[minefield]

Hi all, I have a question regarding the Chemical Engineering course at Cambridge.

As you may know, there is no first year Chemical Engineering course at Cambridge.
One must first study Engineering or Natural Sciences in the first year.

If I apply for Natural Sciences (Physical), is it easy for me to join the Chemical Engineering course in year 2?
Is this considered a "change of course"? Anyone knows the procedure?
Or should I just inform my potential Director of Studies at the start or end of first year?

Or must I apply for the Chemical Engineering (via Natural Sciences) course?

Hope any current undergraduate, especially Chemical Engineering student, can answer my queries.

Thanks!

[nibbler12]

(Original post by minefield)
Hi all, I have a question regarding the Chemical Engineering course at Cambridge.

As you may know, there is no first year Chemical Engineering course at Cambridge.
One must first study Engineering or Natural Sciences in the first year.

If I apply for Natural Sciences (Physical), is it easy for me to join the Chemical Engineering course in year 2?
Is this considered a "change of course"? Anyone knows the procedure?
Or should I just inform my potential Director of Studies at the start or end of first year?

Or must I apply for the Chemical Engineering (via Natural Sciences) course?

Hope any current undergraduate, especially Chemical Engineering student, can answer my queries.

Thanks!

On your SAQ you'll get asked if you plan to switch. If you pick chem part 1A then I think you can switch relatively easily.

[Sockpirate]

(Original post by minefield)
Hi all, I have a question regarding the Chemical Engineering course at Cambridge.

As you may know, there is no first year Chemical Engineering course at Cambridge.
One must first study Engineering or Natural Sciences in the first year.

If I apply for Natural Sciences (Physical), is it easy for me to join the Chemical Engineering course in year 2?
Is this considered a "change of course"? Anyone knows the procedure?
Or should I just inform my potential Director of Studies at the start or end of first year?

Or must I apply for the Chemical Engineering (via Natural Sciences) course?

Hope any current undergraduate, especially Chemical Engineering student, can answer my queries.

Thanks!

It's REALLY easy to switch - they've been trying to get us to do it all year by inciting us into the department with free sandwiches From what I've seen you would have no problem (I'm debating doing it next year at the moment) - the procedure is basically go to one of the many talks about doing chemeng (with free food), say you want to do it, tell your DOS come easter term however apparently it's often the case that you can even change into it at the start of the second year if you have a change of heart about options and they have space on the course.

The question is though, if you're certain you want to do chemeng, why DON'T you apply for it?

[minefield]

(Original post by Sockpirate)
It's REALLY easy to switch - they've been trying to get us to do it all year by inciting us into the department with free sandwiches From what I've seen you would have no problem (I'm debating doing it next year at the moment) - the procedure is basically go to one of the many talks about doing chemeng (with free food), say you want to do it, tell your DOS come easter term however apparently it's often the case that you can even change into it at the start of the second year if you have a change of heart about options and they have space on the course.

The question is though, if you're certain you want to do chemeng, why DON'T you apply for it?

Thank you for your detailed answer. It is really reassuring to know that it is easy to switch.

With regards to your question, at the point of applying, I am more keen on Natural Sciences and I am not sure if Chemical Engineering is right for me. In addition, there are very limited spots for Chemical Engineering and I am worried that my interview will be super tough or it will just be super hard to get an offer. I believe the "many talks about doing chemeng (with free food)" will help me to gain a better understanding about ChemEng if I eventually go there.

Do you have any idea about the quality of Chemical Engineering course at Cambridge (without reference to the overall prestige of Cambridge)? Imperial published that it is first in the UK for Chemical Engineering...

[Sockpirate]

(Original post by minefield)
Thank you for your detailed answer. It is really reassuring to know that it is easy to switch.

With regards to your question, at the point of applying, I am more keen on Natural Sciences and I am not sure if Chemical Engineering is right for me. In addition, there are very limited spots for Chemical Engineering and I am worried that my interview will be super tough or it will just be super hard to get an offer. I believe the "many talks about doing chemeng (with free food)" will help me to gain a better understanding about ChemEng if I eventually go there.

Do you have any idea about the quality of Chemical Engineering course at Cambridge (without reference to the overall prestige of Cambridge)? Imperial published that it is first in the UK for Chemical Engineering...

