Choosing an Engineering Discipline

If you have been considering studying engineering you may find that the decline in interest from UK home students along with the wide variety of engineering specialisations available means there could be more places available on the courses you wish to study.

How to Choose an Engineering Discipline

As engineering is a broad discipline requiring a number of skills it is often broken down into 4 main sub-disciplines or fields:

• Chemical Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering

If you have an interest in studying engineering but you’re not sure which discipline to study you should find the following guide helpful.

Chemical Engineering – If you have an interest in the physical sciences, but are more interested in turning materials into usable products than studying the classic science subjects of  chemistry, biology or physics then chemical engineering is the discipline for you.

Like the field of engineering as a whole, the field of chemical engineering is also broad and contains numerous sub-disciplines or fields, including:

• Biochemical Engineering
• Biomedical Engineering
• Biotechnology
• Materials Science
• Natural Environment

Civil Engineering – The oldest engineering discipline after military engineering.  If shaping the structure of the world around you inspires you, and you find yourself intrigued by structures like bridges, roads, canals and buildings then a civil engineering course is perfect for you.

A civil engineering degree is usually 3 to 5 years in length and is awarded as a Bachelor of Engineering, however some universities may award it as a Bachelor of Science.  Degrees in civil engineering are often accredited by engineering institutions such as the Institution of Civil Engineers and offer good job prospects following graduation.

In a civil engineering programme you can expect to study a wide range of subjects including geology, environmental issues, land surveying, mathematics, digital modelling, structural design and construction management.  As you progress through your degree you will have the option to specialise in a sub-discipline of civil engineering.  Following your studies you may wish to study a MEng (sometimes studied as a longer undergraduate degree) or a PhD.

Electrical Engineering – Becoming an identifiable occupation since the commercialisation of the electric telegraph and the electrical power supply, the electrical engineering discipline is concerned with the study of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism.

An electrical engineering degree is usually 4 to 5 years in length and can be awarded as either a Bachelor of Engineering or Bachelor of Science, depending on the university.

In an electrical engineering programme you can expect to study units covering physics, mathematics, computer science, project management and more specific electrical engineering topics.  Following from undergraduate studies you can opt to pursue a MEng or MSc.

Mechanical Engineering – One of the oldest and broadest fields of engineering. If you are handy with materials and have an interest in mechanics, manufacturing and maintenance, including the design and production of machines and tools then a career in mechanical engineering should suit you.

A mechanical engineering degree is usually 4 to 5 years in length and as with the other engineering disciplines is awarded as either a Bachelor of Engineering or Bachelor of Science, depending on the university.

As you can see the subject of engineering is large, and there are many courses which often provide great employment prospects following graduation. For more information on studying engineering and to search from a large variety of engineering courses visit our engineering courses directory.

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