Studying For Distance Learning Engineering Courses
When we talk about Engineers, we can mean many things. If either automotive or aeronautical engineering appeal to you, you're probably the sort of person who enjoys a technical challenge. Great Britain is renowned for its aeronautical engineering excellence, and its aerospace industry turns over many billions of pounds every year. With regard to the automotive sector Britain also plays a significant role here, with several hundred thousand people being involved in the industry.
Getting The Right Qualifications
Training in the UK is excellent - in fact there are over thirty British universities offering aeronautical engineering based courses alone. Graduates can also follow on and take a PhD or MSc if they wish.
At a lower level, vocational training can be found up and down the country. BEng and MEng courses at university usually follow the same structure for the first two years, and then take on a different format for the final year or two.
Sandwich courses can also be available on certain training programmes. Equally, it's also possible for some students to arrange sponsorship (for example from the Army) if they're prepared to commit to them after training. It really is good advice to do your research thoroughly, as there are such a lot of alternatives to consider.
Automotive-Engineering
Every facet of a motorised machine has been developed because of automotive engineering. Today, it incorporates elements not only of mechanical and electrical engineering, but also electronic, safety and software engineering. There's a lot to take on board, and new technologies are being developed all the time - often to deal with government environmental standards.
We can split auto engineering into product or design engineering, development engineering and manufacturing engineering. The first stage involves the design or product engineers. They are the people who design and test the components and systems on a vehicle. The development engineers' co-ordinate the engineering attributes of vehicles. These engineers often have to liaise with designers on certain specs. With all the design and development work complete, the manufacturing engineers have to build the vehicle.
Degree courses in automotive engineering are very demanding, but extremely interesting. The various elements of your training will ensure you become proficient in core automotive subjects like engine design and vehicle dynamics. Safety is a top priority, and so all elements of a design will be tested via crash simulations and test dummies etc.
All the components of a vehicle have to do the job they're individually designed for, but also be brought together and function harmoniously. Therefore students need to learn about systems, or development engineering.
'Trade-offs' come under this function, for example balancing fuel economy with engine performance. Development engineering is also concerned with testing and ensuring the finished vehicle will comply with legal requirements.
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. This complex discipline is sometimes regarded as the most esteemed area of automotive engineering.
Aeronautical-Engineering
Man's desire for flight has led to momentous developments in aircraft technology. Students who train as aeronautical engineers 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.
All aircraft have to endure severe conditions and stresses, such as changes in atmospheric pressure and temperature, and structural loading on the components. Aeronautical engineering requires a great deal of specialist knowledge, and so teams of engineers who each specialise in their own branch of science work together on projects.
Aeronautical engineering students will be taught design principles throughout their training, and receive a thorough insight into analytical subjects. Analytical subjects like thermodynamics are usually taught through lectures and tutorials. Modern computing methods can now simulate the behaviour of fluid, which reduces the need for empirical testing in wind tunnels. Nonetheless, university students will still benefit from wind-tunnel experiments and other physical testing methods.
Engineering students will get a lot of practical hands-on experience. Whichever programme you choose to follow, as a student engineer you will be involved with a major group design project at some time throughout your training. Other more broad based vocational skills may be incorporated into an engineering degree programme. Employers often expect graduate entrants to have additional soft skills when they get into industry.
Aeronautical and automotive engineers are at the forefront of technological advances, and can make a valuable contribution to society. For information about joining a professional body upon completion of your training, refer to the Engineering Council, or SARTOR (the Standards and Routes to Registration).
