Mechanical Engineering degree

[R1ghtherer1ghtnow]

DS (first year 6th Form) is starting to think about uni.
A level maths, computer science and CTEC engineering.

He is interested in Mechanical Engineering.

I understand that there are certain universities he can't apply to as he doesn't have physics and/or further maths.

Can anyone recommend universities to put on the open day list?

Hi op, what are his likely grades? That will give you a steer.

Then there are lots of aspects to consider:

• campus or city?
• how close to home (or far away)?
• course content
• Yy where will his subjects get him a place?
• London, Scotland, Wales or England?
• is RG important to him?
• does he want a year in industry?

Without Physics, realistically, some unis are out. However some would offer a foundation year. Plus others are ok with CS, eg Liverpool, Kent, Newcastle, . Therefore he cannot be too choosy but courses are out there. You would need to ask about the grade required for the CTEC. The unis seem silent on that.

Scotland is not such a great idea if a foundation is needed. Anywhere else in the uk has similar course structure. What might be more important is BEng (3 years) or MEng (4 years) . MEng is gold standard but you can move up from BEng if good enough. Make sure courses are accredited.

My son is currently doing T-Level engineering so non traditional qualification.
we have looked at and been v impressed by the courses at Sheffield Hallam and Uni of Northumbria. Don’t dismiss the newer Unis, courses look great and also have MEng option plus placement year.

Can he see about getting an apprenticeship? My son managed to get in with the council doing mechanical engineering he started in august and is don't really well . Plus side he'll get paid and get his qualifications at the same time

*doing

Thank you all for replying!
I had wondered about MEng vs BEng and it's useful to know that there is the possibility of transferring across. I had seen that some unis offer a foundation year too so hopefully there is quite a bit of scope. I suppose it's easier to know where to apply once predicted grades have been set.

@sleepismyhobby it's great to hear that your son has got onto a degree apprenticeship- we do want to find out more about them. The only one I know a bit about is Rolls Royce with Derby Uni.

We're in the Midlands so wondered about the following:
Birmingham (might be hard to get in without physics and FM as they state not needed but preferred)
Leicester
Coventry
Derby
Liverpool

If anyone has any knowledge of Engineering at these unis it would be great to hear about it.

That’s quite a range, grade wise. Birmingham will be pretty high I imagine (mainly A, maybe one B) while Derby and Coventry will be lower.

I realise it’s early but based on yr 12 so far plus GCSEs, what PGs are likely?

Hi @clary yes! You're right. I thought it might be worth looking at the full range that fall below the top unis that are out of the running due to no physics or FM.
He should be on for AA and a Distinction but I think he'd rather go for a comfortable fit rather than a stretch!

Coventry are at No. 16 on The Guardian Mechanical Engineering league table and ask for ABB so I'm interested to find out more.

Coventry is a former poly. As are Northumbria and Sheffield Hallam. They are often useful unis for those with not quite perfect qualifications. Plus they often have excellent industry links. It’s also worth knowing that engineers get jobs. We have a shortage of them.

The Guardian is a strange league table. It over-eggs certain aspects of courses and their ranking is often a bit odd. Coventry 48 in the CUG which is realistic given entry requirements and overall status. The Complete University Guide is more reliable. Newcastle, Liverpool and Leicester are similarly ranked in the 20s. Birmingham is much higher so possibly is a stretch but you should look at Leicester, Liverpool and Newcastle. Liverpool and Newcastle anre long established engineering unis. Does staying near home really matter that much?

@sleepismyhobby Im surprised a local authority offers a degree apprenticeship in mechanical engineering. What job is he doing?

@TizerorFizz thank you! This is really helpful! I've just jumped in and started to have a look and don't really know what's what- its this kind of steer that I need.

@clary staying fairly local isn't necessarily important but DS has a hobby that might continue to be linked to home so he might want to come and go fairly easily.

It was @TizerorFizz that asked about staying local but I wondered that too.

I am not against a local uni and my dd was v glad she stayed local (Leicester actually, v underrated imo tho have no idea re engineering). But equally looking further afield is also helpful, even if only to clarify ideas.

I assume Loughborough is out with no FM? <bangs lboro drum AGAIN> it’s v good for engineering.

Is the hobby not one he can pick up at uni too? Unless it’s riding his horse I guess. Seems a shame not to look at Newcastle, Leeds, Sheffield, Bath, Lancaster just on grounds of distance. Tho they may also require physics, I’ve not looked. But AA distinction are good grades.

Sorry @clary! I should have checked back!

I think Loughborough is out due to physics.

I think I'll just get him to go to as many open days as possible and take it from there. Any recommendations very gratefully received though!

Sheffield (7) and Bath (5) will almost certainly want Physics too. You cannot look at top 10 and get in with no Physics or FM to make you competitive. Loughborough is 16 and Birmingham 12. So top 20 is questionable but then the three I mentioned, Liverpool, Leicester and Newcastle are in the next group and worth a look, as they are less competitive.

Thank you @TizerorFizz