Mechanical & Electrical Engineering degrees (UK)

[Byllie]

Or mechatronics as it may be known

Do they courses provide better employment oppotunities than mechanical and electrical engineering separately?

I ask because Its a long course (5 year masters) and is a big commitment for an undergrad masters

Also does anyone know any good UK or EU unis that do this course?


Many thanks

 

[timmay]

A 5 year masters? Is that with a sandwich year? Most of the UK courses I've seen are four years.

Personally, a good mechanical engineering or electrical engineering degree from a good university would be better for employment prospects than a sole mechatronics degree. Typically in a UK MEng course in either mech. or elec. eng you can tailor your course choices to go down a particular path.

In the university I attended for mechanical engineering, there was limited scope for mechatronics beyond the second year. You may be better off with electrical engineering and then tailoring your courses to mechatronics. In addition one or the other would give you a broad engineering education, meaning that you would probably be just as if not more employable in a mechatronic field after graduation, and you wouldn't be limited to only working in that field if you eventually decided it wasn't for you.

Alternatively, you could look at a BEng in electrical or mechanical, followed specifically by an MSc in mechatronics. That way you have a good, recognised degree but then can specialise in exactly what you want. Unfortunately that requires two separate application processes and may prove expensive (not sure what MSc financial support is like for EU/UK students).

For the UK, the UCAS website is good at tracking down who runs what degree courses. Most universities will break down their electrical and mechanical engineering degrees on their websites or in prospectuses, meaning you can see which degrees will offer you a route towards mechatronics.

Hope this helps, good luck, and if you do end up doing mechanical engineering don't end up working in the City like 60% of my cohorts did!