Aircraft Maintenance engineering vs Aeronautical engineering

[WolfAir]

Hey all, I know this says jobs and employment but this is the first step to that destination. I have been given a place at Kingston University London to complete a top up year in Aircraft Maintenance engineering, or start from the 2nd year at Salford University to do an Aeronautical engineering degree.
I am from Manchester and work in security which means affording rental around Surrey/London is difficult, plus the fact I have a wife (who is not ecstatic for me potentially moving) and a 2 year old child. Bad news is I would have to quit work which means finding part time work that would support the studies and make sure bills were paid.
The good news is Kingston course is for a year.
Salford on the other hand is pretty much down the road, I would not have to quit work which means bills are still paid without much difficulty. but the bad news is it is 2 year course.
Also I was wondering from anyone in the know which course is better, the Aircraft eng or Aero eng? Job prospects seem better for Aero graduates unless Aircraft licences are pursued.
Any help fellas most appreciated, so far I am stuck.

[WolfAir]

edc said:

What are you looking to do longer term? That should determine your course of action. The course content one would presume is different too. It is easy to assume that the Aero course is more traditional engineering with a strong maths element whilst the other course implies it's more hands-on. That is not to say that one is better than the other but they will probably suit different goals.

Thanks edc, always on point. I should have just pm'd you. I understand your point, it is one I have thought of myself, in fact the modules are incredibly similar for both courses. Aircraft maintenance is aimed at just that, around an Aircraft industry whereas Aeronautical seems to open many more doors within other engineering disciplines, oil and gas, renewable energy, aircraft, rail etc.
I have done some research of my own and Salford is better ranking university than Kingston, which I am not sure if it raises my chances of employment. Also it may have been the case of 2 more years before graduation before I can really start to build a career (at 32). The financial implications of moving to London at this time I think have pretty much made my decision for me.
Thanks

[WolfAir]

bucksmanuk said:

In my experience…
Can you do maths? – If so - do the degree. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.
If you don’t – do the maintenance course. It will still lead onto very good things. Skilled intelligent people will always be in demand.
The first year of a degree course is to get rid of the dossers, and make sure you can handle what’s coming. The second year is when they crank it up. It happened to me, and my nephew (just done 2nd year civil) can confirm it’s still the case.

I am sorry I should have mentioned, I have completed a 2 year foundation degree course in Aircraft Engineering, which inluded the maths, bending moments, differentiation, trignometry etc I have completed and passed all modules, hence being allowed to "top-up" to a full degree via Kingston or Salford.
I have been the dosser and came back to education after a few years, realising I was stuck in dead end jobs with no qualifications. I did not like University the first time, did not appreciate the freedom to learn when I had the chance, but now as I have come back to education after getting the dossing, the laziness, the being broke and not being able to do anything about it all out of my system I am more focussed, its just my path is a little cluttered .

EC225Eng said:

If you are going down the Aircraft Maintenance route then a degree is nice but not important, what is important is getting a B licence whether it's B1.1, B1.3 or B2. With approved degrees you can sometimes get access to having a C licence. To get a B licence and actually sign off an aircraft can take up to 6 years minimum what with CAA exams, logbooks and type courses. You must also have 5 years hands on experience. You might be better going on some of the zero to hero courses then get taken on as an unlicensed mech and building up experience for the logbook and taking the exams. We have some guys here with aerospace degrees and they are as useful as my structural engineering degree as the licence is the main thing. Having the B licence is when you start making the money especially up here in Aberdeen especially when you start racking up the types, I currently hold the L2, EC225 & S92 which are the big ones for O&G but would like the AW139. Having the licence will gain you access to getting a place on various Masters courses or last year Bachelors degrees.

I don't know too much about the Aeronautical route but if you have any other questions about the maintenance side just ask!

This was the original plan back in the noughties when I first completed a BTec in Aerospace Engineering in 2003, to either get an apprenticeship or some sort of work experience, even a few years of working at the airport getting to know the technicians but then airport bureaucracy kicked in and nobody wanted to vouch for me so I was unable to get on the apron and shadow any engineers or get any experience.
The Aircraft engineering course was based around some modules of the PART 66 B licence but exams would have to be undertaken from our own pocket (which I have no problem with) but the fact that I was still lacking the relevant experience to qualify for the licence (I have'nt even got an A licence). To do it now, I am not sure it would be worth the hassle as I reckon I would be wrong side of 30 before I would see any serious money. The only experience I have on aircraft was 1 eastern airways jetsream (non flying) and a bristol brittania (volunteered but was essentially working for a very passionate aircraft engineer who had worked on the bristol back in its heyday and was working toward restoring it)

Fugazi said:

I have an MEng in Aerospace engineering which I did as a mature student, so if you've got any specific questions feel free to ask. But to echo the other posters here, the course is maths heavy. It's not impossible though as long as you have some ability in maths, you haven't said if you have any grounding in maths but have a look through some of the A level revision websites and if you're comfortable with it then you shouldn't have much trouble. The fact they offered you a direct entry place suggests they think you should be up to it.

The amount of work, coursework, revision and time you'll need to devote is enormous compared to other courses and it will be pretty much lectures from 9-5 most days and then spending hours at home or camped in the library and it gets worse each year. Good fun though, so don't let it put you off!

Wow let me complete the bachalors first before we start MEng . Congratulations, if you do not mind me asking how old were you when you completed it, from where and did you already work within aerospace before you completed it. Like I said I have just completed 2 year foundation degree and I'm no stranger to the long days and then 12 hour night shift to follow another long day at College, if anything my situation spurs me on to do better than I think I may have had I not been married and working where I am.

Comments massively appreciated guys