Bath or Sheffield for Engineering? Does Russell Group matter any more?

[Vanta]

My DD has been offered a place at Sheffield for Mechanical Engineering. She has just been rejected from Bath for the same course but Bath offered Integrated Mechanical and Electrical Engineering instead. Which degree do you think is 'better'? Does it actually matter? Bath isn't Russell Group, Sheffield is. You need a slightly lower grade for the Integrated course - is that seen as a 'lesser' course because of that (you still need AAA)? Any insight really appreciated.

My daughter did bio engineering in Sheffield
Now finished her phd
I was amazed at what the course included and the other aspects of engineering that happens in Sheffield - seems to be forward think and innovative ( and I am not engineering minded)
University has high reputation and has many activities on offer
Sheffield is a young and interesting place to study and live
I would definitely consider Sheffield
Plenty if newly built student accommodation

Bath is non-RG, but is considered to be effectively in the same category. RGplus if you like (see also Lboro, St A's, Lancaster) In general Bath would be seen as 'better' than Sheffield. However Sheffield are particularly strong in Engineering.

Yeh what @WarraK says - Bath and Lancaster, St Andrews and yaaaas mate Loughborough are oooh just as good as RG!

Sheffield does have a good eng rep tho - friend's DD went there and did v well and has a great job in her field.

It's really up to your DD - which place did she prefer? They are quite different IMO. Also Sheffield a good deal cheaper for accommodation after first year. Sheffield - bigger city, non campus, great central location. Bath - campus, very pretty, not got the same big city options (but Bristol close). Bath does have a particualrly good background in maths and engineering type courses tbh - that's pretty much all they offered when I was a student baaack in the day.

@clary Bath was her first choice but now she is being offered a different course, she's not sure what to do. She liked Bath as a place because she wanted a campus uni, it feels nearer to London where we live and the weather is nicer than Sheffield. But when she went to the Sheffield offer holder day they are so welcoming and friendly and Sheffield seems really well connected with industry for jobs etc. It feels like a big decision, but Bath are running a day for kids who have been denied Mech Eng and offered this other course so hopefully she will get more of an idea then. I just wondered if it made any difference to job prospects etc between the two course/two universities.

Well maybe the offer day at Bath will help make her decision. I can’t lie, I did smile at “the weather is better”. I was at uni in Bristol just nearby and it rained all the time! Pretty sure Sheffield has good enough weather. If it’s hills you like tho you are spoiled for choice there. Bath campus I gather features a big hill – and Sheffield is known for steep streets too :)

Sheffield certs not a campus tho. And I agree it's further from London tho the trains are decent.

I don't think there's a wrong answer, both are good universities with well respected courses. Whichever location/campus appeals more?

Another (RG) academic confirming that Bath is RG+. Overall Bath is probably a stronger uni but Sheffield is superb for Engineering, recognised worldwide. Mech Eng is one of the strongest and most respected of the Engineering degrees.

The dual degree Bath are offering your DD is certainly fine. Ultimately she should go where she is most likely to thrive, because her degree class, supra- and extracurricular activities, ability to cultivate good relationships with a couple of lecturers who can then write her strong letters, etc, will determine her next steps.

Both have good reps for student support and satisfaction but yes, Sheffield has is known for being especially friendly.

DD should follow her heart. Best wishes to her

PS I am really saying that DD is in a lucky position: she can’t go wrong. Two great choices. The Sheffield offer is academically more sound and competitive, but anyone who gets a Bath Engineering degree at 2.1 or better with good letters, some summer employment, voluntary work or work experience, involvement in student societies, etc will also be in a great place!

@TizerorFizz may be able to advise.

They are both great options. The cities are quite different though so this might be a deciding factor?

Just putting this here
https://www.amrc.co.uk/

Sheffield is just over two hours from London by train.

Thanks everyone for your helpful and thoughtful replies. The Sheffield AMRC is a massive draw. Not sure Bath has anything similar. I'm sure the offer holder day will help. It just feels like a sliding doors moment because before this happened she was certain what her first choice/back up was and now she needs to decide if it's the course or the place that's more important. She's very lucky to have a choice like that though. They are both great places. Let's hope she gets the grades otherwise I'll be back on here asking for more advice!!

