Well the term aero degree does need to be elaborated, aeronautical engineering degrees are not that broad, if you studied an aeronautical engineering degree approved by RAes and also the IMech it is recognised essentially as the same way as a mechanical engineering degree (I would like to point at at my university those that failed aeronautical engineering were allowed to transfer to the mechanical engineering degree; hence suggesting the straight mechanical degree was slightly less demanding). Hence as an aeronautical graduate you would expect to be offered a chance to move into flight dynamics, aerodynamics/CFD, Stress/FEA analysis etc.
It is true you can direct your degree towards certain areas by the modules you select.
That makes sense that you wouldn't expect to be accepted for avionics, it is the same as a mechanical engineer applying to work as an Electronic engineering position. Ironically the specialisations that you may end up working with under the banner of "mechanical" engineering (e.g. Stress, CFD etc) you may well have only studied about three modules relevant to the specialisation. It is certainly true most of your knowledge will be acquired while workings.
It is quite common for aeronautical graduates to move into software engineering, what you must remember is a software update for an aircraft system will come out every two years, a major avionics upgrade can be expected every five years, a new airframe about every thirty years, hence you can understand why avionics and system specialist are more in demand than "mechanical" trades.
Last edited by portsharbourflyer; 22nd Jun 2007 at 20:12.