Question about level 7, 8 and 9 qualifications

Dermighty

Hi all.

I'm currently about to finish 2nd year of a 3 year level 7 degree (ordinary) in mechanical engineering in CIT. I find the course brilliant by the way!

I've seen that CIT offer 4 level 8 add ons to this qualification, two of them taking 2 years and 2 of them taking 1 year.

BEng (honours) Mechanical Engineer (2 years)
BEng (honours) Sustainable Engineering (2 years)

BEng (honours Process and Plant Technology (1 year)
BEng (honours) Advanced Manufacturing Technology (1 year)

I've seen that UCC also offer level 8 degrees, I'm currently unaware as my options outside of CIT. I am assuming that you can't progress to a level 9 (ie: masters) from a level 7, is this correct.

My favourite part of the course is the design aspect (ie: autocad and inventor). I find the materials science side of the course slightly tedious, but I accept that may be the way it is lectured rather than how it is in the workplace.

Have many people here done a level 7 course and progressed from there, and if not how did the level 7 work out for them in the workplace?

Thanks!

I can't advise on the course or your particular situation but if in the same situation I'd personally complete the level 8 qualification. Depending on the course, level 7 qualifications can be accepted for a masters (I know people with no Bachelors who are undertaking Masters)! So it is quite flexible both for the right candidate and depending on the demand. But it is easier to gain access to Masters with an honours degree, indeed a lot of courses require you to have a minimum of a second class honours or even a II.1. I'd be of the opinion that if you have a level 8 qualification that it would give you more options than a level 7.

Remember it is also a harder environment to get a job in these days. If you broke it down, and you were an employer looking at two CVs, which do you think would stand out more - the honours degree or the ordinary degree?

mawk

I in fact did the level 7 in cit. And got no interesting jobs. After a few years doing monkey work I went back last year and did the lvl8 in AMT. Following graduation I got hired straight away. And as of this very tuesday, signed a permeant pensionable technical contract.

Ymmv.

Newtown90

I'm currently doing Process Plant Tech in CIT and love it mate.

Did the 3 years in Mets, took a year out and was lucky enough to get a contract at a Pharmaceutical Plant for experience.

Went back to CIT in september then.

Currently in the middle of a crazy spell of interviews for graduate enigneering positions so I'm pretty happy I went back

Dermighty

What are the fundamental differences between AMT and PPT, I'm guessing neither have any design modules (inventor etc) ?

crazy cabbage

Just heard the other day of someone doing a PHD after gratuating from his level 8 qualification. Didn't think this was possible but suppose it makes sence. Not sure about OP's particular case though

Nukem

Did the L7 in CIT mech and finished my L8 in UL where you could go manufacturing or mech and there were two stream in either course.

The L8 Mech solids stream did a lot of solid works which is 3D CAD and I found the next step up from CAD.

On a personal note I think the L8 is your best bet. Having a masters is not the be all and end all. I went back at night and completed my masters but I think my L8 provided me with much of my day to day fundementals for work. The L9 is good to have but don't be in too much of a rush

Newtown90

Dermighty wrote: »

What are the fundamental differences between AMT and PPT, I'm guessing neither have any design modules (inventor etc) ?

Amt focuses on materials

Ppt focuses on the processes involved in a process plant etc ( Self explanatory )

Regarding design modules, there is plenty design but its theoretical design!! Such as pipe sizing, pressure vessel! As for inventor, ya I loved that 3d modelling too and tried my best to get work out of it but its just a module you do really that the lecturers hope you will be able to incorporate into your final year project.

As ye touch on the basics of it there isn't much as such covered unfortunately.

Here's the link for PPT, there's a mini video with Michael explaining the course there too

http://www.cit.ie/course/CREPPTN8

chris85

crazy cabbage wrote: »

Just heard the other day of someone doing a PHD after gratuating from his level 8 qualification. Didn't think this was possible but suppose it makes sence. Not sure about OP's particular case though

Many people go from L8 to L10 getting a PhD. Also a number of people go straight into a PhD and can find a few years into it that its too much work or not working out or for whatever reason they dont complete it and write it up as a masters L9 research masters.

Dermighty

That's PPT out the window for me anyway, having watched that video :P

mawk

There is no cad in amt unless you choose to do it for your project. There is however a design module. It's more to do with design theory, fundamentals and law. More do much tools.

The materials module does usually have a project or two specifying materials for product design principles.

You also cover some instrumentation and automation, maths as usual, quality which is great cv fodder, project management which is tools heavy and practical and a module about maintenance and reliability