Dangerously specialised engineering courses?
Hi, I've just finished my GCSE's and am about to start A-levels. I'm doing the three sciences, maths and further maths and I'm torn between engineering or medicine (although based on my hobbies engineering makes more sense). Anyway, to help me decide I want to explore the fields of engineering more and before I properly start, are there any courses which you would say are very risky to choose because of how specialised they are in the UK? E.g. There are very few Aeronautical engineering jobs in the UK and I know people who've had to retake a different course after they graduated because of a lack of jobs. It would be better to do a Mechanical engineering course since your not as specialised.
Thanks!
Thanks!
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Within a given subject area, there is usually a lot of room to move around. For example, the mechanically related degrees (mechanical, aero, automotive, motorsport, etc). You will learn a lot of the same stuff on each course, the difference is what sorts of projects you tend to do and also some modules which will focus more heavily on that area. In some ways, engineering is more of a mindset rather than a set list of what you can and cannot do as a graduate.
It is perfectly fine to study one engineering degree and work in a different field along the same lines. The core skills are what matter. You'll find a lot of jobs are only looking for people with "relevant" degrees, so someone with a maths or physics degree may be able to apply too. I can absolutely promise that your jobs will be totally different to anything you've ever studied before - You cannot learn it all, so they just look for the relevant competencies (usually through interviews, assessments and technical questions).
Mechanical is a good choice for a lot of people though. You will learn a little bit about a lot of areas. There are also areas in chemical engineering, civil, nuclear, etc. Engineering is not all about cars and aeroplanes. I wouldn't have thought anyone need to do another degree in engineering to move field unless it was a drastic change to a different subject area.
It is perfectly fine to study one engineering degree and work in a different field along the same lines. The core skills are what matter. You'll find a lot of jobs are only looking for people with "relevant" degrees, so someone with a maths or physics degree may be able to apply too. I can absolutely promise that your jobs will be totally different to anything you've ever studied before - You cannot learn it all, so they just look for the relevant competencies (usually through interviews, assessments and technical questions).
Mechanical is a good choice for a lot of people though. You will learn a little bit about a lot of areas. There are also areas in chemical engineering, civil, nuclear, etc. Engineering is not all about cars and aeroplanes. I wouldn't have thought anyone need to do another degree in engineering to move field unless it was a drastic change to a different subject area.
Original post by SillyEddy
Within a given subject area, there is usually a lot of room to move around. For example, the mechanically related degrees (mechanical, aero, automotive, motorsport, etc). You will learn a lot of the same stuff on each course, the difference is what sorts of projects you tend to do and also some modules which will focus more heavily on that area. In some ways, engineering is more of a mindset rather than a set list of what you can and cannot do as a graduate.
That's right. Last year I was talking to a friend of mine who does all power/electrical modules, while I do communications/electronics. I looked at what he was working on and said "hey, that looks like transmission line stuff I do". He replied "yeah, it's basically the same".
Original post by kkboyk
I'm in the same position: can't decide between physics/engineering or medicine. I don't do chemistry so that puts me a huge disadvantage, so right now deciding to do a degree in mechanical engineering with biomedical engineering which only about 3 universities offer.
In that case you'd probably be better off doing straight mechanical engineering.
If you still want to get into the biomed side of things afterwards you'll easily get onto a MSc if you get a good grade. Also, you could drop out after the BEng year and do an MSc instead of doing the MEng in mechanical.
Original post by Et Tu, Brute?
In that case you'd probably be better off doing straight mechanical engineering.
If you still want to get into the biomed side of things afterwards you'll easily get onto a MSc if you get a good grade. Also, you could drop out after the BEng year and do an MSc instead of doing the MEng in mechanical.
If you still want to get into the biomed side of things afterwards you'll easily get onto a MSc if you get a good grade. Also, you could drop out after the BEng year and do an MSc instead of doing the MEng in mechanical.
That's what I'm pretty much doing, since I really want to get into Biomechanics or bionics, so they both require a mechanical engineering degree and at least a masters in Biomechanics/biomedical engineering.
Be careful. Is biomechanics the same as biomedical? From their names, it doesn't sound like they are, and I don't think biomechanics would require much biology at all.
Original post by andrew700andrew
Hi, I've just finished my GCSE's and am about to start A-levels. I'm doing the three sciences, maths and further maths and I'm torn between engineering or medicine (although based on my hobbies engineering makes more sense). Anyway, to help me decide I want to explore the fields of engineering more and before I properly start, are there any courses which you would say are very risky to choose because of how specialised they are in the UK? E.g. There are very few Aeronautical engineering jobs in the UK and I know people who've had to retake a different course after they graduated because of a lack of jobs. It would be better to do a Mechanical engineering course since your not as specialised.
Thanks!
Thanks!
