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

[BerksFlyer]

Thats infact quite amazing, my mock results are pretty much the same for you (emkay) except A* in all three sciences, French and swap the business B for an economics B (i don't do electronics or art).

Ofcourse i'm posting as i'm the same as you. I've always aimed to be a pilot but now i realise that it is achievable if i emulate my mock results in my real GCSEs.

Personally, i've always thought that the best thing to try and do (as myself nor my family are rich) is to try and get sponsored or join the RAF. I'm in the ATC but fighter jets don't really float my boat (even though it would be better flying) so being sponsored would be my prefered way to becoming a pilot. However things rarely go to plan, so i'm not sure.

[scroggs]

Firstly, to all intents and purposes there are almost no sponsorship schemes in the sense that your training is paid for by someone else with no financial risk to yourself. The only exceptions (in the UK) are the military and the Air Atantique Fugly scheme, which trains about 2 people a decade.

For all of the airline-linked self-sponsored schemes (CTC, Oxford etc), the minimum educational requirements are usually 5 CGSEs at Grade C or above, to include English and Maths, and sometimes 2 A-Levels. Occasionally the A-Level requirements include Maths or a science, but very rarely.

Read this thread. Read the sticky thread at the top of the forum. Read the threads about the various mentored schemes (easyJet, Thomsonfly, Monarch, Flybe etc). Go to the websites of the various airlines and schools. In other words, do your own research in as much depth as you can; understand your subject and inform your questions so that they are meaningful and attract useful answers.

Scroggs

[garywoodrow]

I only got 7 GCSE's all C's and 1 B inc maths, english and science. I guess i messed around too much . Im in college now doing AS-Level ICT double and Physics which im predicted two A's and a B. Already got two B's for certain . By the sounds of it, if u got a C in year 8 and then an A for maths, you should not have any problems with school grades. I only got a C in year 10 for maths .

Im starting my flight training shortly and have asked this question many times, mostly the answers i got was that as long as you have at least 5 GCSE's C+ airlines wont mind, it is more about what A-Level grades you get and mostly, how many flying hours and licences you have and your personality. Also your ability to fly an airliner. Im not sure gaining those grades earlier will help, but they could, just not sure myself. Also your going to need alot of motivation when doing your flight training as your most probably going to have to cope with huge debts and being broke for a few years .

Hope this helps and best of luck,

Gary Woodrow

[future captain]

Don't forget if an airline requires you to move to a base away from your parents place, you won't be able to fall back on them.

[garywoodrow]

i think if your only going to get a D for maths, as i was (i "dropped* it, well more like kicked out ) , i would consider dropping it and taking another subject which you will get a better grade in, for example ABB in ICT Double and say Busniess would be better than say, CCD, in maths, physics and Chemistry.

I have chosen to take ICT Double and Physics because im good at them, and this way it will help be get a job in ICT in companies which i am planning on doing to fund my training. To be honest, i know pilots with no GCSE's or A-Levels... as long as you have a decent knowledge of Maths and Physics for the ATPL exams you should be fine, A-Levels will just improve your chances of landing a job. So, study subjects your good at, not what you think airlines want.

Your in a similar situation to me, apart from you have more grades. I will be living with my parents as well and i too wont mind the debt (i say that now but i dont know in a few years lol).

[future captain]

I am concentrating on my GCSEs at the minute, therefore not spending as much time on it as I should be, but once these exams are over with... I'm going to work my a$$ off to get the grades I need for my life.

That's the best way, take each step in its stride.

[Emkay]

Thank you Bergsflyer and Scroggs. I have already tried the ATC but unfortunately it wasn't my cup of tea, I guess I'm not a "hardcore" kind of person. Is university the best way then?

[tornado617]

A different A-level question.

Hello folks!

I am starting my flight training at the start of the new year. However, i was going to start a couple of part-time A-level courses at college this september. I have recently come to the decision to start them either next year or some other time. I thought that Full-time work, part-time college and part-time ATPL study and exams + going abroad for my flight training would be to much of a risk.
Now to the point! is there any stage in modular flight training were A-levels are required? E.g. before you start a CPL you need to have them? Thank you!

Richard

[5150]

Quick answer is No - there are no prerequisite academic requirements for any theoretical CAA exams which you refer to.

That's not to say that they're to your advantage if you do have them tho. . .

[Kerosine]

Maths and Physics

if anything, I would say maths and physics are extremely useful and relevant, but as 5150 says, there are no actual entry requirments.

: D

[Emkay]

Airbus 38

I understand what you are trying to say but I think you have misunderstood me. I guess "not my cup of tea" was an understatement. The three months I stayed in the ATC was a waste of time IMO. It was all filled with field training, endless exercises, deliberate abuse and nothing at all to do with flying. I had originally misunderstood what the ATC was about, and after those knackering three months, I decided to quit, once and for all.

I guess I'm not what you call a loud hardcore teenager, but more civilized and quiet in that respect and I don't think I want to pursue a military career at all. I don't think the ATC is the only chance I have in becoming an airmen or pilot at all and I will try my best to go down a more civilized route and my endless motivation will keep fueling me.

[scroggs]

There is no requirement for maths and/or physics A-level for any stage of training, nor for entry to the vast majority of airlines. Do them if they interest you. Don't (and I really mean do not) do them if they don't interest you. You will be wasting valuable time and effort which could have been spent on something worthwhile.

