Upon Graduation, students from the School of Engineering will find many career options open up to them. Whether in research or industry, our students have a bright future in Engineering and beyond.
Students at Edinburgh are supported by the University’s Careers Service, which actively partners with the School of Engineering in helping our students to explore options, reflect on their interests and needs, gain experience and ultimately transition into graduate roles and/or further study. The Service provides a wide and comprehensive range of information on career choice, employers, further study and funding, drafting CVs and applications, preparing for interviews and assessment centres and much more.
There are two specific careers consultants supporting students in the School of Engineering. They provide both course-based careers education as well as individual careers appointments. One-to-one appointments are confidential and totally impartial, so whether you have a clear career plan mapped out or have absolutely no idea where to go after university, they'll help you to explore the different opportunities and options open to you.
Careers Input to Degrees
Careers consultants typically provide the following sessions to students in class time:
- Year 1 – How to make the most of university to boost your career
- Year 2 – What can you do with your degree – career options
- Year 3 – Looking for internships, placements & jobs; Effective CVs & covering letters; Preparing for interviews
- Year 4 – Preparing for your MEng placement
- Year 5 – After your placement: selling it to employers
Additional workshops offered outwith curriculum time include: Using LinkedIn; Succeeding with application forms; Practice assessment centres.
Engineering Careers Fair
Every November the Careers Service in collaboration with the School of Engineering organises a Careers in Engineering Fair. Around 40 engineering recruiters are invited to speak to our students about summer placements, MEng placements and graduate jobs. In addition there is a major 2-day graduate recruitment fair in October open to students of all subjects across the University, as well as smaller fairs (e.g. Careers in Technology; Law) and themed weeks (e.g. Creative & Cultural Careers Festival; Eco Week) happening throughout the academic year.
There are also regular presentations by employers, keen to recruit Edinburgh students. Examples include AWE, Dyson, Exxon-Mobil, GSK, Jaguar Land Rover, Mott MacDonald and UK Power Networks.
Student Societies
In addition to the Careers Service and School of Engineering, student societies also play a key role in opening up industry links to students and helping them to develop both engineering-specific and transferable skills. Some of the 280 or so student societies at Edinburgh include:
