Alternatives to engineering degree
Discussion
Hi, as of last September I decided to embark on a career change from civil servant to mechanical or electronic engineer.I've been studying an access course in maths and physics and have been accepted onto 2 degrees at good universities for the upcoming year, subject to grades.
Whilst I realise engineering opens up alot of job prospects it is also going to require ALOT of hard work and I have my doubts over whether the course i'm doing at the moment will prepare me for university.As a contingency plan i've decided to look into other degrees, with my criteria being good prospects(I appreciate there's no guarantee nowadays) though I wouldn't say money is a huge driving force and interesting with scope for working abroad.
I've being doing alot of research but i'm looking for more of a "real world" opinion that you can only find from PH'ers.
Thanks for reading.
Whilst I realise engineering opens up alot of job prospects it is also going to require ALOT of hard work and I have my doubts over whether the course i'm doing at the moment will prepare me for university.As a contingency plan i've decided to look into other degrees, with my criteria being good prospects(I appreciate there's no guarantee nowadays) though I wouldn't say money is a huge driving force and interesting with scope for working abroad.
I've being doing alot of research but i'm looking for more of a "real world" opinion that you can only find from PH'ers.
Thanks for reading.
Can't comment on coming late to engineering but I did a degree straight away from uni and got a professional role (automotive powertrain) soon after graduating and from my experiences I can say that I can't think of many engineers who have not followed a similar path to me of going straight to uni from school and straight into employment.
It might be worth broadening the scope a bit and look at engineering combined with something else, perhaps a language. Most companies will look to train you further in their specific requirements so having an extra at the cost of a bit of depth would certainly leave you with more options at the end
nice audi driver said:
Can't comment on coming late to engineering but I did a degree straight away from uni and got a professional role (automotive powertrain) soon after graduating and from my experiences I can say that I can't think of many engineers who have not followed a similar path to me of going straight to uni from school and straight into employment.
My ex-boss (he's just moved to US) was in the navy before coming out, realising he wanted to be an automotive engineer and then got his degree in his 30s. It's not impossible.If you're not enjoying the access course then you may well be on the wrong trajectory. You need to review your motivation for quitting your previous role and making a track towards engineering. Do you have any experience, competencies or links that would suggest engineering? Have you undertaken previous academic study? Have you had anyone map your current competencies and aspirations to see what they throw up? You say good unis; can you share which ones as this will be really important to help break in to the industry.
I would suggest that if you're having doubts at your stage of life, you may wish to listen to what they are. I would also suggest that you seek support in helping to look for an altnative pathway to a new career, exploiting your strengths and ideally meeting your aspirations for type of work and salary level. Give me a shout if that would help; it's what I do. Good luck!
I would suggest that if you're having doubts at your stage of life, you may wish to listen to what they are. I would also suggest that you seek support in helping to look for an altnative pathway to a new career, exploiting your strengths and ideally meeting your aspirations for type of work and salary level. Give me a shout if that would help; it's what I do. Good luck!
Cheers Rog, like I say I was working in the civil service in the tax side of things but felt like I was treading water and with prospects looking pretty dismal I saw a degree as the only way to a better job.
I knew my strengths lay with numbers and the science/physics side seemed to go hand in hand aswell as being interesting to me.Engineering does appeal but i'm not sure if I will be upto it.Ideally i'm looking to study something in a similar vein that would take 3 years and help me to a better life.
I've been accepted into York and the University of Sheffield on a 4 years masters programme.
I knew my strengths lay with numbers and the science/physics side seemed to go hand in hand aswell as being interesting to me.Engineering does appeal but i'm not sure if I will be upto it.Ideally i'm looking to study something in a similar vein that would take 3 years and help me to a better life.
I've been accepted into York and the University of Sheffield on a 4 years masters programme.
If the Uni's have accepted you based on you passing the courses you're doing, clearly they think you'll be ok? A lot of the people joining with A-levels will struggle with the Maths as well. The first term will probably be spent bringing everyone's Maths up to speed. I did a Mech Eng. degree, parts of it were hard work, but everyone's in the same boat.
You won't be struggling to find a job with an MEng from either of those Universities!
You won't be struggling to find a job with an MEng from either of those Universities!
I've got nothing to add except you will be a lot better off as a mature student as Mech Eng requires a really strong work ethic. You need to turn up to all the lectures and seminars in order not to miss anything. It really is a case of they tell you everything you need to know in the lectures.
I messed around in my first two years at uni and cut loads of classes. When I finally pulled myself together and started turning up to lectures it was almost a revelation to me at how much easier the course had gotten to understand.
I messed around in my first two years at uni and cut loads of classes. When I finally pulled myself together and started turning up to lectures it was almost a revelation to me at how much easier the course had gotten to understand.
hyperblue said:
If the Uni's have accepted you based on you passing the courses you're doing, clearly they think you'll be ok? A lot of the people joining with A-levels will struggle with the Maths as well. The first term will probably be spent bringing everyone's Maths up to speed. I did a Mech Eng. degree, parts of it were hard work, but everyone's in the same boat.
