• Question: What A-levels/ degree should you do to become an engineer?

    Asked by tamsin081299 to Alex, Claire, Kate, Marcus, Neil on 16 Jun 2014. This question was also asked by axewoundchmeller.
    • Photo: Claire Brockett

      Claire Brockett answered on 16 Jun 2014:

      Hi tamsin081299
      Of everything I learnt at school, I would say it’s the mathematics I use most in my daily work, so I would suggest that for A-level. At degree level, it would depend on what you’re interested in – I did medical engineering, but there are all sorts of specialities – mechanical, automotive, nuclear, aerospace, civil, chemical – to name just a few.
      What would interest you most?

    • Photo: Alex Lyness

      Alex Lyness answered on 16 Jun 2014:

      Hey tamsin081299,

      As Claire said mathematics is key. Physics will help too.

      I made sure I went to a few university opens days just as I started sixth form to ask what was required to study engineering. At the time I’d picked Media Studies at A-Level (because I liked it, found it easy and was on for an A!) as well as Chemistry, Design and Business Studies. I was advised to switch from media to maths although it meant 2 years learning maths (rather than making movies!) I’m very glad I did.

      Engineering degrees come in many flavours. It depends how big and what you want to design is. Civil Engineers do big buildings, Systems Engineers and Electrical Engineers work on everything from robots to infrastructure. There are also Chemical, Mechanical and Automotive/Aerospace Engineers too.

      I picked Product Design Engineering as I like to work with things that you can fit in your hand or within your house. I also like being hands on and understand every part of a design, where as an Automative Engineer will work with a really big team and only get to work on or specialise on one small part of a car.

      What do you want to design/build/create?

    • Photo: Marcus Johns

      Marcus Johns answered on 17 Jun 2014:

      As Claire and Alex have mentioned, most universities expect students to have studied maths and physics at A-level in order to do engineering for a degree subject. Generally they prefer you to have another scientific subject for your third option but this is up to you and should be based on what you enjoy!

      The easiest way to get into engineering is to do a specific engineering degree, there’s many to choose from so do a little research into them and find one that you like. You can do other degrees – most people doing a PhD in chemical engineering did a science instead – but if you want to get a job as an engineer it’s usually easier to progress in your career if you’ve done a degree that is recognised by the relevant institute of engineers.

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