Degree or no degree?

[yrbsj1]

Hi All,

Please accept my apologies, if this has already been asked, however, I couldn’t find it on the forum. I currently have a PPL and now want to take the leap into the commercial pilot world doing a modular route, however would like to know how necessary it is to have a degree?

Academically I have done quite well, and hold an advanced apprenticeship in electrical engineering however never went down the degree route.

I would like to know how important it is to have a degree when it comes to the aviation industry.

Any thoughts would be welcomed. Thanks

[Jetdriver]

There is a sticky thread above you marked "Read before you post a question" but don't worry few people bother to read them. In any event there is this thread which might be of some help.

[CAT3C AUTOLAND]

yrbsj1,

There is no requirement to have a degree to become a pilot.

As I am sure you are aware it is very competitive industry when it comes to getting your first job, therefore, and this is only my opinion having a good solid education will give you something to fall back on. It looks like your apprenticeship will do that for you.

A degree is a big committment, so have a good hard think about it.

[tomas.v]

You can see that some airlines really prefer graduates who hold at least a bachelor degree. So when you go modular I recommend to finish your bachelor degree. As CAT3C AUTOLAND said, the industry is very competitive and imagine how many pilots with Bc will try to get the same job. A college increases your chance to be hired. keep that in mind

[pitot_noob]

If it helps, I have just got myself a job after finishing training in June and I don't have a degree.

As others say, your apprenticeship will give you something to fall back on too!

[Jerry Lee]

It is a requirements in the USA with most of major airlines, but here in Europe it isn't, at least non yet.
It may help you for a back up.

[newguy24]

hi,

Hi,

I am in the same boat, I am just doing my ppl at blackpool with the dream of being a pilot.

I have been told by everyone its all about your atpl rather than what happened in the past . I have decided to jump in and have a go.........................hope i dont regret in 2 years .

Where are you training ?

Martin

[lander66]

You don't need a degree and to be honest, if there isn't a course out there which really takes your interest, don't do it. If there is, then great! But bear in mind the debt it will give you and the fact that you already have an apprenticeship qualification means you already have something to fall back on.

There are far too many people who just finish Sixth Form and jump straight into a degree without thinking about what they really want to do. That's fine if you don't want to be a pilot because that is the final fee you will have to pay towards your career (in most cases). If you want to be a pilot, consider the cost of a degree on top of the cost of your training...it's quite a pile.

[paco]

A degree is not really required unless your future plans include management, but there are plenty you can do later in life, once you have a job.

The real use of a degree for a pilot is dealing with customers who wash their hands after speaking to you if you haven't got one (particularly in N America). It gives you a little bit of extra authority!

Phil

[lander66]

The real use of a degree for a pilot is dealing with customers who wash their hands after speaking to you if you haven't got one (particularly in N America). It gives you a little bit of extra authority!

I would give more authority to people with 3 years extra flight experience as opposed to somebody with a degree which is no real benefit to their pilot's career. Escpecially if that degree is completely irrelevant, which most people's are.

[paco]

You obviously haven't flown in N America.

Phil

[lander66]

Yeah that's true.

[paco]

The sad thing is that customers, particularly those from the oil patch (geologists mainly) neither know nor care about flying hours and pilot stuff.

What you or I would accept from another pilot means nowt.

Phil

[barker987]

i am in year 11 at school (learning to fly) and not sure whether to do a degree, the only thing that worries me is if i do my training straight from sixth form (modular) i will be too young by the time i am trained

[fcom]

Taking a degree these days is nothing like it was in the 80's.Being a graduate then actually meant something and was a great achievment, unfortuanatly everyman and his dog seem to go on to university with a handful of third rate qualifications and expect a job at the end of it.It's the students I feel sorry for as it's not their fault the education system is in meltdown by giving A grades for 11 plus style exams. The exeptionally bright kids cannot shine anymore and employees are tired of interviewing graduates who are not up to the mark. It's generally considered that going to university is a complete waste of time and money and a government scam to keep school leavers off the dole queue. Stick your money in your flight training and at least you'll have a licence.

[FlexGate]

And potentially lose your or your parents house?! Yeah it is true that degrees are not what they once used to be, but to say go for flight training especially in today's environment ahead of going to university is ridiculous. At least once you graduate from university, you do not have to pay back the student loan until you start earning above a certain threshold which is certainly not the case with flight training!

[tocamak]

It's generally considered that going to university is a complete waste of time and money

Rather a sweeping statement I would say. I can see where you are coming from however but the problem is you wrap every university course up in one sentence. I would think it is still the case that if you go to one of the "proper" universities (and employers know what that means) and come out with a good degree in a subject that is of some value both academically and of use then a university education still is worthwhile. My son does want to fly, ideally for the military, and so far I have encouraged him to go down the A-level route then hopefully university to study science, mechanical engineering or something along those lines. Media studies may have its use but has become a by word for waste of time!