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Mechanical vs Robotics vs EEE engineering degree

I'm going into y12 studying maths, fm, physics, and economics. I like doing stuff with arduinos and want to learn more about coding in general. I like maths a lot.

I want to choose the most versatile, good-salary, and in demand field that will allow me to branch out into other fields of engineering, or even other disciplines altogether (finance). I especially want to have transferable skills for more CS jobs like software engineering, because I find it interesting, it pays well and has good future demand.

Also, will doing some sort of combination degree like mechanical and electrical be worse than simply choosing one? I feel like not being specialised will make me less sought after because I don't have specific skills compared to someone who has an EEE degree for example. Final question, is a 5 year MEng degree with a year in placement worth the extra costs and time?
(edited 1 year ago)
Original post by stilk
I'm going into y12 studying maths, fm, physics, and economics. I like doing stuff with arduinos and want to learn more about coding in general. I like maths a lot.

I want to choose the most versatile, good-salary, and in demand field that will allow me to branch out into other fields of engineering, or even other disciplines altogether (finance). I especially want to have transferable skills for more CS jobs like software engineering, because I find it interesting, it pays well and has good future demand.

Also, will doing some sort of combination degree like mechanical and electrical be worse than simply choosing one? I feel like not being specialised will make me less sought after because I don't have specific skills compared to someone who has an EEE degree for example. Final question, is a 5 year MEng degree with a year in placement worth the extra costs and time?

Hi there.

@artful_lounger or @mnot could help. :smile:

Best wishes. :smile:
Original post by stilk
I'm going into y12 studying maths, fm, physics, and economics. I like doing stuff with arduinos and want to learn more about coding in general. I like maths a lot.

I want to choose the most versatile, good-salary, and in demand field that will allow me to branch out into other fields of engineering, or even other disciplines altogether (finance). I especially want to have transferable skills for more CS jobs like software engineering, because I find it interesting, it pays well and has good future demand.

Also, will doing some sort of combination degree like mechanical and electrical be worse than simply choosing one? I feel like not being specialised will make me less sought after because I don't have specific skills compared to someone who has an EEE degree for example. Final question, is a 5 year MEng degree with a year in placement worth the extra costs and time?

hi, if you like arduinos n coding id say look into eee because theres loads of that in there (im applying for eee in december) and theres quite a lot of overlap between that and software engineering/cs apparently
plus it is more maths based than physics if you prefer maths

im actually thinking of an integrated mechanical and electrical course but idk the pros and cons of it yet, so in the same boat

and dont take my word for it but id say a uni like warwick would be a pretty good fit for yoyu, as they have a general 1st year where you go over different branches of engineering, and then you specialise 2nd and 3rd year, and they have a bunch of business related modules and stuff so should be very easy to enter into finance from there

and lastly probably yes, because years in industry count towards work exp which is super valuable, so that would leave you pretty much set with a masters and work experience

feel free to correct me if im wrong, as i am still tryna find out more about this stuff before i apply
(edited 1 year ago)
Original post by stilk
I'm going into y12 studying maths, fm, physics, and economics. I like doing stuff with arduinos and want to learn more about coding in general. I like maths a lot.

I want to choose the most versatile, good-salary, and in demand field that will allow me to branch out into other fields of engineering, or even other disciplines altogether (finance). I especially want to have transferable skills for more CS jobs like software engineering, because I find it interesting, it pays well and has good future demand.

Also, will doing some sort of combination degree like mechanical and electrical be worse than simply choosing one? I feel like not being specialised will make me less sought after because I don't have specific skills compared to someone who has an EEE degree for example. Final question, is a 5 year MEng degree with a year in placement worth the extra costs and time?


You wont get too much coding in a mechanical degree, probably not the degree if you are deeply interested robotics & software.

mechatronic engineering sounds like it would be very appropriate.

Mechanical & electrical generally is more mechanical with some EEE covering power systems, again probably less so then what you’ve mentioned.

EEE, software or mechatronic seem the best to look at imo, careers wise all have different opportunities but engineering is so Interdiciplinary that your probably not limiting yourself going one way or another…
(edited 1 year ago)
Reply 4
Original post by mnot
You wont get too much coding in a mechanical degree, probably not the degree if you are deeply interested robotics & software.

mechatronic engineering sounds like it would be very appropriate.

Mechanical & electrical generally is more mechanical with some EEE covering power systems, again probably less so then what you’ve mentioned.

EEE, software or mechatronic seem the best to look at imo, careers wise all have different opportunities but engineering is so Interdiciplinary that your probably not limiting yourself going one way or another…


Idk if its stupid but I feel like mechatronics degrees being less known and new will automatically make it worse than a more established degree like EEE. Especially if you want jobs abroad or maybe go into other disciplines like finance. mechatronic also sounds kinda goofy lol
Original post by stilk
I'm going into y12 studying maths, fm, physics, and economics. I like doing stuff with arduinos and want to learn more about coding in general. I like maths a lot.

I want to choose the most versatile, good-salary, and in demand field that will allow me to branch out into other fields of engineering, or even other disciplines altogether (finance). I especially want to have transferable skills for more CS jobs like software engineering, because I find it interesting, it pays well and has good future demand.

Also, will doing some sort of combination degree like mechanical and electrical be worse than simply choosing one? I feel like not being specialised will make me less sought after because I don't have specific skills compared to someone who has an EEE degree for example. Final question, is a 5 year MEng degree with a year in placement worth the extra costs and time?


You do get paid in your placement year and it makes you far more employable so it is worth it.
Original post by stilk
Idk if its stupid but I feel like mechatronics degrees being less known and new will automatically make it worse than a more established degree like EEE. Especially if you want jobs abroad or maybe go into other disciplines like finance. mechatronic also sounds kinda goofy lol


For the finance sector, outside of quant finance (for which you really need a PhD anyway) and some more quantitative areas like actuarial work, they don't care what you studied - you can go into investment banking with a degree in Egyptology, any engineering discipline is going to be fine. For actuarial stuff they just look for a "numerate" degree normally, which includes any engineering degree.

This is actually true of basically all grad schemes; they either don't care what you studied, or are just looking for a "numerate" degree, or are specific engineering roles requiring an engineering degree in a cognate area. In all cases the exact name of your degree is unimportant compared to the content (and for engineering roles, accreditation, as applicable).
Original post by stilk
Idk if its stupid but I feel like mechatronics degrees being less known and new will automatically make it worse than a more established degree like EEE. Especially if you want jobs abroad or maybe go into other disciplines like finance. mechatronic also sounds kinda goofy lol

Mechatronic has been around for years now, its less common overall then mechanical or electrical but it’s certainly not niche.

You would be able to apply for lots of mechanical or electrical graduate jobs anyway. Employers are aware their is some variation in degree titles. I only suggested this as based on what you are describing it seems more like what you are interested in then typical mechanical or mechanical & electrical engineering degrees.
Reply 8
Original post by stilk
I'm going into y12 studying maths, fm, physics, and economics. I like doing stuff with arduinos and want to learn more about coding in general. I like maths a lot.

I want to choose the most versatile, good-salary, and in demand field that will allow me to branch out into other fields of engineering, or even other disciplines altogether (finance). I especially want to have transferable skills for more CS jobs like software engineering, because I find it interesting, it pays well and has good future demand.

Also, will doing some sort of combination degree like mechanical and electrical be worse than simply choosing one? I feel like not being specialised will make me less sought after because I don't have specific skills compared to someone who has an EEE degree for example. Final question, is a 5 year MEng degree with a year in placement worth the extra costs and time?


Look at Mechatronics courses or Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

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