Why Beihang

Flight Vehicle Design and Engineering is one of the earliest established and most prestigious program in Beihang University, a world-renowned institution in aerospace education and research. Rooted in China’s national plan for aerospace development, the program is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of innovators and leaders who will shape the future of aerospace science and technology.

Students in this program gain a solid foundation and hands-on experience across the full spectrum of aircraft engineering — including conceptual and aerodynamic design, structural design, flight performance analysis, systems engineering, and intelligent aircraft design. Through rigorous training and interdisciplinary learning, graduates are fully prepared to contribute to cutting-edge aerospace projects and global innovation.

As the cornerstone of Beihang’s Aerospace Science and Technology discipline — which has proudly ranked No.1 in China in all four national disciplinary evaluations organized by the Ministry of Education — this program stands at the forefront of the nation’s high-tech endeavors. It plays a vital role in numerous national-level research projects each year, including advanced aircraft R&D and major grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China.

With world-class faculty, state-of-the-art research facilities, and strong industry partnerships, Beihang’s Flight Vehicle Design and Engineering program leads in areas such as aircraft conceptual design, light aircraft and coaxial unmanned helicopter innovation, aeroelasticity, and advanced structural design. It is the ideal destination for aspiring aerospace engineers who are ready to explore the skies — and redefine the future of aerospace industries.

Established in 1962, the Engineering Mechanics program in Beihang University now encompasses three main research directions: Solid Mechanics, Fluid Mechanics, and General Mechanics & Control. After decades of development, it has cultivated numerous leading talents in the field and has become one of the university’s pillar disciplines. The program emphasizes talent development which prioritizes a solid foundation in mechanics, outstanding innovative capabilities, a broad international perspective, and a profound sense of dedication to serve the nation through aerospace. It builds a high-quality educational platform through excellent teaching teams, premium curriculum resources, and advanced practical training bases.

In scientific research, the program adheres to an "aerospace-oriented" positioning, serving major national projects and industrial development needs. It is dedicated to addressing the fundamental and cutting-edge mechanics challenges in the aerospace field, thereby enhancing China’s capacity for original innovation in aircraft design and applied mechanics. The program has achieved significant results in research, experimental platforms, talent development, teaching, and education.

To date, the Engineering Mechanics program was included in the national "Double First-Class" initiative in 2017 and was designated as a National First-Class Undergraduate Program in 2019.

The Aircraft Environmental Control and Life Support Engineering program, under the Department of Man-Machine and Environment Engineering, is a comprehensive discipline with multidisciplinary integration and broad applications. In 2021, it was approved as a National First-Class Undergraduate Program. The Man-Machine and Environment Engineering discipline was authorized as the first doctoral program in China in 1990, recognized as a National Key Discipline in 2001, and has consistently ranked first in national assessments among similar programs.

The program boasts a distinguished faculty of 38 full-time teachers, including one academician and 27 professors and doctoral supervisors (five of whom are adjunct supervisors). It is well-equipped with extensive teaching and research resources, featuring a 3,000 m² National Key Laboratory of Man-Machine-Environment Engineering that provides ample practical training opportunities for students. The program focuses on research and education in aerospace environmental control, life support system, and ergonomics, and has received numerous national and ministerial-level research awards. With leading comprehensive strength in China.

This program addresses the needs of China's plan to build a leading aerospace nation, cultivating well-rounded talents with strong ethical, intellectual, physical, aesthetic, and professional competencies.

The Flight Vehicle Control and Information Engineering program offers specialized tracks in areas such as flight dynamics and control, as well as flight vehicle information systems. It focuses on aircrafts, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, airships, and other aviation vehicles. It equips students with expertise in flight control, flight dynamics, flight testing, and related domains grounded in information and intelligent systems theories.

Students will develop a solid scientific foundation, cultural literacy, and professional knowledge, mastering fundamental principles of flight vehicle design, advanced control theory, and information processing technologies. The program emphasizes expertise in integrated flight vehicle control, information processing, and intelligent systems.

Graduates will emerge as versatile professionals who capable in pursuing research, development, design, and management roles in the fields of aviation control, informatization, and intelligent systems, serving as interdisciplinary scientists, engineers, and technical managers.

The Low-Altitude Technology and Engineering program is an emerging interdisciplinary field designed to meet the national demands of the low-altitude economy and adapt to industrial transformations in the era of unmanned aerial vehicles. Beihang University is one of the first six "Double First-Class" universities approved by the Ministry of Education to establish this program. The curriculum covers the entire technological chain, including low-altitude aircraft platform design, low-altitude navigation and control, and low-altitude air traffic management and operations. It aims to develop a multi-faceted, multi-level training system to cultivate interdisciplinary top-notch innovative talents, thereby supplying high-caliber professionals for the low-altitude economy industry.

The program is built upon Beihang University's discipline of Aeronautical and Astronautical Science and Technology, which has consistently ranked first in China in all four disciplinary assessments conducted by the Ministry of Education. In scientific research, this discipline plays a significant role in numerous national high-tech tasks, undertaking and participating in major projects such as national aircraft preliminary research and development, and the National Natural Science Foundation of China each year. It maintains a leading position domestically in areas such as aircraft overall design, light aircraft, aeroelasticity, advanced aircraft structural design, and unmanned aerial vehicles.