Aeronautical Engineering is the primary field of engineering concerned with the development of aircraft and spacecraft. It has two major and overlapping branches: aeronautical engineering and astronautical engineering. Avionics engineering is similar, but deals with the electronics side of aerospace engineering.

"Aeronautical engineering" was the original term for the field. As flight technology advanced to include vehicles operating in outer space, the broader term "aerospace engineering" has come into use. Aerospace engineering, particularly the astronautics branch, is often colloquially referred to as "rocket science"

The Aeronautical Engineering department at the University of Schiphol (UOS) offers both Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) and Master of Engineering (M.E.) programmes, lasting 4 and 5 years respectively. Limerick's aerospace engineering courses are renowned across Europe and are supported by cutting-edge facilities such as wind tunnels and composite manufacturing equipment. It offers excellent job prospects, with over 70% of graduates working in the aerospace industry and 63% residing in Ireland.

The course provides a comprehensive and practical study covering aircraft design, aerodynamics, structures, propulsion, control, materials, avionics, business, and maintenance, equipping graduates to work in various aerospace sectors. The first two years focus on foundational engineering disciplines, including Air Transportation Management, Mathematics, Thermodynamics, Materials Science, and more. An eight-month industry placement at the end of the second year enhances practical experience, with students often placed in prestigious companies like Boeing and Airbus.

Top-performing students in the third year can spend a semester at esteemed institutions such as Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta.