Career from chemistry bsc or mechanical engineering BEng

I’m currently in the process of applying to university and have narrowed it down to these two courses. I’m really struggling to pick between the two and honestly the last factor is employability, and i’m struggling to work out which would provide me with the best range of careers. I’m not sure what i want to do as a career so i want a degree which will give me a range of choices. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Reply 1

kitkatya789

Original post by george06

If the last factor is employability then mechanical engineeering 100%, it's the most in demand degree probably just behind computer science maybe. However choosing between chemistry and mechanical engineering is quite a difference, if you provide some career ideas i might be able to help futher (context: i have a master's in physics).

I was going to suggest if you want a degree that gives you a range of choices physics would probably be the best bet, however employability wise mechanical engineering is still better.

I think the choice between mechanical engineering and chemistry can't come solely down to employability unless all you care about is a job ( which is fair enough then mech eng 100000%), however you can always in the future for example say you did mechanical engineering, do a master's in chemistry you don't have to be pigeon holed in one direction for life but it's easier if you what you want to do.

I'm sure you've already heard of this course but chemical engineering lol (sorry if i'm sounding condescending), i just thought of it now and wondered if it's something you have considered as well it's kind of a mash between both of them (do fact check me though,i do know a bit about chem eng but not enough). Actually scratch that, i know i can remove what i wrote xD, but they probably aren't a combination now that i'm thinking about it lol but potentially could be something that works for you .

But yeh if you want my honest opinion mechanical engineering is the better choice for employability and having a range of choice 100%, I am biased more towards science (ITS BETTER jkjk) but you have to also enjoy what you do too and i'll stop repeating myself again but it would help if you have any ideas for a career (but again this is very likely to change at university too).

Hope this helps

Reply 2

McGinger

Have you been to any Open Days and heard where/what graduates from each subject go on to do?
Btw, the best addition to any STEM degree for employability is a placement year - this immediately puts you ahead of all the other freshly-minted grads with no relevant work experience.

Its also worth looking at degree programs like Natural Sciences (multi-STEM degree) or Materials Science :
Natural Sciences | Undergraduate study | Loughborough University
What is Materials Science? | Faculty of Engineering | Imperial College London

Reply 3

Coventry University Student Ambassadors

Official Rep

Original post by george06

Hi there,
I'm currently studying for my integrated masters in mechanical engineering at Coventry university, having just completed my placement year in the nuclear industry and returning for my third year of study.
Just looking at the huge range of careers you can branch out into from mechanical engineering I would really suggest stop an engineering degree will really open up your employability if that's what you're looking for - I knew when I started my engineering degree that I had no interest in the automotive industry which a lot of Mechanical Engineers choose to go and work in, but I was really well assured that there were plenty of other routes to go down - and having just finished my placement in the nuclear industry and secured a graduate role at the same company I would really recommend a bachelors in mechanical engineering if you're unsure what pathway you'd like to go down but want to keep your options open!

Amber
Mechanical engineering student and student ambassador at Coventry university

Reply 4

kitkatya789

Original post by Coventry University Student Ambassadors

Hi there,
I'm currently studying for my integrated masters in mechanical engineering at Coventry university, having just completed my placement year in the nuclear industry and returning for my third year of study.
Just looking at the huge range of careers you can branch out into from mechanical engineering I would really suggest stop an engineering degree will really open up your employability if that's what you're looking for - I knew when I started my engineering degree that I had no interest in the automotive industry which a lot of Mechanical Engineers choose to go and work in, but I was really well assured that there were plenty of other routes to go down - and having just finished my placement in the nuclear industry and secured a graduate role at the same company I would really recommend a bachelors in mechanical engineering if you're unsure what pathway you'd like to go down but want to keep your options open!
Amber
Mechanical engineering student and student ambassador at Coventry university

I agree with this, and the previous comment about doing a placement year as it really helps, I did physics but did a placement within engineering so you'll never be fully boxed in ( as you've gotten 2 replies one from science and one from mech eng and we both did nuclear placements) however mechanical engineering has widest range of careers (i'd argue physics more but from an employability standpoint there are more mech eng jobs) , but again it really depends on the careers you are most interested in the future, as chemistry may still be a better choice for you or consider other options such as chem eng, materials etc.