Even if you do apply for ChemEng, it is really easy to switch out of as well, however I completely understand your reasoning!
As for quality of the course, this link: http://www.thecompleteuniversityguid...e.htm?ipg=8727 would suggest it's fairly good, as it places Cambs first in the country, just above Imperial, however I don't really set much store by league tables

EDIT: Just found this on the Cambs website:
The Department has an international reputation for excellence in both its teaching and its research. Cambridge is regularly ranked as the "best" chemical engineering course in the UK - it's been top of both The Times and The Guardian league tables every year since 2003. In the 2008 research assessment exercise (RAE), the Department came equal first, with 30% of staff being judged at 4* level ("world leading"), 55% at 3* level ("internationally excellent"), and 15% at 2* ("internationally recognised").

[kpatb]

Oh my god, why did I not find this board earlier? :O Hey ho, better late than never!

(Original post by minefield)
In addition, there are very limited spots for Chemical Engineering and I am worried that my interview will be super tough or it will just be super hard to get an offer. I believe the "many talks about doing chemeng (with free food)" will help me to gain a better understanding about ChemEng if I eventually go there.

... Imperial published that it is first in the UK for Chemical Engineering...

Manchester also say that they're the first Chemical Engineering Course in the UK :P So take your pick, it could be either or :P

I applied for Chemical Engineering via Phys Natural Sciences this year and was offered a place for 2011 From what research I had done for my course before I applied, when interviewed, you will be interviewed on your first year subjects - in your case, Natural Sciences. It's possible that in a more general interview that you'll be asked to talk about Chem Eng... In my interviews, Chemical Engineering came up for a couple minutes but apart from that it was very based around Science.

I don't think it would be super tough or harder to get an offer just because you applied for Chem Eng! The difficulty of getting a place depends on the first year course you chose - which is Nat Sci in your case, so the acceptance rates are just under 30%

Good Luck!

[Sockpirate]

(Original post by kpatb)
Oh my god, why did I not find this board earlier? :O Hey ho, better late than never!



Manchester also say that they're the first Chemical Engineering Course in the UK :P So take your pick, it could be either or :P

I applied for Chemical Engineering via Phys Natural Sciences this year and was offered a place for 2011 From what research I had done for my course before I applied, when interviewed, you will be interviewed on your first year subjects - in your case, Natural Sciences. It's possible that in a more general interview that you'll be asked to talk about Chem Eng... In my interviews, Chemical Engineering came up for a couple minutes but apart from that it was very based around Science.

I don't think it would be super tough or harder to get an offer just because you applied for Chem Eng! The difficulty of getting a place depends on the first year course you chose - which is Nat Sci in your case, so the acceptance rates are just under 30%

Good Luck!

Actually, for interview, it really depends on the college - I'm pretty sure that at my college (Pembroke) you get a specific chemical engineering interview, as opposed to the standard natsci interviews.

[kpatb]

(Original post by Sockpirate)
Actually, for interview, it really depends on the college - I'm pretty sure that at my college (Pembroke) you get a specific chemical engineering interview, as opposed to the standard natsci interviews.

Oh really?
Well at Christ's I was interviewed for Natural Sciences. They did ask me why specifically Chemical Engineering and why I chose the Natural Sciences route rather than applying for a course that concentrates on just Chem Eng.

I just looked this up - Straight from Pembroke's Website:

"The admissions process consists of interviews with the Directors of Studies in Chemical Engineering and in Engineering, for candidates applying via the Engineering route. Those applying via the Natural Sciences route will be interviewed by the Directors of Studies in Chemical Engineering and in the Natural Sciences."

I take my words back then
Right you are sockpirate

Whatever the case, I'm sure that the college website will tell what subject(s) the college will interview you for

(Original post by minefield)
In addition, there are very limited spots for Chemical Engineering and I am worried that my interview will be super tough or it will just be super hard to get an offer. I believe the "many talks about doing chemeng (with free food)" will help me to gain a better understanding about ChemEng if I eventually go there.
.

Well if you're worried about such an issue, why not chose a college that interviews in such a manner that will suit you? Though I doubt it would make too much of a difference...
and as stated above, all college websites do give quite a bit of information on what the interviews are like

[bananarama2]

Do you have to do the TSA for Chemical Engineering ?

[RK92]

i think whether you take the TSA or not is determined by your college choice rather than subject choice.

