“General” isn’t a field of engineering.
Why do you care about the answer to this? Are you trying to make a decision about your future?
Why do you care about the answer to this? Are you trying to make a decision about your future?
Original post by PQ
“General” isn’t a field of engineering.
Why do you care about the answer to this? Are you trying to make a decision about your future?
Why do you care about the answer to this? Are you trying to make a decision about your future?
im just curious to see other peoples perspectives. why are you so pressed
They're all crap. I did aerospace engineering and maybe only less than half of the people got jobs related to aerospace after they graduated. I also did this degree and now I am doing something unrelated to this field. A lot of these degrees are overrated because people think that somehow these degrees will give them a golden ticket to a job but that's completely false. If only some people knew.
Also, unis don't teach those important engineering skills that employers are looking for. Because they're engineering degrees you would expect more practical elements, but that's not the case. At uni, they still try to shove you with pointless physics equations that you will never use in your job even if you were going to get an engineering type job. Basically, you leave university and you have little skills and if you've not done any significant projects or if you haven't got yourself an internship or placement you're basically unemployable. Oh, and the fact that almost everyone who applies for an engineering graduate scheme will have an engineering degree means that the competition is immense. So I think that engineering degrees these days are pretty pointless and overrated.
Also, unis don't teach those important engineering skills that employers are looking for. Because they're engineering degrees you would expect more practical elements, but that's not the case. At uni, they still try to shove you with pointless physics equations that you will never use in your job even if you were going to get an engineering type job. Basically, you leave university and you have little skills and if you've not done any significant projects or if you haven't got yourself an internship or placement you're basically unemployable. Oh, and the fact that almost everyone who applies for an engineering graduate scheme will have an engineering degree means that the competition is immense. So I think that engineering degrees these days are pretty pointless and overrated.
Original post by Hiim
What’s the best and worst engineering fields. I know it’s subjective, but in terms of employability and useful skills how would you rank the following fields:
General
Mechanical
Electrical
Civil
Chemical
Computer
Aerospace
Biomedical
General
Mechanical
Electrical
Civil
Chemical
Computer
Aerospace
Biomedical
like you said - purely subjective, but here goes:
1. Mech
2. Aero
3. EEE
4. Bio
5. Comp
6. Chem
7. Civil
This is more based on personal preference than job aspects etc.
accepted an offer for electrical and mech at Edinburgh a couple weeks ago.
A lot of negativity rn, but really ur degree is what you make it (obviously to a certain extent). Hope any more replies are people answering your valid and interesting question instead of just being weirdly rude / negative
Original post by eturbyne52
A lot of negativity rn, but really ur degree is what you make it (obviously to a certain extent). Hope any more replies are people answering your valid and interesting question instead of just being weirdly rude / negative
Because it's not a valid question. We're saying that ranking these degrees is pointless. It doesn't make sense. A degree doesn't determine your employability. What determines your employability is your attitude, work ethic, personality and skills. A degree, whether it's aerospace or mechanical does not say much about your personality or skills. It only shows that you have knowledge within that field, but does not determine your success in interviews etc. Therefore it's not a valid question.
Original post by eturbyne52
A lot of negativity rn, but really ur degree is what you make it (obviously to a certain extent). Hope any more replies are people answering your valid and interesting question instead of just being weirdly rude / negative
Not intentionally rude or negative. I’m on TSR to help people trying to find the best degree/career for them so was trying to find out if that was the motivation behind the OP.
I have no interest in academic willy waving based on ranking the popularity of subjects with 17 and 18 yr olds.
Not sure how would ranking them even work, it's about applying the right physics to the right problem.
I would say EEE probably has the most prospects as a graduate, but ultimately someone's success as an engineer is less about where you start and more about your competence and ambition.
I would say EEE probably has the most prospects as a graduate, but ultimately someone's success as an engineer is less about where you start and more about your competence and ambition.
Original post by Hiim
What’s the best and worst engineering fields. I know it’s subjective, but in terms of employability and useful skills how would you rank the following fields:
General
Mechanical
Electrical
Civil
Chemical
Computer
Aerospace
Biomedical
General
Mechanical
Electrical
Civil
Chemical
Computer
Aerospace
Biomedical
In terms of employability, for someone who has the grades and subjects to get into all of the above degrees, has an equal interest in them, and is looking to continue into the field after graduation, it probably goes something like this.
1) Computer. Whether this is computer science or computer engineering isn't specified, but regardless, this will include the most programming of all of the options. Programming and tech skills are in very high demand at the moment, so if you want a technical job after university, programming skills are the most useful.
