requirements and deadlines carefully.

Contact us

For questions pertaining to this program, please contact the graduate secretary at ase_meng@uvic.ca

If you would like to be informed of any program updates, and notified when the application portal is open, please click .