Which 2 Options do you think DS should be looking at for an interest in Engineering...aerospace maybe? Photo Attached

[123lookatme]

He is interested in engineering of some sort and us saying aerospace...we have z optiond meeting next week. Only has 2 options from this list and then has to choose 2 reserve subjects. He's thinking Design & Technology and Btec Engineering ... they used to do GCSE engineering but then took it off this yr for Btec. Looking at Computering as a reserve but not sure. School isnt much help he said in advising

DT and perhaps Economics or Geography. He can specialise in engineering later. Computing is a bit vague and being phased out, ICT is the more rigorous.

He is doing Geography as his core. This is the computer science course outline. Economics it says is more for people wanting to go into politics and current affairs

DT and economics, at this stage physics and maths would be the only subjects that would be much use in the future, everything else would be extra.

lizs you have got computer science and IT the wrong way round

I think computer science would be a good choice, and is a well respected GCSE, but there is nothing wrong with the courses he wants to do.

I really don't think it matters at GCSE. He'll need maths and physics A levels I should think, so needs to make sure he works hard at them, but as long as he has a reasonable mixture, he should do whichever subjects he thinks he'll enjoy and do well at.

Computing and DT, most important are physics and maths as said above. DS2 is taking A levels this summer and has offers for Meng Electrical & Electronic Engineering with Maths, Physics, Computing A levels, he is taking History too as his school take 4 As. All those are facilitating subjects for Engineering. If he can do Further Maths as well that would be great.

If you look at the MEng in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Bristol, which is a top university in the field of Aerospace Engineering and has strong local employment opportunities, they require AAA for this course and the AA must be Maths and Physics in any order. However, there are no special requirements for GCSEs. If he did 8 GCSEs and the BTec it wouldn’t matter but he needs Maths and Physics for A level.

If he thinks about Chemical Engineering, then he needs Chemistry. For GCSE, top grades are best of course but no Engineering course will sneer at a BTec in Engineering as long as he has a strong portfolio of academic subjects and the right A levels at the right grades.

Computing or economics.

God do all engineering courses want an A* A in maths/physics Alevels?

Bubbles DS got a contextual offer of ABB for Bristol MengE&EE not aerospace but standard offers are the same, his preferred option is Soton though.

Top engineering courses want high grades for both physics and maths, Imperial and Cambridge also want further maths.

My DS has been advised to do triple science if he is hoping to do aerospace engineering and then A levels in maths and physics.

Bristol clearly says MEng course in Aerospace Engineering is A*AA. Bristol are great with contextual offers but not everyone qualifies do they?

The OP asked about this branch of Engineering and the Bristol course is one of the best for this discipline. MEng in other disciplines aren’t directly comparable. Bristol no doubt ask for this because they can. Like nearly any subject, Engineering degrees vary in what they ask for and BEng will be lower. If a university is selecting, rather then recruiting, onto specific courses they ask for higher grades. I think there are high grades required at Sheffield for their Civils course for example. Also, don’t forget very many Engineers never do any Engineering after graduating. They go and Work in the City!

Bristol ask for A*AA for a lot of courses.

So are engineering courses that ask for less still well thought of in the job market?Ds is good at maths( top set)and science,physics being his favoured,predicted A at GCSE. I do however appreciate that an A or A at Alevel for both is a tough call.

Look on UCAS.com and you will see that there are many universities that accept lower grades. A quick look through saw that University of South Wales would accept CDD.

What are the GCSEs he’s already taking other than those on the list?

As long as he’s got maths and physics (which he will have) it doesn’t really matter. So it’s a case of thinking about which courses he will enjoy and get the best grades in.

Southampton also ask for A*AA for the aerospace engineering degrees.

I think people think that Engineers just make widgets, get greasy all day long or repair a washing machine! Academic engineering is just that - academic but with practical elements.

I do think job prospects are enhanced if you get A*AA as opposed to CCC and go on a high tariff course such as the MEng courses. That would go for many grads though. It’s fairly obvious that these grads will have more doors open and employers would be more impressed.

The other thing to bear in mind is that MEng grads usually get Chartered Engineer status quicker. BEng route can be quite slow without a Masters.

Further Maths always helps on the top courses. Plus flair of course. Business acumen is also now increasingly important too. Engineers run companies. They don’t just sit in a cubicle doing calcs. Interpersonal skills are also valued.

The main thing is to do the right A levels and if anyone isn’t going to get top grades, choose a course with a year in industry. It gets a foot in the door and it’s valuable. Some lower tariff universities have excellent industry links. Just don’t fall into the trap of thinking Engineering isn’t academic. It is.

My DS is 2 years post grad, and as a graduate aerospace engineer he’s involved in coding, computer modelling, developing business cases, managing staff, presenting workshops across the UK and Europe, and not a widget in sight!
As Bubbles says there’s a lot more to Engineering. And despite the mumsnet stereotype, engineers also write reports and work well in teams!

Start looking at aerospace companies. The big ones (airbus, Messier Bugatti Dowty, Rolls Royce, etc) offer degree apprenticeships from 16 and 18. It takes a little longer to get the degree but then you end up an aerospace engineering graduate with 5-9 years of relevant experience by the time you have the degree in your early/mid twenties and that leads to an accelerated career path

Do you think the ebacc is preferable or lighter subjects to go with the physics and maths so higher marks to facilitate higher marks?

What does Cardiff want?

"Lighter" subjects don't necessarily mean higher marks.

Have a look at Cardiff university website, they will have their entry requirements for each engineering course on there.

I meant higher marks with the physics and maths as you could focus more on them.

Toomanytealights I have been looking into entry requirements for my ds and all the RG unis I have looked at so far require at least one A and often more.

OP I studied engineering many moons ago. As others have said, it is the maths & physics A Levels which are critical. However, I would really recommend DT for GCSEs as it helps to learn 3D visualisation which is really useful. In the olden days it would have been technical drawing so whichever DT subject the school offers which provides the most of that.