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Exeter or Cardiff uni- DONT IGNORE- ANSWER! please

Basically I’m in a bit of a situation.. Well I have got offers from both Cardiff and Exeter for mechanical engineering, both of which are for the Meng and both have a year in industry. Exeter is higher in general in the league tables but I heard that it isn’t really known for its engineering department and I have tried searching this and it is quite hard to find Exeter on any league table for engineering, particulalry for mechanical engineering. I have only been to Cardiff and I do like it there, its also not a bad uni for engineering. But I want to know if Exeter is good at engineering cos if it is and its recognised internationally then I would pick Exeter.

please help

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Original post by adriana10
Basically I’m in a bit of a situation.. Well I have got offers from both Cardiff and Exeter for mechanical engineering, both of which are for the Meng and both have a year in industry. Exeter is higher in general in the league tables but I heard that it isn’t really known for its engineering department and I have tried searching this and it is quite hard to find Exeter on any league table for engineering, particulalry for mechanical engineering. I have only been to Cardiff and I do like it there, its also not a bad uni for engineering. But I want to know if Exeter is good at engineering cos if it is and its recognised internationally then I would pick Exeter.

please help

I was surprised to find that Cardiff Uni was known internationally. (More in the way of international students and how they spoke highly of Cardiff for engineering).

Cardiff Uni for engineering has quite a lot of resources and facilities available, be it for laboratory work or the newest software programs such as Solidworks, CAD, MatLAB, and others for the other engineering disciplines. You'll also be very close to the other disciplines so you may find projects crossing over such as in the 4th year.

It's also pretty cool if you're into racing, as Cardiff Racing for formula student let you gain the practical experience from the first year!
Reply 2
DO NOT GO TO CARDIFF! Exeter is more respected and you will probably regret going to uni in Wales.
Reply 3
Original post by caisku
DO NOT GO TO CARDIFF! Exeter is more respected and you will probably regret going to uni in Wales.



Sorry, where do you go to uni and what do you study? Also, do you want to provide some reasoning behind your statements?

Ignore the above statement as it has absolutely no substance. Cardiff University is one of the most renowned in the country for both Civil and Mechanical Engineering. I am not so sure about Exeter's reputation and course strengths to be honest, but it certainly doesn't feature on league tables as frequently as Cardiff.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/table/2012/may/22/university-guide-engineering-mechanical-


I also know loads of people who went to Cardiff Uni and had a great student experience there, it's a brilliant city. Living costs and rent are also a lot lower than in Exeter from what I have been told by mates that went to each. Exeter is a far smaller place and is a campus uni, so its student experience is somewhat different to Cardiff's. Decide which one is for you.


Also consider the following:

- Look at destinations and employment uptake for both courses (look on the university sites/ Unistats/ etc.)

- Opportunities for placements and industry links

- Module options and choices for the respective courses
Reply 4
I defo believe that Exeter is more respected....go on unistats - it tells you employment rates after the degree which is good. I went to see Exeter and I really loved it...if I were you Exeter :wink:
Reply 5
Original post by loknath
I defo believe that Exeter is more respected....go on unistats - it tells you employment rates after the degree which is good. I went to see Exeter and I really loved it...if I were you Exeter :wink:





Fair enough, but what makes you believe that Exeter is more respected? Either way, it's not so renowned for engineering as it is for other subjects. Out of interest, what did you study at Exeter?

Here are the unistats links:

Cardiff
http://unistats.direct.gov.uk/Subjects/Overview/10007814-UFMGMCEB/ReturnTo/Search

Exeter
http://unistats.direct.gov.uk/Subjects/Overview/10007792-UFX4ECSECS02_H302/ReturnTo/Search
Reply 6
Original post by businesslad
Sorry, where do you go to uni and what do you study? Also, do you want to provide some reasoning behind your statements?

Ignore the above statement as it has absolutely no substance. Cardiff University is one of the most renowned in the country for both Civil and Mechanical Engineering. I am not so sure about Exeter's reputation and course strengths to be honest, but it certainly doesn't feature on league tables as frequently as Cardiff.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/table/2012/may/22/university-guide-engineering-mechanical-


I also know loads of people who went to Cardiff Uni and had a great student experience there, it's a brilliant city. Living costs and rent are also a lot lower than in Exeter from what I have been told by mates that went to each. Exeter is a far smaller place and is a campus uni, so its student experience is somewhat different to Cardiff's. Decide which one is for you.


