Education: What A Levels and Degree (if any)?!(Apr '09)

[R T Jones]

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[eoincarey]

What A Levels and Degree?!

Hi

Im a 6th form student and Im just taking my A levels this year. I was wondering what subjects the airlines prefer to see, especially for sponsorships. I previously thought it made little difference, that they just wanted to see that you are reasonably smart, but having just looked at ThomsonFly's sponsorship site, they have specified Maths and Physics as being essential. This is slightly worrying, as I have taken Maths but not Physics (only did it up to AS level), as I was able to get a better mark in English than I would have in Physics. Should I retake Physics (this would be quite a big deal in my school)? I would appreciate any advice.

Cheers

Eoin

PS Great site, an absolute goldmine for info!

[adwjenk]

Hi

Im in the same boat, yet ive chossen subjects that i can get good grades in.
Id rather have 4 A grades then 4 D/E grades in subjects that the airline wants!!!
Also remeber ur back up, if u dont go into the airlines A levels will be ur grounding!!!!

But i think it shouldant be such a big deal as long as you have them for GCSE

Best of Luck ADWJENK

[eoincarey]

Hey adjwenk

Cheers for the reply. Ive got a fallback option of a history degree, and my physics is still pretty sound. What course do you plan to take to get in to the industry? Best of luck with all the exams!

Eoin

[adwjenk]

Hey

I plan to go to Oxford and Complete the APP course and go thorugh to the BA selection Board. Now tht is actually wishful thinking. But set ur sights high is my theory.
Then form there apply to every airline going, and just be another wanabe in the Industry.

Best ofm luck with ur exams and ur future

ADWJENK

[Boeing737]

i would say physics is useful, i took applied maths and physics which overlap, but i wouldnt say its too necessary.From what i've researched these says, it seems that one needs an ability to learn new things as opposed to have studied the right stuff.You will come up against fundamental physics during the theory part of flying, so if you can learn new things, it shouldnt be too much of a problem.
regards

[arpansingla]

What A Levels and Degree?!

Hi folks, i'm 16 at the moment and in the process of taking GCSE's. I would eventually like to become an airline pilot, and was wondering what A Levels employers at airlines like you to have, and also does a degree (any in particular) help you at all in terms of job prospects? Would appreciate any advise!

[R T Jones]

Hey there, my position is similar to yours. I’m currently doing my AS Levels and am nearing exams for those. For about 5 months now I have been looking at all the different ways people become pilots, what A levels they did and what they did their degree in (if they had one). In regard to what subjects to do, do the ones you like! For sponsorship from CTC for example they are going to look at the grades you got in the subject first. The maths and physics everyone talks about is only up to GCSE standard at grade C so is hardly rocket science! The A Levels I am doing are Maths, Physics, Geography and ICT. After thinking about it I think the choices are the best ones except instead of ICT a language! I enjoy both maths and physics which is why I took them. Beware they are both very demanding subjects! A huge jump from GCSE's. I would defiantly stress, do subjects you are good at or will enjoy doing. As far as a degree goes I am thinking that maybe they are not as important as everyone stressed but I stand to be corrected. I’m taking a gap year when I finish year 13 to travel to America and AUS/NZ, I will reassess university when I get back depending on the state of the industry.

Hope this helps and by all means feel free to pm me with any questions as I feel we are in a similar boat!

[CAT3C AUTOLAND]

Guys,

I have said this a few times before, but you should really use the search function, you will find lots of useful info on your questions.

[scroggs]

Within this thread you will find links to all the information you need. Anything else you'd like to know will probably be revealed by careful use of the search function.

Scroggs

[gareth08]

Hi there,

As far as a degree goes all it shows to a prospective employer/sponser is an apptitude to learn and especially if your degree is practically orientated it shows an apptitude to apply what you learn! This would look good as when you eventually sit down and read all the ATPL exams, it's fine to be academically great at the subjects, but can you apply them to a situation when flying. This is not to say you need a degree, if you actually go out into the world and experience it in certain jobs, it can prove your ability to organize and cope in certain situations, and given that degrees are two a penny these days, worldy experience in the workplace may be in some cases more adventagious.

