View Full Version : UNIV DEGREE required???
Av8trxx
4th Apr 2005, 14:53
Can some of you airline guys please enlighten me as to whether a univeristy degree is necessary to get an airline job outside the USA? I have heard it said that it's not necessary to have one in the UK/Europe. In America, you are not marketable without one and I would not have been eligible to even apply had I not gotten a degree.
What are the higher education requirements for your carriers?
Shaft109
4th Apr 2005, 16:30
Most sponsorship schemes i was looking at required 3 A-levels but not graduate status. NATS only requires further education after school to exams.
Basically they are all looking for the Aptitude to be trained. Being a graduate does not mean you have this.
As a graduate i can say it has given me no advantage as yet, and probably won't if i get into NATS but doing 5 years in the Air Cadets and going to the RAF Volunteer Gliding school at weekends has been invaluable.
My advice is practical on the job training or experience is worth far more than just having a degree (unless it is Aerospace engineering or Meteorology or something related). Intelligence and education are not the same thing.
crazypilot
4th Apr 2005, 20:12
Shaft109
Just wondering -- how would I get into an RAF Volunteer Gliding school -- have an aero eng degree and a PPL and work for a large aero engine manufacturer in Derby...?
Would like to join one, remember doing my gliding scholarship at one a few years back when in ATC but would like to be on the other side of the fence now as it were...
Cheers
CP
Zulu Yankee
5th Apr 2005, 08:14
Whilst not necessary, it is regarded as being "favourable" as it indicates you have a greater propensity to develop. It can show you to be a well rounded person also. Plus, always serves as a great contingency!
ZY
luddite
8th Apr 2005, 11:29
I chose aviation over university at 18. For the last many years now I've been slogging away getting a degree with the OU (graduation in two weeks time - yippee) so that I can get out of aviation and get a real job.
So no, not a requirement but a very good idea!
luddite, well done competing your degree! I should be finished my OU degree end of next year.
I started my flying training in the UK when I was 19 and didnt have any post secondary education at the time.
MMEMatty
8th Apr 2005, 20:19
The general feeling i get (correct me if im wrong) is that although there is not formal requirement for a degree for sponsorship / cadetship / whatever, most airlines look for a degree of some sort. It's just another tick in the box, and you can never have too many of those....
Matty
peterpann
8th Apr 2005, 21:42
Some of the guys here have highlighted this already with a degree not a prerequisite for a job as a pilot but.......
have a degree its an other tick in the box (can't do any harm apart from the student loans but guess debt is just one of those things now...esp for pilots)
also my current situation is : 24yrs old graduate in a nice cushy med rep job (got a pay rise today too :D ) have been doing med reping for just over a year now and about to complete pharmaceutical exams........ once these are complete I'm off to jerez with some spends in my back pocket PLUS loan application looks good because if flying go tits up for any reason e.g health. I can always get a job as a medical rep again to pay back loan.
emmathestar
8th Apr 2005, 22:10
so do you have to have a-levels to train as a pilot?! i only have gcse's! and want to do it!:confused:
peterpann
8th Apr 2005, 23:32
Don't need A'levels to train as a pilot just the right aptitude (can do tests to see if you have the right aptitude - GAPAN) and the desire to succeed ........... however A'levels ..... degree .......... life/work experiences can all add as plus factors over other candidates when looking/applying for jobs.
I'm sure that there are people on the forum that have got a job flying and haven't got any a'levels
ppp
scroggs
9th Apr 2005, 21:43
The general feeling i get (correct me if im wrong) is that although there is not formal requirement for a degree for sponsorship / cadetship / whatever, most airlines look for a degree of some sort. It's just another tick in the box, and you can never have too many of those.... Matty
Yep, you're wrong. No airlines in UK require a degree - or even A-levels - and nor do they 'look for a degree of some sort'. If you wish to get a degree, go and do so for your own satisfaction and for a back-up in case aviation doesn't work out. You do not need one for employment as a pilot in UK.
Scroggs
The reason the yanks want a degree is because holding an ATP Licence is no marker of intelligence! Their ATP exam (yes only one), is nothing short of comic book stuff, granted their flight tests are a little more 'involved' on the tech questions side, but nothing too complicated.
The thing about a degree qualified bright young 'un getting into a UK airline is they will soon find out just how dull it all is.... ;)
Av8trxx
16th Apr 2005, 20:57
HA. "Yanks". Do you realize that only the people from New England can truly be called that? People from other parts of the USA would be highly offended, esp native Southerners (Confedrates VS Yankees). That is like calling someone born in Ireland "English", as it's all the same country, right?
Anyways....thanks for the replies.