Scroggs

[Shay]

Just reading out of interest, as a wannabe myself... finishing off A Levels this year, predicted AAAA in Maths, Physics, French and Law. Got 10 GCSE's at A or A*.. I have no idea what other people have got.. And I agree, only do the subjects in which your interest lies. I have a passion for Physics, and maths.. and therefore I am considering doing a MSc before training.. maybe not.. but at the end of the day it is up to the individual. I would not be going to university or I would not have done A Levels if I didn't want to. There is an educational route (believe it or not) suited to nearly everybody.. it just takes time to find yourself and find which suites you.

Good luck with everything

PS- I heard that C1 and C2 this year were rather deadly- you may have done better than you think

[snoopy1107]

Kababman/ Wannabe 69,

Guys you should really listen to what Pie has suggested, its really sound advice, im at University at the moment, joined the UAS and having the best days of my life; drink, woman, bunch of great guys uni and UAS, most of all tons of free flying. Stick in with the exams and good luck with whatever you guys choose to do.

Take it easy

Snoopy

[dream747]

Aviation degrees?

Hi Scroggs and everybody,

So far in the thread I've picked up invaluable pointers and advice for doing a degree in what you really like and not just for the sake of it. And then maybe it could get you a job to fund for your flying training afterwards. But what if flying and aviation related operations are what I'm all only interested in, and it's all about what I want to do in life? Would the aviation degree be worth doing? From your experience, can this degree land you any other reasonably paid jobs in the aviation industry (flight planner, dispatcher.. etc?) in the unfortunate event if the flying plan doesn't work out?

As I know myself I think I'm not mature enough as an individual and academically to go straight out and learn to fly immediately and apply to airlines.. etc. I believe going to University will help me mature to learn how to be independent and aviation's all what I'm really interested in and like but I'm just wondering about the prospects of such a degree? As people have told me this degree is not one to have as a fall back as one basically can do nothing with it as half of the degree credits come from the flying training and the PPL-ATPL groundschool studies.

[roll_over]

I'll be doing a degree in Aeronautical Engineering at , hopefully, one of the better universities in the country. Then onto OAT for training.

What I'd like to know is, do major airlines differentiate between MEngs and BEngs?

I'd prefer a BEng since it is 3 years rather than 4 years and I'm eager to get flying for one of the major airlines.

Ideally I'd like not just to be a pilot, but a pilot with managerial responsibilities, will a degree help me with this i.e specialising in the engineering side of planes , or do I actually need to be a qualified engineer?

[don't_ask_me]

Now, sorry folks, but its all gone a bit confusing and fuzzy lately for me.

For all my life I have wanted to be an airline pilot. I also DID NOT want to go to university. I now have a more open mind and DO want to go to university. I am also exploring possibilities of an air traffic controller or some other aviation career, maybe engineering.

Now that I do want to go to university, I am looking at all the possible degrees and places to study. I want to do something in aviation, because that is what interests me. Almost anything will do, but could anyone suggest an exciting degree that would make any aviation employer sit-up? Maybe what I'm trying to ask is: Is there a well-recognised, all-round degree for aviation? Also, have some universities got a better reputation in the aviation industry than others?

I am currently studying in a 'Post-AS' period in a sixth form after cocking up my AS exams (but that's another subject).

Thanks in advance,
don't_ask

[portsharbourflyer]

Roll over,
Airlines will not care one bit that you have an aeronautical engineering degree, I have first time passes in all exams and flight tests and an aero degree and I am still looking for an airline job three years after quailifying (currently a flying instructor). Five of my course colleague did secure part or full sponsorships but none of these schemes exist anymore.

In which case a BEng is fine as you will be able to commence training more quickly.

Yes I did secure one interview for a SO position with a Middle Eastern airline due to the fact I hold an aero degree, but that is the only airline that has given my degree any consideration.
The only benefit the degree has is giving you a career to fund the training, however in engineering you will only earn sufficient funds by contracting, hence you will need at least five years experience; so I recommend that working in the finance sector is the better option. Otherwise forget the degree and become a Plumber or an Electrician.
As for going to OAT you are better off going modular and using the spare cash to fund a type rating.

There are technical pilot positions in airlines which require a technical background, I would have thought some industrial experience to accompany the degree would be required. At degree level aeronautical engineering is heavily orientated towards applied mathematics. Remember it is essentially mechanical engineering applied to aircraft, so if you wish to study engineering that is fine, the majority of the modules will be generic engineering subjects.

If your interest is aircraft only / flying you will not find aeronautical engineering particulary interesting.

[roll_over]

Is it reall of very little use at all? Can anyone else confirm this?


The problem is I'm sure if I came out of a flight school at age 20, airlines will surely think I'm too young, a degree would make me seem and surely be more mature , if you see what I'm getting at.

Thanks!

[portsharbourflyer]

As said it can provide you with a career to fund the flight training,
but remember the following
1) I didn't have to pay tuition fees, hence I came out of university debt free.
2) Graduate engineers salaries in my opinion are not that fantastic, considering how demanding the degree is compared to other subjects, especially if you have to move away from home and live independently.
3) The salaries were high enough for me to get a credit rating to borrow to fund my training; however it was contract earnings that cleared a reasonble amount of my debt, I was lucky that I was able to contract with minimal experience. On permanent staff salaries I would have struggled.
There are other things you could do to gain experience and improve your maturity and gain the finance to fund the training outside of doing a degree.
A degree is now a very expensive way to gain maturity and experience; do an engineering degree if you want or consider engineering as a career, but it is not something you will enjoy if flying is your only interest.
There is a massive shortage of licensed avionics engineers at the moment, consider trying to get an apprenticeship to become an avionics technician. The pay wont be great while an apprentice, but you will be paid while training rather than acquiring debt aswell as gaining a fall back trade, but it willl put you in a good postion to network. Majority of graduate engineers jobs are in design offices far removed from the "coal face" and not particulary good for networking.