DH is Sheffield alumni and has done consultancy work for the AMRC, so I am a little biased 😄

I've had a DC do Engineering at Sheffield.
It was a great opportunity and a great city.

Sheffield engineering courses & onward opportunities are outstanding. The AMRC is continually expanding & has mega big name contracts. There's also a thriving start up / SME community. Great transport links, not too expensive to live, Peak District close by.
I'd pick Sheffield over Bath any day.

The south west is absolutely crying out for engineers. DS went to Sheffield and noted most of his engineering peers had yo go south(particularly south west) to get a decent job.
Sheffield has proportionately more northerners and Bath mostly southerners.

Bath is much smaller than Sheffield ( about a fifth the size I think) so not the same lived experience at all.

Judging by the number of Sheffield graduates who can't tear themselves away once they finish studying I'd go with Sheffield. The site is splendid of course, right on the edge of the Peak District.

They're both very good unis for engineering, as others have said.

As to which course is 'better' ...that may depend on whether your dd has particular career aspirations which are better supported by one or the other. She can perhaps explore this more at the offer holders event.

Another thing to check is the accreditation - I'd be pretty sure the straight mech eng ones would be at these unis, not sure what happens with some of the integrated ones.

Two great choices but Sheffield is a fab city to be a student in. It's not a campus uni but it's such a student city and everything is so close that it feels like a campus uni in some ways. There are also lots of things on for students whatever their interests.

Some Courses at some unis have changed a lot over the last few years so it's worth really analysing the course data. Look at the numbers of students in particular. If they have increased rapidly that might not be good.

If it was me I'd choose Sheffield but I don't think your daughter can go wrong with either. How exciting for her.

@RampantIvy if your DH works in the industry, would you mind asking him if he would find a graduate of Mech Eng more attractive than a graduate of Integrated Mechanical and Electrical Engineering? Is one degree seen as more useful than the other? Or are they all the same? They both have same accreditations. Thanks!

I can ask, but I'm not sure he would know. He is semi retired now.

In a previous role he used to be involved in the teaching company scheme and collaborated with a few local universities to select the best graduates, but that was a very long time ago.

It might be an idea to check with each university what kind of destinations students go on to after graduating.

Other posters might have a better idea TBH.

DH works in this field. He says it depends what she is interested in but his firm work with Sheffield University and have employees with degrees from there. He says he doesn't know anyone with degrees from Bath there but maybe they don't apply. On the uni stats data Bath seems to get slightly higher earnings but not too much in it. Bath is very well respected uni. DHs firm struggle to recruit quite often and I think it will be people not applying from Bath.

I'd say both are great choices, and with respect to the "status" of the institution there's not much in it in my opinion. So I'd put the decision down to other factors like the details of course, the location (relative to home), their feelings for the city etc.

There really isn't a wrong choice here. Both great unis with great reputations for engineering and great graduate outcomes.

Sheffield cheaper for cost of living, but if that isn't a major concern this is a situation where it'll be OK to make the final decision on 'vibes'.

I was tagged earlier but I have to say DH is a civil/structural engineer. So not a recruiter of mechanical engineers.

Sheffield engineering is first class though. Has been for a very long tIme and you won’t go wrong with a MEng from them. They are a powerhouse of Engineering. It’s a fun city and in fact they do have student village areas so it’s very easy to associate with other students and have a great city to live in too.

I would say Bath is smaller and possibly doesn’t have the same breadth of engineering. However employment prospects won’t vary much and she should do the course she actually wants. Therefore looking at the modules/options and visiting matters.

I rather suspect fewer grads from Bath continue into engineering jobs. They go home to London and get City jobs. Sheffield grads are less likely to do that. She’s got two great offers so I would look at course content and options, type of uni (Sheffield is very low private school when compared to Bath) and is definitely more integrated into the city from day 1. It’s a fun city and students we have known there are enjoying themselves. Possibly not a uni for the quietest of the quiet. Overall though, Sheffield is a big name in engineering. Grads from Bath are of course very employable and no one should not be able to get a grad job if they want one from either of these unis.