Best unis for Engineering?

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Hi - my son has applied to Cambridge for Engineering as his first choice for 2022 entry, but as his chances of getting in are slim (1 in 7 approx I believe), he's exploring other options (General Eng or Mechanical Eng).

As he's a quiet lad who prefers not to be in the middle of busy action, he's not too keen on the idea of the obvious London choices (Imperial, UCL etc). He's a keen road cyclist and runner so access to green spaces and countryside whilst studying will be important to him (as will be applying to good unis with reputable engineering departments with good links to industry). We live in the north of England, but are also considering looking uk wide.

Anyone got any Engineering insights as to which unis may suit? We're trying to draw up a shortlist of a couple to visit before Christmas but are failing to move forward much on this. Any help much appreciated!

Thanks!

UCLan in Preston has an excellent engineering centre, industry links, and us close to loads of green spaces.

I am a bit confused. Your son has already submitted an UCAS application but with only Cambridge in it? This is very unusual.

Where the school happy with this? Why is he leaving it so late? While the UCAS deadline is in January most students will get their applications in during November.

I am a tutor for year 13 students and while they can submit staggered universities we don’t recommend it as it drags the application out a lot longer, which takes a lot of mental energy.

My advise, they are all great universities, pick 2 aspirational 2 on his UCS grades and 1 safety. if his grades are high then 3 at that level, 1 a grade lower and 1 a couple of grades lower. Get them in and dusted and then you can relax.

Definitely Sheffield, right on the edge of the Peak District.

@VorpalSword
I think a few applicants do this now . Early entry and then think about the others.

I am a bit confused. Your son has already submitted an UCAS application but with only Cambridge in it? This is very unusual.
Don't think it's that unusual. DD did this when applying to Oxford (not engineering). It meant she could initially put all her focus on the Oxford entry requirements while having more time to think about her other uni choices. Seemed sensible to me.

Southampton is good for some branches, DD's course is ranked one in the country above oxbridge and imperial. He needs to work out the kind of engineering he's interested in because they all have specialisms, she is specialising in robotics

And the grades required are a*aa same as Cambridge, I would consider a back up choice that's a big lower just in case

@gogohm

And the grades required are a*aa same as Cambridge, I would consider a back up choice that's a big lower just in case

As I explained below, if they offer the BEng fallback for AAA then those offers effectively are a couple of grades below Cambridge which for engineering is at least two A-stars and an A not A*AA. And the other thing to bear in mind is that most Cambridge applicants will have predicted grades of 3A stars (at least - many will have done another A level as well as the maths/fm/physics). Applicants with 4 A levels may get offers of two or even three A stars and the rest As!

My son's also applying to general engineering at Cambridge (currently upstairs practising hard for the ENGAA tomorrow). He's got a fair chance, I think, based on predicted results anyway. Although it's so hard to know how accurate those are considering that cohort has never sat a formal exam. . He wants to eventually specialise in astronautics/space engineering but seems to like the idea of the general route at Cambridge first then specialising later. Although he has also applied to aerospace engineering at Imperial. I'm not sure London's for him really, but we'll see.

Southampton, Bristol and Durham are his other choices. Southampton is the only place we haven't visited yet. I think Bristol is a good bet all round. Durham would really suit DS as a unviversity town but in terms of the course and the employment prospects I''m not really sure it's that well known for engineering.

I keep stressing to DS that he really needs to be focusing a lot on the employment prospects of graduates at each uni. I think it's a luxury these days to be able to study for studying's sake.

But sure, if there's one or two they fancy which need lower than the BEng backup for their next preferred couple down from Cambridge then that's a good idea in case by the time they have to nail down firm and insurance things aren't quite going as they hoped.

Well yes but the BEng position might not be what the DC wants and it’s comparing apples and pears. Essentially they all want AAA. But Cambridge wants AAA*. So it’s higher than others and Imperial would be similar I assume. Most people would put a AAA or AAB for insurance or 4th choice.

[quote TizerorFizz]@VorpalSword
I think a few applicants do this now . Early entry and then think about the others.[/quote]
We recommend the students get their application in mid November. It means they can start concentrating on their grades and other stuff.

Leaving your choices until after January just prolongs the whole, stressful, process.

Most students have a great time wherever they go, loads of great suggestions already listed. Look at them online, if possible go visit on a weekend then get the application done.

Good luck for all doing the entrance exam tomorrow! Presumably they've at least been able to work through the previous years papers (dd was in the first year of them so had just one 'sample' Cambridge paper though of course she'd done GCSEs and also AS) . And flipping it around your DC will have had this exam experience when they get to A levels.

Yes definitely consider some of the Scottish universities

loughborough for sure

My friend’s son chose Sheffield for engineering for the same reasons. Didn’t fancy London and wanted proximity to the Peak District/ Pennines for cycling, climbing, orienteering etc etc. He also wanted to avoid anywhere he would be in a minority because he’s a normal lad from a normal family who went to a normal state school.

He wants to eventually specialise in astronautics/space engineering but seems to like the idea of the general route at Cambridge first then specialising later.

Sounds like one of DDs pals. They can specialise via their choice of options and projects in the third and fourth years. He got the job/training program he wanted against competition including PhDs from other good unis.

Warwick.

He also wanted to avoid anywhere he would be in a minority because he’s a normal lad from a normal family who went to a normal state school.
Like the majority of Cambridge students (well, obviously some of them are lasses)

Loughborough

@ErrolTheDragon

I’m not sure the stats would change his mind because he thinks everyone who goes to Oxbridge is a ‘posh twat like Boris’.

I think he needs to think about place as well as course. Loughborough isn't great in terms of nightlife and culture, if that's important to him.

Warwick. General course to start with, specialising after 4 terms. Highly regarded and rigorous

@Libertaire
Great attitude for working life then!!! Would he like it if others called him “common, stupid and useless” or similar? Does he know what twat refers to in the USA? I would tell him he needs to grow up and make decisions built on fact rather than juvenile prejudice.

@readsalotgirl63
You're right about I. Mech. Eng.
Formula Student is amazing - not all universities offer the course, but designing, building and racing a car at Silverstone is a fantastic project and definitely worth considering as part of a Mech Eng degree. Liverpool, John Moores and Uclan all do it as far as I know.