Choosing a Course

Will you end up with a BEng (a three year course, four if you study in Scotland) or an MEng (four years, or five in Scotland)? Many universities run only the MEng. Look too at the system for gaining chartered engineer status which you can acquire two years after your MEng. Alternatively you could go for incorporated engineer status after taking a BSc offered by some universities, but its true to say that chartered engineer status is likely to be better rewarded in your pay packet.

It is important to find out how the course is structured as general engineering degrees can vary hugely. So investigate what areas are available to you in the later years of the degree, as you begin to specialise. Investigate whether the modules available are in the areas you want to be in. Think about what made you opt for engineering in the first place and where you see yourself landing up, and make sure it tallies with what you'll he studying.

Also, check to see what work placement opportunities there are and what the chances are for study abroad. Engineering is a practical subject, so the more you can put your theories into practice in a real situation, the better, not least because it can help you decide what areas of engineering you want to specialise in. The opportunity to study abroad shouldn't be passed up either, both for professional and for personal reasons, plus the chance to become proficient in a foreign language.

We've said this before too - check the research specialisations of the teaching staff and see if they tally with the areas you want to be in. There's no substitute for learning from the leaders in your field.

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