Also consider the following:

- Look at destinations and employment uptake for both courses (look on the university sites/ Unistats/ etc.)

- Opportunities for placements and industry links

- Module options and choices for the respective courses



Oh dear calm down! I have a cousin who is currently studying engineering at Exeter so I am basing my opinion on what I've been told from a current student. Also I live in Cardiff so my first hand opinions on the city are going to be more relevant than someone who, "Knows loads of people who went to Cardiff"
I would totally understand your anger if I'd written Cardiff is a ****hole Exeter is heaven without any reasoning behind my opinion but that's not the case so please pipe down.
With reference to league tables, the Guardian says below both the civil and mechanical tables, "Note: Other providers that deliver courses in this subject area but for whom there is insufficient data to calculate a ranking position include Exeter." (Among others). So don't say that the league tables suggest Cardiff is superiror. As Oxbridge don't appear on every league table, due to the Guardian having a lack of information. That's like saying that Bolton is better for Engineering than Oxford because Bolton are on the league table but there wasn't enough data/stats to include Oxford. General league tables suggest that Exeter is better than Cardiff. For example:
THE(2011/12, world)
Exeter=153
Cardiff=201-225


Complete(2013, national)
Exeter=13
Cardiff=36


TheGuardian (2013, national)
Exeter=10
Cardiff=40


TheSunday Times (2013, national)
Exeter=7
Cardiff=26


TheTimes (2013, national)
Exeter=10
Cardiff=35


So maybe you should do some research before you decide to get crazy at me. And initially I was only stating my opinion on my home town.

And to the OP- I'm not saying Cardiff is ****, I'm just trying to help you. I know what it's like to live here and I have 1st hand contact with a current engineering student at Exeter, if you'd like me to give you their email or something, in case you have any questions :smile:
Reply 7
Original post by caisku
Oh dear calm down! I have a cousin who is currently studying engineering at Exeter so I am basing my opinion on what I've been told from a current student. Also I live in Cardiff so my first hand opinions on the city are going to be more relevant than someone who, "Knows loads of people who went to Cardiff"
I would totally understand your anger if I'd written Cardiff is a ****hole Exeter is heaven without any reasoning behind my opinion but that's not the case so please pipe down.
With reference to league tables, the Guardian says below both the civil and mechanical tables, "Note: Other providers that deliver courses in this subject area but for whom there is insufficient data to calculate a ranking position include Exeter." (Among others). So don't say that the league tables suggest Cardiff is superiror. As Oxbridge don't appear on every league table, due to the Guardian having a lack of information. That's like saying that Bolton is better for Engineering than Oxford because Bolton are on the league table but there wasn't enough data/stats to include Oxford. General league tables suggest that Exeter is better than Cardiff. For example:
THE(2011/12, world)
Exeter=153
Cardiff=201-225


Complete(2013, national)
Exeter=13
Cardiff=36


TheGuardian (2013, national)
Exeter=10
Cardiff=40


TheSunday Times (2013, national)
Exeter=7
Cardiff=26


TheTimes (2013, national)
Exeter=10
Cardiff=35


So maybe you should do some research before you decide to get crazy at me. And initially I was only stating my opinion on my home town.

And to the OP- I'm not saying Cardiff is ****, I'm just trying to help you. I know what it's like to live here and I have 1st hand contact with a current engineering student at Exeter, if you'd like me to give you their email or something, in case you have any questions :smile:


Would you like to have a look at specific league tables about the subject?
Reply 8
Original post by alexkol
Would you like to have a look at specific league tables about the subject?


I have, hence why I quoted "Note: Other providers that deliver courses in this subject area but for whom there is insufficient data to calculate a ranking position include Exeter." Read it more carefully next time :smile:
Reply 9
Yeah could u give me their email as that would help alot, cos there are good and crap aspects to both places so im just really confused now :frown: tbh i dont care about the nightlife or area or anything like that, icare more about the reputation of the uni for mechanical eng and in general aswell so that after uni i would have a better chance of employment, and looking at the stats and the league tables i pressume its cardiff that would give me that opportunity, as its 95% employment for cardiff and 80% for exeter, but then again exeter is more well-known here and internationally but not really well known for its engineering, what did your cousin study at alevel and what did he/she get at alevel?

