Is there any benefit to having a BEng?

I mean just a BEng, no MEng? I know I can't be a chartered engineer but surely some work experience can make up for that? I know I can't be specialised with out one but surely if I have a good BEng degree, it will make me a more attractive employee to employers as it showcases the skills I have. Or is there no point at all in doing a bachelors degree without a masters?

I'm not sure if I want to be an engineer and so am likely to do a double major in the U.S.

I would like to do a MSc though, I'm not sure if it will be in engineering.

On another note, what can I do to make me more appealing as an engineering candidate? So far I've been gearing myself, reading up on Politics etc. But may have had a change of heart.

Is there any reading material? Should I familiarise myself with CAD?

Reply 1

alexyfoot

I find doing BEng and then later on MSc far better but it comes down to personal preferences. If you do direct MEng you have less room for specializaion as the module option on MEng courses are not as diverse as MSc courses. For example, doing a BEng in Aero gives you broad knowledge of all subjects of aircraft and engineering. On the basis of these modules you can decide on what subject you want to specialise for a MSc - CAD, Aerodynamics, Propulsion etc. This way you will be a more suitable candidate for certain jobs and less suitable for jobs that require skills outside your master's degree. Moreover you can do the MSc after youve had a job for a few years and dont have to go into debt to do the MSc - sometimes they are even sponsored by the employer or done part-time along your job. On the other hand, you dont have to go through the application process again and you get the normal undergraduate student loans that people get for BEng when doing straight MEng. Being chartered is not the single most important thing in the world and you can get chartered without a masters degree if you make it up with experience and some further education (short courses etc.)

edit: Of course MEng applicants will be preferred to BEng applicants as they have gone through 1 more year of education. However, if you get the necessary grades and work experience, this won't be a problem and it can turn out that you dont need a masters degree at all.

Reply 2

bob247

Thing is, I want to do a MSc in something like finance, not a sciency subject. :confused:

Reply 3

alexyfoot

I know you can do management with engineering degrees everywhere, finance is possible at some places, not sure about other degrees but you can check that yourself.

Reply 4

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alexyfoot

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chartered_Engineer_%28UK%29#Qualifications_required_for_registration

For registration, it is necessary for candidates to demonstrate that they are professionally competent through education, training and professional practice. Although many Chartered Engineers have honours degrees in engineering, science or mathematics, since 1997 it has been necessary to demonstrate masters level knowledge and understanding, most commonly by completion of the four-year integrated MEng degree, or by gaining an appropriate masters degree following completion of a three-year bachelor degree in engineering or a cognate subject. Candidates are also required to demonstrate an appropriate level of professional competence to practice, through evidence gained from records of initial professional development, and by professional review. The final stage of assessment is a "professional review" (interview) conducted by two Chartered Engineers and a Chairperson at which the candidate's competence will be assessed. A full description of the requirements for registration appears at [1]. Overall it usually takes a minimum of 8 years but usually 10 years of university education and post graduate training to achieve the Chartered Engineer qualification.

You sure about that?

Reply 5

alexyfoot

"most commonly"!
you can demnostrate master knowledge and understanding without actually doing a master - reading literature and working for 2-3 years in the given field of engineering. there are plenty of chartered engineers without masters degrees

Reply 6

rY4uGD1fMzBj4xe2

alexyfoot

How would you possibly prove that you have Masters knowledge without a Masters though? Having taken a year out from my Bachelors before doing my Masters starting this year I can honestly say that you do nothing academic in the 'real world'.

I reckon it would be very hard to prove Masters knowledge without actually having one and I think in very rare occasions would you be awarded chartered status without one.

Reply 7

alexyfoot

There are interviews, peer reviews, forms. Citing the Eng Council:
The process will be more straightforward if you have particular academic qualifications, which will also allow you to obtain interim registration. For CEng these are:

an accredited Bachelors degree with honours in engineering or technology, plus either an appropriate Masters degree accredited by a professional engineering institution, or appropriate further learning to Masters level
or an accredited integrated MEng degree
However, you can still become a Chartered Engineer if you do not have these academic qualifications.

Dont know how and dont really care as I cant see much point in getting chartered anyway :smile:

Reply 8

Klicheyy

ritchie888

You sure about that?

What he said is correct. The article said 'Masters level of knowledge', not a Masters degree.

Its harder to get chartership without a masters, sure, but it does not mean its not possible. You'd just have to do more work than you would have to do generally in your masters year to get it.