5 Reasons to study Engineering

The Engineering industry is a vast sector, with careers available through a variety of specialisms such as civil engineering, electrical, mechanical, chemical and computer engineering. 

An industry that is in high demand for new engineers with specialised transferable skills, the engineering sector is responsible for over 20% of the UKs total workforce, generating over 25% (£1.25trillion) of the UKs total financial turnover. 

Engineering research findings show that just under 1 in 5 (5.66million) people work for an engineering company, proving there is no better time to start studying for a successful. career within the industry. 

We looked at 5 reasons why students should study towards a career within Engineering:

Engineers Are in High Demand

Engineering is one of the most in-demand careers within the UK. Given the advanced developments in technology, science, and computing, engineers will be in high demand over the coming decades, and they currently have one of the lowest unemployment rates in any of the major sectors.

Some of the most in-demand engineering jobs include software engineering jobs, aerospace engineering jobs, civil engineering jobs, environmental engineering jobs, and biomedical engineering. 

It is also not a requirement to have a specialist qualification within engineering, meaning students who pursue a qualification within the industry can choose from a variety of jobs, including:

• Civil engineer
• Structural engineering
• Maintenance engineer
• Aerospace engineering
• Electrical engineering

High Salaries

Engineering is an extremely lucrative career path to choose, with the average starting salary for graduate engineers starting at over £25,000 – Over £3,000 more than the UK average graduate salary.

It is reported that engineering graduates will earn over 30% more in their lifetime than any other graduate average, that’s over £144,000. 

For example, a Computer Hardware Engineer working within the top 10% of employers can earn as much as £130,000 per annum. 

Transferable Skills

The engineering industry is one of the few construction-related industries offering students a plethora of transferable skills. When compared to the plumbing, electrical or bricklaying industry, studying an engineering course applies theories and experience across all engineering areas, meaning students can choose from a vast array of career paths within the industry. 

In order to reach the higher-paying roles, graduates would be expected to specialise in a specific area of engineering, as they focus on solving complex problems – a skill which is highly sought after across all industries. 

Some of the skills an engineering student would develop are: 

• Project planning
• Analytical thinking
• Logical thinking
• Attention to detail
• Communication
• Teamwork
• Numeracy
• Computer literacy

Contribute to Society

One of the biggest advantages for engineers is the ability to make a difference to their local communities by making important contributions to society as a direct result of their line of work. 

For example, Construction Engineers directly contribute to the changing world around them and are at the forefront of rapid developments in construction, bringing to the table their own unique perspectives for solving technical challenges with clarity and imagination. 

Practical Work

Not everyone is tailored for a job working within an office. If you’re motivated by practical, hands-on work, a career in engineering could be right for you. Whilst some aspects of an engineer’s workload contains theoretical, it is a practical, hands-on career where you will practice with advanced materials and machinery. 

Do you want to know more about a career in engineering, why not explore the range of engineering courses available through Oaklands College here.