Original post by caisku
Oh dear calm down! I have a cousin who is currently studying engineering at Exeter so I am basing my opinion on what I've been told from a current student. Also I live in Cardiff so my first hand opinions on the city are going to be more relevant than someone who, "Knows loads of people who went to Cardiff"
I would totally understand your anger if I'd written Cardiff is a ****hole Exeter is heaven without any reasoning behind my opinion but that's not the case so please pipe down.
With reference to league tables, the Guardian says below both the civil and mechanical tables, "Note: Other providers that deliver courses in this subject area but for whom there is insufficient data to calculate a ranking position include Exeter." (Among others). So don't say that the league tables suggest Cardiff is superiror. As Oxbridge don't appear on every league table, due to the Guardian having a lack of information. That's like saying that Bolton is better for Engineering than Oxford because Bolton are on the league table but there wasn't enough data/stats to include Oxford. General league tables suggest that Exeter is better than Cardiff. For example:
THE(2011/12, world)
Exeter=153
Cardiff=201-225


Complete(2013, national)
Exeter=13
Cardiff=36


TheGuardian (2013, national)
Exeter=10
Cardiff=40


TheSunday Times (2013, national)
Exeter=7
Cardiff=26


TheTimes (2013, national)
Exeter=10
Cardiff=35


So maybe you should do some research before you decide to get crazy at me. And initially I was only stating my opinion on my home town.

And to the OP- I'm not saying Cardiff is ****, I'm just trying to help you. I know what it's like to live here and I have 1st hand contact with a current engineering student at Exeter, if you'd like me to give you their email or something, in case you have any questions :smile:
Reply 10
Thanks for the links, they are helpful but i still cant decide, as both unis have good and bad aspects to them. Exeter teaches the same cotent to all engineering students for the first year, doesnt that kinda suggest its not that great at engineering?
Original post by businesslad
Fair enough, but what makes you believe that Exeter is more respected? Either way, it's not so renowned for engineering as it is for other subjects. Out of interest, what did you study at Exeter?

Here are the unistats links:

Cardiff
http://unistats.direct.gov.uk/Subjects/Overview/10007814-UFMGMCEB/ReturnTo/Search

Exeter
http://unistats.direct.gov.uk/Subjects/Overview/10007792-UFX4ECSECS02_H302/ReturnTo/Search
Original post by adriana10
Exeter teaches the same cotent to all engineering students for the first year, doesnt that kinda suggest its not that great at engineering?


Not at all. Many universities offer a general first year. It's just a slightly different style of course to one where you specialise right off the bat. And it doesn't make the slightest bit of difference in the end.
Reply 12
I think that you should look at the whole picture. The quality of the programme, the facilities (curricular and otherwise), the graduate prospects and the support network.

In my opinion, I think that it would be better to attend a university that is higher ranked both at home and abroad. This is because when you graduate, you would compete for jobs with many people from the UK and around Europe.

Do not get bugged down by the fact that the particular department is not number one in the country. Focus on the particular strengths and tailor these strengths to your preferences.

Oxford is not known for its engineering; but if you graduate from Oxford, I do not think that it would be difficult to get jobs at the end.

Finally, I think that you need to critically analyse your future plans. University may be for 3, 4 or 5 years; but it, sometimes, plays a key role in the short term or even the long term.

Good luck!
Original post by caisku
Oh dear calm down! I have a cousin who is currently studying engineering at Exeter so I am basing my opinion on what I've been told from a current student. Also I live in Cardiff so my first hand opinions on the city are going to be more relevant than someone who, "Knows loads of people who went to Cardiff"
I would totally understand your anger if I'd written Cardiff is a ****hole Exeter is heaven without any reasoning behind my opinion but that's not the case so please pipe down.
With reference to league tables, the Guardian says below both the civil and mechanical tables, "Note: Other providers that deliver courses in this subject area but for whom there is insufficient data to calculate a ranking position include Exeter." (Among others). So don't say that the league tables suggest Cardiff is superiror. As Oxbridge don't appear on every league table, due to the Guardian having a lack of information. That's like saying that Bolton is better for Engineering than Oxford because Bolton are on the league table but there wasn't enough data/stats to include Oxford. General league tables suggest that Exeter is better than Cardiff. For example:
THE(2011/12, world)
Exeter=153
Cardiff=201-225


Complete(2013, national)
Exeter=13
Cardiff=36


TheGuardian (2013, national)
Exeter=10
Cardiff=40


TheSunday Times (2013, national)
Exeter=7
Cardiff=26


TheTimes (2013, national)
Exeter=10
Cardiff=35


So maybe you should do some research before you decide to get crazy at me. And initially I was only stating my opinion on my home town.

