University

[Misc]

Alright.

First off, what's the diffrence between uni & college? I did a year of carpentry at college but really didn't like it so left. Now it's time for me to get up from my ass & do something.

I'm intrested in doing a mechanics course as i would benefit alot from it & hopfully not as boring as carpentry. How do i go about getting on a course, what is better uni of college? Do you have to go through interviews to get in etc etc.

I left school early so didn't pick up any grades but heard you can do access courses?

Any info would be great!

Ta.

[TOM M]

Firstly look on www.ucas.com

Its the universities application process and will give you all the info you need about applying, the various courses at the uni's and the entrance requirements.

Interviews are depending on the situation, some me mates had to have them (more of an informal chat) and others didnt.

The more popular courses will probably have them
____________________
Now owner of a 1200 Bandit

[feef]

University will give you a Higher Education, resulting in a Degree. This makes you very employable in a profession, rather than a trade.

Colleges can't give degrees, but award other qualifications like HND/HNC/City and Guilds, and tend to focus on more practical or vocational "trades" like mechanics, carpentry, electrics and plumbing.

Universities require a higher standard of education to get in, and some require an interview.

You can expect a university degree to take between 3 and 5 years depending on the course (7, or 8 years in some cases, eg Law/Architecture, although they usually include a year or two of on-the-job training/education before the degree is awarded, hence the long time)

A university graduate in a 'profession' such as medicine, engineering,sciences, accounting and some business courses can expect a starting salary after graduation of around 20k, and then go up quickly.

a
____________________
Mudskipper wrote: feef, that is such a beautiful post that it gave me a lady tingle
Windchill calculator - London Bike parking
Blog and stuff - PlentyMoreFish dating

[Misc]

Thanks alot guys, i was just looking at the website & typed in the course i want, don't know if it's the exact one but for example & came up with:

University of Greenwich
Mechanical Engineering Technology
3 year full-time Degree

At University of Greenwich, an 'extended degree' is a four-year degree course, including a foundation year, for students without the necessary qualifications for direct entry to the three-year degree course.

Does that sound about right, what happens after i register on the website, do i do an open day or start the course when they start (Think they are in 2007)

Thanks alot.

[feef]

[peppa pig]

If you have a particular uni in mind-say whichever one is closest to you, just give them a ring, let them know what you interested in doing and what your situation is regarding entry requirements and they'll give you any info you need and they will tell you about open days etc. I would recommend going to an open day cos you can pick loads of info and just get a feel for the place. Good luck, hope all goes well for you.

[Misc]

havn't really thought about it yet, but closest one i could think of is Greenwich, yer i'll give them a call during the week.

Thanks for the info guys, great help.

[carvell]

How good are you at Maths?

If you want to do an Engineering degree, you need to be very up on your maths.

My Uni wouldn't take anyone who got under a B in A-level Maths for any Engineering course. Obviously with a foundation year you could get in with less, but you need to remember that Engineering is based around Maths and if you don't like maths, you won't like engineering.
____________________
Yamaha TDM 850

[Misc]

You're right, i hate maths but i'd be willing do it if that's what it takes to do the course & if i learn a little i suppose. I didn't finish school so i'd need that foundation year.

How many diffrent engineering courses are there then? Do they all envolve mechanics?

Chris.

[carvell]

'Engineering' involves maths, no matter what type of engineering it is, unless it's computer engineering, which isn't really engineering but they felt left out.

You'll find a list of engineering disciplines here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fields_of_engineering
____________________
Yamaha TDM 850

[colin1]

dont even think about doing a degree in mechanical engineering unless you have A level maths

i got an A at GCSE maths, but the A level maths i did, didnt prepare me well enough for my mechanical engineering degree so i just got a pass which wont get you anywhere

my A level maths had a bit of everything including probability and statistics.

for mechanical engineering degree, you really need to have done pure maths, or pure and applied, as otherwise you wont cope with the calculus (hard maths)

if you dont even have GCSE maths, you need a different type of course

mechanical engineering is for guys who design engines

a course for garage mechanics is a course for the guys who fix them and wont have much maths
____________________
colin1 is officially faster than god

[mchaggis]

Mechanical Engineering is pretty much the most broad, non-specialised type of engineering there is. It is anything and everything to do with mechanical things, be they structures, machinery, robots, vehicles, pipelines, take your pick. You need a certain type of analytical mindset and lateral thinking to pick up engineering skills quickly imo.

