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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2018 22:07:26 GMT
I am applying to university this year for a mixture of science courses, not really knowing what I want to do in life. As I sat on the 240 home today, I wondered if there were any degrees which would enable me to work in the transport sector I have known and loved since early childhood (I'm thinking something corporate like transportation/policy planning or network development etc).
Anyone have any ideas of courses/degrees to get into this type of career with TfL or equivalent?
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Post by snoggle on Dec 5, 2018 0:45:23 GMT
I am applying to university this year for a mixture of science courses, not really knowing what I want to do in life. As I sat on the 240 home today, I wondered if there were any degrees which would enable me to work in the transport sector I have known and loved since early childhood (I'm thinking something corporate like transportation/policy planning or network development etc). Anyone have any ideas of courses/degrees to get into this type of career with TfL or equivalent? Hopefully none of what follows is "teaching you to suck eggs" - it's certainly not intended in that way. Many years ago, when a young version of me was applying for a degree course, there were very few transport related courses. I ended up doing Business Studies with Transport (4 year Sandwich) at what was then City of London Polytechnic (now London Guildhall University as everything has to be a university these days!!). Back then the other specialist place were Aston in Birmingham and Sheffield. These days I believe there are far more courses but some of them are fairly specialised towards the rail industry. My course was sensible because it gave you a good grounding in a spread of business related subjects like finance, commercial, corporate planning and law but we had a range of transport things on top. We also had some exceptionally eccentric lecturers but that's fairly standard I think. A quick Google search throws up a range of options covering planning, management, logisitics etc. I'm not going to do all the work for you - you're young and far more computer / Google aware than I am. You might also want to consider what employers you might want to work for and then expend some effort contacting them about the skills and attributes they look for in new employees / graduates. That may encourage you or it may actually put you off - as with every job there is a lot of slog and tedium. It's not all about planning new bus routes or metro lines. My view, and it may now be very out of date, is that a broad base of skills topped up with specialism is generally more attractive to employers *unless* you are going after a very specific field such as a branch of engineering like civils or rolling stock or want to do something like accounting or procurement where there are universally recognised additional qualifications you will need to study for on top of any degree you may get. I ended up doing all sorts of stuff including procurement and legal drafting despite not having CIPS or being a qualified lawyer. I just have an unerring knack of being able to become a "subject expert" in whatever job I do - "oh go and ask Snoggle, he's the expert". That phrase, but with my real name, has followed me round in every job I've done. One final observation - if you have any variety in your career path, even in one organisation, you may find yourself doing something vastly different than you started off doing and not just because you've progressed upwards. Skills, training and experience change who you are and what you offer to an organisation so it's worth bearing that in mind if a spread of roles is something that would be attractive to you. Alternatively you may be happy to "play" with data and models and forecasts all day long for decades - we're all different. One final thing - while it's never the "end of the world" if you choose the wrong degree course I really would urge you to think very long and hard about what you really want to do. Science courses vs transport is quite a divergence so making as good a choice as you can is important. I know it is not easy to know what you want to do and there may be parental / wider family / peer expectations about the direction you should take. Being as honest with yourself and your parents as you can be and then making an informed choice is a good thing to try to do because if you leave home to study you've suddenly got all your own life to organise and run on top of studying.
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Post by 6HP502C on Dec 5, 2018 19:27:43 GMT
I am applying to university this year for a mixture of science courses, not really knowing what I want to do in life. As I sat on the 240 home today, I wondered if there were any degrees which would enable me to work in the transport sector I have known and loved since early childhood (I'm thinking something corporate like transportation/policy planning or network development etc). Anyone have any ideas of courses/degrees to get into this type of career with TfL or equivalent? There is the Transport and Business Management degree at Loughborough University, which I did. The content was varied, with a mix of modules in maths, statistics, economics, business, planning (from both operator and modeller perspective), policy, management, some on buses and railways, vehicle technology/maintenance and a series of air transport modules. It was great. Arguably the most useful element was the 3rd year industrial placement. Everyone who did a placement year did well with securing a job they were happy with in the transport industry, as did many who didn't do one. At the time TfL offered a number of Year in Industry schemes, including one doing bus network planning. I was lucky to be the one to get it that year - it was a well run scheme where I was looked after and given real work to do. And most importantly, helped me with my career after I completed the final year of the degree. This year was the first in many I haven't seen it advertised, but perhaps something to apply for when the time comes if it ever reappears. All that said, most transport operators seek more broad degrees in STEM disciplines for their graduate schemes, but that might be because undergraduate degrees in transport are quite rare. I would recommend that course - it's a well trodden path for people who have worked in the area you are interested in.
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Post by 6HP502C on Dec 19, 2018 23:55:35 GMT
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Post by capitalomnibus on Dec 20, 2018 4:49:54 GMT
zero hours contracts ....
