Information on University courses.

Hi, 

Firstly, I'd totally agree with Andy's post, but that said there are a lot of jobs which don't necessarily need a degree but where the HR team will reject CVs without a degree just to get the number of applicants down to a reasonable number. So yes, you are improving your chances. But also, you will only do well at a degree if you enjoy doing it, so I really like your comment "Mostly for my own love of Engineering" - that's the best reason to do a degree.

There's advantages and disadvantages to both routes you suggest.

"HND + top up" is lowest risk, I suspect with your experience you should sail through the HND part, and whatever happens next you've got a qualification. But don't underestimate how much top-up is needed. HNDs and degrees are actually quite different qualifications, HND is basically vocational "do it like this" (with a bit of "for these reasons"). Degrees are aiming to prepare you to do something no-one has done before, which of course is the fun bit of engineering, but this means they are not covering the same ground as HNDs. They are not training you to do what has been done in the past, but giving you the theory for the future. So basically, when engineers top up from HNC to degrees they find they have to go back and learn (or re-learn) a lot of their maths. So it's not really the case (as is sometimes said) that an HND covers the first year of a degree, it often doesn't cover much of the maths in particular. So it's a good route, but you do need to make sure you've got a good support group around you to help with some of that catch up study - hopefully the university / college would supply that, but you need to make sure that they do actually put groups of students through courses together, so that those groups can support each other (like the Open University does), and don't just send you a load of course materials.

Straight through a degree is the other way around, you need to be confident that you can sustain the course right the way through in order to achieve something useful, but they will make sure, starting from day one, that everything you do is towards that end goal. You will still have challenges (it's a learning experience, not a training course), so the same comments apply regarding making sure that the provider makes sure there is a support group in place.

Personally I would recommend doing your Batchelor's, whichever way you do it, through one of the established UK Universities (I include the Open University in this), because if they offer remote courses they are more likely to be set up to support students on those courses. Ideally I'd suggest trying to find somewhere that includes something like summer schools or weekend seminars as part of the course, partly because they are really helpful to allow you to meet other students face-to-face (and find that you're all having the same problems, which is always encouraging!), and partly because if they provide that it gives you more confidence that they are looking after you. And also remember that recruiters can get concerned about degrees from institutions where they don't recognise the name. I'd also suggest looking at the size of the UK based academic staff for whichever degree awarding institute you use...if it's very small you do have to wonder whether they are actually going to give you an education or whether they are just going to send you a load of pre-printed materials to read. 

If you are really lucky you may find that a local FE college offers degrees accredited by a University - that's how I got my Master's, I did it through Cornwall College but the degree was awarded by Coventry University. But that's just luck what your local colleges offer.

Wishing you the best of luck with whichever route you do, and remember the main thing to do is enjoy it - even if it does have some painful late nights in the process!

Thanks,

Andy

One further thought - any reputable University will be happy to talk to you about how your personal study will work given your restrictions. If you cannot get a real human conversation with a real academic who listens to you, and takes time to explain the course, then run. To some extent it's a buyer's market at the moment, most universities are desperate to attract good students. 

You may be picking up from all this my personal opinion from my view of the "Engineering College of Technology" based solely on their website, but I have no direct experience of this Australian based company. However, what I've mentioned are the things I'd be advising people to ask them, and all degree providers, before placing their cash and careers in their hands. (I'd also ask what else would a college of technology be other than an engineering college?)

Thanks,

Andy

One further thought - any reputable University will be happy to talk to you about how your personal study will work given your restrictions. If you cannot get a real human conversation with a real academic who listens to you, and takes time to explain the course, then run. To some extent it's a buyer's market at the moment, most universities are desperate to attract good students. 

You may be picking up from all this my personal opinion from my view of the "Engineering College of Technology" based solely on their website, but I have no direct experience of this Australian based company. However, what I've mentioned are the things I'd be advising people to ask them, and all degree providers, before placing their cash and careers in their hands. (I'd also ask what else would a college of technology be other than an engineering college?)

Thanks,

Andy