Applying for Engineering Explained
The era of Engineering is now. As technological advancements change the way we live, the pioneers of digital technology across all industries look for Engineering graduates with analytical, research, and problem-solving skills. Financial or tech firms, for instance, may assess students based on their programming skills which graduates have learned at university.
Want to know how studying Engineering creates career possibilities? How should you plan your UCAS application based on your long-term goals?
We have asked our Oxford and Cambridge consultants the key to planning for an application for Engineering and summarised your preparation into 5 simple steps.
3 Career Opportunities for Engineering Graduates
1. Financial Industry
While Engineering is primarily a study of Mathematics and Physics, the application of theories typically involves coding and other types of data analysis. If you are interested in exploring the financial industry as part of your career plans, you may spend time during university exploring developments within the financial market and gain work experiences at Investment Banks during the penultimate years of your university studies. Most Engineering graduates realise that their practical skills are very much relevant to roles such as research analyst at Investment Banks. If you are interested in the field of finance, we suggest that you plan ahead and attend external activities related to business and finance and follow financial news through subscribing to online platforms such as Bloomberg or Financial Times. If time allows, you may also commit yourself to part-time university courses relevant to Engineering and Finance.
2. Business Consulting
Surprisingly, many Engineering students find themselves interest in business and commerce. Though university studies focused on Engineering does not include business-related modules, most of the top consultancy across the globe look for Engineering graduates with strong analytical and research skills. If you’re concerned with your profile lacking in business-related insights, you may attend competitions or conduct research outside of university studies to develop your business acumen.
3. Engineering and Data Engineering
Some students may be interested in the nature of Engineering as an occupation. In that case, graduates may complete a master’s degree to divest themselves to the Engineering industry. In fact, with technological advancements driving most tech firms to improve on their products, companies such as Apple or Tesla are constantly recruiting Engineering graduates to refine their software applications.
5 Steps to Planning Your Engineering Application
If you believe that an Engineering degree can create more opportunities in the long term and would like to ensure your application is competitive enough for UK universities, here are 5 steps to preparing your application:
- Academic Grades
- Exploration of Academic Interests
- Academic Research
- Admissions Tests
- Interviews
1. Academic Grades
The first step is to ensure your grade predictions in DSE/IB/A-levels meet the minimum requirements of your target universities. Most universities require an A*AA grade prediction (equivalent to 5*55 in your DSE electives. A higher grade prediction will create advantages in your application, but your overall application profile will be considered before an offer is made to you.
2. Exploration of Academic Interests
UK universities look for students who are academically inclined. As such, students are typically required to spend 1-2 years researching into their areas of interests through internal and external activities. Based on our experience, an outstanding personal statement involves the use of internal roles and responsibilities, external experiences, research opportunities, academic competitions, and other practical experiences to showcase how determined you are in reading Engineering.
3. Academic Research
Simply stating that you are passionate about Engineering may not be enough. Students should delve into an area within Engineering and research into academic topics. If you’re interested in topics such as sustainable development, you may consider looking into the underlying principles of renewable energy. With the guidance of a tutor/professor, you may better understand how academic theories are applied in practice and analyse historical events or other current affairs to demonstrate your academic skills.
4. Admissions Tests (ENGAA/PAT)
Your performance in admissions tests is key! The ENGAA is used by Cambridge to assess student applications. The ECAA covers mathematics and physics questions. Oxford applicants have to complete the PAT which also includes mathematics and physics questions.
5. Interview
With all the preparation above, you have created a competitive profile that will allow you to compete against the other top candidates in your year. The final step is to perform your best during your interview. Universities aim to confirm your academic background through interviews and raise questions relating to mechanics or other Mathematical concepts to better assess your logical thinking and analytical skills.
More Questions?
We know that applying for Engineering is an important decision. For this reason, we have prepared for all attendees a FREE “Complete Guide to Applying For Engineering” explaining everything you need to know about applying for Engineering including entry requirements, career progression, application timeline, external activity suggestions and admissions test FAQs. Additionally, attendees will be offered a 1-to-1 free consultation with our admissions specialists (valued at HK$1,000) in order to better understand your admissions plans.
Conclusion
Consider your admissions plan through understanding career prospect. This can be the most important application yet.
