BA or BSc, and University Choice (Merged)
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I don't think it matters so much, personally. At my university, it was possible to do a MA in Mathematics, since the faculty you joined determined the degree you got.
It would make a interesting discussion to break the ice at an interview!
It would make a interesting discussion to break the ice at an interview!
Well, the University of Salford in the 1960s gave only BSc degrees, even for languages. My degree is either the one or the other depending on where you take it. Keele (I think) considers all its degrees to be scientific as well. Outside the UK/Commonwealth/USA it don't exist. In German the word Wissenschaft is used for all subjects and for intellectual life generally, although it translates into English as "science". Therefore you have German university courses in Theatrical Science and Literary Science as well as Genetic Science. It's merely a matter of form.
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No, UK airlines (or the military) don't give a damn. They don't ask you for a degree in the first place, so they're hardly likely to complain about what degree you choose to do. An MSc in Underwater Basketweaving and Seaweed Preservation is fine, if that's what turns you on.
Neither will it feature greatly at interview, unless your degree is a particular interest of one of the interviewers, other than to establish that some thought went into your choice of university and course. Even if it's just that the place you chose had the best bars and a 10:1 female:male ratio.
We find ourselves repeating over and over again on this forum: your degree subject does not matter either at interview or with relevance to your ATPL exams or your later career as a pilot, with the sole exception of those tiny few who wish to be considered for test flying. For God's sake, just go to university and enjoy it, making the best use of the opportunities afforded you when you're there. The only factors in your choice of degree should be; a) what do you enjoy and; b) will it help you make a living if you don't make it as a pilot - which many of you won't.
Neither will it feature greatly at interview, unless your degree is a particular interest of one of the interviewers, other than to establish that some thought went into your choice of university and course. Even if it's just that the place you chose had the best bars and a 10:1 female:male ratio.
We find ourselves repeating over and over again on this forum: your degree subject does not matter either at interview or with relevance to your ATPL exams or your later career as a pilot, with the sole exception of those tiny few who wish to be considered for test flying. For God's sake, just go to university and enjoy it, making the best use of the opportunities afforded you when you're there. The only factors in your choice of degree should be; a) what do you enjoy and; b) will it help you make a living if you don't make it as a pilot - which many of you won't.
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Engineering is tough. In Arabian countries, an Engineer is refered to by that title, like a Doctor or Professor is over here. But the title 'Engineer' has been devalued by washing machine fixers calling themselves Engineers.
(I jump down anyone's throat if they call themselves an Engineer when they are not.... you'd be pissed of if you called a doctor in the Yellow Pages only to find out that he's got a St. Johns First Aid Certificate).
But I digress!
Engineering is hard work, with lots of lectures and lab time. It is a great degree to have (BEng is much better than BA or BSc
), but if your ambition is to be a pilot (an not be an engineer), don't fall into the trap of thinking that Aeroengineering will help you. In the long run it probably doesn't, because you work your nuts off doing the academics instead of having fun and going flying.
I changed my course in week 7 from Aero Mechanical Systems to Software Engineering because it gave me a slacker timetable, and enabled me to go flying. With Aero, I had just 3 timetable periods (55mins) and Wednesday afternoons off each week. Software gave me two whole afternoons, and a couple of midmorning slots off each week. That was a slack timetable at RMCS Cranfield (they have to keep those Army Officers busy doing something, can't be trusted by themselves)!
One of the other studes on the Squadron spent three days a week at the airfield in his second year (Philosophy, Oxford). When a Reading Stude appologised to the Boss in the ops room for having 3 hours of lectures that week, and having to miss a day at the airfield, the Boss saw my face and suggested that the other guy leave the room quick!
If you choose Engineering, be very sure that you will have the time, energy and motivation to see it through to be an engineer - not just to be a Pilot. If being a pilot doesn't work out, you'll be falling back on your degree (like me).
If the Guildhall course had been available when I was filling in the UCAS form, it would have been my first choice.
This is my penny, my experience. I'll get flamed by others who have done Engineering, succeeded, and thoughorly enjoyed it. Perhaps they have forgotten how many people started their course in the first year, and how many actually stuck with it and passed first time in their third year. Less than 50% did in my year.
(I jump down anyone's throat if they call themselves an Engineer when they are not.... you'd be pissed of if you called a doctor in the Yellow Pages only to find out that he's got a St. Johns First Aid Certificate).