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Post by Pilot on Dec 20, 2018 5:02:48 GMT
Probably more stressful than normal controller job as well lol.
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Post by sid on Dec 20, 2018 5:08:38 GMT
zero hours contracts .... Jobs like that inevitably will be as they're not guaranteed getting rail replacement work, zero hours can suit both parties.
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Post by 6HP502C on Dec 20, 2018 18:51:32 GMT
zero hours contracts .... It's the nature of the work and the same for us dedicated RRB drivers. Rail replacement is primarily at weekends, but not necesssarily every weekend. The arrangement suits quite a few people - university students, those who have it as a second job and some people who simply like the flexibility of being able to choose whether or not they work. If you don't have a choice of jobs, need bill/food money and effectively work full time, then being on a zero hours contract is a dreadful thing, but it works well for many people!
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Post by redbus on Dec 20, 2018 19:25:59 GMT
zero hours contracts .... It's the nature of the work and the same for us dedicated RRB drivers. Rail replacement is primarily at weekends, but not necesssarily every weekend. The arrangement suits quite a few people - university students, those who have it as a second job and some people who simply like the flexibility of being able to choose whether or not they work. If you don't have a choice of jobs, need bill/food money and effectively work full time, then being on a zero hours contract is a dreadful thing, but it works well for many people! One has to be careful about zero hour contracts. The problem is that they can and are abused, when really the contract should have proper hours. A normal bus driver on a TfL route I would not expect to be on a zero hour contract. Rail replacement work as mentioned is not guaranteed, so the bus companies are not guaranteed the work, they equally can't guarantee the work to the drivers. Zero hours in those circumstances sounds reasonable, but I can see it isn't for everyone.
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Post by galwhv69 on Jan 8, 2019 20:27:32 GMT
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Post by YY13VKP on Jan 8, 2019 21:25:26 GMT
I am applying to university this year for a mixture of science courses, not really knowing what I want to do in life. As I sat on the 240 home today, I wondered if there were any degrees which would enable me to work in the transport sector I have known and loved since early childhood (I'm thinking something corporate like transportation/policy planning or network development etc). Anyone have any ideas of courses/degrees to get into this type of career with TfL or equivalent? There is the Transport and Business Management degree at Loughborough University, which I did. The content was varied, with a mix of modules in maths, statistics, economics, business, planning (from both operator and modeller perspective), policy, management, some on buses and railways, vehicle technology/maintenance and a series of air transport modules. It was great. Arguably the most useful element was the 3rd year industrial placement. Everyone who did a placement year did well with securing a job they were happy with in the transport industry, as did many who didn't do one. At the time TfL offered a number of Year in Industry schemes, including one doing bus network planning. I was lucky to be the one to get it that year - it was a well run scheme where I was looked after and given real work to do. And most importantly, helped me with my career after I completed the final year of the degree. This year was the first in many I haven't seen it advertised, but perhaps something to apply for when the time comes if it ever reappears. All that said, most transport operators seek more broad degrees in STEM disciplines for their graduate schemes, but that might be because undergraduate degrees in transport are quite rare. I would recommend that course - it's a well trodden path for people who have worked in the area you are interested in. I'm also doing the same degree as you currently , however my course title has logistics in the title rather than business and I'm at Huddersfield University, but being based in the Business School there is a lot of business elements within my course. I tried to apply for Loughborough but they told me because I wasn't doing a BTEC in Business or Engineering to not bother! Oh well...their loss. One of my good friends is doing the Loughborough course though and he's managed to secure a dream placement of his at GTR! I really like the course at Huddersfield though, there is plenty of transport material that is covered especially in the second year where you have an entire module on Passenger Transport Management, and you also get the third year as a placement year, which I am really looking forward to doing, it would basically be a year's holiday for me working in an industry that I'm passionate about! Just hoping I secure a placement somewhere in London. But @kieran , I would definitely recommend having a look at Huddersfield too if you haven't already submitted your UCAS application. On the subject of placement, I think quite a few companies offer them, but the only ones I know of are GTR, TfL and possibly Arriva. I'm sure more companies will start to introduce them as the years go on. You could also try applying for one of TfL's degree apprenticeship schemes, which are due to launch towards the end of the month. However, it is very hard to get into, and the application process can be stressful, as it involves a maths test, a video interview and finally a visit to TfL's offices for an assessment centre session. I applied last year for the general management scheme, and got as far as the assessment centre but unfortunately I didn't quite make it. Not too disappointed about it though. If it's the railways you want to potentially go into, LNER are also launching a new Degree Apprenticeship this September called Follow the Right Track which may interest you. If this was available last year I would have definitely applied! Applications open in Spring for this scheme. recruitment.lner.co.uk/pb3/corporate/lner/page.php?p_page=futureThe only downsides of doing a degree apprenticeship over a University Degree is that you'll be tied down to one company and since they are quite new they may not have the appropriate accreditation as opposed to other degrees. You will also miss out on the "uni life", which can be quite enjoyable. Whatever you do though @kieran , I wish you the very best of luck
