Year 12s: what will be the first way you research your future options? >>

Electrical Engineering

Hi Everyone,

Couldn't find a thread for Electrical Engineering so I have decided to start one.

I am currenty in my first year of a BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Electrical Engineering. Hoping to go on to Uni to after this course.

Has anyone else completed this course that could give me some advice on it? maybe good books or websites with good research information on?

Also any advice on getting into Uni with a BTEC instead of doing A-Levels

Feel free to post anything electrical Engineering related.

Thanks :smile:

Reply 1

TSR Learn Together

Official Rep

Hi there,

While you're waiting for an answer, did you know we have 300,000 study resources that could answer your question in TSR's Learn together section?

We have everything from Teacher Marked Essays to Mindmaps and Quizzes to help you with your work. Take a look around.

If you're stuck on how to get started, try creating some resources. It's free to do and can help breakdown tough topics into manageable chunks. Get creating now.

Thanks!

Not sure what all of this is about? Head here to find out more.

Reply 2

iceman95

http://www.freestudy.co.uk/

On each particular unit on the edexcel website it shows recommended books which would be useful for you. Read books by John Bird such as electrical and electronic principles technology and higher engineering mathematics. PM me and I can give you links to some electronic books I have.

My recommended advice would be to ensure that as soon as you are given an assignment, make an effort to complete it and so you have more time to finish other works which you would be given. Also you have said that you are intending to go into uni. So it may be wise to look up some unis that you are willing to go some top unis may require an additional A level in maths. But even if they do accept you without A level maths my advise would be to still brush up on maths by reading a book such as K.A storud engineering mathematics before going into higher education since the maths in the btec is much more easier and is more applied compared to A level in maths. In this way, you would be much less likely to struggle in maths if you didn't take maths at A level. Hope this helps.

Reply 3

uberteknik

Engineering Mathematics by KE Stroud. Excellent book which allows you to proceed at your own pace. Recommended for reading which will put you on a firm footing with the maths needed for your first year at uni and if you get to grips will allow you to smash through BTEC.

Advanced Engineering Mathematics by KE Stroud.

Laplace Transforms either Stroud or the Schaum outine series.

Advanced Engineering Mathematics by Erwin Kreyszig.

These three cover most of the second year maths on an engineering degree.

Your other subjects on the degree you choose will expand on the application of these topics.

Reply 4

louis_yeowie

Ok thanks for your help i will look into those books suggested.

I am now hoping to skip the second year of the BTEC and go staright onto the HNC Electrical Engineerin. My tutor in college said i will be able to do this as long as i get good enough grades in my first year.

Reply 5

iceman95

Ok good luck. So are you coming straight from high school or from industry?

Reply 6

ianlamb

Id love to hear form mature students already in the industy. Im 37 and thinking of starting a degree in electrical engineering. No really looked into it yet as my employer has only offered funding in the last week. Looking for part time or distance learning courses.

Reply 7

uberteknik

Original post by ianlamb

If you want to do it, my advice would be not to limit yourself to electrical engineering only.

Of course it all depends on your employer. OU offer good modular courses and quite a few universities will offer part time day-release courses which will normally be 1 day and 2 evenings per term-time week. This is the quickest route although possiby the most strenuous and demanding because you have to do the same work as a full time honours degree, but also hold down a full time job and family commitments. Definitely not for the faint hearted and the drop out rate is very, very, high in the first year. (Possibly as high as 60 - 70%).

Seriously consider electrical and electronic engineering with a specialisation in control systems, robotics, aerospace etc.

Electrical engineering tends to concentrate on electro-mechanical systems, generators, motors, high-voltage systems, transformers, power distribution etc.

Electronic engineering is defined as a specialisation of electrical engineering but deals with everything from nano-scale IC design, computers and personal devices, computer control systems, embeded control systems (consumer goods, audio-visual, ATM's and virtually everything in between), aircraft systems, rocket/missile/defence, radar, radio, satellite telecommuncations, automobile systems, traffic managment, etc. etc.

i.e. there are far more opportunities for employment in a wider range of industries.

Engineers are in demand although the degrees are some of the academically-hardest with a very high workload which ony increases as you progress.

However, the skills you will acquire lend themselves well (and are sought after) to industry in general and you will very often find engineers in everything from business and finance to television broadcasting to airline pilots to IT project management.

As a mature student with significant work experience under your belt, it should put you at an advantage to newly qualified graduates because work experience is what employers want. That and undertaking a rigorous course will say a lot about your character and determination.

To do well, you will need all the commitment and determination you can muster and have a passion for the subject bordering on the obsessive.

This is not meant to put you off, but you do need to be realistic about the commitment needed.

If you got this far and are eager for the challenge, go for it. :smile:

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 8

ianlamb

Thanks for the feedback most helpful. The thing is i looked at the OU and there was not much emphasis on electrical engineering, only engineering. The site does not go into much detail about the contents of the course so not sure if they touch on that subject. I'll still look though and might give them a ring. So if they can't provide what I need I dont really know where to go from there. Locally there are not many part time courses available in electrical engineering and long distance travels out of the question. Also day release would be difficult as I work full time on shift, so my job would need covering. I dont think that would be a problem as my employer must have a commitment to help me on this. Thanks again for the reply.