University Air Squadron and Queen's Belfast

Hi, been searching all over the internet to try and find out more about the RAF's UAS programmes they ask you to join if applying for sponsorship for a degree course. I wanted to know if Queens University Belfast or even University of Ulster link up with any UAS (they're arent any UAS bases in NI) but the only information I can find says that Queens link up with a base in Manchester? Can anyone give me any information on this and if sponorships only apply to certain degree courses? Also any help on what the UAS itself is actually all about, when you are required to attend and if the course is just for those looking for a career as a pilot or if they focus on the other careers open. Thanks in advance for the help, it is much appreciated.

Reply 1

Drewski

Queens is indeed affiliated with Manchester And Salford Universities Air Squadron. That will still be the case. Obviously, they don't expect anyone from there to attend the ground training nights every week, nor be available for the regular AT or flying activities, it would mean you miss out on a lot. But you would still get the annual camps and the Summer Vacational Attachments assuming you maintained regular contact with the staff.

UAS is applicable to all RAF branches and is massively less pilot-orientated than it used to be, or was even 2 years ago. But again, you'd get questionable use out of the system.

There are no specific degrees covered, unless you were going for a medical cadetship or engineering, I know of pilots to be sponsored with degrees from Aerospace Engineering to Physics to Geography to Portuguese.

Reply 2

Davidmcleod

Thanks for the quick and informative reply. I am now in my second year of A-Level study and looking at degree courses in areas such as Biology and Geography. If i were to apply for sponsorship in a degree, is there a lot of competition, i.e. a process of interviews, or is it based on academic qualifications to date? They require 2 A-Levels at grade C or above to be considered, so this must mean I would need to start applying for sponsorship around this time next year? If applying will competition vary depending on what career you want to persue in the RAF and if granted sponsorship, are you guaranteed a place in a UAS? Im sure you wish you never bothered answering my first question now but i do appreciate the help.

Reply 3

Drewski

Is there a lot of competition?

More than you'd believe. You have to go through the entire OASC process in order to get a scholarship, and excel at every level. And it's based on everything. Read up on OASC on this forum.

Apply this time next year?

Apply at the start of your A2 year if you wanted the scholarship to begin [should you get it] from day 1 of university. But as you can't guarantee your grades until after you get them, could be safer to wait until you're at university so that you know you have the grades.

Competition vary?

No. Ever smaller pot of money, ever growing number of applicants.

If granted a scholarship, place on UAS automatic?

Yes. But it's a big if.