Often people who liked maths, physics, design and technology and chemistry at school ... But doing engineering at university isn’t just for science and maths boffins - non-scientists and mature students can also join in by doing a year-long foundation course first.

Usually three subjects at A level or equivalent, (for example five Scottish Highers, an advanced GNVQ in engineering or a BTEC qualification - you can get this with a Modern Apprenticeship), but the grades vary a lot between universities. Check out the prospectuses of places you’re interested in for detailed information

• a broad area, eg mechanical engineering
• a specialised area, eg aeronautical engineering
• engineering combined with another subject, eg engineering, economics and management.

Modular degrees let you have more flexibility in the number of short courses (‘modules’) you mix and match.

MEng (Master of Engineering) is a four-year course which is awarded by some universities as a first degree. The last year is more practical than the first three.

Degree courses are usually three years long, but can take up to five years if they are sandwich courses. This means that there are periods of work experience‘sandwiched’ into the academic parts. If you are lucky you can get sponsorship from a company so that you can work for a salary whilst you are studying. Year in Industry is a scheme where you get to experience a year of engineering before university. It's a good alternative or supplement to a sandwich course

Graduate training schemes You will be shown how to use your technical university knowledge by your employer. You get to experience different departments and find out where you fit in the best. These are some areas where you might work.

• Design engineers turn initial ideas into plans and have to take into account what materials will be used, budgets and how the product will be used.
• Development engineers take these designs and make them into models to test.
• Research engineers find new and better ways of doing things.
• Production engineers decide how things are going to be made, including the number of people and machines needed and the work schedule to be stuck to.
• Control engineers find ways to measure the variables in the systems, such as temperature or pressure, and to regulate them as necessary.
• Quality assurance engineers check that all the products are made to the required standard and that everything works correctly.
• Marketing and sales people find out what the customer needs, then promote and sell the product that offers the best solution.
• Managers keep the business running along by overseeing staff and the projects in general.

Professional training The Engineering Council co-ordinates institutions which have a register of qualified engineers. If you meet their standards, and pass the training and assessment, you can be registered as an incorporated or a chartered engineer.

Postgraduate study Academic types might want to get a second degree to specialise in a particular area.