2) Electrical. Electrical and electronics engineering also includes lots of programming, so can also be good for getting into tech. But even the most traditional EE areas such as hardware, electrical power etc. seem to be in reasonable demand at the moment, across a range of industries. For example, if you want to get into automotive, this is probably the best degree for it. And think of all the grid upgrades required to integrate vast amounts of renewables distributed across the country...
3) Civil. Check out the jobs sites for the major consultancies and contractors. Lots of vacancies for civil and structural engineering positions. Plus, there is also project management at said companies too.
4) Mechanical. A broad degree which opens opportunities across many different industries, but quite a lot of people do this because at the time they aren't really sure about which engineering they want to go into, so choose it because of its breadth (this was me as well), so there will be plenty of competition for graduate jobs.
5) Aerospace/chemical. Hard to decide which way around to put these so I'll put them equal. Aero is essentially a derivative of mechanical, just applied specifically to the aerospace sector. But the best degree for getting into that sector - and for many other sectors, too - is something software or electrical/electronics related. The UK has a reasonable sized aerospace sector but quite a lot of universities offer this degree, so there will be plenty of competition for suitable graduate jobs in that sector, and whilst it closely resembles a mechanical engineering degree, some employers traditionally looking for mechanical graduates may not be aware of this, locking you out of their roles. Chemical engineering certainly used to be a relatively popular degree amongst people who liked chemistry and thought it'd be a better paying version of chemistry... or just wanted a well paid job in general, but I'm not sure what its status is now. Regardless, there probably aren't a huge number of relevant graduate roles each year.
6) Biomedical. The UK doesn't have much of a biomedical industry that I am aware of, and many graduate jobs will be aimed at mechanical, electrical and software.
I excluded general, because you will usually have to choose a discipline mid-way through the degree to specialise in.
Original post by Smack
In terms of employability, for someone who has the grades and subjects to get into all of the above degrees, has an equal interest in them, and is looking to continue into the field after graduation, it probably goes something like this.
1) Computer. Whether this is computer science or computer engineering isn't specified, but regardless, this will include the most programming of all of the options. Programming and tech skills are in very high demand at the moment, so if you want a technical job after university, programming skills are the most useful.
2) Electrical. Electrical and electronics engineering also includes lots of programming, so can also be good for getting into tech. But even the most traditional EE areas such as hardware, electrical power etc. seem to be in reasonable demand at the moment, across a range of industries. For example, if you want to get into automotive, this is probably the best degree for it. And think of all the grid upgrades required to integrate vast amounts of renewables distributed across the country...
3) Civil. Check out the jobs sites for the major consultancies and contractors. Lots of vacancies for civil and structural engineering positions. Plus, there is also project management at said companies too.
4) Mechanical. A broad degree which opens opportunities across many different industries, but quite a lot of people do this because at the time they aren't really sure about which engineering they want to go into, so choose it because of its breadth (this was me as well), so there will be plenty of competition for graduate jobs.
5) Aerospace/chemical. Hard to decide which way around to put these so I'll put them equal. Aero is essentially a derivative of mechanical, just applied specifically to the aerospace sector. But the best degree for getting into that sector - and for many other sectors, too - is something software or electrical/electronics related. The UK has a reasonable sized aerospace sector but quite a lot of universities offer this degree, so there will be plenty of competition for suitable graduate jobs in that sector, and whilst it closely resembles a mechanical engineering degree, some employers traditionally looking for mechanical graduates may not be aware of this, locking you out of their roles. Chemical engineering certainly used to be a relatively popular degree amongst people who liked chemistry and thought it'd be a better paying version of chemistry... or just wanted a well paid job in general, but I'm not sure what its status is now. Regardless, there probably aren't a huge number of relevant graduate roles each year.
6) Biomedical. The UK doesn't have much of a biomedical industry that I am aware of, and many graduate jobs will be aimed at mechanical, electrical and software.
I excluded general, because you will usually have to choose a discipline mid-way through the degree to specialise in.
1) Computer. Whether this is computer science or computer engineering isn't specified, but regardless, this will include the most programming of all of the options. Programming and tech skills are in very high demand at the moment, so if you want a technical job after university, programming skills are the most useful.
2) Electrical. Electrical and electronics engineering also includes lots of programming, so can also be good for getting into tech. But even the most traditional EE areas such as hardware, electrical power etc. seem to be in reasonable demand at the moment, across a range of industries. For example, if you want to get into automotive, this is probably the best degree for it. And think of all the grid upgrades required to integrate vast amounts of renewables distributed across the country...
3) Civil. Check out the jobs sites for the major consultancies and contractors. Lots of vacancies for civil and structural engineering positions. Plus, there is also project management at said companies too.
