Mechanical Engineering and a BSc?

Mechanical Engineering and a BSc?

Author
Discussion

Yadizzle1

Original Poster:

689 posts

126 months

Friday 8th May 2015
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Does anyone know if a BSc in Engineering is going to put me at a disadvantage in comparison to those with a BEng when it comes to employment in the industry?

Would you be able to apply for the same jobs as those with a BEng would?


CubanPete

3,630 posts

189 months

Friday 8th May 2015
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I can't see it making any difference at all.

An engineer.

CubanPete

3,630 posts

189 months

Friday 8th May 2015
quotequote all
The only thing to think about is if you want to get chartered and if it is a qualifying degree.

Yadizzle1

Original Poster:

689 posts

126 months

Friday 8th May 2015
quotequote all
I believe you can get charted with a BSc in Mechanical Engineering, I'll have another look into it now though. Also, what do you mean by "qualifying degree"?

It is accredited by IMechE if that makes any difference

StuTheGrouch

5,735 posts

163 months

Friday 8th May 2015
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Yadizzle1 said:


It is accredited by IMechE if that makes any difference
Should be fine then. Have a look at their chartered criteria to be sure

blank

3,463 posts

189 months

Friday 8th May 2015
quotequote all
Doesn't really make a difference in my experience. A degree is just a way of opening a door. Once you're in, experience, ability, attitude etc are far more important.


As others have said, a BSc is trickier to turn in to chartership.

Although being chartered doesn't seem to make a difference anyway!

Slinky1989

324 posts

183 months

Friday 8th May 2015
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I have a BSc in Motorsport Engineering. Now just about to finish the grad scheme at JLR. Didn't make a jot of difference it seems as there were other people at my assessment centre 2 years ago who had 2 degrees and 1 that was already a 6 sigma black belt along with having a masters in mech eng.

Many companies are now recognising that it's better to hire based on attitude and aptitude rather than qualifications, as it's much easier to find someone that fits into your culture and train them up to what you want them to be, rather than search endlessly for the perfect candidate only to find that they aren't a good fit in the organisation.

sparkyb999

322 posts

199 months

Sunday 10th May 2015
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I recruit in engineering and in my opinion its all about the person. The qualifications will look good on the cv and help to get you an interview. However on the day if you don't interview well then it's not going to help.

I have Interviewed hundreds of people and it amazes me how different people represent themselves.



sparkyb999

322 posts

199 months

Sunday 10th May 2015
quotequote all
I recruit in engineering and in my opinion its all about the person. The qualifications will look good on the cv and help to get you an interview. However on the day if you don't interview well then it's not going to help.

I have Interviewed hundreds of people and it amazes me how different people represent themselves.



Yadizzle1

Original Poster:

689 posts

126 months

Sunday 10th May 2015
quotequote all
blank said:
Doesn't really make a difference in my experience. A degree is just a way of opening a door. Once you're in, experience, ability, attitude etc are far more important.


As others have said, a BSc is trickier to turn in to chartership.

Although being chartered doesn't seem to make a difference anyway!
Doesn't being Charted allow you to earn a higher salary? My Father was given a substantial pay rise once he achieved chartership, although he is in Civil Engineering

Yadizzle1

Original Poster:

689 posts

126 months

Sunday 10th May 2015
quotequote all
So overall having a BSc in Mechanical Engineering shouldn't affect my chances much? Ideally I'd love to go into Automotive Engineering after my degree and I'm just worried that the BSc might make getting my foot in the door a bit hard.

bucksmanuk

2,311 posts

171 months

Tuesday 12th May 2015
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Generalising here….
Will it make a difference? …..No - Not understanding and applying the subject matter will make a difference, much more common than you would think.
Do you get paid more for chartership? - Sometimes
At your current place of employment? – Rarely
Out there in job land? – Yes
How much? - about £5k usually.
I’m the sod on the other side of the desk, soon to be interviewing again in the next few weeks.

voicey

2,453 posts

188 months

Wednesday 13th May 2015
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Slightly OT, but what is the difference between a BSc and BEng? I have a BEng in Mech Eng and an MSc in Advanced Mech Eng from the same uni dept - I've often wondered why the Masters wasn't a MEng (I can't help with the OP's question as I went straight into banking after uni).

Yadizzle1

Original Poster:

689 posts

126 months

Friday 15th May 2015
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BSc is more computer and technology orientated, rather than going deep into the physics of mechanical engineering it would seem. I've been told an MSc in Mechanical Engineering is as good if not better than a MEng as it is considered a "proper" postgrad.


Dr Slotter

408 posts

147 months

Friday 15th May 2015
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BEng/MEng degrees need to meet certain requirements to be defined as such and as suggested above if a course is more focused on some of the core science or technology they usually end up being a BSc. At most UK universities the MSc Advanced Mechanical degrees are the same taught content as the MEng final year but with a bigger project. I would say that they are broadly comparable.

DJRC

23,563 posts

237 months

Wednesday 20th May 2015
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B and M Eng courses usually require a period of time (yr) in industry on placement during the degree period - or they did back in the mid 90s.

It makes no difference to be honest.

Foliage

3,861 posts

123 months

Wednesday 20th May 2015
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Course accreditation is what matters. I canned my engineering degree part way through when the university lost accreditation.

A mate of mine finished and was unable to get into the forces as an engineer without further training, and he also ended up with an Bsc, I was inline to get a Beng as Im a time served engineer and could have swung it.


http://www.engc.org.uk/education--skills/accredita...

Edited by Foliage on Wednesday 20th May 10:16

Dr Slotter

408 posts

147 months

Wednesday 20th May 2015
quotequote all
DJRC said:
B and M Eng courses usually require a period of time (yr) in industry on placement during the degree period - or they did back in the mid 90s.
Nope, certainly in the UK HE system that is not true. Obviously they often do include an extra Year in Industry though.

DJRC

23,563 posts

237 months

Friday 22nd May 2015
quotequote all
Dr Slotter said:
DJRC said:
B and M Eng courses usually require a period of time (yr) in industry on placement during the degree period - or they did back in the mid 90s.
Nope, certainly in the UK HE system that is not true. Obviously they often do include an extra Year in Industry though.
Congratulations on both disagreeing and agreeing and contradicting yourself in one line. Thats impressive, even on PH.

Dr Slotter

408 posts

147 months

Saturday 23rd May 2015
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No contradiction at all. There is no requirement for B/MEng degrees to have a placement element, but there are many courses that do include one.