Discussion
You'd miss out on the practical aspects. Even degree students get sent to the technical college in first year to learn how to use a lathe etc - generally to get an appreciation of what machine tools and manufacturing processes can do. No point in designing something which can't be made!
Unless you're already up to your eyeballs in credit cards etc and *need* to work full time, I'd always recommend studying full time. Much of what the modern day employer is looking for is what a person learns about themselves andextracurricular stuff in and around the main course subject. Distance learning is useful if you have a family to support and need a piece of paper. If you're looking to begin a career though, full time is the way to go.
It's also very hard to put a value on having a few mates doing the same course that you spend every day with. It's not uncommon to find 3 or 4 engineering students sat in the Bobbin across the road from Aberdeen Uni at lunchtime with a pint casually chatting about what the heck this morning's lecture was all about! I was one of them!
Another good point about the degree more than college, and I don't know if it applies to RGU but certainly to AU - the engineering courses have a common core for first and second year. The mathematics are common to both as are the technical drawing and practical courses, and all the students do all the same modules for the first two years giving a fair appreciation of mechanical, electrical, computer and civil engineering. The especial benefit of this is that you can change your mind about which engineering discipline you wish to study at any point up to 3rd year with no delay at all to your graduation, so if Mechanical turns out not to be what you expected but it turns out you have a bit of a knack for electrical then happy days. Even beyond 3rd year you can still change if you wish, and the delay to graduation would be less than you imagine, because you only need to study the missing modules.
The word "engine" for example, is rarely mentioned in mechanical engineering. You spend most of your time learning about how vibrations work, how fluids behave either in pipes or in open channels, how heat energy behaves and is transferred and the like.
Unless you're already up to your eyeballs in credit cards etc and *need* to work full time, I'd always recommend studying full time. Much of what the modern day employer is looking for is what a person learns about themselves andextracurricular stuff in and around the main course subject. Distance learning is useful if you have a family to support and need a piece of paper. If you're looking to begin a career though, full time is the way to go.
It's also very hard to put a value on having a few mates doing the same course that you spend every day with. It's not uncommon to find 3 or 4 engineering students sat in the Bobbin across the road from Aberdeen Uni at lunchtime with a pint casually chatting about what the heck this morning's lecture was all about! I was one of them!
Another good point about the degree more than college, and I don't know if it applies to RGU but certainly to AU - the engineering courses have a common core for first and second year. The mathematics are common to both as are the technical drawing and practical courses, and all the students do all the same modules for the first two years giving a fair appreciation of mechanical, electrical, computer and civil engineering. The especial benefit of this is that you can change your mind about which engineering discipline you wish to study at any point up to 3rd year with no delay at all to your graduation, so if Mechanical turns out not to be what you expected but it turns out you have a bit of a knack for electrical then happy days. Even beyond 3rd year you can still change if you wish, and the delay to graduation would be less than you imagine, because you only need to study the missing modules.
The word "engine" for example, is rarely mentioned in mechanical engineering. You spend most of your time learning about how vibrations work, how fluids behave either in pipes or in open channels, how heat energy behaves and is transferred and the like.
In engineering you can't go wrong with a degree. It'll open doors for you all the way through your career. It'll also allow you to work towards chartership though the quicker BEng,MEng route and once you're CEng there will be nothing standing in your way.
However to get the most from your degree you'll need to make full use of it and push yourself forward.
However to get the most from your degree you'll need to make full use of it and push yourself forward.
FastNReliable said:
In engineering you can't go wrong with a degree. It'll open doors for you all the way through your career. It'll also allow you to work towards chartership though the quicker BEng,MEng route and once you're CEng there will be nothing standing in your way.
However to get the most from your degree you'll need to make full use of it and push yourself forward.
Thanks for the input However to get the most from your degree you'll need to make full use of it and push yourself forward.
Hello,
I am interested in getting into a career involving offshore oil & gas work.
