Engineering is a very solid career choice right now. You can get away with getting a 2.2 from a below average university, and still get the top jobs. Nearly everyone gets sponsored too, so you'll get about £1500 per year. If you're a female, you get money thrown at you, plus you can walk into any job.
Importance of A-Levels
- Thread starter Sudden
- Start date
Seems none of the UK BP Graduate schemes request anything more than, this is for all positions even functional ones (Finance, Commercial, HR, Procurement, Trading):
"A strong academic record and a good degree (2.1 or higher) in any discipline. Strong numeracy skills are required. Any nationality can apply, though fluent English is essential. You’ll need to be prepared to move around the UK and be open to the possibility of one of our overseas opportunitiesin year 2 or 3. "
But yeah engineering graduates are hard to find.
Carlazai? would you say KPMG is a medium to small company then? I know all the Big four companies place a lot on 'Work experience, positions of responsibility and career motivation'
I'd agree, my friend now work for KPMG. He got a 2:1 law degree from Bournemouth!
Sorry I disagree here. One of the nice points of studying within a world class group is that cutting edge material is often flitered down to undergraduate courses. There is also high correlation between high RAE scores and high Teaching scores.
If you want to become a world leader in a subject then you want to study under world leaders. If you look at Nobel prize winners for example, you'll see many of them studied under former Nobel prize winners.
If you want to become a world leader in a subject then you want to study under world leaders. If you look at Nobel prize winners for example, you'll see many of them studied under former Nobel prize winners.
![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
It is generally graduate positions and placement positions which have the A Level obsession.
Im currently doing my final year for my BTEC National Diploma IT Systems Support. If i get a distinction then that is equal to 3 A's at A level
i have to disagree, you cant compare the two, they are totally different. it may be equal to some a levels, but say for example maths, further maths and physics AAA Vs. BTEC ND in IT systems support. doesnt add up.
I currently work for IBM doing a summer placement. 90% of the people here seem to be oxbridge/top 10 uni types so I feel quite lucky to get this placement (I am at Newcastle Uni).
There is a reason they stipulate a 'red brick uni' because of the huge number of applicants and not all degree courses are equal. It can be a shame in a way since I know a few people who are brilliant programmers but lack the academic CS background and thus get passed over.
I heard Google only accept graduates if you have a masters however I might be wrong about this.
Last edited:
This is what ive been told by lots of lecturers and read it many time. 3 distinctions at BTEC ND would be the A level equivalent of 3 A's, however BTEC ND is far more focussed than 3 A leves of different subjects. I wouldnt say one is better than the other just that one gives you more flexability when choosing a job whereas the other you would ideally have to pick a job that is very relavent to the subject you chose.
Last edited:
It's all about if they think you're motivated, will work hard and get on with things really. If you've got a fair degree then they know they'll be able to train you etc, but they can't make you work hard unless you want to
From what I've seen from entry requirements and suchlike it's the larger companies that are bothered not the smaller ones - IBM and friends mostly.
you seem to use the fact that bp have no stipulation as proof that it is not prevalent elsewhere. if you were to look at the top 1oo graduate employers i would predict that 80 plus would have a level requirements for graduate positions. bp seems to be an exception - probably for marketing reasons and the fact that many of its intake will be high calibre anyway, either through specialism or ec's. even though there is no stipulation they still place an emphasis on a levels, although not a basic stipulation.
it's all extremes etc... the typical graduate bulge bracket banker will not only have minimum aab at a level (usually far more), but will have a 2.1 from a top ten uni... that does not mean that people not in this mould cannot get in, but it is harder... nor does it means graduates are screwed, rather these are elite jobs at the top end of the scale.
[TW]Fox;9987942 said:
Well BP, Shell and Exxon don't look at A-levels. They aren't small companys
IBM have a really really tough selection process, my housemate didnt get in despite 4 offers off other large companies. Seems odd that they are bothered about A levels, that really have no bearing on the business world, when their selection process is so difficult.
Edit: They needed 24points apparently
Last edited:
much more applicable at postgraduate study than undergraduate - although it stands to reason if you are naturally excellent in your field you will shine through anyway, leading us to question whether studying under them perpetuates greatness or greatness in itself does. hope that makes sense.
contact time at undergrad with the real upper echelons of knowedge is minimal; for example class teachers usually are postgrad or phd students.
i standy by my point that is is the perception of an institution's greatness that is most important as undergraduate level
I'm simply providing an example for this thread, maybe give hope for people who lazed about in sixth from rather than working like I did
BP were top UK Graduate employer in 2005.
Explain how I got in with 6 points then (12 if you count general studies
)There you go folks, there is hope out there for you all
Well, just looked at a few more sites for the top law firms, and mostly all of them are demanding AAB, ABB or 320 UCAS points, in addition to a 2:1. One even said they expected mostly As at GCSE.
On the bright side, one of them also said that if the grade boundry had been missed by one or two grades, or there were extunating circumstances, then they would consider the application assuming it was pretty strong in other regards.
Going by these things at least, it looks like, as many people here have stated, A-Levels are fairly important. Bright side, exceptions can be made. And if I count my E at AS, i have 320 points, lol.
Then again, possibly thinking about this a bit too early on? Just finished 1st yr at uni so have another 2 to go in any case.
On the bright side, one of them also said that if the grade boundry had been missed by one or two grades, or there were extunating circumstances, then they would consider the application assuming it was pretty strong in other regards.
Going by these things at least, it looks like, as many people here have stated, A-Levels are fairly important. Bright side, exceptions can be made. And if I count my E at AS, i have 320 points, lol.
Then again, possibly thinking about this a bit too early on? Just finished 1st yr at uni so have another 2 to go in any case.
Those of you whom seem to think A-Levels aren't important
BAe systems SIGMA programme: 320 UCAS minimum
PwC: 280 UCAS Minimum
Vodafone: 300 UCAS Minimum
Tesco Graduate: 240 UCAS Minimum
Deloitte 300 UCAS Minimum
A selection of large companies in the UK there, anyone who chooses to argue about the importance of Alevel standards are now silenced.
Davem
BAe systems SIGMA programme: 320 UCAS minimum
PwC: 280 UCAS Minimum
Vodafone: 300 UCAS Minimum
Tesco Graduate: 240 UCAS Minimum
Deloitte 300 UCAS Minimum
A selection of large companies in the UK there, anyone who chooses to argue about the importance of Alevel standards are now silenced.
Davem
Last edited: