Engineering: The clear career path for your future

Are you looking to pursue a degree in STEM but aren’t quite sure which subject you should choose?

Are you looking to pursue a specialised postgraduate course that will extend and embellish your knowledge? A degree in engineering, whether undergraduate or postgraduate will provide high-opportunity pathways into successful jobs.

According to Engineering UK, employment prospects for engineering and technology students are strong, with graduates having a much better chance of securing a full-time job and earning higher starting salaries than graduates in other fields.

With an average starting salary of over £25,500 in the UK alone, engineering and technology graduates with a first class degree have great potential for earning, taking home 18 percent more than the average graduate six months after leaving university.

All industries exponentially rely on new and improved products and designs, therefore engineers with various specialisations are highly sought-after by employers across all sectors. But where should you choose to study?

We have chosen four top Engineering schools from some of the best universities in Europe to narrow down the options for you.

FACULTY OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, VILNIUS GEDIMINAS TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY (VGTU) – LITHUANIA

Source: Vilnius Gediminas Technical University

The future that entire generations talked about is now – smart technological solutions, digital construction, noise-reducing asphalt, self-driving electric cars, virtual reality…

Recognising this, VGTU scientists, students and graduates contribute to a sustainable living environment, promoting innovation and expanding limits of understanding.

Eighty percent of the programmes at Vilnius Gediminas Technical University are in the engineering field, and the university ranks in the world’s top 100 for Civil and Structural Engineering, as well as Architecture, according to QS.

With the biggest research labs in the region for civil engineering, the main focus areas of this school’s research are in sustainable building, so you’ll benefit from new knowledge of smart building structures; low emissions building materials and technologies; BIM and sustainable lifecycle of the structures and geodetic technologies.

Masters and PhD students have the option to take on research internships in the lab or other research facilities. Students can also take part in the university’s annual “Pasta Bridges” championship, a fun and innovative way to collaborate, design, build and test structures on a miniature scale.

VGTU encourages every student in not only seeking the knowledge, but also in developing unique talents. Dynamic university life is an attribute of open and creative community. Art, engineering, management, media, studies, research and business are the cornerstones of VGTU’s Innovation and Creativity center “LinkMenų Fabrikas”.

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING SCIENCE, LUT UNIVERSITY – FINLAND

Finland’s LUT University offers postgraduate students excellent opportunities to specify and develop engineering skills with the following four masters: Industrial Engineering and Management, Software Engineering, Chemical Engineering and Computational Engineering and Technical Physics.

The school strives to ensure a sustainable future for a world where climate change, diminishing natural resources and limited access to clean water pose significant challenges. The study and development of clean technologies globally forms the core of this school’s research and is strongly reflected in its educational content.

Source: LUT University

For a young university LUT ranks very well, and was named one of the 20 most promising challenger universities in the world in 2016, as well as within the global top 400 in the QS ranking – one of the most highly-regarded higher education league tables. In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, LUT is ranked among the top 25 percent in the world in industrial funding reflecting the intense collaboration and close links with industry.

Choosing to pursue your postgraduate studies at LUT will provide you with high quality Nordic education with broad career opportunities.

Students here have a multitude of ways to develop their entrepreneurial skills during their studies by participating in activities at the LUT Entrepreneurship Society, for example, by building teams and competing in national and international idea competitions.

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL – UK

The University of Bristol (UoB) in the UK consistently ranks in the global top 100 and the UK’s top 10 universities. With its first-class facilities, including a £19 million investment in new hi-spec labs and equipment, the Faculty of Engineering encourages students to question existing practice, giving them the confidence to be leaders and entrepreneurs.

UoB wins more Royal Academy of Engineering Leadership Advanced awards than any other UK University, fostering strong partnerships and strategic alliances with local and global industry bodies, including Agusta Westland, Rolls-Royce and Airbus.

University of Bristol graduates are numerate, literate and creative team-players with the skills needed to succeed in many careers. There are Bristol engineers in the Civil Service, the armed forces, education, investment services and the media.

The faculty offers a number of specialised masters programmes across the broad spectrum of Engineering, including Civil Engineering and Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

For example, you could study an MSc in Earthquake Engineering and Infrastructure Resilience or MSc Water and Environmental Management, alternatively you could choose an MSc in Wireless Communication Systems and Signal Processing or an MSc in Communication Networks and Signal Processing.

POLYTECNICO DI MILANO – ITALY

Source: Polytecnico de Milano

Politecnico di Milano in Italy offers study programmes at all levels (Bachelor, Master of Science, specialist masters and postgraduate programmes, Ph.D.) in Architecture, Design and Engineering.

It also provides high-level training courses (including specialisation schools and honours programmes); plus a wide range of MOOCs, online courses that are free and open to everyone, and a range of language courses.

Polytecnico di Milano has always based the success of its students on achieving a strong relationship with industry, integrating book learning with experiential practice. The applied teaching both in and outside of the classroom is promoted and co-ordinated by the Career Service, there to help you implement your engineering career plan.

The university also has direct contact with the job market through industry links and so is an excellent option if you’re looking to delve into your engineering career right after you finish your studies. There’s also the bonus of gaining international contacts and universally-recognised language skills.

The Career Service at Polytecnico di Milano helps students develop familiarity both with the job market and their own field so they are ready for the workplace as soon as they graduate.

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International

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