If you look at the course content for different branches of engineering, so things like mechanical, electrical, civil, aeronautical or automotive, you'll see that the amount of crossover between them all is very high. So essentially each course covers the same core content and then has a selection of modules on top of that which are tailored for their particular specialisation.
So while obviously if you do something like aeronautical you would be hoping to find a job in a relevant field, you have still covered a broad enough range of content to not be at any major disadvantage applying for jobs outside of that field.
It's also extremely common for universities to teach all engineering students, regardless of their specialisation, the exact same content in first year. This essentially gives you another year to decide which route you want to specialise in and most Universities will allow students to move freely from one to another at the end of their first year.
Original post by kkboyk
That's what I'm pretty much doing, since I really want to get into Biomechanics or bionics, so they both require a mechanical engineering degree and at least a masters in Biomechanics/biomedical engineering.
Have you applied yet? Just so you know it is easier to transfer from MEng to BEng than it is to go the other way around, just incase you change your mind it might be better to apply for a BEng.
Also if you are considering bionics I'm sure that EE/EEE would be just as useful if not moreso than mechanical no?
Original post by Et Tu, Brute?
Have you applied yet? Just so you know it is easier to transfer from MEng to BEng than it is to go the other way around, just incase you change your mind it might be better to apply for a BEng.
Also if you are considering bionics I'm sure that EE/EEE would be just as useful if not moreso than mechanical no?
Also if you are considering bionics I'm sure that EE/EEE would be just as useful if not moreso than mechanical no?
I'm applying for a foundation year, which then I get the choice of any engineering degree that university offers given that I get higher than 60%.
To be fair, mechanical would be more useful, but I'm considering doing general engineering which I learn EE EEE civil and mechanical modules, then specialize in the last year (it's an MEng).
Original post by Smack
Be careful. Is biomechanics the same as biomedical? From their names, it doesn't sound like they are, and I don't think biomechanics would require much biology at all.
Couldn't be too dissimilar surely? http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/bioengineering/courses/msc/biomechanics
Original post by kkboyk
I'm applying for a foundation year, which then I get the choice of any engineering degree that university offers given that I get higher than 60%.
To be fair, mechanical would be more useful, but I'm considering doing general engineering which I learn EE EEE civil and mechanical modules, then specialize in the last year (it's an MEng).
To be fair, mechanical would be more useful, but I'm considering doing general engineering which I learn EE EEE civil and mechanical modules, then specialize in the last year (it's an MEng).
Which uni are you doing the foundation year at? What A-levels did you do? I just finished a foundation year this year.
Original post by Et Tu, Brute?
Couldn't be too dissimilar surely? http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/bioengineering/courses/msc/biomechanics
Which uni are you doing the foundation year at? What A-levels did you do? I just finished a foundation year this year.
Which uni are you doing the foundation year at? What A-levels did you do? I just finished a foundation year this year.
I'm applying to Birmingham, Southampton, Durham, Newcastle and QMUL. I do Art biology, Geography, Maths and Portuguese hence why I'm thinking of doing a foundation year.
How is the foundation year like? I heard that people look down on those doing it -.-
Original post by Et Tu, Brute?
Couldn't be too dissimilar surely? http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/bioengineering/courses/msc/biomechanics
Possibly, I wasn't sure. From the name, biomechanics sounded like it was going to be largely based around the mechanics side of things, which basically translates into prosthetic limbs and the like, whereas biomedical could sound like it has a larger content of, well, medical stuff, like tissue, cells, medicines, chemicals or stuff like that.
Original post by kkboyk
I'm applying to Birmingham, Southampton, Durham, Newcastle and QMUL. I do Art biology, Geography, Maths and Portuguese hence why I'm thinking of doing a foundation year.
How is the foundation year like? I heard that people look down on those doing it -.-
How is the foundation year like? I heard that people look down on those doing it -.-
I did a science foundation year, so I did maths, chemistry and biology, though I was about 3 weeks away from going to do the EE w/foundation degree at York before I changed my mind and deferred the offer.
However you'll be fine, with the exception of maybe QMUL, the universities in your list design the course for people without A-level maths/physics, so you shouldn't have any huge problems with the maths. Also, if you've done the mechanics modules for A-level maths you'll not find physics as hard either. In fact York had mechanics in the physics module, not the maths module.
I wouldn't say that people look down on foundation years as such. Maybe people confuse them with foundation degrees and therefore think you aren't a proper undergraduate. But everyone on my foundation year was treated just like any other student at the university. You'll be a fresher like anyone else. One thing you might notice is that people on other degrees may think because it is a year 0 it is much easier that the year 1 courses, so you might get some flak now and then if you have to say no to a night out because you have work to do...most people often forget you need well above the 40% to pass the course like other freshers need.
But I wouldn't worry about people looking down on you...plus if anyone does, well, **** them really.
