BEng (Hons) in Aero (preferred)/ Mech

[djmarkmclachlan]

Anyone know anything about doing one via long distance? I can't find much/ anything through google. Interested in long distance as I move around too much to commit to one area.

Have previously studied an HNC aero eng, though I know how little this qual is worth vs. a degree.

Any advice/ info much appreciated.

[Genghis the Engineer]

To the best of my knowledge, this degree doesn't exist - the distance learning BEng or MEng in Mechanical or Aeronautical Engineer.

I spent quite a few years on a crusade to try and persuade a respectable university - any university, to make this available. I had numerous meetings with engineering professors up and down the land, and they all gave me a fair listening to.

But, sadly, I failed miserably.


Your best bets are:

- Embry-Riddle in the USA
- Open University's general engineering degree, with some carefully picked modules.
- Do it full time.

One day, when I'm in the right place with enough power I'll have another go at making this happen - in my opinion the engineering community, and in particular the aeronautical community, really need it. But for now, I admit failure.

G

[djmarkmclachlan]

Genghis, thanks for taking the time to reply.

Why are they not offered? I understand engineering degrees require time in labs, but so does physics yet they're a lot more available.

Unfortunately, thanks to my current job (EngTech, Royal Navy) I'm unable to do it full-time, however, will look into Embry-Riddle (have had a quick look just now). Do you know much about Embry-Riddle and what is involved? It's something I haven't came across until now.

Also, as you hinted at: I'd like my degree to be worth the paper it's written on, so I'd like to be able to it at a decent uni so I can look to use it in furthering my career instead of simply pissing money up against the wall. The OU isn't exactly the best when it comes to this, I'm led to believe? General Engineering (I looked at this while trauling through Google) seems like a waste of time and money, or maybe I'm looking at this wrong? I didn't see the modules mind you as I clicked the 'x' before that. Could you possibly give guidance towards what would be worthwhile wrt. the OU and engineering?

It's strange that there's an void - no matter what subject it is from engineering to basket-weaving, it surely makes sense for it to be available to those unable to commit to full-time study...??

I hope you do get somewhere with making this more available - I'm quite sure I'm not the only one to ever have wanted to do this!

[Genghis the Engineer]

Why isn't it offered? The answer from numerous professors is essentially the same - they don't see the benefit for their universities compared to the considerable effort required to create all of the distance learning material.


I'd not personally discount OU's BEng (http://www3.open.ac.uk/courses/bin/p12.dll?Q02B24) and MEng products - whilst they are a bit more general than one might prefer to see, they're real grown-up degrees, which appear to meet ECUK requirements for accreditation as an Incorporated or Chartered Engineer through some institutions, and also have a reasonable amount of internal flexibility for you to direct your studies in the way you want to take your career. In my opinion, most employers will probably treat an BEng or MEng degree as equivalent to that from most other UK Universities and so long as you picked your modules sensibly and don't mind a bit of self-justification, CEng through IMechE or RAeS is almost certainly achievable.

Embry-Riddle is a well regarded American teaching only university which specialises in correspondence courses. In the UK, it's degrees are not all that well known, but reasonably well regarded amongst those who have bothered to look. Its biggest weakness is that it's not a PhD granting institution, which both in the UK and the US makes it "second tier" because its teachers are not active in research - the OU doesn't have this problem, its academics are very active and an OU PhD is a well regarded research qualification.

If you are looking at this to enhance your RN career, then there might be an option for you. I understand that there's a deal between the Navy and Southampton University for prospective officers to do an engineering degree there. The deal seems to be along the lines of agree to serve for a minimum time after graduating, released for 3 years to study, and if you pass you get a full commission, if you don't you've got a lot of explaining to do! If this fits in with your plans I'd recommend having a go - Southampton is a world class university offering good aero, marine and mechanical engineering degrees, there are a lot of Naval students there so you'll fit in, and it's a nice spot to live and work. The best way to find out about this is probably through the Navy itself. (There's also an RNU unit, HMS Blazer, which is Archer class attached to the university.)

G

[Yoth]

Erm,
I may be missing something, but how about this?
BEng(Hons) top-up - Kingston University - Aircraft Engineering (http://www.kingston.ac.uk/aircrafteng/courses/honours.htm)
I did this part time distance learning a few years ago.
All good.

[lovezzin]

^ He said a decent University := :p :E

[jim_lewis1]

I am currently working towards the B.Eng. and M.Eng. with the OU.

Just to clarify, the M.Eng. from the OU is recognised by several institutions as fulfilling the educational requirement for CEng registration. (No assessment will be made of the qualification it is just accepted).

I agree that the OU lacks aeronatical specific qualifications. However, the credits you achieve for modules from other providers should be recognised and transferrable to the OU degree. (Check with both if you intend to do this as transferred credit must be relevant, at the correct level and of enough length).

Therefore you could complete an aeronautical specific component with a different provider, (perhaps full time if you could take say 6 months off and there was a suitable course), and then have the credits from this incorporated into your degree profile from the OU.

You would then be able to benefit from the flexible delivery of the OU for the bulk of your degree but make it more suitable for your needs by linking training from other providers.

If you haven't already, a good place to start is:
OU Engineering Web Site (http://engineering.open.ac.uk/index.htm)