If you do not have A-Level Maths and Physics, you will not get onto one without taking an Access course/ Foundation Year. If you can do A-level maths, you should be able to do the degree level stuff with enough work and a decent lecturer and tutors.

A solid engineering degree can take you a long way and should provide a good way of getting your foot in the door. I know for instance, that any decent engineer would get snapped up in the engineering department where I work and similarly in a whole host of places in the industry. They want to employ me, but I'm currently involved in actually selling the things they design and also in getting them to design things in the first place.

I've gone from a car design degree to technical sales in the oil industry. It was my first interview, arrived at by accident in the first place (I'd applied for what I thought was a temporary job in the same department and my now Manager saw my engineering CV). Now, so long as I keep my head down and keep focused, the world is my oyster. Working for a rather large multi-national gives you plenty of opportunities, even if you can't command such a premium when it comes to wages.

Get a decent, valuable degree, for which you work hard and it will count for a lot towards you. Do the work, it is worth it. Doing a degree instead of a vocation can be a big mistake in plenty of situations though. I've wanted to be an engineer since the age of about 14, so I've always had a good idea of generally what I was doing, it was just a case of choosing the field to specialise in (at which I had about three attempts).
____________________
I must not be a troll...
Mmmm, Guinness
Discovering the delights of Hammerite and a 3/4" brush.

[benc]

At the moment im doing mechanical engineering at uni and think your will struggle to get in, you may have to go to college first depends on your age and experience. They wouldnt let my friend in with a betec in some sort of engineering.
I struggled to get in with my few A levels and a foundation year in automotive electronics. But from what i heard they were saying if i was over 21 they could let me in as a mature student or something along those lines. There is one hell of a lot of maths in it, nearly the whole course is maths just with different theorys and different things to work out.
Your best bet is to ring them up arrange an interview or something nd blag yourself in, just be prepared for a lot fo work.

[Simple]

As a general rule you pay for uni £3k a year for me and college was free. I needed college to get me to Uni.

Uni leaves me with a degree and hopefully some meaningfull contacts as well as the opertunity to live away from home and find things out for myself ( like why do my flatmates use my cuttlery and not theirs? grr)


Simple
____________________
Insta - FemFeral

[Hooky]

Yes its all very well and good getting bits of paper but no matter how many you get it will NOT get you a job with bits of paper

Get of your ass (you said it) Put your kit on and go and visit EVERY garage > whatever, in you area to see if they have a few hours work available.
Make the tea, sweep the floors, keep your eyes open , watch and take in EVERTHING.

When you finish and apply for your dream job make a nice CV you can put in this>
I have worked in blah for blah hours to gain experience in the workplace.
I have a covering letter from my works manager stating my will to learn and good conduct , time keeping etc etc.

Now then, I (as an employer ! ) will look at this first , the bits of worthless papers attachedwill not get a second glance, you WILL get the job

[Misc]

Thanks guys, i havn't really looked into yet but just came up with Mechanical Engineering on the search. I don't want to design stuff or build robots but i want to do something with all types of engines a simple mechanic. Do i need to go to college for this or do uni's also do mechanics as it's only coming up with Mechanical Engineering.

Info is great guys.

[Kickstart]

Hi

From what you describe it is the college course you need. The Uni course will be aimed at those who want to design things rather than those who want to fix things. Some mechanical engineering courses will have no practical sessions at all.

All the best

Keith
____________________
Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Misc]

Thank you, so they don't do 'normal' Mechanics at Uni then, just the Mechanical Engineering courses. What do i get if i complete the college course then?

I was actually trying to aoid college because of all the chavs & idiots that go, my last course was carpentry & i was stuck with a group of idiots & couldn't concentrate.

Thanks.

[Kickstart]

[Misc]

Like an apprentiship, that would be better i guess. Well i'll wait for an open day & have a look.

Does this just come under Mechanic then?