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Technical Study At Engineering College...

The word Engineer covers a very wide range of disciplines. It's likely that you're looking for a chance to contribute technically and creatively if you want to get into either aero engineering or auto engineering. In the UK, the aerospace industry competes on the world stage, and is a front runner in scientific and technological developments. In addition, the auto industry also has a global influence, not least from a design and development point of view.

Highly Regarded Training

You'll find a very high concentration of aero and auto engineering based undergraduate degree courses in the UK - many with international reputations. In addition, some offer post-grad courses for Engineering and Physical Sciences graduates. (There are of course less academic college courses available around the country).

Undergraduates can take the opportunity to put the knowledge and experience they've gained in the first two years of their degree programme into practice by taking a one year industrial placement in year three.

Certain course options will offer students the chance to study part-time, on a sandwich course basis. The Armed Forces and certain private companies will sponsor students to qualify in both of these disciplines, in exchange for an agreed period of working time. Take time to look into the various university, college and sponsorship options. You have many exciting possibilities in front of you.

Engineering - Automotive

Automotive engineering has come a long way in the last hundred years. Today's auto engineers need to understand electronic and software engineering as well as mechanical and electrical. Things are changing all the time and modern engineers need to lead those changes, for example to produce greater efficiencies in materials and emissions.

From initial concepts to manufacture, automotive engineering can be divided into three main streams.

Design engineers obviously come up with the vehicle's design, but they also have to check each component part. Next come the development engineers. They are concerned with the interactions of all the systems. They may stipulate certain requirements to the design engineers.

Working out how to actually assemble and produce the vehicle is the manufacturing engineers' job.

An automotive engineering student will be taught many product disciplines. The various elements of your training will ensure you become proficient in core automotive subjects like engine design and vehicle dynamics. Safety engineering is one of the most important disciplines for the automotive engineer, and students will learn how assessments are carried out with various methods and tools.

As well as performing well by themselves, each component and system has to work in synergy with everything else. Therefore students need to learn about systems, or development engineering. Development engineers have to look at tradeoffs to gain an acceptable level of performance in all areas. Development engineers ultimately have to be sure that everything on the completed vehicle not only meets the manufacturers spec, but is also compliant with the latest regulations.

The manufacturing process takes over once all the design and development work has been done. Manufacturing engineers need to learn how to plan and engineer both the individual parts and the whole vehicle assembly. The responsibilities of these engineers specifically include machine design and layout, and project management of every stage of the assembly.

Aeronautical-Engineering

Aeronautical engineering covers all things to do with flight technology - the design, construction and science of aircraft. Students who train as aeronauticalengineers would be preparing themselves for a career in the aerospace industry -a most interesting industry at the forefront of science and technological developments. You could also choose a career in motor racing, as aircraft engineering is the basis for Formula One design.

Many severe conditions have to be endured for an aircraft to fly safely, with immense structural loads being placed upon them. As such, aircraft vehicles are usually the product of many aerospace engineering technologies, for example avionics, propulsion and aerodynamics. The aeronautical engineer will choose his or her speciality.

Training courses will go into depth on aircraft design and flight mechanics, and feature a strong emphasis on analysis. Lectures will be given on subjects such as fluid mechanics, with laboratory sessions to back them up.

Modern computing methods can now simulate the behaviour of fluid, which reduces the need for empirical testing in wind tunnels. Even so, huge structural testing machines and indeed wind tunnels are actually important teaching aids for student engineers.

Practical application is an important element of training to be an engineer. Degree course students will have a practical group assignment at some stage to design their own functional vehicle. Training courses in these engineering disciplines will also introduce students to other transferable skills. These could include time management, teamwork, organisational techniques, leadership and foreign languages.

The aerospace industry provides excellent career development into a variety of technical and managerial roles. Completing an accredited engineering degree course will allow you to obtain the status of a professional Incorporated Engineer or Chartered Engineer.