mechanical engineering

kennett13

I'm currently doing an apprenticeship in plumbing and was wondering after completing the 4 years is it possible to get into a mechanical engineering course?

mawk

yes. and having served your time you may well be allowed some course exemptions.
we had a fitter join in at the second year of the mechanical undergrad, and he didnt have to attend any of our practical classes.

But is there any reason you are thinking of starting a degree straight out of your apprenticeship? do you not want to be a plumber?

Ging Ging

The answer is yes you can study mechanical engineering following on from plumbing. You may or may not get exemptions depending on the course format and content. Each college would assess you based your industry experience, computer skills, any other taining and qualifications you have to determine exemptions. Getting an exemption form certain modules or semesters is not always good either. Personally I'd reccommend taking all the modules available as you would have an equal oppertunity to learn as your fellow students, even small tricks in word processing, excel etc.. can be frustrating if your playing catch up. In year one you will be thought from scratch.

An apprenticeship in plumbing should be enough to gain acess onto most first year engineering courses in ITs, regardless of leaving cert results. Not sure about Universities, they may be stricter about higher level maths. Mechanical engineering is the natural progreession route from plumbing but you shouldn't feel confined to that. Apply for what you want to do. I don't blame you wanting to get away from construction as a career. I'm a plumber currently in third year of electronic/electrical engineering (started from year 1). Mechatronics is a mix of mechanical and electronics/programming offer in some colleges that might interest you.

Whatever you go for try and pick a degree recognised by engineers Ireland.
http://www.engineersireland.ie/services/accredited-courses.aspx
Contact the acess office of colleges/univesities to inquire about accreditation and exemptions. Where are you thinking of going? Keep an eye on application dates. Are you over 23? If yes you can be considered a mature student and get even easier acess to courses.

Outkast_IRE

kennett13 wrote: »

I'm currently doing an apprenticeship in plumbing and was wondering after completing the 4 years is it possible to get into a mechanical engineering course?

Im currently doing a building services engineering degree after completing my apprenticeship.

I had no problems applying etc, and am currently in the middle of my 2nd year. It is a good advantage having a plumbing background especially with regards to studying fluid systems, you tend to have a good idea of how a fluid system would behave just from practical experience.

kennett13

mawk wrote: »

yes. and having served your time you may well be allowed some course exemptions.
we had a fitter join in at the second year of the mechanical undergrad, and he didnt have to attend any of our practical classes.

But is there any reason you are thinking of starting a degree straight out of your apprenticeship? do you not want to be a plumber?

Thanks for the info, No particular reason i just think i'd be happier doing mechanical engineering. I think i'd find it more interesting.

kennett13

Ging Ging wrote: »

The answer is yes you can study mechanical engineering following on from plumbing. You may or may not get exemptions depending on the course format and content. Each college would assess you based your industry experience, computer skills, any other taining and qualifications you have to determine exemptions. Getting an exemption form certain modules or semesters is not always good either. Personally I'd reccommend taking all the modules available as you would have an equal oppertunity to learn as your fellow students, even small tricks in word processing, excel etc.. can be frustrating if your playing catch up. In year one you will be thought from scratch.

An apprenticeship in plumbing should be enough to gain acess onto most first year engineering courses in ITs, regardless of leaving cert results. Not sure about Universities, they may be stricter about higher level maths. Mechanical engineering is the natural progreession route from plumbing but you shouldn't feel confined to that. Apply for what you want to do. I don't blame you wanting to get away from construction as a career. I'm a plumber currently in third year of electronic/electrical engineering (started from year 1). Mechatronics is a mix of mechanical and electronics/programming offer in some colleges that might interest you.

Whatever you go for try and pick a degree recognised by engineers Ireland.
http://www.engineersireland.ie/services/accredited-courses.aspx
Contact the acess office of colleges/univesities to inquire about accreditation and exemptions. Where are you thinking of going? Keep an eye on application dates. Are you over 23? If yes you can be considered a mature student and get even easier acess to courses.

I would like to get somewhere in Dublin. I'm 19 in my 3rd year. Didn't think you could do mechatronics with plumbing. Do you like the course? Where are you studying it?

kennett13

Outkast_IRE wrote: »

Im currently doing a building services engineering degree after completing my apprenticeship.

I had no problems applying etc, and am currently in the middle of my 2nd year. It is a good advantage having a plumbing background especially with regards to studying fluid systems, you tend to have a good idea of how a fluid system would behave just from practical experience.

Did you go into that course straight after your apprenticeship or did you do a couple of years before applying?

Outkast_IRE

kennett13 wrote: »

Did you go into that course straight after your apprenticeship or did you do a couple of years before applying?

It was about 6 months after i got my trade papers. Got the papers in march and the next start date for the course was september. But its worth noting my apprenticship took about 5 and a half years due to the delays waiting for the off the job phases at the time so i had plenty of on site experience before going back.

Its a big change though going back after an apprenticeship, what i will say is unless your naturally good at maths thats where most people fall down.

Ging Ging

kennett13 wrote: »

Thanks for the info, No particular reason i just think i'd be happier doing mechanical engineering. I think i'd find it more interesting.

Thats fair enough. Its important to try and do something that floats your boat as its you'll find it more interesting and so its easier to stick with through any boring times and as Outkast said understanding fluids, flow and pressure would give you an initial advantage over lads (and lassies) without this experience.

kennett13 wrote: »

I would like to get somewhere in Dublin. I'm 19 in my 3rd year. Didn't think you could do mechatronics with plumbing. Do you like the course? Where are you studying it?

I'm not doing mechatronics, I'm doing electronic and electrical eng in Dundalk. A technical trade behind you will be a bonus in many engineering subjects. In my course my plumbing trade wasn't a big advantage until my third year when we started studying some topics to do with renewable enegy systems, some of which I was familiar with from my trade.

I wanted to study in another field and I knew going in that the modules would be non mechanical. If I proceed, I may well drawon my mechanical experience for an honours degree (automation) next year as it will be an entirely seperate course.

There are skills shortages in the mechanical engineering field from what I hear as opposed to civil/structural which is over supplied with graduates and young engineers as a result of the building boom.

A good time to find out more is when you are in phase six. Ask your intructors for advise and if they can put you in contact with someone to show you the mech eng. labs. Ask their advise and if there are students about ask them questions regarding the course too.

Good luck!

kennett13

I did research on mechanical engineering and looked at test papers etc and it looks interesting to me so i'm gonna definitely go for it. Just wondering i've a tattoo on my lower arm, do you think that would affect me on the interviews for the college or getting a job? Thanks.

kennett13

Outkast_IRE wrote: »

It was about 6 months after i got my trade papers. Got the papers in march and the next start date for the course was september. But its worth noting my apprenticship took about 5 and a half years due to the delays waiting for the off the job phases at the time so i had plenty of on site experience before going back.

Its a big change though going back after an apprenticeship, what i will say is unless your naturally good at maths thats where most people fall down.

By the way things are looking i should finish my apprenticeship in the 4 years hopefully. I'm not too bad at maths but i could touch up on it.

irish bloke

kennett13 wrote: »

I did research on mechanical engineering and looked at test papers etc and it looks interesting to me so i'm gonna definitely go for it. Just wondering i've a tattoo on my lower arm, do you think that would affect me on the interviews for the college or getting a job? Thanks.

Wear a long sleeve top...