As far as A-levels and GCSE's go i personally did no A-levels that were based on Maths or Physics and my degree was medically orientated. I then worked as a paramedic for a year and am now on a sponsership scheme. So i wouldn't get too bogged down with what subjects would the airlines want me to have and just do what you enjoy - and you will ultimatley do better in the subjects.

From what i've heard and seen a prospective airline/sponser have a very selective outlook on the 'personality' of a person they want to work for them, and if they have the added ability to learn and apply then all the better.

[sensible2k4]

University Degree?

Hi, I have always wanted to be a pilot, all was going well at uni until I broke my kneecap and missed 8 weeks of uni (I had to return home to recover, surgeons orders). Because of this I failed 2 exams and the summer diet is not looking too good either. I'm in 3rd year studying Aeronautical Engineering, and can't afford to resit a year.

I have 5 Scottish Highers (all above grade C) and an Advanced Higher grade C in Technological Studies.

If I didn't pass this year would I still be able to apply to places such as OATS or CTC Wings eventhough I havent completed my degree? Or would they just refuse me point blank since I failed Uni?

thank you for your time.

[CAT3C AUTOLAND]

If you check the website here it says you need the necessary A Levels or a degree. Therefore, don't worry about it .

I would imagine if you got through to the interview stage, they would be sympathetic to your circumstances.

Good luck.

[sensible2k4]

cheers, I wasn't sure if they would look at the unfinnished degree as a bad thing or not

thanks again!

[ikea]

i dunno about your uni, butat mine (Newcastle) we can apply for extenuating circumstances. I know a girl who has very little wrong with her, who has passed thanks to medical notes, so I think you should just resit the exam, or just try your best with the rest of thew work you have to do. Good luck with whatever u do

[Genghis the Engineer]

I've known several people who had severe health problems whilst at University (one who had stuff far worse than 8 weeks off with a knackered knee). In each case, so long as they showed willing, the universities were absolutely brilliant at helping them through - so go and talk to them. You've got a 2½ month break coming up, you may be able to use that to catch up - basically all is not lost on your degree, and if you've come this far there's no reason to give up.

The other answer is that in the UK a degree is largely irrelevant to getting a CPL/FATPL - don't worry about it.

G

[A38lephant]

I was off uni for 6 weeks with glandular fever and inflamed liver (Doc assured it was not a result of drinking) and got extenuating circumstances. So long as you can prove (ie-a Doc's note) that you were ill/incapacitated for the 8 weeks they should look kindly on it. Manaed to get extensions on all my courseworks

[Malx]

The Pros and Cons of a Degree... cont.

I've got a BA in Music from Leeds Uni and it was worth every second. Being at uni taught me how to work hard (something I never learnt at school) and how to motivate myself - both things I'll need when I start pilot school in the autumn.

It also taught me that although I enjoy music a great deal, I don't love it enough to make a career out of it, and my thinking has gradually shifted towards becoming a pilot. Without my degree I couldn't have conceived of, let alone been accepted on, FTE's course in Jerez, so let no man (or woman) knock the value of university!

Word of warning though - all those in this thread who advise against going to university for the sake of increasing your employability are absolutely correct. There are far too many people wasting time and money at uni, so if you're 17 and you know that you want to fly planes - go straight to pilot school. If you want some life experience, independence and you have another subject that you want to study first, go to uni. Simple!

Malx

[The African Dude]

The basic agreement is that it's not required to have a degree. But I and most others argue that there are many good opportunities to build character which could make you a better airline pilot if you avail yourself of them.

Malx, why don't you think FTE would have let you enrol without your degree?

[Malx]

Sorry Africa, came across wrong - I meant that I wouldn't have been ready to undertake a commitment as big as pilot training without having done my degree first.

Def not the other way round, as the rest of the posts on this thread show!