Doing a second degree in Engineering

Mully_2011

I finished up my degree this year in Environmental Science and I'm thinking of doing a BEng in Environmental Engineering next year as the job market is slow at the minute. I have the option of doing the level 8 but I feel the level 8 is too similar to my level 7 in terms of the modules I'd be taking and I just don't think its value for money.

Is it worth my while to start a new degree next year.

Dermighty

What about a masters or a phd?

Taking on another degree doesn't really make sense if you already have one.

airneal

Go do a masters, forget the degree. Masters are as common now as a degree was 10 years ago. Times are moving on.

Mully_2011 wrote: »

I finished up my degree this year in Environmental Science and I'm thinking of doing a BEng in Environmental Engineering next year as the job market is slow at the minute. I have the option of doing the level 8 but I feel the level 8 is too similar to my level 7 in terms of the modules I'd be taking and I just don't think its value for money.

Is it worth my while to start a new degree next year.

mawk

The lvl8 might teach you an awful lot more than you expect even with similar module titles. Remember that you are training to be a useful employee not just to fill a CV.

I personally know a lot more employed engineers than scientists though, and think engineering is an excellent field.

Ask your head of dept what the course is like at lvl8 and where the grads ended up last year

Dermighty

Also if you're going to the trouble of doing a degree in engineering I wouldn't pick something too specific. From experience I know that a mechanical engineer is just as qualified for a job suited to a sustainable energy engineer but the opposite is not true.

Why not mechanical or multidisciplinary engineering?

mawk

Dermighty wrote: »

Also if you're going to the trouble of doing a degree in engineering I wouldn't pick something too specific. From experience I know that a mechanical engineer is just as qualified for a job suited to a sustainable energy engineer but the opposite is not true.

Why not mechanical or multidisciplinary engineering?

I would imagine that jumping in to the last year of mechanical wouldn't be very feasible. There is a lot of thermofluids, cad, design principles and mechanics of machines and materials that could not be crammed for.. its a broad degree yes, but far from one you can spoof.
Regardless of OPs intelligence, I doubt he could realistically walk into final year of mechanical, electrical, civil or really any of the standalone engineering field. Environmental could be possible yes, but not something totally new

Mully_2011

mawk wrote: »

The lvl8 might teach you an awful lot more than you expect even with similar module titles. Remember that you are training to be a useful employee not just to fill a CV.

I personally know a lot more employed engineers than scientists though, and think engineering is an excellent field.

Ask your head of dept what the course is like at lvl8 and where the grads ended up last year

From word of mouth alot of them are in the same place I'm at now to put it quite simply its a numbers game too many graduates too few positions .But surely doing a masters with no work experience is filling a CV aswell??

mawk

In engineering it usually is. Unless you have a very specific interest in something worth studying, I'd be a lot more likely to hire someone with 2 years industry experience than a masters and no work history.

But in a lot of science jobs you won't get an interview without a level 9 or 10.

Do any of the lvl 8s you are looking at have a work experience component?

Mully_2011

Most level 8 courses have work experience after third year.

I have a place next year in 4th year which I deferred from this year and If I did go back I would do the full hog and do a masters/phd, while I did enjoy my course I fancy a change and would love to do engineering providing I could tie it into my first degree and could gain employment with it.I'm still young at the end of the day.

bren2001

Mully_2011 wrote: »

Most level 8 courses have work experience after third year.

I have a place next year in 4th year which I deferred from this year and If I did go back I would do the full hog and do a masters/phd, while I did enjoy my course I fancy a change and would love to do engineering providing I could tie it into my first degree and could gain employment with it.I'm still young at the end of the day.

You will be doing this job for the next 45+ years (assuming they don't bump retirement past 70...). 4 more years is not much in the grand scheme of things. If doing the engineering degree will get you the job you want and lets you be happy then go for it (assuming you have the money to fund yourself).

I wouldn't worry about the job prospects if you chose to do the degree, there are jobs there now. I just finished my degree and had a few job offers (without applying) after a 6 month work placement I completed at the end of my third year. Decided none of them were for me and just started a PhD. The jobs are there if you work hard and get a good degree.

Mully_2011

bren2001 wrote: »

You will be doing this job for the next 45+ years (assuming they don't bump retirement past 70...). 4 more years is not much in the grand scheme of things. If doing the engineering degree will get you the job you want and lets you be happy then go for it (assuming you have the money to fund yourself).

I wouldn't worry about the job prospects if you chose to do the degree, there are jobs there now. I just finished my degree and had a few job offers (without applying) after a 6 month work placement I completed at the end of my third year. Decided none of them were for me and just started a PhD. The jobs are there if you work hard and get a good degree.

Getting offers straight out of college that's not bad going these days and best of luck with the phd.

I'd say more then likely I would do it the logical way finish the level 8 next year and do the masters (As it turns out I can do quite a few masters in engineering with the level 8 science degree).

That being said I wouldn't mind doing the extra two years doing a honours engineering degree if it was more worthwhile to go down that route and do it that way I can't see why it would be but the world works in mysterious ways .

budhabob

Mully_2011 wrote: »

I finished up my degree this year in Environmental Science and I'm thinking of doing a BEng in Environmental Engineering next year as the job market is slow at the minute. I have the option of doing the level 8 but I feel the level 8 is too similar to my level 7 in terms of the modules I'd be taking and I just don't think its value for money.

Is it worth my while to start a new degree next year.

When you say do the BEng level 8, are you talking about the final year / 2 years, or a full 4years. If it is the later then I dont see the point, however if it is a year or two to get the honours degree then I would think that is the right option. Others have suggested a masters, however you need a level 8 to enter into a masters.

kirving

From experience (Mechanical), the level 8 course is a big step up in terms of detail and difficulty compared to a level 7. It takes an extra two years, yes, but most people who I finished with this year, and applied for jobs have ended up with very good offers. Plenty of jobs out there for those who put a bit of effort into their application and come across well in interview.