Just make sure you attend all your classes, and that you understand everything by the end of each week and you'll be fine. Foundation years go from really easy at the start to A2-level content (sometimes 1year of degree) by the end of the year, so they progress quite fast, so as long as you stay on top of your work you'll do fine.
Original post by Et Tu, Brute?
I did a science foundation year, so I did maths, chemistry and biology, though I was about 3 weeks away from going to do the EE w/foundation degree at York before I changed my mind and deferred the offer.
However you'll be fine, with the exception of maybe QMUL, the universities in your list design the course for people without A-level maths/physics, so you shouldn't have any huge problems with the maths. Also, if you've done the mechanics modules for A-level maths you'll not find physics as hard either. In fact York had mechanics in the physics module, not the maths module.
I wouldn't say that people look down on foundation years as such. Maybe people confuse them with foundation degrees and therefore think you aren't a proper undergraduate. But everyone on my foundation year was treated just like any other student at the university. You'll be a fresher like anyone else. One thing you might notice is that people on other degrees may think because it is a year 0 it is much easier that the year 1 courses, so you might get some flak now and then if you have to say no to a night out because you have work to do...most people often forget you need well above the 40% to pass the course like other freshers need.
But I wouldn't worry about people looking down on you...plus if anyone does, well, **** them really.
Just make sure you attend all your classes, and that you understand everything by the end of each week and you'll be fine. Foundation years go from really easy at the start to A2-level content (sometimes 1year of degree) by the end of the year, so they progress quite fast, so as long as you stay on top of your work you'll do fine.
However you'll be fine, with the exception of maybe QMUL, the universities in your list design the course for people without A-level maths/physics, so you shouldn't have any huge problems with the maths. Also, if you've done the mechanics modules for A-level maths you'll not find physics as hard either. In fact York had mechanics in the physics module, not the maths module.
I wouldn't say that people look down on foundation years as such. Maybe people confuse them with foundation degrees and therefore think you aren't a proper undergraduate. But everyone on my foundation year was treated just like any other student at the university. You'll be a fresher like anyone else. One thing you might notice is that people on other degrees may think because it is a year 0 it is much easier that the year 1 courses, so you might get some flak now and then if you have to say no to a night out because you have work to do...most people often forget you need well above the 40% to pass the course like other freshers need.
But I wouldn't worry about people looking down on you...plus if anyone does, well, **** them really.
Just make sure you attend all your classes, and that you understand everything by the end of each week and you'll be fine. Foundation years go from really easy at the start to A2-level content (sometimes 1year of degree) by the end of the year, so they progress quite fast, so as long as you stay on top of your work you'll do fine.
May I ask, what grades were your required to get in?
Original post by kkboyk
May I ask, what grades were your required to get in?
To get onto the foundation year, or to progress into year 1?
Original post by Et Tu, Brute?
To get onto the foundation year, or to progress into year 1?
Both please. I heard some unis require you to get above 60%
Original post by Et Tu, Brute?
To get onto the foundation year, or to progress into year 1?
Both please. I heard some unis require you to get above 60%.
Original post by kkboyk
Both please. I heard some unis require you to get above 60%.
Well for EE at York it was BBB I think, then to get into year 1 it was only 40%, however you needed to achieve 50% in the first semester maths and physics modules (if you got below 50% they didn't let you into semester 2) and then 60% in the maths and physics modules in second semester. So although they said it was 40%, realistically you'd likely not have gotten back in with 40% as that would mean you probably missed out on the maths/physics requirements somewhere. However that was under review in 2013 before I was due to arrive, they said there was a chance it might go up, I have no idea whether or not it did.
I did my science foundation at UEA, I think CCC was the minimum requirement for there, then the year 1 grade depended on the course you wanted to do. The highest requirement was 80% overall with 80% in two semester 2 modules, that was for a 4yr Natural Science degree (either BSc year aborad/industry or MSci), however the vast majority fell in and around 65% overall in general, though most courses required a certain grade in one or two specific modules, usually in 2nd semester.
For the BEng Energy Engineering course at UEA, 60% was needed with 70% in the semester 1 and 2 maths modules, then for the MEng 70% overall, with 75% in the math modules.
I was really worried about falling short of the requirements to get back to UEA, so much so that I even applied on UCAS so I'd have insurance choices. You'll find that most universities which offer foundation years, also accept them as entry qualifications to their own year 1 courses if you do the year 0 elsewhere. For example Cardiff offered me 50% overall, which was well below what I needed to stay at UEA. So it might help to apply on UCAS just to prepare for the worst, I found it took some pressure off the year knowing I had a back up.
Just email the universities and ask them what the overall grade required to progress to year 1 is, and if there are any specific module requirements as well. That's what I did for all the unis I was considering going to.
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