areas and ways into engineering

Engineering as a career is rich in challenges and rich in opportunity. A career in engineering can be a rewarding experience, not only through harnessing technology to improve our quality of life but also in terms of financial reward.

Across the board, on average, professional engineers can expect to earn more than £10,000 per year over and above the national average salary.

In addition to the nice pay cheque which can accompany an engineering job you can have a career that offers, good employment prospects, intellectual challenges, travel opportunities, and the chance to benefit society.

If you've ever considered a career in engineering, you probably thrive on problem solving. That's good because one of the first problems you'll need to tackle as you explore this broad field is deciding what type of engineer you'd like to be.

You may be aware of the most common engineering sub-specialities, like civil engineering or computer engineering. But did you know that there are literally hundreds of different job titles under the engineering umbrella in at least a dozen categories?

So career opportunities in engineering are limitless. Engineering is not just one subject or one career opportunity. These are just some of the branches of engineering you could choose to work in:

Aerospace

Chemical

Electronics

Marine

Mechanical

Within each of these engineering branches you can choose to specialise in a variety of different areas including, research and design, product or process development, production and quality control or installation and maintenance.

There are also different roles within engineering, for instance as a craftsperson, technician or as a professional engineer.

Craftspeople are practical people and include fitters, machinists, fabricators and welders.

Technicians are often employed in quality insurance, estimating, technical buying, production control and maintenance.

Professional Engineers will often be employed in research, design and development.

So it is up to you!"

There's a route into engineering to suit everyone, whether you want to earn and learn at the same time or whether you'd prefer to stay in full time study.

Training can begin straight from school with either academic or vocational qualifications. You could for example undertake an apprenticeship which combines work and study, and can lead to craft and technician jobs. Alternatively you could undertake a degree which could open up opportunities for graduate entry.

Please click here to read a booklet by the Institution of Engineering & Technology which will provide you with an introduction to the whole field of engineering.

Please click here for a map from enginuity that illustrates some of the engineering qualification routes avaialbe to you.

The following pages will also provide information on the different types of routes & qualifications avaialble to you depending on your age.

under 16

?

16 - 18

?

18

+?

graduate

?