4) Mechanical. A broad degree which opens opportunities across many different industries, but quite a lot of people do this because at the time they aren't really sure about which engineering they want to go into, so choose it because of its breadth (this was me as well), so there will be plenty of competition for graduate jobs.
5) Aerospace/chemical. Hard to decide which way around to put these so I'll put them equal. Aero is essentially a derivative of mechanical, just applied specifically to the aerospace sector. But the best degree for getting into that sector - and for many other sectors, too - is something software or electrical/electronics related. The UK has a reasonable sized aerospace sector but quite a lot of universities offer this degree, so there will be plenty of competition for suitable graduate jobs in that sector, and whilst it closely resembles a mechanical engineering degree, some employers traditionally looking for mechanical graduates may not be aware of this, locking you out of their roles. Chemical engineering certainly used to be a relatively popular degree amongst people who liked chemistry and thought it'd be a better paying version of chemistry... or just wanted a well paid job in general, but I'm not sure what its status is now. Regardless, there probably aren't a huge number of relevant graduate roles each year.
6) Biomedical. The UK doesn't have much of a biomedical industry that I am aware of, and many graduate jobs will be aimed at mechanical, electrical and software.
I excluded general, because you will usually have to choose a discipline mid-way through the degree to specialise in.
You’re way off about biomedical. The UK has a huge impact on healthcare and medical engineering. Since we don’t have a significant private healthcare presence, you don’t get the industry awareness like you would do elsewhere like in the US.
It’s true many design roles are achievable with mechanical, electrical, and software engineering, but bioengineers are needed for human factors, biocompatibility, toxicology, materials, and clinical roles to name a few.
Not only that, healthcare is a great industry for culture and work-life balance in engineering.
Some UK employers include Medtronic, Johnson & Johnson medtech, Stryker, zimmer biomet, Phillips, and GE healthcare.
(edited 11 months ago)
Original post by Chris2892
You’re way off about biomedical. The UK has a huge impact on healthcare and medical engineering. Since we don’t have a significant private healthcare presence, you don’t get the industry awareness like you would do elsewhere like in the US.
It’s true many design roles are achievable with mechanical, electrical, and software engineering, but bioengineers are needed for human factors, biocompatibility, toxicology, materials, and clinical roles to name a few.
Not only that, healthcare is a great industry for culture and work-life balance in engineering.
Some UK employers include Medtronic, Johnson & Johnson medtech, Stryker, zimmer biomet, Phillips, and GE healthcare.
It’s true many design roles are achievable with mechanical, electrical, and software engineering, but bioengineers are needed for human factors, biocompatibility, toxicology, materials, and clinical roles to name a few.
Not only that, healthcare is a great industry for culture and work-life balance in engineering.
Some UK employers include Medtronic, Johnson & Johnson medtech, Stryker, zimmer biomet, Phillips, and GE healthcare.
What's the ratio of grads to jobs though? That's one of the key determinants of employability within the sector.
The reality is biomedical engineering is very much a niche atm.
I would possibly call it an application rather then its own type of engineering even though there are now BME degrees.
Id bet most engineers in the field would probably come from a field like applied physics, mechanical, manufacturing or materials engineering/science. For example if you work on designing artificial tissue this is probably a materials expert understanding the properties of skin, developing next generation MRI machines are probably physicists, and developing new techniques to 3D print implants would be a manufacturing engineers…
It’s very hard to compare it to conventional engineering degrees as it has a very small footprint and is really pulling different bits from traditional disciplines. Id certainly say employability wise you are more pigeon holed there however, with all engineers you generally can move to other industries if you want to (and most importantly demonstrate value to employers, far more of a graduate success comes from there competency as an engineer and ability to communicate this rather then the specific domain of there undergraduate degree).
I would possibly call it an application rather then its own type of engineering even though there are now BME degrees.
Id bet most engineers in the field would probably come from a field like applied physics, mechanical, manufacturing or materials engineering/science. For example if you work on designing artificial tissue this is probably a materials expert understanding the properties of skin, developing next generation MRI machines are probably physicists, and developing new techniques to 3D print implants would be a manufacturing engineers…
It’s very hard to compare it to conventional engineering degrees as it has a very small footprint and is really pulling different bits from traditional disciplines. Id certainly say employability wise you are more pigeon holed there however, with all engineers you generally can move to other industries if you want to (and most importantly demonstrate value to employers, far more of a graduate success comes from there competency as an engineer and ability to communicate this rather then the specific domain of there undergraduate degree).
(edited 11 months ago)
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