When choosing which A Levels you intend to study, it is fundamental that you base your decisions on your future career ambitions. By choosing subjects which are compatible with your long term career, you will not only increase your chances of being accepted by your chosen university, but you will also significantly improve your capability to succeed throughout your university studies and subsequent working life. This is very much the case if you are considering a degree in engineering. Many universities heavily stress the advantages of having a Maths A Level if you are pursuing a degree in engineering, as it will instil within you a series of fundamental mathematical principles which you will need to apply throughout the doctrine of engineering.

The advantages of choosing Mathematics A Level as well as Further mathematics A Level are held in high esteem by several prestigious Russell Group Universities. For example, the University of Reading , University of Plymouth and The Russel Group highlight the benefits of a Maths A Level when pursuing university courses. A release from the Russel Group states that students who have a Maths A Level will be;

“much better prepared for university study of any degree programme which has a significant mathematical content, including mathematics, engineering and economics. In terms of exposure to important mathematical concepts, support for core mathematics, improvement in general mathematical skills and maturity, together with the enhanced ability to study independently, Further Maths students definitely have an advantage over regular A level students”

Having an A Level in Mathematics can also benefit your financial situation upon entering university. Universities offer scholarship programmes for students with exceptional Mathematics A Level grades. For example, the University of Plymouth offer a Mathematics and Statistics Entrance Scholarship of £500 for any student with a grade A in A Level Mathematics or A Level Further Mathematics. These additional funds can be extremely useful when you are faced with an extensive reading list of textbooks, as well as daily living arrangements.

Possessing mathematical skills, which have been certified to an A Level grade, can provide you with an invaluable advantage upon commencing your engineering university studies. Currently many students reach university lacking basic skills in numbers and algebra. This significantly hinders the exposition and development of mathematical ideas such as derivatives, integrals, and basic algebraic equations, all of which are fundamental elements of an engineering course. Many students entering university without a Mathematics A Level  have to seek additional learning resources in order to rapidly familiarise themselves with mathematical principles which are required throughout their engineering degree. Online tutoring services such as Maths Doctor provide online distance learning to get engineering students up to speed with Mathematics.  If you have a Mathematics A Level, you will already possess these skills and therefore be able to tackle mathematical multi-stage problems within your course without any issues. If you have already consolidated fundamental mathematical concepts through your A Level studies, then you will be able to avoid the stress of having to rapidly learn these topics at university, whilst simultaneously studying new complex engineering principles. Instead, you can begin your studies calmly and confidently, prepared for the mathematical demands that more advanced and analytical engineering courses require.

Ultimately, if you are considering a university degree in engineering, it is highly recommended that you first pursue a Mathematics A Level. Not only will this present you as a promising candidate when you apply for your chosen university, but it will also help you throughout your university degree. If you already possess an established knowledge of fundamental mathematical principles upon arriving at university, then you will be more likely to cope with the topics covered throughout your engineering course. Furthermore, this knowledge will ease your progression throughout your engineering course, and thus benefit your long term career prospects within the field of engineering.

Author

This article was produced by Bradley Taylor, a freelance writer from Derby, England. Bradley is a motoring enthusiast who loves writing about cars and everything automotive but he is versatile and he also writes across a variety of other topics. You can stay connected with Bradley on Google+ and Twitter.