And to the OP- I'm not saying Cardiff is ****, I'm just trying to help you. I know what it's like to live here and I have 1st hand contact with a current engineering student at Exeter, if you'd like me to give you their email or something, in case you have any questions :smile:




Sorry to break the news to you, but I am actually also from Cardiff myself and have been brought up there. So I think I can also put together a valid opinion too, thank you. I chose to move away and study elsewhere, although I know various people studying engineering at different universities.

I simply wanted to give advice to the OP so that they could make a rational decision between the two offers, rather than a brash one-liner saying "do not go to Cardiff" and "you will probably regret going to uni in Wales" without any reasoning. Also, for the record, Oxbridge offer general engineering courses before you specialise from Y2 onwards. That is why they are not featured on Mech Eng and Civ Eng league tables.

Just a word of advice: Do not make assumptions about someone else before you know the facts, and try not to be so demeaning to somebody who you have never met. That is all, cheers.
Reply 14
Original post by businesslad
Sorry to break the news to you, but I am actually also from Cardiff myself and have been brought up there. So I think I can also put together a valid opinion too, thank you. I chose to move away and study elsewhere, although I know various people studying engineering at different universities.

I simply wanted to give advice to the OP so that they could make a rational decision between the two offers, rather than a brash one-liner saying "do not go to Cardiff" and "you will probably regret going to uni in Wales" without any reasoning. Also, for the record, Oxbridge offer general engineering courses before you specialise from Y2 onwards. That is why they are not featured on Mech Eng and Civ Eng league tables.

Just a word of advice: Do not make assumptions about someone else before you know the facts, and try not to be so demeaning to somebody who you have never met. That is all, cheers.


I gave the reasons behind my opinion :smile: And "demeaning"? I suggest you look at the way you spoke when you first quoted me! Rather rude, and in no way will I show respect for you when you go out and slate me and my personal opinion. In my opinion aswell, you implied that Exeter as a university wasn't great compared to Cardiff and with this I have to disagree! Also, I have every right to say "You will probably regret going to university in Wales", I sure know alot of people who do! If you enjoy Wales, then good for you. But I personally think that the OP would benefit from Exeter's stronger international and national reputation, which can be clearly justified by looking at league tables. Thanks! Hypocrite :smile:
Reply 15
Original post by adriana10
Yeah could u give me their email as that would help alot, cos there are good and crap aspects to both places so im just really confused now :frown: tbh i dont care about the nightlife or area or anything like that, icare more about the reputation of the uni for mechanical eng and in general aswell so that after uni i would have a better chance of employment, and looking at the stats and the league tables i pressume its cardiff that would give me that opportunity, as its 95% employment for cardiff and 80% for exeter, but then again exeter is more well-known here and internationally but not really well known for its engineering, what did your cousin study at alevel and what did he/she get at alevel?


Physics: A*
Maths: A
Further Maths: A
Chemistry: A

I'll send you the email address privately now
Reply 16
Original post by caisku
I gave the reasons behind my opinion :smile: And "demeaning"? I suggest you look at the way you spoke when you first quoted me! Rather rude, and in no way will I show respect for you when you go out and slate me and my personal opinion. In my opinion aswell, you implied that Exeter as a university wasn't great compared to Cardiff and with this I have to disagree! Also, I have every right to say "You will probably regret going to university in Wales", I sure know alot of people who do! If you enjoy Wales, then good for you. But I personally think that the OP would benefit from Exeter's stronger international and national reputation, which can be clearly justified by looking at league tables. Thanks! Hypocrite :smile:


What's wrong with uni in Wales? What's your opinion on Swansea University for engineering?
Reply 17
Original post by caisku
I have, hence why I quoted "Note: Other providers that deliver courses in this subject area but for whom there is insufficient data to calculate a ranking position include Exeter." Read it more carefully next time :smile:


That's not really true, cause Exeter's program is considered in the General Engineering course. Like it or not, Cardiff has a much better reputation and it is scoring higher in rankings than Exeter for Engineering!
Reply 18
Original post by a10
What's wrong with uni in Wales? What's your opinion on Swansea University for engineering?


Hello, I did my first year in Swansea. You can pm me for more info, don't listen to those people that underestimate Wales.
Reply 19
Original post by a10
What's wrong with uni in Wales? What's your opinion on Swansea University for engineering?


Only person I know at Swansea is doing a History degree haha so I couldn't say! Also generally they feature lower on the league tables than alot of English unis.
(edited 11 years ago)

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