Do I need to go to university to get a good job in mechanical engineering?

Many people get the terms mechanic and mechanical engineer confused. To my mind, as a retired mechanical engineer, it is similar to comparing a nurse and a doctor. When I started in mechanical engineering some forty years ago, many companies would take people on from school as apprentices, monitor them and select the most promising and sponsor them through university. I think this still happens but on a much lesser scale. Nowadays I would say that to be a successful (rich?) mechanical engineer you should follow the university trail. I would, however, add one condition. So many people seem to be going to university than in my day, the companies are cherry picking and choosing the higher qualifications and almost bypassing the 2.2 degrees. In fact I have a friend's son who has both a B Sc and an M Sc but cannot get interviews as many companies are setting a points benchmark. You have to have a certain number of points to get to the interview table - say 7. If you go to a regional/red brick uni and get a 2.1, you are credited with 3 points, if you get the same at Oxford/ Cambridge, you get 6 points! Sorry to be so pessimistic but that appears to be the reality. Check with the companies as to what they offer as to university sponsorship but think seriously about university.

Many people get the terms mechanic and mechanical engineer confused. To my mind, as a retired mechanical engineer, it is similar to comparing a nurse and a doctor. When I started in mechanical engineering some forty years ago, many companies would take people on from school as apprentices, monitor them and select the most promising and sponsor them through university. I think this still happens but on a much lesser scale. Nowadays I would say that to be a successful (rich?) mechanical engineer you should follow the university trail. I would, however, add one condition. So many people seem to be going to university than in my day, the companies are cherry picking and choosing the higher qualifications and almost bypassing the 2.2 degrees. In fact I have a friend's son who has both a B Sc and an M Sc but cannot get interviews as many companies are setting a points benchmark. You have to have a certain number of points to get to the interview table - say 7. If you go to a regional/red brick uni and get a 2.1, you are credited with 3 points, if you get the same at Oxford/ Cambridge, you get 6 points! Sorry to be so pessimistic but that appears to be the reality. Check with the companies as to what they offer as to university sponsorship but think seriously about university.

In short, yes. To reach the salary level you have indicated in the mechanical engineering field you would need to go to University, get a good (1st/2:1) engineering degree and work to achieve chartered engineer status (CEng). To give you some perspective most large engineering companies with a grad scheme specify a minimum 2:1 engineering degree before you will be considered. To achieve CEng status you also require to be educated to masters level, either an integrated MEng or a post grad MSc and a good few years of on the job learning and development. The average salary for an engineering graduate is circa £25k. This will rise to around the £40k-£50k mark with experience and extra responsibilities such as project lead , the upper salary levels you are talking about will be reserved for senior staff and management roles. Obviously there exceptions to this depending on specialism and area of work but in general these figures are true. The most I have seen non graduate engineers paid is around the £40k mark and this is in the field of aircraft engineering. But again they must complete a 4 year apprenticeship and have a good few years experience to command such a salary. Starting salary for an apprentice can be as low as £6k. Some companies offer Higher Apprenticeships for talented individuals which can result in the award of an engineering degree upon completion. The use of the term 'Engineer' can be ambiguous but it is generally reserved for degree graduates in an engineering discipline. With non graduates being referred to as Mechanics or Technicians. Again there are exceptions to this, for example Licensed Aircraft Engineers are referred to as Aircraft Engineers. Basically mechanics do the hands on spannering whilst engineers deal with design and analysis and command the higher salary.

I worked in Mech Eng and you will need to have a very good position to earn £60K. If you work for someone else (in the UK) you should always make a good living but would struggle to earn the money you are talking about. Working abroad may be an option or working towards owning your own company. You should get a Mech Eng degree (or better) from UK uni. that is recognised worldwide. Good Luck.

u certainley dont need to go to university to be successful in most jobs, mechanics is a trade i think, therefore your best option 100 percent is to get a apprenticeship and get paid to work a couple days, and learn at college the rest of the week.

*sighs* so sick of people answer these questions with a load of babble instead of decent answers right here goes buddy i am a mechancial engineer i started out doing an apprenticeship with a company called Weir Services so the answer to you question is most certainly not to work as a mechanical engineer but if thats the kind of wage you want to be earning them most definately you will need to go to university and study a degree in some form of mechanical engineering Best thing to do at your age is to get an modern apprenticeship with a decent reputable company and see if they would put you through your studies so you get the experience on the tools that all employers want and the degree that will fire you up into the wage bracket your aiming for. best thing is they will pay for all the education and you still get paid it is hard work doing uni and working at the same time though you may find yourself having to do night school but trust me its worth it in the end. p.s if its the big money your after go offshore oil and gas and work your way up to being a supervisor

*sighs* so sick of people answer these questions with a load of babble instead of decent answers right here goes buddy i am a mechancial engineer i started out doing an apprenticeship with a company called Weir Services so the answer to you question is most certainly not to work as a mechanical engineer but if thats the kind of wage you want to be earning them most definately you will need to go to university and study a degree in some form of mechanical engineering Best thing to do at your age is to get an modern apprenticeship with a decent reputable company and see if they would put you through your studies so you get the experience on the tools that all employers want and the degree that will fire you up into the wage bracket your aiming for. best thing is they will pay for all the education and you still get paid it is hard work doing uni and working at the same time though you may find yourself having to do night school but trust me its worth it in the end. p.s if its the big money your after go offshore oil and gas and work your way up to being a supervisor

I worked in Mech Eng and you will need to have a very good position to earn £60K. If you work for someone else (in the UK) you should always make a good living but would struggle to earn the money you are talking about. Working abroad may be an option or working towards owning your own company. You should get a Mech Eng degree (or better) from UK uni. that is recognised worldwide. Good Luck.

u certainley dont need to go to university to be successful in most jobs, mechanics is a trade i think, therefore your best option 100 percent is to get a apprenticeship and get paid to work a couple days, and learn at college the rest of the week.