I was looking into Engineering as a possible choice of degree for after my gap year, I've only started looking around as of today but I wanted to know whether I would have a hard time finding a suitable university for it.
I've got 8 GCSE's at grades A-C including maths, english & double science.
Currently finishing my Alevels of Business (Predicted A), Psychology (C-D), PE (C).
These Alevels have nothing to do with engineering but could someone just sort of give me a couple of pointers an recommendations, thanks.
I was looking into Engineering as a possible choice of degree for after my gap year, I've only started looking around as of today but I wanted to know whether I would have a hard time finding a suitable university for it.
I've got 8 GCSE's at grades A-C including maths, english & double science.
Currently finishing my Alevels of Business (Predicted A), Psychology (C-D), PE (C).
These Alevels have nothing to do with engineering but could someone just sort of give me a couple of pointers an recommendations, thanks.
You need to look at Universities that offer a foundation year course for engineering. Im sure there are loads, you just need to have a look at prospectus' or at the UCAS site.
To point out the obvious, you have got to be good at maths to do engineering, most unis want a-levels in physics, maths, and often further maths. I think you would be unable to cope with the workload without having taken these a-levels, you could take a foundation course i suppose... Anyway, im speaking from a what a family member has told me, im only a gcse student
To point out the obvious, you have got to be good at maths to do engineering, most unis want a-levels in physics, maths, and often further maths. I think you would be unable to cope with the workload without having taken these a-levels, you could take a foundation course i suppose... Anyway, im speaking from a what a family member has told me, im only a gcse student
Il amend that 'often' to 'sometimes' then, although for every good uni it is helpful to have furthermaths if you are taking an engineering course. Tutors often play down the maths involved, but i wouldnt want to take engineering unless a) i enjoyed maths and b) was very good at it.
I'll look into foundation courses and read up a bit more about things.
I've always loved Maths and one of the biggest mistakes I think I've made is not going for A-level maths, I passed GCSE with an A and was urged by some to do it for A-level, but then warned by others that it's the hardest thing ever...Oh well...
Is there anything I can do in a my gap year to strengthen chances of an engineering career?
I was more thinking..for example. Queens Belfast, if you dont have maths and physics, and you apply through UCAS, if they give you an offer it'd be for the foundation year. The foundation is called "Year 0", you're on the course, you just have to do some modules in maths and physics to bring you up to scratch. You would then continue on to 1st year, so in essence it's just a four year course.
Its more of a foundation year as opposed to a foundation course, if that makes sense?
Thanks for the help there, kind of have a better idea of things now.
I contacted Loughborough Uni and I was told that it depends on the engineering course I'd be doing but foundation courses are generally for people like me. I could get into Mechanical Engineering with just 2 C's at A-level, but for something like aeronautics then they would normally require some sort of Maths background at A-level.
Thanks for the help, I'm slowly piecing things together.
Say I got through a foundation year then would I be free to go on to do a degree in any engineering course I want? Or does it not work that easily...
If you do a foundation year then you'll be fine. There were quite a high number of people on my eng course who didnt have Maths/Science at A level, but after the foundation year they were able to join 1st year degree and be at a higher level than a majority of the people with A levels. A few of these guys went on to get very good '1st' degrees. You certainly need good math skills but, more importantly, its having the common sense knowledge to be to apply the maths. I personally see this is a much more important skill than top grade maths qualifications.
Jobs, job interviews, CVs and qualifications.
Useful Resources:
Engineering Degree Advice
