UCL or Sheffield for Mechanical Engineering MEng

Original post by A24

Hi. I got conditional offers from both UCL and Sheffield for mechanical engineering. Having trouble deciding which to go to. Anyone has any suggestions? Also does anyone know why is UCL ranked so low for mechanical engineering? Thank you!! :smile:

Hey I'm also in a similar kind of situation, so maybe I can give you some feedback. In currently holding offers from UCL and Southampton for mechanical engineering, Southampton a bit like Sheffield is really gd for mechanical engineering and is highly ranked. This means that the facilities, lecturers ect will obviously be gd. On the other hand there's UCL ranked 4th in the world (QS) and one of the elite uk universities but apparently the mechanical engineering department isn't that good. As far as I've heard the equipments are out dated, lectures are boring and not enough and other bad stuff but there are some gd lecturers and its UCL how bad can it be? UCL is mainly ranked low due to its student satisfaction and most UCL student for mech eng don't rank their professors very high. If you want to work abroad or in finance then UCL would hold an advantage but if you want to learn the subject research ect maybe Sheffield in my opinion I'm also very confused.

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Reply 2

OP

Thank you so much shayanc for your feedback. Yea. I heard the mech. eng department is in some 'dungeon' where everything is old and outdated. But I also heard UCL is is a research university. Meaning they are very strong in their research areas and tend to focus a lot on it. Do you happen to know anything about it?

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Reply 3

Original post by A24

Thank you so much shayanc for your feedback. Yea. I heard the mech. eng department is in some 'dungeon' where everything is old and outdated. But I also heard UCL is is a research university. Meaning they are very strong in their research areas and tend to focus a lot on it. Do you happen to know anything about it?

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Well yh UCL is world class university and yh the mech eng dept does have researchers who are lecturers and they have different research projects like ship shaping, body building etc its all on the Internet. But UCL mechanical engineering department is much smaller that its other department so they probably have leas resources but that doesn't mean it's bad or they don't teach. It's UCL it's cant be that bad but it got ranked again in 23rd place for mech eng in complete uni guide 2014 :s-smilie:

What are Sheffield's requirements if you don't mind me asking?

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Reply 4

OP

Both UCL and Sheffield require AAA for me. I am actually pretty keen on UCL. I was just afraid that there was something very wrong with their mechanical engineering because of its ranking. But since everything seems ok, I think UCL would be a good choice.

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Reply 5

Original post by A24

Both UCL and Sheffield require AAA for me. I am actually pretty keen on UCL. I was just afraid that there was something very wrong with their mechanical engineering because of its ranking. But since everything seems ok, I think UCL would be a good choice.

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Yh yh UCL would be a good choice as its would look very good on your cv specially abroad or baking. I'm not that fussed about UCLs mechanical engineering ranking as an employer is more likely to look at the overall ranking rater than subject ranking. UCL would look good on your cv as it can be comparable with Oxbridge, LSE, IC and other American Ivy League colleges. But what I'm worried about is the quality of teaching, resources ect. Apparently in UCL Mech Eng student don't receive much help and the feedback they get takes a long time, this reduces the student satisfaction ( I spoke to two UCL mech eng students on Facebook). That's what I'm scared of UCL, mech eng is a very very hard course and if I don't get taught well or receive correct feedback help then those 3/4 years will be hell and I may fail :s-smilie:

But mind you if your are an independent hard worker then nothing can stop you doing well. What grades are you expecting (if you don't mind if I ask) ?

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Reply 6

united.spammers

2

UCL has almost no rep for engineering at all. At least go to each open day before you make your mind up.

Reply 7

Original post by united.spammers

UCL has almost no rep for engineering at all. At least go to each open day before you make your mind up.

I've been to UCL and I know they are not known for engineering but does that matter if they have a good overall reputation?

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Reply 8

OP

I'm expecting AAA. Yea. I've heard they don't give much help in studying.
The problem is that I'm an international student. So I can't really go for their open days.
Their name is great, but the fact they don't have a rep for engineering is giving me the impression that the department might be a little neglected.

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Reply 9

Original post by A24

I'm expecting AAA. Yea. I've heard they don't give much help in studying.
The problem is that I'm an international student. So I can't really go for their open days.
Their name is great, but the fact they don't have a rep for engineering is giving me the impression that the department might be a little neglected.

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Hmmm hard decision when are you planning to select your firm and insurance choice by?

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Reply 10

united.spammers

2

Original post by shayanc

I've been to UCL and I know they are not known for engineering but does that matter if they have a good overall reputation?

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It should matter to you, UCL has a really low student satisfaction for engineering. You really, really, don't want to spend three or four years on a course you'll be unhappy with.

If you're thinking just about job prospects, you'll have the same chances if you went to Southampton as you would UCL. They're both high-tier universities so employers won't see a difference. For engineering anyway.

Reply 11

OP

Should be around mid May latest.

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Reply 12

Original post by A24

Should be around mid May latest.

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Yh yh then I need to apply for student finance and accommodation. Which one are you inclining toward now UCL or Sheffield?

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Reply 13

OP

Yea. Currently I'm still more inclined towards UCL. Even though their ranking in mechanical engineering is pretty low, I prefer their course structure and the fact that it is in London. How about you?

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Reply 14

Original post by A24

Yea. Currently I'm still more inclined towards UCL. Even though their ranking in mechanical engineering is pretty low, I prefer their course structure and the fact that it is in London. How about you?

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Yh same I spoke to two UCL mech eng students who chose UCL over Southampton at the end.

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Reply 15

OP

What did they say? Why did they choose UCL in the end?

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Reply 16

Original post by A24

What did they say? Why did they choose UCL in the end?

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Well one of them said they don't receive much help in first and second year but all that help/respect comes back in year 3. Sometimes there's a lack of guidance form tutors which delays work. But they're still a lot of people doing the course around 120-100 and everyone helps each other out which eventually work out. Mind you there're people with grades of A*A*A*A* - AAB so there're are always going to be winners and losers. Overall they choose UCL as it would look better on the cv in finance or abroad. They all love the campus and the surrounding. Have you been to their campus?

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Reply 17

OP

I've only been to the outside of their university. Passed by during a holiday trip. You have been there right? Is it good?

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Reply 18

Original post by A24

I've only been to the outside of their university. Passed by during a holiday trip. You have been there right? Is it good?

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Yh the campus is amazing, the best one out of all the ones I've seen in my opinion. There're two underground stations close by and you get the city feeling. If you love London you will love the place and the surrounding but it's quite a bit more expensive than any other campus uni like Bath, Bristol, Southampton ect. But again my main concern is the quality of teaching at the end of the day.

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Reply 19