Level 7 or 8, B.Sc or B.Eng., job market - help please

Maga

Dear all,

I have a query regarding completing your education and options for career paths as an Engineer. I would really appreciate your help and guidance.

My friend is finishing his 3rd year on Energy & Environmental Engineering (ITT). If he completes 3 years, he gets a B.Eng. Level 7, and if he completes 4 years, he gets a B.Sc. Level 8 (“associated engineer”).

Now my questions would be:

1) Would in any shape or form having a B.Sc. instead of a B.Eng. be a problem for him when looking for jobs? Rumours said employers may see the B.Sc. as “not an engineer, cos it’s a Bachelor in *Science*, and this could also be a problem for later on applying to be a chartered engineer?

2) Would employers prefer a 4 years B.Sc. over a 3 years B.Eng?

3) How much bearing does his GPA would have in the job market if he is not going into the academic positions?

Basically what we are trying to figure out is whether he should stay for the 4 years (he has the funding for it) and what are the real advantages of doing so regarding the job market.

Thank you very much.

Kind regards

franglan

Go for the 8= hons., It's a higher level.

Gumbo

I have the BEng in civil/structural. If I could, I would do the B.Sc but it can't be done part time in this country at present.

I've been lucky enough career wise and the path I've chosen, the level 7 has been more than enough but the level 8 would open further doors in the future.

YbFocus

I have a level 7 Mech Eng, graduated last year..

It took a while but I'm now in a job that I always wanted and am happy that I can move forward at a pace that's not hindered by a lack of a level 8.

1. No it will not be a problem and will be seen to be a higher degree.

2. Depends on the job, I found that there was very little I couldn't apply for that a level 8 could. But definitely there were a few jobs that they wouldn't accept a level 7.

On a side note, didn't know you were an Engineer KC

Gumbo

YbFocus wrote: »

On a side note, didn't know you were an Engineer KC

It's not something that comes up in conversation all the time
I left the private consulting engineerng practice I worked with in 2009 and currently working in the area of Building Control in Dublin City.

I think not having the level 8 may restrict me in going of some of the senior positions, but I'll know shortly if the level 7 covers me or not as I applied for one on Publicjobs.

YbFocus

I think that after a few years its your exp that counts, that's what I've been told anyway. Of course I am only at the beginning, having landed my first eng job (In Preventative Maintenance management) I'm a bit off from finding out

Dermighty

YbFocus wrote: »

I have a level 7 Mech Eng, graduated last year..

It took a while but I'm now in a job that I always wanted and am happy that I can move forward at a pace that's not hindered by a lack of a level 8.

1. No it will not be a problem and will be seen to be a higher degree.

2. Depends on the job, I found that there was very little I couldn't apply for that a level 8 could. But definitely there were a few jobs that they wouldn't accept a level 7.

On a side note, didn't know you were an Engineer KC

If you're saying that a level 7 degree will be seen as a level 8 then that's completely untrue.

You can get a job with a level 7 no problem and it's a good qualification (I have a BEng in Mechanical) but when you want promotions 5 years down the line the level 8 is a huge factor.

YbFocus

Dermighty wrote: »

If you're saying that a level 7 degree will be seen as a level 8 then that's completely untrue.

You can get a job with a level 7 no problem and it's a good qualification (I have a BEng in Mechanical) but when you want promotions 5 years down the line the level 8 is a huge factor.

That's what I meant, he can get a job no problem. But he may not progress very far afterwards.

But the jobs are available.

Dermighty

YbFocus wrote: »

That's what I meant, he can get a job no problem. But he may not progress very far afterwards.

But the jobs are available.

Thanks for clarifying.





I'm currently at a point where I need to decide between a 1 year BSc add on or a 2 year BEng add on (both level 8).

The 1 year add ons are in Process Plant Technology or Advanced Manufacturing Technology.

The 2 year add on is in Mechanical Engineering or Sustainable Energy (no interest in sustainable).

The 2 year has a work experience component which would break up the two years nicely.

I got a 2H1 in the level 7 BEng Mechanical, For me the biggest hurdle is deciding whether or not I'd be able academically. I'm intelligent and I pick things up fairly quickly but I am not a model student.

These courses are all in CIT in Cork. Is there much of an advantage in getting a level 8 Mechanical over a Level 8 AMT (BSc)?

///3power

reassuring info, thanks

mawk

I did the one year amt add on in 2011 and have been working and promoted a few times ever since. It worked great for me. It's a good course if you are interested in working in manufacturing. It's not much good if you want to be in mechanical design or construction.