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Post by Deleted on Jan 11, 2019 16:00:22 GMT
Thank you for all your helpful guidance, I really appreciate it. Unfortunately for me, my school prides itself on sending students to the higher achieving universities in the country, and therefore has pushed most of us to apply, even for courses which we are not sure about or don't want to do. Speaking to my peers, I have noticed that many people feel pressured by parents, teachers and friends, not to mention society's expectation that going to university is the only next step in terms of higher education. Speaking for myself however, I have found it hard to focus on constant studying during A-Levels and don't even know if i'm going to pass them all, so I don't see myself being happy at a university doing a degree in something that I'm not passionate about. I have looked into the degree apprenticeships at TfL, and they do seem like very good opportunities to build what could be an amazing career in a well-known, respected establishment. I am planning to apply to General Management just like yourself YY13VKP; may I ask what grades you achieved at GCSE/A-Level and in what subjects? Also is there any reason they didn't accept you - did they give you feedback or offer an alternative placement to apply for? I don't know much about LNER and their Chartered Management Degree Apprenticeship scheme, and don't know if it's exactly what I'm looking for compared to what TfL are offering. Nevertheless, I may well apply to both and see what happens. Whilst we're still here, does anyone know of any other Level 6 degree apprenticeships within the transport industry (preferably in London)? Thanks again!
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Post by Eastlondoner62 on Jan 11, 2019 21:34:13 GMT
Thank you for all your helpful guidance, I really appreciate it. Unfortunately for me, my school prides itself on sending students to the higher achieving universities in the country, and therefore has pushed most of us to apply, even for courses which we are not sure about or don't want to do. Speaking to my peers, I have noticed that many people feel pressured by parents, teachers and friends, not to mention society's expectation that going to university is the only next step in terms of higher education. Speaking for myself however, I have found it hard to focus on constant studying during A-Levels and don't even know if i'm going to pass them all, so I don't see myself being happy at a university doing a degree in something that I'm not passionate about.
I have looked into the degree apprenticeships at TfL, and they do seem like very good opportunities to build what could be an amazing career in a well-known, respected establishment. I am planning to apply to General Management just like yourself YY13VKP ; may I ask what grades you achieved at GCSE/A-Level and in what subjects? Also is there any reason they didn't accept you - did they give you feedback or offer an alternative placement to apply for? I don't know much about LNER and their Chartered Management Degree Apprenticeship scheme, and don't know if it's exactly what I'm looking for compared to what TfL are offering. Nevertheless, I may well apply to both and see what happens. Whilst we're still here, does anyone know of any other Level 6 degree apprenticeships within the transport industry (preferably in London)? Thanks again! That's every school in the country, the more students that end up at University the better for the league tables. It's up to you to say no, they can pressure you but they can't force you. If you don't like studying with an exam at the end then you could always try to do a vocational course which many Universities offer or search for courses with an emphasis on Coursework. Although it is become increasingly harder to find such courses, almost every one has some form of exam in it these days. Although I will tell you if you are not passionate about what you study at University then do not apply. It'll be a waste of 28K, a lot of it relies on you reading around the topic in your own time which you are only likely to do if you enjoy your subject. When you start filling in your UCAS form I'd recommend searching up courses which interest you and if you have any doubts actually clearing them up by phoning the registry of the Uni.
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Post by snoggle on Jan 11, 2019 23:04:51 GMT
Unfortunately for me, my school prides itself on sending students to the higher achieving universities in the country, and therefore has pushed most of us to apply, even for courses which we are not sure about or don't want to do. Speaking to my peers, I have noticed that many people feel pressured by parents, teachers and friends, not to mention society's expectation that going to university is the only next step in terms of higher education. Speaking for myself however, I have found it hard to focus on constant studying during A-Levels and don't even know if i'm going to pass them all, so I don't see myself being happy at a university doing a degree in something that I'm not passionate about. I appreciate things have changed vastly in the decades since I went on to Higher Education but the fundamental issue here is what do *you* want. Your parents and your school are not taking the course are they? I know it can be hard to go against parental expectations but decent parents would rather you were ultimately happy than just pleasing them or their expectations. Being a tiny bit blunt it is *your* life after all, not anyone else's. Part of moving on with higher education is taking that further step to begin living indepedently and ideally away from parents. Again financial and societal expectations and pressures are a bit different these days but people need to make the break and make their own lives and parents have to deal with their children leaving home. All part of becoming an adult. You also need to be happy with the subject you're studying. If you're not you're wasting your time, damaging your sanity and these days wasting an enormous amount of money.
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Post by 6HP502C on Jan 21, 2019 17:25:33 GMT
Today is the closing date for this vacancy!
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