Best places to study aerospace subjects?

[phrenzy]

I've been a a military aerospace enthusiast for quite some time now and I'm always looking for excuses to write about the subject when I'm given some latitude to choose my own topics for essays at uni when I think I can get away with it but it. Often though, feels like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.
I had an assignment to write about forecasting chinese foreigb policy and I used the idea of revealed preference to make the thing essentially about the df-21d. I got nice enough marks but it was clear that this isn't what my tutor was after. Living in South Australia I can't even really do security studies or the like so I've settled for an international studies/history double Batchelors with the idea of going interstate or overseas to specialise later on since there isn't much that interests me locally (despite my city's 3 world class unis).

Anyhow I was wondering if above could recommend any institutions of higher learning, universities or otherwise that have a good reputation for aerospace humanities?
I'm a little torn between studying it from a historical or more policy/security studies stand point but I'm quite aware that a great deal of security studies courses are now security/counter-terrorism studies, which isn't really my focus.
As far as I'm aware ANU in canberra has the only good security studies program in Australia (outside of our military Academy Duntroon).

So can anyone recommend stove places either in Australia, or more likely, internationally?

 

[CJGibson]

Aberdeen has a strategic studies MSc course, but Wee Eck will charge you handsomely for the pleasure.

http://www.abdn.ac.uk/study/courses/postgraduate/taught/strat_studs

indirectly led to my almost downfall as I spent more time reading NATO's Fifteen Nations (yes, it was a long time ago) and IDR in the library than reading about geology.

Chris

ps new library looks like The Borg built it.

 

[Mike Pryce]

I did history of technology at MSc level. The centre was at Imperial College, but has now moved to King's. The Prof. in charge is interested in military aviation history, in a critical way:

http://www.kcl.ac.uk/artshums/depts/history/people/staff/academic/edgertond.aspx

I now teach for Cranfield, based on a military base alongside other people from King's:

https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/about/people-and-resources/schools-and-departments/cranfield-defence-and-security/

Both places have allowed me to study planes from a historical perspective, and to teach about them too, at Master's level. The libraries where I now work are pretty awesome for plane books!

 

[GTX]

What level of study are you after? Undergraduate, Post Graduate, Short Course….etc?


Are you willing to expand beyond simply aerospace? Do you want a military theme to it or are you after civilian theme?


Are you willing to travel and/or study from a distance?

 

[phrenzy]

Thanks for your replies its all very helpful.

I really would have liked to study these subjects from an undergraduate level but if I can only afford to spend a few years studying abroad I think my efforts would be better spent getting my Batchelors at home and doing my graduate work elsewhere since there will be more latitude to focus on my areas of interest.
My interests certainly extend beyond aviation to almost everything military/intelligence (and plenty besides but I have to pick something). Military aerospace and strategic military issues are my personal focus.

I'd like to join the military but I have some orthopaedic health issues that have slowed up my studies and will probably prevent me ever passing a military physical and joining the military proper. Having said that I think I could find a civilian career quite rewarding in the right place. My first choice wouldn't be in teaching or pure research though.

I'm quite aware that there aren't a huge number of civilian non technical roles in these fields, particularly in Australia but once my health issues are resolved (hopefully sooner rather than later) it might be a case of have masters, willing to travel. I actually have a small background in sales, if I could find a convenient storage locker for my soul maybe I could go in to defence sales (what's the commission on a $150m f-35?). Not that I don't think that the industry is inherently bad or that they dont need sales people but it seems pretty cut throat, I think I could be good at it though. All things being equal though I'd rather do interesting and important work and leave a zero off of my paycheck.