You won't be struggling to find a job with an MEng from either of those Universities!
And if going into an electronic/electrical biased degree, the maths will come as a shock ,even for those with a good A level . I went back to college as a mature student to get an HND in electronics & comms. Last maths I'd done was at school some 25 years previous, but fortunately I still had all my ( SCE) ADVANCED A level maths notes. And the maths for HND is possibly only third year level . I don't know about maths for Mech ENG,but electronics /electrical has a lot of calculus in it. If ,lik me you're happy with calculus ,then it's not really a problem. You won't be struggling to find a job with an MEng from either of those Universities!
Just finishing of a BEng (hons) in Electrical Power at the age of 40. Years 1-3 were fine, 4th year was a bit of a slog to the line though. I started the degree with what you could call 'basic' maths skills and now 4 years down the line I am pretty competent, certainly operating on a different level to where I was at before!
I wouldn't worry too much about your maths skills at the moment as the course will likely bring you on just fine.
I wouldn't worry too much about your maths skills at the moment as the course will likely bring you on just fine.
[quote=Jazzerd
I wouldn't worry too much about your maths skills at the moment as the course will likely bring you on just fine.
[/quote]
You sir have my admiration. I've got level five maths, and although it wasn't a problem , it wasn't easy. I could have advanced more, but there was no need . But the shock from A level ( and above a lot of years ago was not a pleasant one)
I wouldn't worry too much about your maths skills at the moment as the course will likely bring you on just fine.
[/quote]
You sir have my admiration. I've got level five maths, and although it wasn't a problem , it wasn't easy. I could have advanced more, but there was no need . But the shock from A level ( and above a lot of years ago was not a pleasant one)
The main content of a mech Eng degree is applied mathematics. It is as much about being prepared to work hard as natural ability, and as a mature student you will have an advantage here over the 18 & 19 year olds. Fifteen years into my career I don't think I have used any of it.
There are a lot of other similar courses out there that may be a bit more practical that companies will look at equally favourably. Off the top of my head, Robotics, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial design and there a lot of others out there
Are there any local companies that would support you through a mature apprenticeship? You'll get some hands on skills and they will pay for your qualifications while you earn money too.
The comments about money and women are completely true!
There are a lot of other similar courses out there that may be a bit more practical that companies will look at equally favourably. Off the top of my head, Robotics, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial design and there a lot of others out there
Are there any local companies that would support you through a mature apprenticeship? You'll get some hands on skills and they will pay for your qualifications while you earn money too.
The comments about money and women are completely true!
The first year of my Aeronautical engineering degree was pretty similar to the A-level further maths course, and then we did more maths the next year, so expect a reasonable amount of maths in the course, but if you're doing a foundation maths course it should bring you up to speed.
Pretty much all science and engineering comes down to maths at the theoretical end so if you want to go down that route you do need to work on the maths
Pretty much all science and engineering comes down to maths at the theoretical end so if you want to go down that route you do need to work on the maths
Opara said:
Cheers lads, i'm just starting to doubt whether i'll be able to handle the workload as it's much more intense than I first thought.I'm also doubting whether the course i'm doing now will give me enough grounding in the maths and physics side, I have a feeling I could be out of my depth.
If so then if it all goes tits up then i'd like to be prepared should I need to change course.
Cheers for the advice so far
I was ace at A level physics... But pants at A level maths. I scraped enough to go to a good engineering uni on a straight to masters course. If so then if it all goes tits up then i'd like to be prepared should I need to change course.
Cheers for the advice so far
The maths killed me at first. I just was not ready for it. but they had engineering specific maths lectures all troughs first and most of second year. We had engineering specific work books to help us learn by doing examples an applying them. And I spent alot of time on my own in the math learning support centre just doing maths until I got it.
I have to say though, I found that once seemingly pointless pure mathematics was actually applied to real situations it often made much more sense. Pure maths used to stump me because I could never figure out what the end goal was of what your were doing. It just seemed pointless, maths for maths sake. At uni, they showed me what it was for and because there was a target to aim for, the math suddenly made more sense.
Odd to describe, but what I mean is don't worry too much about your current math levels. I scraped a C... After 2 years at uni it became one of my best subjects!!!!
Maths plays a role in every year at uni, but I would say the first and second years are we're it features at an intense level.
Otispunkmeyer said:
We had engineering specific work books to help us learn by doing examples an applying them.
I have to say though, I found that once seemingly pointless pure mathematics was actually applied to real situations it often made much more sense.
Agree with that. Engineering Mathematics by KA Stroud by any chance?I have to say though, I found that once seemingly pointless pure mathematics was actually applied to real situations it often made much more sense.
crofty1984 said:
DO you like money?
Do you like women?
Stay the hell away from engineering.
Seriously though, best of luck, I hope it works out for you.
Why?Do you like women?
Stay the hell away from engineering.
Seriously though, best of luck, I hope it works out for you.
Most oil and gas roles are engineering based, most offer 6 figure salaries and 6 months off work if you get a rotator position. The industry is crying out for good people.
KA Stroud! ahh, happy memories.
Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff