Engineering plays an essential role in our day-to-day lives. From the way in which we get our electricity to the bridges we use to cross rivers, society needs skilled engineers in order to function.
What A-Levels do you need?
It depends on the university and the type of engineering you choose to study. Most of the top unis will be looking for maths and a relevant science (Newcastle University’s Chemical Engineering BEng requires ABB – AAB and you’ll need Maths and Chemistry, while the University of Glasgow’s 4-year Civil Engineering MEng requires Maths and Physics and a solid three As in total). The exact entry requirements will vary between unis, but engineering tends to be a competitive course – most of the top unis will want anything from three Bs to A*AA at the likes of Oxford and Cambridge.
What are your study options?
While some universities will offer a generic engineering course, most will offer degrees in specific areas of engineering. You should think carefully about which area most appeals to you before applying to university, as – although there may be some similarities – each individual discipline will have a very different focus.
You’ve got the likes of chemical engineering, which involves the manipulation of raw materials; mechanical engineering, which deals with machines (and how to repair and operate them); civil engineering, which involves the building and maintenance of structures like bridges, roads and buildings; and structural engineering, which is often linked to civil engineering and revolves around the design of large structures.
Due to the nature of engineering you will be taught in lectures as well as a more practical, lab-based setting. The course will usually last for three years (you’ll get a BEng qualification at the end of it), but if you want to become a chartered engineer you’ll need to stay on for a fourth year and get your MEng.
Due to the practical nature of engineering, many courses will also encourage you to take do a sandwich year in between your second and final year; this will involve working for a year in industry, gaining practical experience (which will look great on your CV) and helping to improve your job prospects.
Why study Engineering?
There’s something incredibly satisfying about making something that works. If you’ve got a talent for maths and design and a natural flair for solving problems, then engineering should be right up your street. Imagine actually building a bridge, for instance. Like a proper, working bridge. How cool would that be?
The other good thing about engineering is the career prospects; as we mentioned earlier, engineers have a huge impact on society and its day-to-day running, so they’re always in demand (and the pay is pretty good).
In this video, staff and students from Staffordshire University explain the benefits of studying engineering, and how the invaluable connections you'll meet along the way will enhance both your knowledge and working experience. You can find out more about the engineering courses they offer on the university's website .
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After your degree...
Upon graduation, there are a number of different career options available to you, depending on which area of engineering you’ve chosen to study. Civil engineering graduates might go on to work for big construction companies, for instance, while chemical engineering grads might go to work in research, or for the energy sector.
As mentioned earlier, if you want to become a chartered engineer you’ll need to stay at uni for another year to get your MEng; this will help give your job prospects a further boost, as well as giving you the chance to earn a higher salary.
New Engineering Degrees: Q & A with Professor Simeon Keates
As well as traditional engineering courses like mechanical and civil engineering, unis are introducing more niche courses all the time. We spoke to Professor Simeon Keates from the University of Greenwich about the three new programmes they’re launching...
We hear you’re introducing new engineering programmes – please can you describe these?
We are introducing three wholly new programmes:
- MEng/BEng Hons Design, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (DIE)
The DIE programme focuses on a blend of engineering science, design and business skills. The EIS programme addresses the next generation of smart devices within the context of the Internet of Things. The Industrial Engineering programme is in response to the known shortfall of trained engineers in this area and explores smarter, more efficient methods of planning and optimising output.
Why are you introducing these new courses?
We have re-designed our entire portfolio of engineering programmes to better reflect the changing job market and emerging technology trends. Britain has a great history of economic development driven by engineering innovations – think of the impact of the industrial revolution driven by people like Stephenson, Watt and Brunel. Recent role models include James Dyson, Colin Chapman (Lotus) and Ron Dennis (McLaren). Our aim with these new programmes is to help train and inspire a new generation of engineer wealth-creators – people who understand engineering, design, the latest technologies and also the world of business.
What kind of skills will these courses give students?
We have a strong focus on employability skills, in particular providing students with solid educational foundations to help them adapt, develop and thrive in the workplace. We recognise that engineering and technology will change substantially over the working lifespan of our graduates and so we focus on ensuring that they develop a flexible mindset and approach to work, focusing on developing their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Above all, though, we hope to develop and instil a passion for all aspects of engineering.
What type of modules can students expect to cover in their first year?
All of our engineering degree programmes share a common first year focusing on the fundamental principles of Engineering Science, including design, maths, materials, experimental and professional skills. This approach ensures that all Greenwich engineering students experience a solid foundation of broad technical knowledge. At the end of their first year, students will be invited to choose to either continue on their initial degree programme or to change to any of the other Engineering degree programmes. We feel it is very important that our students are empowered to be able to choose the degree programmes that are most appropriate for their ambitions and goals and we recognise that these may change during their studies with us as they learn more about the different Engineering disciplines.
What careers are these courses likely to lead students into?
There are very few comparable programmes available in Britain. So our students will be almost uniquely placed in areas in the job market where there is strong demand when they graduate. Graduates from these programmes will be able to either start their own companies, work for smaller companies to help them grow or in larger, more established companies to help design and develop more innovative products and systems. It is not widely known, but engineering is the subject most commonly studied by millionaires and S&P 500 CEOs.
Q & A with an Engineering student
Patrick Naish is a final year MEng Software Engineering student at the University of Southampton ...
What are you enjoying the most about your course?
I've most enjoyed the coursework in modules such as Computer Graphics, Compilers, and the Part 3 Project, which challenged me to trial new concepts and technologies.
What key modules did you study in the first year?
I studied Programming Principles, Advanced Programming, Discrete Maths, Formal Methods, Data Structures and Algorithms, Software Engineering, Personal and Professional Development, and System Administration, although they’ve changed since I started my course and are now Design, IT Modelling, Algorithmics, Programming 1 & 2, Computer Systems 1, Data Management, Professional Development, Business Information Systems, System Design, Systems and Platforms, Foundations of Computer Science, and Software Modelling and Design.
What are you hoping to do after you’ve graduated?
After doing two summer internships (along with shorter Christmas and Easter ones) for Micro Focus, I've accepted a job offer from them starting in August of this year.
How has the course helped you achieve your ambitions so far?
I didn't have a lot of confidence in my group work or presentation skills before I came to university, but the focus on some modules – particularly the 4th year Group Design Project – on teamwork and group presentations has really helped me to develop those skills, and made it easier to cope with interview situations for internships when I was looking for one. Additionally, the skills I've gained in other areas, such as a better understanding of data structures and the hardware principles underlying modern systems, have helped me to get a better general appreciation for how to solve problems in a system design project.
