Redoing my GCSE's
Discussion
I'm thinking about studying Marine Engerneering, and it'll mean I'll have to redo 4 of my GCSE's. I'd like to study for them in my own time. I've looked at ICS and they charge £379, is that a good price? Also what GCSE's should I do, I know Maths is a must but I don't what other GCSE's that would be usefull.
For Marine Engineering I'd definitely recommend some grounding in Maths and Physics. Chemistry gets useful later on when you get a bit more into the combustion side of things but it's not essential.
How old are you and what other quals do you have? Bear in mind lots of cadets go straight in from school at 16, but there's also plenty of us who went for a cadetship later, so depending on who you're applying to, you might find they're a bit more flexible.
How old are you and what other quals do you have? Bear in mind lots of cadets go straight in from school at 16, but there's also plenty of us who went for a cadetship later, so depending on who you're applying to, you might find they're a bit more flexible.
I'm 25. I've had another look and it appears that the other GCSE's I need to redo is Science and English. I'm abit lost as to why a C grade in English is a requirement. I have no other qualifications. The Science GCSE required is the pratical one, so I presume I'd need to attend a course to relearn it.
Frik said:
You don't need a four year degree to be a "real" engineer. You certainly don't need A-levels either.
Without the education, how would you learn all the Maths etc you need to do the job? Also there are laws in some countries e.g. America and Germany where you can't be called an engineer without a degree, it's like "doctor"
You also can't become Chartered without a Masters Degree. (My boyfriend is doing a mechanical engineering degree and if he didn't have the A level knowledge, he would have had to do an openings course to learn it, because it's insane what you need to know)
Edited by Trackside Junior on Saturday 14th January 13:07
Trackside Junior said:
Frik said:
You don't need a four year degree to be a "real" engineer. You certainly don't need A-levels either.
Without the education, how would you learn all the Maths etc you need to do the job? Also there are laws in some countries e.g. America and Germany where you can't be called an engineer without a degree, it's like "doctor"
You also can't become Chartered without a Masters Degree. (My boyfriend is doing a mechanical engineering degree and if he didn't have the A level knowledge, he would have had to do an openings course to learn it, because it's insane what you need to know)
Edited by Trackside Junior on Saturday 14th January 13:07
You come out of it with an HND, and a shed load of experience, of actually doing engineering, not just talking about it. You also come out of it with your OOW certificate, which is worth it's weight in gold.
The qualifications as well as the profession are highly respected worldwide by those who matter, the pay and the ease of finding jobs way beyond what you'll get with just a degree and some poxy a-levels generally confirms this. It's nothing to do with becoming chartered, though you can, just as you can get a masters degree should you wish, and you'll have it faster than if you went purely down the academic route.
Stu R said:
You do receive the education, it far surpasses what you're spoon fed at A-level hence you leave with an HND, if you're bothered about having a degree, you can sit the extra modules in a few months - I did, despite it being a massive waste of time.
You come out of it with an HND, and a shed load of experience, of actually doing engineering, not just talking about it. You also come out of it with your OOW certificate, which is worth it's weight in gold.
The qualifications as well as the profession are highly respected worldwide by those who matter, the pay and the ease of finding jobs way beyond what you'll get with just a degree and some poxy a-levels generally confirms this. It's nothing to do with becoming chartered, though you can, just as you can get a masters degree should you wish, and you'll have it faster than if you went purely down the academic route.
I don't agree with purely academic, you need the experience too, which is why I think the OU are good. My boyfriend is going the degree with the OU in the evenings and on weekends, but is also working in Engineering at his company, so he'll have both the experience and qualification. You come out of it with an HND, and a shed load of experience, of actually doing engineering, not just talking about it. You also come out of it with your OOW certificate, which is worth it's weight in gold.
The qualifications as well as the profession are highly respected worldwide by those who matter, the pay and the ease of finding jobs way beyond what you'll get with just a degree and some poxy a-levels generally confirms this. It's nothing to do with becoming chartered, though you can, just as you can get a masters degree should you wish, and you'll have it faster than if you went purely down the academic route.
