If he likes mechanics in maths....

[Sallyingon]

Hi everyone, my DS is just in his last alevel exam and I suppose like everyone else we are getting twitchy!. He has a quite high conditional offer in place to study maths. I am starting to think about what happens if it comes to a clearing situation and I was thinking about the fact that he really enjoys the mechanics side of maths. Can anyone think of other courses that could be up his street with this interest? (That might be easier to get into!) Many thanks in advance.

Engineering is the obvious answer.

I'm not sure mechanical engineering is any easier to get into than maths...but there will be variations between unis/courses. Probably worth looking at the grade requirements at various places now so he's got some ideas - surely there are places he can do maths with lower grades?

As per the previous poster Engineering or Physics maybe. My son is in the middle of a maths degree and my daughter did a mechanical engineering degree which contained a lot of maths.

Hiya thanks for quick answers, we will have a look but - possibly stupid question alert...is mechanical engineering quite practical? He would not be a screwdriver out type of person...he's quite nervy in practicals...

if he doesn't want to do practicals, what about computing? can he code? or is keen to learn? there is massive demand for people who can do computer programming in lots of different areas, and the course draws on plenty of applied bits of maths. it can lead to jobs in things like building computer games or building websites / databases or managing sports betting or all sorts of science.

If computing is an option, it's also worth considering whether a degree is the best option. It's the sort of sector where you can do an apprenticeship, which can be done to degree level, and be earning straight away instead of building up student loans.

With engineering... both DH and I have engineering degrees. I went to the "Russell Group" University, he went to the old polytechnic in the same city. My course was a lot more theoretical where as his was more hands on. For example I learnt to do drawings by hand before CAD so we knew why, whereas he just learnt CAD. Coyrses vary greatly.

Geophysics?

I'm not sure mechanical engineering is any easier to get into than maths...

That depends on where you are applying. In my experience it is.

Just don’t make the mistake of accepting an engineering place and expect to transfer to maths once you are there. I have had several students advised (badly) to do this. In the last twenty years, only one was successful.

mechanical engineering quite practical

No, it’s mainly maths and more maths.

What about considering some lower tariff Schools of Maths, if that is his love? The trend in employment is towards giving greater weight to the degree classification and less to the university. Some employers including the Civil Service are phasing out university identification entirely.

Otherwise I agree with Mech Eng, and would also consider Physics. Good luck to your DS.

PS I would always advocate for computing but it is mostly either about other kinds of maths, or somewhat practical.

Cost engineering? I know a few cost engineers and they are in high demand in companies that work on fascinating projects.

With physics, you will likely to have done physics in futher education. DD does particle physics and cosmology, and there is a lot of maths. (she did maths, FM, Physics and Chem Alevel) There are far more equations shes had to learn in second year. Around 200 she said, but not sure if that's a slight exageration lol. Physics really does have so much variation. You have to learn in the labs on the degree so it is hands on, but its not a main stay in a career if he doesnt want it to. You can have theoretical physics with maths degree, which is more based on the working things out on a data set, and plotting it on a computer on python. The physics and astronomy as well, and some dont even look through a telescope, but have data sets to work on and plotting. DD internship next month is taking some data from a machine thats being built, and finding the best way to callibrate it so hopefully detects proton decay. She wont be hands on with the machine, its in the US; but having all the data she will use the maths to find the best way. If your DS is doing physics this is a really good career to go into. Especially things like Nuclear physics and particle physics and trying to find ways of getting cleaner energy.

Another vote for maths at a uni which doesn't require such stellar grades and offers lots of mechanics options. Heriot Watt in Edinburgh does a good Maths with Physics degree.

Thanks all for your suggestions. There are lots there for us to look and think about.