But I digress!
Engineering is hard work, with lots of lectures and lab time. It is a great degree to have (BEng is much better than BA or BSc
), but if your ambition is to be a pilot (an not be an engineer), don't fall into the trap of thinking that Aeroengineering will help you. In the long run it probably doesn't, because you work your nuts off doing the academics instead of having fun and going flying.I changed my course in week 7 from Aero Mechanical Systems to Software Engineering because it gave me a slacker timetable, and enabled me to go flying. With Aero, I had just 3 timetable periods (55mins) and Wednesday afternoons off each week. Software gave me two whole afternoons, and a couple of midmorning slots off each week. That was a slack timetable at RMCS Cranfield (they have to keep those Army Officers busy doing something, can't be trusted by themselves)!
One of the other studes on the Squadron spent three days a week at the airfield in his second year (Philosophy, Oxford). When a Reading Stude appologised to the Boss in the ops room for having 3 hours of lectures that week, and having to miss a day at the airfield, the Boss saw my face and suggested that the other guy leave the room quick!
If you choose Engineering, be very sure that you will have the time, energy and motivation to see it through to be an engineer - not just to be a Pilot. If being a pilot doesn't work out, you'll be falling back on your degree (like me).
If the Guildhall course had been available when I was filling in the UCAS form, it would have been my first choice.
This is my penny, my experience. I'll get flamed by others who have done Engineering, succeeded, and thoughorly enjoyed it. Perhaps they have forgotten how many people started their course in the first year, and how many actually stuck with it and passed first time in their third year. Less than 50% did in my year.
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As has been said before, it really doesn't matter what your degree subject is (or indeed whether you have one at all) as long as you've shown that you're academic enough to pass the ATPLs. Yes, there were some engineering graduates in my intake but equally my colleagues had studied economics, geography & business studies. Just do a subject that you enjoy.
My company asked for either Maths & Physics A levels OR any degree. A degree is a useful fall-back in case your flying plans don't work out but not essential for the job.
It's more important to demonstrate an interest in aviation - which you can do with a UAS or a flying or gliding club. So the amount of time that you'll have left over after lectures might be more important than the subject itself!
Best of luck & enjoy the student life!
P
My company asked for either Maths & Physics A levels OR any degree. A degree is a useful fall-back in case your flying plans don't work out but not essential for the job.
It's more important to demonstrate an interest in aviation - which you can do with a UAS or a flying or gliding club. So the amount of time that you'll have left over after lectures might be more important than the subject itself!
Best of luck & enjoy the student life!
P
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Rahaney,
tried to e-mail u, but something or someone would not allow it! bloody computers.....
anyway, i'm off to bristol, aeronautical engineering in October.
wondered if u could give a quick run down on all the halls at bristol:
churchill,
hiatt baker,
badock,
also
durdham
university hall
cheers, the accomodation prospectus was a little hard to read between the lines of!
tried to e-mail u, but something or someone would not allow it! bloody computers.....
anyway, i'm off to bristol, aeronautical engineering in October.
wondered if u could give a quick run down on all the halls at bristol:
churchill,
hiatt baker,
badock,
also
durdham
university hall
cheers, the accomodation prospectus was a little hard to read between the lines of!
Well said Dusty. The title Engineer is incidentally also legally defined in Italy and Germany, and for the way they treat it might as well be in the USA. It's pretty-much only the UK that has dishwasher repair "engineers".
As somebody who did an Engineering degree, became an engineer, and became a pilot as well, not instead (not through the UAS, I got dropped out of that through an inability to ever make the airfield in between lectures) I think what you say is very true.
I think what people say about doing any degree that you'll enjoy and pass is true for those with no ambition beyond the ATPL. If you want a long and fulfilling career in aviation, then an engineering degree or appropriate science degree is likely to do you far more favours than something that just gives you BA(Hons) after your name and little else of saleable value.
G
As somebody who did an Engineering degree, became an engineer, and became a pilot as well, not instead (not through the UAS, I got dropped out of that through an inability to ever make the airfield in between lectures) I think what you say is very true.
I think what people say about doing any degree that you'll enjoy and pass is true for those with no ambition beyond the ATPL. If you want a long and fulfilling career in aviation, then an engineering degree or appropriate science degree is likely to do you far more favours than something that just gives you BA(Hons) after your name and little else of saleable value.
G
