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Calvin Asks: Is having Physics A-level a 'must have' to do an Engineering Degree?

CalvinTheEngineer
My son wants to be an engineer when he grows up. He is doing his GCSE’s this year and getting ready to choose his A-Levels, but his school has a new physics teacher, whom he HATES! He is now adamant he won’t be choosing physics at A-Level, but I’m worried that he’ll struggle to get onto an engineering course at a good university without it.


He doesn’t want to change schools as all his friends are staying; it’s one of the best schools in the area and local too, so I don’t really want him to have to move either. So my question is, does he need a physics A-Level or can he get by without it?


A-Level dilemmas - Darlington

 
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  • 0
    Mathematics is essential for most engineering courses but whether or not physics is essential depends on the university and the type of engineering. Electrical / electronic engineering will often accept electronics instead of physics; chemical engineering usually requires chemistry but not physics although preference is given to applicants which have it; software engineering doesn't require any science A Levels although computer science, electronics, or further mathematics will be valued subjects. Mechanical and aeronautical engineering tends to require physics though.


    The best advice is to check with universities beforehand to find out whether physics is required or strongly preferred for particular degree courses.
  • 0
    I've just had a quick look around some of the Russell group unis for electronic/electrical engineering and none (of those I looked at) are asking for physics. All want maths, some ask for one of physics/chemistry/electronics/further maths, some any science and some don't ask for a science at all.
  • 0
    An alternative would be finding an apprenticeship with qualifications included aligned to his ability, or studying at a College for a BTEC Diploma.  Some employers still recruit at 16 and may offer progression opportunities, including up to degree level. Because this involves them paying a salary and college/university fees, they rightly expect a strong work ethic in return. A BTEC Diploma can also potentially open the door to a Degree Apprenticeship, or entry onto a full -time undergraduate degree.

    https://www.ratemyapprenticeship.co.uk/advice/students/apprenticeships-for-16-year-olds

    https://www.oaklands.ac.uk/course-area/course/19_20-DP3EGA1F_1-BTEC-National-Foundation-Extended-Diploma-in-Engineering

    https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/support/support-topics/understanding-our-qualifications/comparing-btec-to-other-qualifications/btec-ucas-points.html#tab-NewBTECNationalsRQF


    If he is of high potential academically and hoping to compete for admission to one of the most selective universities, then he should understand their admission requirements and seek to meet them.  This is likely to include A level Physics and good grades, although some may be flexible. If he isn’t ready to commit to a career direction, then A levels might also be more adaptable later, rather than the more vocational Diploma. If he chose the full-time college option intending to go onwards for a degree, then he is likely to find a warmer welcome at one of the post-92 universities, but check requirements to be sure. I have picked up on news of recent changes to admission requirements, as universities compete for students. If you look up the degree courses accredited by Institutions like the IET, there are plenty of post 92 Universities.

    https://www.engc.org.uk/acad


    Although some employers target their recruitment towards those graduates from the most academic courses, there are plenty of different employment options for engineers and technicians. Many employers focus on the specific skills that they need and the work relevant personal attributes that make someone more productive, rather than just academic attainment.  Some engineers prefer to pursue technical specialism and other become managers as their careers progress. As with any investment decision it is difficult to predict the future, so mining engineers for example are far fewer now in the UK, than they were some decades ago, with new technologies coming on stream.  Most engineers and technicians find their work satisfying and have skills that they can adapt to emerging opportunities.


  • 0
    First advice to all teenagers: don't take subjects because you do / don't like the teacher. Schools change teachers (or teachers leave and get replaced) all the time, so this can lead to nasty surprises.


    But on to the question itself: you CAN study engineering without having studying A level physics (or maths), lots do, but it will make it harder to get your head around many of the concepts. Another sideways thought about this, when you enter the world of work you have to work with, and for, many people who you won't like (or at the very least wouldn't necessarily want to go to the pub with). So at some point you have to learn to cope with this - and part of the point of teenage years is learning key steps in coping with other people.


    Personally I got on brilliantly with my A level physics teacher, but most definitely did not with my A level maths teacher. I'm sure I would have got much better grades in my A levels if I had got on better with him, but equally I still got through it and would have found my degree much harder if I hadn't..


    Typical contact time at A level is (very roughly) 170 hours a year, which is (roughly) the same as working alongside someone for 4.5 weeks in a day job. Not necessarily pleasant if you really don't get on, but quite survivable. And besides, often they don't turn out as expected, it's very common to find teachers behave quite differently to sixth-formers to the way the behave to Y10-11 students. (With apologies to your son, I have to say that I have sympathy with them: as a volunteer going into schools I find Y10-11 by far the hardest to deal with. Lots of hormones, and the impending threat of having to actually get a job at some point is not yet real enough to tame them smiley  Whereas with sixth-formers it's much easier to talk to them as adults.) 


    So I certainly advised my children to go for the subject, not the teacher. And they both had a great time in sixth form - at least as far as that point goes - and learned a lot along the way about dealing in an adult way with people and problems.


    Yes, I do think a good university would question why an engineering candidate hadn't studied physics at A level (most engineering after all is the application of physics), and he would need a really good reason for why he positively chose the subjects he did choose rather than negatively not choosing physics "because I didn't like the teacher".


    Cheers,


    Andy

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