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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

A-Level choice for engineering

53 replies

Bickleymumma · 25/01/2022 19:21

My DS is choosing his a-levels and was set on Maths, Physics and DT as as well an EPQ instead of further maths as all school careers advice has pointed him to engineering. He’s a good all rounder predicted all 8/9s but is now worried he enjoys Geography/History more than physics. Would he be scuppering his engineering plans if he he replaced physics with a humanity or should he not even consider engineering if he doesn’t love physics. He doesn’t have any ideas about career other than engineering. Any advice gratefully received.Thanks

OP posts:
hedgehogger1 · 25/01/2022 19:22

He will need physics if he wants to do engineering. If he doesn't like physics he won't like engineering

StillRowing · 25/01/2022 19:24

My sister is in her first year of design engineering. She did Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry. I think physics was essential for her offers along with maths.

CraftyGin · 25/01/2022 19:25

He has to do Physics and Maths.

ErrolTheDragon · 25/01/2022 19:26

Yup, this ^. Physics does get more interesting the further you get into it.

theemperorhasnoclothes · 25/01/2022 19:27

I think lots of Unis have both physics and maths as a required subject for Engineering. Further maths would also be good for engineering.

myhousebuild · 25/01/2022 19:28

What engineering does he want to do? It's such a wide field!
Which university?
Some have it as an entry requirement and some don't...
My dh is an engineer and he didn't even di a levels he did a Btec and then a HND and then transferred into the second year of a degree course.

He says that physics as a subject is very different to engineering...

titchy · 25/01/2022 19:28

If he doesn't enjoy physics is he really going to enjoy engineering?

SoManyQuestionsHere · 25/01/2022 19:34

Physics and maths are definitely the obvious choice and may be a pre-requisite depending on where he intends to study.

Personally, I also did biology and philosophy. Odd combination, you might say, but I have found the structured way of thinking that it taught be very helpful both during my engineering studies and in my professional career (I veered off the technical path eventually and am now a corporate executive). Can recommend.

PattyPan · 25/01/2022 19:35

Does he have any particular types of engineering in mind? He can check course entry requirements on university websites. Many pure engineering degrees or mechanical engineering would require physics. Chemical engineering would also likely require chemistry. For civil engineering he might get away with maths + any other science.

FayCarew · 25/01/2022 19:36

One of my DNs did engineering without any Maths and found uni tough. I'd do the 2 Maths and Physics.

DN didn't do outstandingly well but got a well-paid engineering job after graduation, but regretted not doing Maths A-level.

SoLongDarla · 25/01/2022 19:37

Is he thinking maybe chemical engineering? Physics would be listed as a preferred subject in some cases, but alongside others such as chemistry and design and technology. With maths being the main requirement. Obviously some universities differ.

I reckon most Engineering courses will definitely require maths, but list physics as an option. He could definitely find some courses without having it as an a level, but it just might lower his options. Given he's just thinking engineering, and not a specific field within, he may be best keeping his options as open as possible.

NothingIsWrong · 25/01/2022 19:38

I did Maths, Physics and German. Went on to Civil Engineering

I think you'd really struggle without the Physics, sorry,

PatriciaHolm · 25/01/2022 19:40

DS is doing this exact thing too, for auto engineering, and his choices are Maths, Physics, History + EPQ; he's also predicted a range of 8/9s, loves history, and TBH the most important thing I think is a third he will do super well at alongside the musts of Maths and Physics with the help of a relevant EPQ (he's aiming for Cambridge). There is a potential to swap History for Chemistry I think - he's staying at the same school for A levels so the subjects are a bit flexible atm.

Physics is a must though!

3teens2cats · 25/01/2022 19:40

Ds is currently at uni doing engineering. He did maths, physics and philosophy a levels. So far the work he is doing has directly built on maths and physics A level. Computing is also a big part of his course.

2DemisSVP · 25/01/2022 19:41

NMITE doesn’t require physics or maths for engineering. Don’t know about quality of course.

Tell him to ask school for their copy of Heap. Then he can look at all the different engineering courses and see what is required by each type of engineering and the specific entry requirements for each uni.

Use UCAS to look at engineering in more detail. Also things like geo engineering, environmental science etc.

Does school have a careers advisor he can talk to ?

Original poster
Bickleymumma · 25/01/2022 19:43

Thanks for your replies. He doesn’t really know what area of engineering he wants to do but has been told that’s what he’s most suited to (albeit by a computer programme). He likes physics but doesn’t love it but if the A-level is more interesting than GCSE then maybe he’ll be fine and he prefers it to chemistry. Maths is his strongest and he enjoys DT so maybe he could use his EPQ to get his humanity fix. It’s so hard making these decisions now that could affect the rest of your life.

OP posts:
turnaroundtime · 25/01/2022 19:44

@FayCarew

One of my DNs did engineering without any Maths and found uni tough. I'd do the 2 Maths and Physics.

DN didn't do outstandingly well but got a well-paid engineering job after graduation, but regretted not doing Maths A-level.

How did he even get onto an engine degree course without maths?
2DemisSVP · 25/01/2022 19:44

Great website for potential engineers …. i-want-to-study-engineering.org/choosesubjects/

2DemisSVP · 25/01/2022 19:46

Can he go out and get some work experience this summer post GCSEs? Might give him confidence in his choices.

GrandmasCat · 25/01/2022 19:51

Yes he will, he needs physics and maths for electronics. What is the attraction of doing a humanity? If he is not sure whether he wants to study a humanity subject at uni he can take 4 a levels and drop one when at the end of year 12.

handmademitlove · 25/01/2022 20:17

It depends what he likes about history / geography. There is some overlap between geography / engineering in some fields. I would suggest he has a look at some of the engineering info. Maths/ geography / physics would be a good combination. History is different and would not feed into engineering but could give a change in terms of studies. Try www.tomorrowsengineers.org.uk/

Mumoftwoinprimary · 25/01/2022 20:25

Some places are happy (or at least accepting) about no physics if you do further maths. Why is he preferring the EPQ to F.M?

gogohm · 25/01/2022 20:28

Dd did maths physics electronics and geography

ErrolTheDragon · 25/01/2022 21:52

@PatriciaHolm

DS is doing this exact thing too, for auto engineering, and his choices are Maths, Physics, History + EPQ; he's also predicted a range of 8/9s, loves history, and TBH the most important thing I think is a third he will do super well at alongside the musts of Maths and Physics with the help of a relevant EPQ (he's aiming for Cambridge). There is a potential to swap History for Chemistry I think - he's staying at the same school for A levels so the subjects are a bit flexible atm.

Physics is a must though!

That combination sounds fine for many engineering degrees but although FM isn't listed as a requirement for Cambridge, he's pretty unlikely to get a place without it if his school offers it.
ErrolTheDragon · 25/01/2022 22:14

Back to the OPs DS - maths, physics and geography would be a good combo for engineering (especially some types) but would keep other options open including of course geography itself. And with those perhaps he could do an 'artefact' EPQ instead of the DT.