In
addition, for those students opting to study a postgraduate degree (in
part or in whole) in a different country from their country of origin,
it provides an opportunity to study and develop expertise in a foreign
language, and gain insight into and knowledge of a different country's
culture and systems. In fact, mechanical engineers with language skills
who have worked in more than one country are becoming increasingly sought
after, particularly as many companies now have international partners
or subsidiaries.
Where
should I study?
Education systems, standards and qualifications vary from country to
country. There are definite benefits to be gained from studying for
a postgraduate qualification in a different country, particularly for
students living in a country where training in a particular subject
to advanced level is lacking. However when opting to study abroad, it
is important to select somewhere where the standard of education is
known to be high and the final postgraduate qualification is one that
is internationally recognised. The UK is a popular choice among foreign
postgraduate students for this reason. UK universities are acknowledged
as being among some of the best in the world in terms of the standards
and quality of their postgraduate courses and the research posts that
are on offer.
UK Postgraduate qualifications include an MSc, the Integrated Graduate
Development Scheme (IGDS), MBA (Master of Business Administration) and
an MPhil, MRes or PhD undertaken by research. Students have access to
the latest publications and equipment and many of the UK university
postgraduate engineering modules are structured to provide an international
element; for example, Sheffield Hallam University offers a module on
International Product Development, which involves Mechanical Engineers
working on European wide products and liasing with different companies
abroad. Many students chose to study for their postgraduate qualification
in the UK because it enables them to experience the British culture
and improve their working and spoken English, now used universally in
the business world. Undertaking postgraduate study in the UK can be
particularly beneficial to foreign students if they have the opportunity
to forge links with a company in the UK that also operates in their
own country. They can then act as a liaison person for that company
when they return home.
Likewise UK companies and universities try to maintain links with students
once they have qualified and returned home because it encourages good
working relationships and builds good communication networks throughout
the global market. In some instances international students stay on
for a time after they have completed their course, continuing to work
for the company they have been involved with during their study period.
Funding and grants are available for foreign students wishing to study
in the UK through various scholarships and charitable trusts, via Universities
and some Institutions as well as the British Government and British
Council Award Schemes. The Institution of Mechanical Engineers, for
example, has a number of scholarships available including the Clayton
Grants for members undertaking postgraduate studies or research in mechanical
engineering at an approved centre. European funding is also available
under the European Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University
Students - the Socrates Erasmus Scheme. The UK Erasmus Council provides
top-up grants for some 10,000 students each year who are doing a degree
in the UK and part of their degree in another country. All UK universities
and every country in Europe, apart from Switzerland are part of the
scheme and Postgraduate degrees in Mechanical Engineering are among
those particularly encouraged.
The UK welcomes foreign students, and last year in a campaign to encourage
more international students to study here the British Government and
British Council introduced a package of changes designed to make the
process of applying to study in the UK faster and simpler. These include
making visa arrangements more user-friendly and easing restrictions
on taking paid employment. They are also reducing the need for international
students to reapply for leave to remain in the UK whilst studying. In
addition the Chevening Scholarship Scheme is to be expanded with funding
from government, universities and business to support an extra 500 scholarships
on top of the current 2200 students.
About
the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE)
IMechE
was founded in 1847, with the railway pioneer George Stephenson as its
first President. Today IMechE is the market leader in the field of mechanical
engineering, manufacturing and allied technologies, and is one of the
largest and most prestigious engineering bodies in the world with approximately
83,000 members in 120 countries.
We
play a vital role in the education, training and professional development
of mechanical engineers and act as an international centre for the development
and transfer of mechanical engineering technology. We are one of the
largest engineering institutions and offer the broadest and most adaptable
qualification.
Our headquarters are in an architecturally-renowned building in Westminster,
London which has a modern information centre and meeting rooms for conferences
and seminars. Hundreds of technical events are organised every year,
and a comprehensive range of general-interest and technical literature
is published. The scope of our activities is continually adapted to
the needs of industry, education, training and management. We are involved
in many fields, including the provision of opinions and information
to government.
Membership
of IMechE is recognised professionally throughout the world. Members
and Fellows are recognised as Chartered Mechanical Engineers, and are
given exemption from part or all of the professional registration examinations
in many countries which have statutory requirements.
For
further information about IMechE:
Tel: 020 7222 4557
Email: enquiries@imeche.org.uk
Website: www.imeche.org.uk
The
number of engineering graduates taking a second degree
has been growing in recent years. Many do so because
they want to improve their employment prospects. For
others it is a foundation for further learning and an
opportunity to specialise in a different subject area
because of a late, newfound interest in a particular
field. Although a second degree does not automatically
guarantee future employment success, or a more prestigious
and highly paid job, statistics do indicate that the
employment prospects of students with postgraduate degrees
are improved.