Trackside Junior said:
I don't agree with purely academic, you need the experience too, which is why I think the OU are good. My boyfriend is going the degree with the OU in the evenings and on weekends, but is also working in Engineering at his company, so he'll have both the experience and qualification.
Agree or not, the point was most folks who obtain engineering degrees have sod all experience by the time they get them because normally they've gone from GCSE to A-level, to degree. The OU, as good as it is, is not the way most folks get degrees. Which means for most people it's 5 years after GCSEs to get qualified and have no experience. The marine engineering route is 3 years to qualify, 3.5-4 years if you want to go on and sit the extra modules to turn an HND into a degree, and you're gaining a minimum of 12 months experience in the job while doing so.
I've done both routes, and worked in both shoreside and offshore / marine - so I like to think I can objectively compare them
johnfm said:
By marine engineering do you mean working on boats?
Or are you aiming to do real engineering, i.e., GSCE's, then A-level in physics, chem & maths and then a four year degree?
Yes I do mean working on a boat. I'd do a HND as it seems to teach you more than a degree. I wouldn't say that to become an engineer you have to have a degree.Or are you aiming to do real engineering, i.e., GSCE's, then A-level in physics, chem & maths and then a four year degree?
EDIT: This is the course I'm thinking of doing http://www.warsashacademy.co.uk/courses/profession...
Edited by paulrussell on Sunday 15th January 00:54
paulrussell said:
johnfm said:
By marine engineering do you mean working on boats?
Or are you aiming to do real engineering, i.e., GSCE's, then A-level in physics, chem & maths and then a four year degree?
Yes I do mean working on a boat. I'd do a HND as it seems to teach you more than a degree. I wouldn't say that to become an engineer you have to have a degree.Or are you aiming to do real engineering, i.e., GSCE's, then A-level in physics, chem & maths and then a four year degree?
EDIT: This is the course I'm thinking of doing http://www.warsashacademy.co.uk/courses/profession...
Edited by paulrussell on Sunday 15th January 00:54
GCSE Grades A-C/Scottish Standard grades at Levels 1-3 in English, Maths, a Science based subject and at least one other subject.
So 4 GCSEs.
You do NOT have to have a degree to be an engineer.
paulrussell said:
I'm 25. I've had another look and it appears that the other GCSE's I need to redo is Science and English. I'm abit lost as to why a C grade in English is a requirement. I have no other qualifications. The Science GCSE required is the pratical one, so I presume I'd need to attend a course to relearn it.
A pass in English and Maths is a basic requirement for almost every course going as it proves you have a reasonable level of literacy and numeracy. Obviously depending on the course a higher pass level than a C may be required and other subjects will also be required to suit the course.As you are 25 as I pointed out above along with a couple of others, you may well find many establishments are more flexible on their entry requirements. They are used to taking 16 or 18 year olds so need some basic criteria to whittle down the applicants to a manageable level. You may be a accepted as a mature student, and even if you are not, the fact that you have been out in the big wide world for several years will count heavily in your favour.
The fact that you have decided to go back and study at 25 shows that you are very keen to learn and really want to be there and have a genuine interest in the subject. Unlike the typical 18 year old who is just moving down the conveyor belt of what is expected of them.
You are just the type of person they want.
over_the_hill said:
paulrussell said:
I'm 25. I've had another look and it appears that the other GCSE's I need to redo is Science and English. I'm abit lost as to why a C grade in English is a requirement. I have no other qualifications. The Science GCSE required is the pratical one, so I presume I'd need to attend a course to relearn it.
A pass in English and Maths is a basic requirement for almost every course going as it proves you have a reasonable level of literacy and numeracy. Obviously depending on the course a higher pass level than a C may be required and other subjects will also be required to suit the course.As you are 25 as I pointed out above along with a couple of others, you may well find many establishments are more flexible on their entry requirements. They are used to taking 16 or 18 year olds so need some basic criteria to whittle down the applicants to a manageable level. You may be a accepted as a mature student, and even if you are not, the fact that you have been out in the big wide world for several years will count heavily in your favour.
The fact that you have decided to go back and study at 25 shows that you are very keen to learn and really want to be there and have a genuine interest in the subject. Unlike the typical 18 year old who is just moving down the conveyor belt of what is expected of them.
You are just the type of person they want.
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