Electrical engineering. HND vs Degree

gavin948 · Oct 20, 2020

Hi Guys,

Interesting read. Well I am 46 qualified electrician and now doing a desk job managing facilities companies.
Looking for a new challenge and doing HND electrical engineering.
Question is - What type of work would I pick up and what sort of salary would you expect. On guy told me he gets 60k as an engineer??

Thanks

Zerax · Oct 20, 2020

bomjac said:
If you have an issue with maths, I would highly recommend Engineering Mathematics, by K.A. Stroud.

I've still got my copy on the bookshelf ! Absolute classic.

Julie. · Oct 20, 2020

Zerax said:
I've still got my copy on the bookshelf ! Absolute classic.

Yup, absolute classic text, did me well for the first year or so of my degree - still around now!

Marvo · Oct 21, 2020

gazdkw82 said:
Thanks for the info. My maths is around GCSE B/C. I had to do functional skills maths a few years ago and that's based on C/B GCSE in old money.

I think long term a degree would be better but I'm 36, no rush for that. Maybe I can do a HND and then work on my other skills to prepare for the extra year or so to complete the degree.

This is the route I took many years ago. It suited me better because the OND and HND were completed on block release and nightschool whilst I was working, I then just took one year off to complete my degree.

SheffSimon · Oct 23, 2020

gavin948 said:
Hi Guys,

Interesting read. Well I am 46 qualified electrician and now doing a desk job managing facilities companies.
Looking for a new challenge and doing HND electrical engineering.
Question is - What type of work would I pick up and what sort of salary would you expect. On guy told me he gets 60k as an engineer??

Thanks

As always, it depends on your experience as well as your education, and just being lucky to drop on the right role.

I'm assuming you want a technical role rather than managerial.

If you had factory or process automation experience, then software engineering is very lucrative, especially if you have good SCADA/DCS skills. I'm describing myself, and if I work in petrochem, or pharma, or nuclear, way more than 60K a year is achievable contracting.