Design Engineering

[dustybee]

My son thinks he wants to study design engineering - he is year 12 doing maths further maths, physics and product design ( his school does not do DT). The traditional tables don’t have design engineering as a search option. We think the best courses seem to be Loughborough, Bristol, Bath and Imperial. Are there any others people recommend ? I know Sheffield is rated highly for engineering but can’t see they have a design engineering course. Oxbridge? Strathclyde? Nottingham? Any thoughts welcome !

Has your son submitted his application yet? What options did he put?

DD is interested in the same course. We have researched a bit and these seem like good choices:

IC: Design Engineering. Really ticks all the boxes. Accredited

Loughborough: Product Design Engineering. accredited. The town is a bit quiet unfortunately.

Bristol: Design Engineering. It is a new course; not accredited yet but should be in 5 years. Have not seen it

Strathclyde: Product Design Engineering. Accredited. Also product design and innovation if not physics. Have not seen it. A bit far perhaps.

Queens Mary University: Design, innovation and creative engineering. Have not seen it. Accredited

Same A level subjects as my DS1. Unfortunately he doesn't want to leave home to go to uni. I found a sandwich course at Southbank uni which offers a placement year, which I think is a great idea to actually be able to get a job afterwards! I would certainly think about courses which offer placements.

@PrincessOfPreschool Do be aware that universities do not have a bank of placements for dc. Southbank does not label any engineering degree “with placement year” which suggests few get placements. The dc have to apply for them as they would a job. I would ask the university what % actually achieve a placement. Universities help with cv and application writing but they won’t set dc up with one. The students can spend hours and weeks applying. It’s for the third year, so does this make the course 4 years? If so, is MEng, 4 years full time a better bet?

@OhDear111thank you. That's helpful to know and ask about. The course is Product Design and Technology.

This is what the website says re placement: Boost your employability with an optional paid professional work experience placement in your third year.

Not sure if they organise it or not. Need to ask.

Professional accreditation: The course is designed for future accreditation by the Institution of Engineering Designers (IED) for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirements for Registered Product Designer (RProdDes) and for partially meeting those of Chartered Technological Product Designer (CTPD). Accreditation will be sought by the time the first cohort reaches graduation, and back dated for them.

🤔 What on earth does that mean???

@PrincessOfPreschool Yes. The course is registered so that’s good.

Usually the placement is down to the student to apply and get selected. Some universities do ensure students know about placements notified to them but firms can be notifying lots of universities and the placements are very competitive and require the full job application process. Can be very time consuming. Some degrees have “with placement year” in the title of the degree and even then students often have to find their own or don’t get one. The university is simply facilitating this 3rd year option but it’s very DIY.

I would honestly ask them for hard stats. What % who want this year actually get one? Also how did the students know where to apply? What precise help does the university give? What guidance? My hunch is that as it’s not in the title and optional, they might not have many go on placement at all. I would make very determined enquires. At any uni saying this!

It means, firstly the student needs to sort their own placement (I think that’s true in most unis tbh) and secondly, that they plan for it to be accredited by the time the first students graduate. I assume it is a new course? Which uni is this?
ETA I see you say Southbank apple

@PrincessOfPreschool Sorry. Made an error when reading about accreditation. The course director has to apply for accreditation so that graduates can become members of the professional institution that awards Chartered (CEng) or Incorporated (IEng) status to graduate engineers after they follow a training schedule with their employer. Of course some employers don’t do this at all . I’m not familiar with IED but they are ied.org.uk so you can familiarize yourself with what they do. Dc cannot be CEng without a MEng. Well not easily!

I would suggest the course needs full accreditation before a grad graduates. Students should become a student member and not doing an accredited course isn’t helpful for career planning. Good employers will expect the course to be accredited. Add it to the list of questions.

How many years has this course been running now? I would look at a variety of courses and compare what they offer. Don’t do BEng if there’s MEng accredited course he can get into.

The status of engineers is governed by the Engineering Council and it might help to read their web site engc.org.uk

The highest status of engineers is Chartered Engineer. Most engineering institutions require suitable post grad work, mentoring and examination/interview to become Chartered. The next level down is Incorporated following a BEng degree. I would be wary about starting a course which hasn’t yet got accreditation. Ask when they expect it. It is important.