Focus Education
Planning a career in science and engineering?
There has never been a better time to choose a career in science and engineering, says Steve Adams, Head of Science at Shrewsbury School who gives some pointers on how to prepare for one
Engineering
Engineering and manufacturing contribute about £800 billion to the UK economy and yet in February 2010 the Royal Academy of Engineering claimed that the projected supply of new graduate engineers is not even suffi cient to replace those retiring. On current trends, there will be a shortfall of over half a million workers by 2017 in the manufacturing sector alone. Shortages are particularly severe in key areas such as energy, utilities and civil engineering. T is is at a time when we face environmental and technological challenges that need a high level of professional scientifi c and engineering expertise. For the UK to remain at the forefront of cutting-edge research and to continue to contribute meaningfully to solving global problems like those arising from climate change and future energy supply, we will need more science and engineering graduates. Recruitment of high calibre engineers is an essential part of rebalancing and growing the UK economy. Good science and engineering graduates from
the current generation of school students will be increasingly employable and well rewarded. Top graduates can expect rapid promotion and a wide range of opportunities. Seven of the top 10 graduate starting salaries listed in a Times article from May 2010 were engineering related and an engineering career is also relatively secure. T ree years after graduation 94.3% of graduates in engineering and technology were in work. T e good news for the UK is that there has been a shift back toward the more traditional scientifi c A levels with a 5.2% increase in A2 physics students from 2009 to 2010, the fourth consecutive annual increase. UCAS also records a surge in applicants for engineering and technology degrees. However, the UK is also an attractive destination for overseas students, so entry to the best universities and courses is increasingly competitive. Typical entry requirements at top universities range from AAB to A*AA with several well-qualifi ed candidates applying for each place. So to maximise their chance of success applicants need to start preparing early seeking opportunities to learn about engineering and to get relevant work experience. Fortunately, there are many taster courses including T e Headstart Engineering courses and Oxford Materials Science Open Days as well as projects run by the Smallpiece Engineering Trust or CREST awards. Engineering is a demanding academic discipline and maths an essential pre-requisite. T is puts off some students and can be the deciding factor when it comes
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to an interview or entrance test. T e most academic courses welcome double mathematicians. A student who chooses not to take Further Mathematics when it’s available might lose out on a place. Single mathematicians can add extra mechanics modules.
Cambridge Pre-U courses is the key not only
are available in an increasing number of schools giving high achieving students an opportunity to be rewarded at a level above the new A* at A-level (Distinction 1). T ey also remove the pressure of lower sixth AS examinations, thus creating a space in which potential engineers can explore their subject and enhance their CV. At Shrewsbury, where most of our top engineers take Pre-U Physics. Pre-U has a diff erent grading system to A-level but most university admissions tutors will equate D3 (lowest distinction) with A and M1 (highest merit) with B. T e A-level (or Pre-U) diet of mathematics plus physics and chemistry still works well for most engineering courses. Students coming from the broader IB might need to enhance their mathematics (particularly mechanics) and could use their group 4 project and/or extended essay to explore a science or engineering topic in greater detail. Most sixth formers do not have a clear idea of what engineering entails, often thinking more in terms of the grease monkey than the project leader. Engineering is a creative application of mathematical and scientifi c ideas to solve real problems aff ecting our quality of life. Faced with the challenge of climate change, the need to develop a low carbon economy and to supply a growing population with energy, water and food, the role of the scientist and engineer will become increasingly important and increasingly highly valued by society. Now is a good time to specialise in science or engineering.
1 Dentistry 2 Medicine
3 Chemical engineering 4 Economics
5 General engineering 6 Veterinary medicine
9 Civil engineering 10 Mechanical engineering
to fi nding innovative ways to generate electricity to heat our homes and power our cars, but it will also help us to bridge the gap between our present dependence upon fossil fuels and the low carbon future.
Peter Fouquet, President of Bosch in the UK
Top 10 graduate salaries by subject (data supplied by HESA)
£29,805 £28,913 £28,415 £25,726 £25,455 £25,206
7 East and South Asian studies £24,769 8 Building
£24,755 £24,473 £24,446
Summer 2011 FirstEleven 39
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