I have a HND (higher education diploma) in mechanical engineering.
Unfortunately I do not have any experience, so was basically wandering what the best way to 'get my foot in the door'?
Any advice would be much appreciated
Thank you
Will
I am interested in getting into a career involving offshore oil & gas work.
I have a HND (higher education diploma) in mechanical engineering.
Unfortunately I do not have any experience, so was basically wandering what the best way to 'get my foot in the door'?
Any advice would be much appreciated
Thank you
Will
Sorry to hijack but is there a way to check if someone actually has a university degree? We have a situation where an potential employee has given a story about not having received it yet from last year, he has 'reasons' but if there's a way of finding out its class without his involvement it enable us to make the decision.
Willjhorton said:
Hello,
I am interested in getting into a career involving offshore oil & gas work.
I have a HND (higher education diploma) in mechanical engineering.
Unfortunately I do not have any experience, so was basically wandering what the best way to 'get my foot in the door'?
Any advice would be much appreciated
Thank you
Will
best way to get your foot in the door will be to try nuclear.....I am interested in getting into a career involving offshore oil & gas work.
I have a HND (higher education diploma) in mechanical engineering.
Unfortunately I do not have any experience, so was basically wandering what the best way to 'get my foot in the door'?
Any advice would be much appreciated
Thank you
Will
Willjhorton said:
Hello,
I am interested in getting into a career involving offshore oil & gas work.
I have a HND (higher education diploma) in mechanical engineering.
Unfortunately I do not have any experience, so was basically wandering what the best way to 'get my foot in the door'?
Any advice would be much appreciated
Thank you
Will
As others have quite rightly said; forget about it.I am interested in getting into a career involving offshore oil & gas work.
I have a HND (higher education diploma) in mechanical engineering.
Unfortunately I do not have any experience, so was basically wandering what the best way to 'get my foot in the door'?
Any advice would be much appreciated
Thank you
Will
Oil & Gas is in the sink at the moment; with bodies being dumped left, right and centre. It will probably be like this for the next 3-5 years, so don't bother. Even if you did find somebody hiring, you'd be up against guys with 10+ years experience and half the wages of a few years back.
With a HND in MechEng, I suggest looking to construction. Everything is picking up nicely post recession and there are quite a few companies looking for engineers.
V6Pushfit said:
Sorry to hijack but is there a way to check if someone actually has a university degree? We have a situation where an potential employee has given a story about not having received it yet from last year, he has 'reasons' but if there's a way of finding out its class without his involvement it enable us to make the decision.
Either it was awarded or it wasn't awarded.Ask him for his certificate and copy of his academic transcript (module marks over the course)
Reasons that he might not have the final award include non-payment of fees, accommodation, etc... though I know that is a grey area. There is no reason why he cannot provide a transcript IIRC. Universities charge a small fee for this (or for the copy of the degree certificate). They will often provide an electronic statement of attendance and degree by email FOC.
Why do the leg work? Confront him and give a reasonable timeframe to resolve.
Vaud said:
Either it was awarded or it wasn't awarded.
Ask him for his certificate and copy of his academic transcript (module marks over the course)
Reasons that he might not have the final award include non-payment of fees, accommodation, etc... though I know that is a grey area. There is no reason why he cannot provide a transcript IIRC. Universities charge a small fee for this (or for the copy of the degree certificate). They will often provide an electronic statement of attendance and degree by email FOC.
Why do the leg work? Confront him and give a reasonable timeframe to resolve.
Looks like that's what we will do thenAsk him for his certificate and copy of his academic transcript (module marks over the course)
Reasons that he might not have the final award include non-payment of fees, accommodation, etc... though I know that is a grey area. There is no reason why he cannot provide a transcript IIRC. Universities charge a small fee for this (or for the copy of the degree certificate). They will often provide an electronic statement of attendance and degree by email FOC.
Why do the leg work? Confront him and give a reasonable timeframe to resolve.
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