[bananarama2]

Thanks

[TLittler]

i want to do chem engineering aswel i wont get into cambridge though. wcp, what grades do you have and work experiance etc, and where are you looking to appy?

[bananarama2]

I only doing my gcse's at the minute , I'm predicted 7a*s and 3 a's . I planning on taking Maths,Further Maths, Physics and chemistry. I haven't thought much about work experience , I don't think there is much you can do is there ?

[NewCrack]

(Original post by chou246)
Sorry; what is the TSA?

http://www.admissionstests.cambridge...t/tsacambridge

[chou246]

(Original post by NewCrack)
http://www.admissionstests.cambridge...t/tsacambridge

Awesome, thanks

[beelz]

(Original post by Sockpirate)
It's REALLY easy to switch - they've been trying to get us to do it all year by inciting us into the department with free sandwiches From what I've seen you would have no problem (I'm debating doing it next year at the moment) - the procedure is basically go to one of the many talks about doing chemeng (with free food), say you want to do it, tell your DOS come easter term however apparently it's often the case that you can even change into it at the start of the second year if you have a change of heart about options and they have space on the course.

The question is though, if you're certain you want to do chemeng, why DON'T you apply for it?

Hey, I was just wondering what kind of UMS you got in each of your subjects if you don't mind because I wanted to see what kind of grades you need to get a place.

[Sockpirate]

(Original post by beelz)
Hey, I was just wondering what kind of UMS you got in each of your subjects if you don't mind because I wanted to see what kind of grades you need to get a place.

When I applied I had 290/300 in Physics, 298/300 Chem, 199/200 Economics, Can't remember my maths, but I know my M1 wasn't great (got 80 I think, and told them I was going to resit it), however think my other modules were fairly close to 100... was so long ago now though, so struggling to remember!

HOWEVER it's not all about grades - the interview is really really important - ultimately it's the deciding factor.

Also, I didn't apply for ChemEng - I applied for straight Natsci, and am considering changing to Chemeng next year, just to let you know!

[Sockpirate]

(Original post by beelz)
Hey, I was just wondering what kind of UMS you got in each of your subjects if you don't mind because I wanted to see what kind of grades you need to get a place.

When I applied I had 290/300 in Physics, 298/300 Chem, 199/200 Economics, Can't remember my maths, but I know my M1 wasn't great (got 80 I think, and told them I was going to resit it), however think my other modules were fairly close to 100... was so long ago now though, so struggling to remember!

HOWEVER it's not all about grades - the interview is really really important - ultimately it's the deciding factor.

Also, I didn't apply for ChemEng - I applied for straight Natsci, and am considering changing to Chemeng next year, just to let you know!

[beelz]

(Original post by Sockpirate)
When I applied I had 290/300 in Physics, 298/300 Chem, 199/200 Economics, Can't remember my maths, but I know my M1 wasn't great (got 80 I think, and told them I was going to resit it), however think my other modules were fairly close to 100... was so long ago now though, so struggling to remember!

HOWEVER it's not all about grades - the interview is really really important - ultimately it's the deciding factor.

Also, I didn't apply for ChemEng - I applied for straight Natsci, and am considering changing to Chemeng next year, just to let you know!

Ok thanks
Do you think that once they've decided who will get an interview based on PS and grades, they will only decide who gets an offer depending on the interview?

[Sockpirate]

(Original post by beelz)
Ok thanks
Do you think that once they've decided who will get an interview based on PS and grades, they will only decide who gets an offer depending on the interview?

I'd say that after interview, if 2 candidates are really close then grades could become a deciding factor, but really, it's the interview that they'll predominantly base decisions on. However I'm not an admissions tutor, so who knows! That's just the way I think things might work. Probably best not to over-analyse it though, and just try your best at everything!

[kidoo]

Hi, sorry if this is in the wrong section but my question kinda treads between several topic categories and this seems like the best place to post it.

First off, when applying for Chemical Engineering via Natural sciences do you write your PS on the topic of natural sciences or chem eng? :? :?

If natsci (which I kinda expect) then here is the tricky part (which drifts off the cambridge topic a littl, sorry) - I'm going to be applying for various other courses such as chemical engineering and petroleum engineering. How am I supposed to write a personal statement which encompasses Physical Natural sciences, Chemical engineering and Petroleum engineering? Yes they all share one thing in common which are the sciences (and maths) but it seems quite tasking :X

Thanks.