What kind of job combines the creative satisfaction of a designer with the computing power of the space programme and a potential salary of £50k per year?

Design is what most engineers are trained to do and are engaged in much of their working life. Most will be working with computer systems and software totalling close to a quarter of a million pounds. As a profession, it is not only highly rewarding in a creative sense, but carries an extremely good salary package, with graduates starting on £16-22,000 ponds, with current adverts for experienced personnel in the region of £40-50,000.

So how do you move into this interesting and lucrative career? This needs a little explanation, as there are several degree qualifications offered by universities, including BSc, BEng, MEng. All of these may have a full-time route, or contain an extra year spent in employment where you can gain experience in your chosen discipline (known as a sandwich route). BSc and BEng courses are usually three years full-time, four years sandwich, while the MEng is four years full-time, five years sandwich. In the current climate all of these courses will suffice to obtain employment in this sector.

What can you expect from a typical course? Most departments believe that engineering is predominantly a creative subject (hence my comments about design). Students are challenged at every level with practical projects, beginning in the first year with a slightly less aggressive version of 'robot wars' moving through group projects in year two, and culminating in individual or group projects in the final year. Most courses will provide an element of choice or specialisation in a particular aspect of the discipline, usually in the second or final year.

Students are challenged by not only having to absorb and apply engineering principles, but also to develop an understanding of management and interpersonal skills, including written and verbal presentations. Interaction with students of other disciplines, such as Multimedia Production and Multimedia Technology are encouraged.

Departments have always prided themselves on graduate employment rates with most believing that the industrial placement year is an important development element in the maturity and effectiveness of graduates. Students are therefore encouraged to take up this option, supported by the university arranging placements with a wide variety of national and international companies.

This has several benefits to the students: for example, over half of those placed in industry return with substantial financial support for their final year, and most returning with a firm offer of employment upon graduation. In addition, it has been noticeable that those taking up industrial placement tend to be in the upper classifications when graduating.

Most students will have accrued some financial debt during their studies. Industrial placements are typically on full salary, allowing students to earn in the region of £12-14,000, which goes some way to alleviating the situation.

How can you be assured of the quality of the courses? Well, it's rather like buying an egg! Some eggs carry a quality 'lion' mark, which guarantees that they have been checked and are fresh: others do not have the mark, but may be just as good.