A degree in engineering is a wonderful base for all sorts of fascinating career paths. It can also set you up nicely for further education. You might wish to study further in order to gain specialist knowledge of an engineering field, or you might want to leave engineering for good and use your scientific problem-solving ability in other ways.
Engineering is, at heart, a scientific discipline. You’ll find that further education in the scientific and applied science realms may suit you. All sorts of industries need people with engineering brains. As such, there are all sorts of postgraduate courses that would suit a budding engineer. It is important to remember that whatever your specialism might be, you need to have a demonstratable passion for it. All postgraduate engineering courses are hard work, and you don’t want to find yourself bogged down in something you don’t really care about. Here are some of the best further education options for people with Batchelor’s degrees in engineering.
Master’s in Computer Science
The world around us is shaped in part by the work of computer scientists. We live in the information age. We socialize, work, travel, and relax with the aid of networked computer systems. Your engineering degree is a perfect base for further education on which to build a specialization in computer science. An online Masters in computer science for non CS majors is a great way of making inroads into computer science from an engineering background.
Computer scientists can find work in myriad industries. They are indispensable for large organizations trying to generate growth, government agencies looking to improve security or streamline systems, and just about any other professional niche, you can think of.
Computer scientists often deal with problems that you may recognize from your engineering studies. In the same way that engineers look for scientific solutions to problems, computer scientists try and apply scientific and mathematical solutions to computing issues. You’ll need to be prepared to concentrate on the minutia of a problem while also being able to see the bigger, systemic picture.
Master’s in Structural Engineering
Fancy yourself as the next Isambard Kingdom Brunel? Want to impact the world around you directly? The engineering prowess that you developed during your Batchelor’s degree gives you a good base for specializing in structural engineering.
Structural engineers work alongside architects and builders in the creation of structures. They offer scientific and mathematical guidance to architects and ensure the feasibility of a planned structure. Using engineering science, they model the likely stresses and forces that are going to be exerted on a building. They are absolutely vital in building design and practice.
A Master’s degree in structural engineering is a great follow-on from a Batchelor’s in engineering. You’ll be building (ahem) on the skills that you developed as an undergraduate with a specific focus on structural physics and material properties. Take a look at the Institute of Structural Engineers’ website for more information and a great video detailing the work of engineers working in this field.
Postgraduate Courses in Engineering Management
Engineering management, as the name suggests, is a field of management focused on engineering systems and projects. As an engineering graduate, you’ll already have a great knowledge of the scientific process that is crucial to good engineering practice. Studying to become an engineering manager, you’ll combine this scientific expertise with business and management acumen.
Engineering management roles can be some of the most senior in a company. Chief Technology Officers, for instance, are executive engineering managers in many instances. When choosing an engineering management postgraduate degree, you’ll need to work out what field you want to specialize in. Engineering management is as broad and varied a field as engineering as a whole. You’ll need to have a talent for problem-solving, interpersonal communication, and budgeting.
Postgraduate degrees in engineering management range from diploma courses to post-doctorate research opportunities.
Law
While it might not be an obvious choice for many graduating engineers, a career in the legal system is well suited to an engineer. Engineers are usually great problem solvers and typically develop the ability to step back and look at the bigger picture during their studies. Taking a postgraduate degree in Law is a great way to use your problem-solving skills in a completely different manner than you may be used to. Your scientific and analytical practice can be harnessed when developing a career in law. The ability to decode systems methodically and efficiently is a boon when working as a solicitor.
The Legal industry magazine Legal Cheek recently profiled the Mayer Brown associate Emma Sturt, who studied civil engineering before taking a Graduate Diploma in law. Sturt’s processual thinking and problem-solving abilities enabled her to work well as a city lawyer. Law firms are increasingly seeking out candidates with STEM degrees. It is a good option for further education after an engineering degree.
Master’s in Aeronautical Engineering
The aeronautical industry is vast, especially in Western Europe, Brazil, and the United States. Aeronautical systems are complex and varied. Aeronautical engineering follows suit – the field contains numerous specialist areas.
A Master’s degree in aeronautical engineering can lead you down a great many career paths. Aerodynamic engineers study the physics of, you guessed it, aerodynamics. Propulsion engineers develop more powerful and efficient aerospace powerplants. Aircraft structural engineers do the complex work of developing airframes.
Developments in aerospace engineering are the most fascinating they have been for many years. Fuel economy and the development of environmentally friendly powerplants have become key areas. The aerospace industry has long been derided for the detrimental effect that it has on the environment. Aeronautical engineers are working on ways of reducing the carbon footprint of the industry while maintaining the prominence of aviation on the global market.
Working in military aeronautical engineering, your tasks will be quite different. Engineers are employed to find ways of giving fighter aircraft the technological cutting edge that is needed to outperform enemy aircraft. You’ll be working to find aeronautical solutions to logistical and sensor issues too.
