Best Engineering Aerospace University's

[ItsNowOrNever]

Hi all

Looking for top 5 university ranking for Aerospace or Aeronautical engineering and any advice on the top markers of extra curricular to hit for the applications, model making, clubs etc?

We're finding it really hard to get access to relevant work experience, is this due to lack of knowledge or just looking in the wrong place?!

Would you suggest 3 or 4 A levels?
Studying Physics, Maths and FM. Chemistry also but she may drop this.

First generation University attendee so no prior experience to draw on.

I'll start with what I think:

1. Imperial
2. Cambridge

3...

Work experience in any role and also work experience in specific related role.

Please share your expert knowledge and experience.

Thanks

Interesting conversation. Agree totally re the use of 'Engineer' in the UK, it's a slight bugbear of mine.

I think there is a difference between industries and sectors, which is completely understandable given Engineers are present in almost all areas of business.

Specifically regarding aerospace and moreover actually working in aerospace (over 25 years now), there are many ways in to the industry. A good number of people I work with have come through an apprenticeship scheme, including many in senior leadership. There are many Engineering disciplines within the aerospace sector - Mechanical, Electrical, Electronic, Software, Project, Test, Manufacturing, Materials/Process, for example.

You can be any of those and have a good career in aero. I work for a tier 1 company, so we supply major systems to the OEMs (Airbus, Boeing etc) as well as most military programs you can think of. It is a huge team effort, working multiple locations around the globe.

We are experiencing difficulty in hiring good engineers and are offering places to graduates to help build their career, with training in house.

In my personal experience, choose a good university with an engineering course that excites you (specialise accordingly) and apply for jobs with large aero companies. You will always be on a continuous professional development plan and switch roles most likely throughout your career.

Just to add, OP, I have PM'd you, hopefully you received the message.

@stuffnthings
Are you now hiring grads because you cannot get engineers ready trained? Seems quite late to do this. If engineers don’t actually get professional qualifications, it’s no wonder the guy that repairs the washing machine is an engineer. Getting professionally qualified would help make a clear distinction.

So many engineering grads don’t go into engineering or are simply not good enough to problem solve in their chosen branch. Over reliance on maths without understanding the original problem is the issue.

We're trying to hire across the range, preferably with experience, but we also will consider engineering grads who we can mentor. We're experiencing a shortage of competent engineers in our industry. There are a lot of engineering roles out there at the moment, I get daily emails of job offers.

I agree Engineer should be a title gained via qualification, but there are many routes to that.

I think it's also important to differentiate between sectors/industries in which engineers are working. At one point I worked for about a year in a medium sized architect practice on large projects, so worked alongside structural and civil engineers. That was very different to my experience in the aerospace industry for 25 years so far.

Bae Systems pays £30,000 starting salary for grad engineers. It pays the same for grad HR trainees. The grad engineer salary is low in my view. Much easier to do HR! Much better pay in the City!

Indeed I agree. Unfortunately in my experience, you can earn well in aero, especially in the higher levels of management, however you can easily end up just earning ok, despite experience and qualifications.

We need to do better in the UK in terms of understanding what engineers do and why their value should be higher than it is. I only have to look at colleagues in the US, Europe, India etc to see how they are valued both in standing and remuneration.