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Engineering is ideal for creative people who want design, build, work in a team and generally change the world.
We chatted to Professor Roger Crouch, Dean of the School of Mathematics, Computer Science & Engineering at City University, and Jovana Veletic, a PhD student who’s studying Civil Engineering at City University to explain everything you should know about engineering in a single minute.
60 Second Subject Guide: An Academic's Perspective
60 Second Guide: A Student's Perspective
Content:
- What is Engineering?
- What Will You Learn?
- How Will You Learn?
- What Is It Like?
- Would It Suit You?
- Can You Combine It with Another Course?
- How Long Does It Last?
- What Sort of Person Does It Suit?
- What Qualifications Do You Need?
- How Can You Pay for It?
- What Are Your Career Prospects?
- What Universities Do It Best?
- What Do Other Students Think of it?
- Why Should You Study Engineering?
- Find an Engineering Course
Engineering is all about designing and building something. Depending on your specialism you could end up designing buildings for people to live or work in, improving mobile phone technology or even building robots, the world is your oyster.
Professor Crouch says, "Engineering is the most extraordinary discipline, it's a highly creative subject where design is the focus and it draws on science, in particular physics and mathematics to enable engineers to construct, build and create wonderful pieces of technology that transform our lives."
The specifics of what you learn will differ depending on the type of engineering you want to study. There are five main engineering disciplines which are:
In each of these disciplines you will learn how to design and build something within your specialism, as well as understanding what materials to use so it’s long lasting, functional and safe.
Regardless of which specialism you choose, you’ll always start learning the basic fundamentals of the discipline as well as the Maths and science that underpins it all.
Right from the start you’ll be encouraged to unleash your creative side by making things, working with other students to solve problems, improving designs and learning what it means to "optimise, to tinker, to play with and to come up with a unique solution", according to Professor Crouch.
And right from the start it’s worth paying attention in class, as Professor Crouch explains:
"It’s really important to make sure the core material is understood extremely well because if you haven’t got that confidence through an understanding of the principles that underpin everything then it’s difficult to see how it’s used."
Engineering is a very practical, hands-on course, and while you’ll have the usual lectures and seminars with tutors, you’ll also spend a lot of your time in laboratories. This could involve designing, building or even just learning how to use the latest equipment. Expect some of your assignments to be practical based to show you can use the knowledge you learnt in lectures into a real working scenario as practical learning is a key element in this particular degree.
This is a very practical degree where you’ll constantly be learning about the latest technology and working with other students to work on projects, build things and solve specific problems.
Although it is a lot of hard work too. Jovana Veletic is studying a PhD in Civil Engineering at City University, and she told us she’s often in university by 8am to plan her day and read what’s happening in the industry. She will also meet with her supervisor, attend lectures and do laboratory work, so there’s a lot to fit in but she says it’s all worth it to accomplish her goals.
Can You Combine It with Another Course?
You can study two different engineering specialisms together, so for example Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering and Construction or Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering.
Although not all universities will do joint honours with engineering, or offer these specific subjects, so it’s worth doing your research first.
Engineering degrees tend to last three years, although some can last four.
Contact the specific university you’re interested in to clarify how long their engineering degrees are.
What Sort of Person Does It Suit?
If you’re a creative person that loves using your imagination to solve problems, you’re going to love studying engineering as that’s the main focus of it.
Love all things numbers? Actually look forward to your double Maths lesson? Then you’re going to be incredibly well suited to engineering too.
If you’re a people person that loves group projects, you’re also going to love engineering as a lot of your learning is team-based because it’s a huge part of the industry as no form of engineering is a one-person job.
We feel Profession Crouch sums it well when he says:
“The kind of person who would be suited to engineering is someone who has a deep appreciation and excitement about science, who recognises the beauty of mathematics, but above all, wants to create something, wants to design something and wants to see it built. And finally, someone who enjoys working in teams, because it’s very much a team based discipline.”
What Qualifications Do You Need?
Ideally most universities will look for an A Level (or equivalent) in a science subject and a Maths subject, or something similar. They will also expect you to have an English and Maths GCSE at grade C or above.
University entry requirements will differ depending on the specific course and university you choose, so make sure you double check before you apply.
Depending on which university you attend you may be able to get scholarships or bursaries to help cover costs from everything to tuition fees and accommodation to books and general student living. Some of them will assess you based on income, while others will assess you based on your academic abilities.
It’s worth contacting the university you want to go to and asking if they have anything like this and how to apply. Plus of course you can apply for a student loan.
What Are Your Career Prospects?
The more experience you get in engineering, the more responsibilities you’ll get, you’ll work in bigger teams and it’s very easy to progress within it. Especially as there is high demand in this industry and not enough people to fill the roles.
Professor Crouch adds, "All this makes you highly sought after, not just in the early part of your career but throughout your working life."
Engineers are needed across the globe, giving you the opportunity to work abroad too. Jovana says:
"You can work overseas, you can work for companies that are doing large scale international projects, you can travel or you can do your job here. You can experience different cultures, different countries and really enjoy your profession and make a full impact."
According to the Complete University Guide rankings, the following universities are the best for general engineering degrees:
What Do Other Students Think of it?
So what do engineering students of their course? Here’s a few quotes from engineering students who left a review on our site:
"Electronics design is based on programming... It requires you to write codes, reports and to do interviews."
"A chance to mix with other people in the same industry and discover alternative solutions."
"Proved invaluable for the years immediately…I got a job in design engineering. Without this course, I would not have been given that opportunity."
"The course does have some practical modules which allow creativity and imagination."
"Engineering provides many opportunities in a diverse range of industries"
"Difficult, but rewarding and full of opportunity."
Why Should You Study Engineering?
Engineering gives you the opportunity to make a mark on the world and perhaps even change people’s lives, or at least make them a little bit easier.
And Jovana gives a very convincing final argument:
"I think it’s an extraordinary profession and it can be quite rewarding. It gives me the opportunity to change lives, to change the world, to leave a trace, to say this is my work, this is what I’ve done and it’s going to stand there for years and people can enjoy it and make use of it and appreciate it.
"If you want to be a key player, if you want to make a change and have a rewarding career then engineering is for you. You will be given a chance to impact this world and to leave a trace, to show your creativity and show people what you’re made of," she says.
NEXT STEP: Find an Engineering Course
