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General engineering in the uk

Hi all,

I'm looking to study General Engineering in the UK, as I'm not sure which discipline I want to pursue.

I'm studying IB HL Physics and Computer Science, but SL Math AA. I'm expecting a score of 42/45.

Any suggestions as to which competitive unis I could look at?

Thanks a ton!
I believe the only universities in the UK which do specifically general engineering are Cambridge (but Oxford may also do it), Durham, Aberdeen, Imperial College London, and maybe a few others that I don't remember (I applied for general engineering).

Scottish universities however have a system where you take several subjects in year 1 and then narrow them down so although its not a general engineering course, you could apply for civil and then take electrical and mechanical as additional subjects then continue your degree in whichever discipline you prefer.

I personally applied to Cambridge, Durham, Aberdeen, Strathclyde (for civil), and Swansea (for civil). Got rejected from Cambridge; firmed Durham and insuranced Aberdeen.
Original post by snazzles
I believe the only universities in the UK which do specifically general engineering are Cambridge (but Oxford may also do it), Durham, Aberdeen, Imperial College London, and maybe a few others that I don't remember (I applied for general engineering).

Scottish universities however have a system where you take several subjects in year 1 and then narrow them down so although its not a general engineering course, you could apply for civil and then take electrical and mechanical as additional subjects then continue your degree in whichever discipline you prefer.

I personally applied to Cambridge, Durham, Aberdeen, Strathclyde (for civil), and Swansea (for civil). Got rejected from Cambridge; firmed Durham and insuranced Aberdeen.

Thank you so much for your response, Snazzles.

Could you suggest to me any competitive/prestigious universities in Scotland that I should have a look at?

I would also be grateful if you could share with me your experiences in Durham.
What is their curriculum like? Is there a heavy Maths focus? Do you truly get to try out every discipline of Engineering before making a choice in the second year? Do you have any regrets?

Thank you for your help.
Reply 3
Cambridge, Oxford, Durham, Warwick, possible Birmingham I think do general engineering. Some of them I think you specialise in later years.
Original post by amberidescence
Thank you so much for your response, Snazzles.

Could you suggest to me any competitive/prestigious universities in Scotland that I should have a look at?

I would also be grateful if you could share with me your experiences in Durham.
What is their curriculum like? Is there a heavy Maths focus? Do you truly get to try out every discipline of Engineering before making a choice in the second year? Do you have any regrets?

Thank you for your help.


Without looking up universities I wouldn't be entirely certain but I believe University of Glasgow, at least one of the Edinburgh universities (I want to say University of Edinburgh but it may be one of the others that is more prestigious), St Andrews, and I believe some people consider Heriot-watt and Robert Gordon prestigious but I'm not certain. I'm not yet doing the engineering course in Durham as it starts in September so I can't tell you much but I know that for the first year (and possibly second) you study Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics, and Civil (along with maths etc.).

If you want to try chemical and petroleum engineering along with the 4 disciplines I listed above then Aberdeen allows you to study them whereas Durham doesn't (and if you want to go into Oil & Gas I believe Aberdeen has some good links for graduates but I might be wrong).

If you want to look at a Scottish university for engineering then some of the more modern and less prestigious universities are known to have fairly good courses (Strathclyde and Aberdeen I believe are both considered good), and I'm not sure how strong the engineering courses are in the prestigious universities, although you might consider it a fair trade for the prestige.
Original post by snazzles
Without looking up universities I wouldn't be entirely certain but I believe University of Glasgow, at least one of the Edinburgh universities (I want to say University of Edinburgh but it may be one of the others that is more prestigious), St Andrews, and I believe some people consider Heriot-watt and Robert Gordon prestigious but I'm not certain. I'm not yet doing the engineering course in Durham as it starts in September so I can't tell you much but I know that for the first year (and possibly second) you study Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics, and Civil (along with maths etc.).

If you want to try chemical and petroleum engineering along with the 4 disciplines I listed above then Aberdeen allows you to study them whereas Durham doesn't (and if you want to go into Oil & Gas I believe Aberdeen has some good links for graduates but I might be wrong).

If you want to look at a Scottish university for engineering then some of the more modern and less prestigious universities are known to have fairly good courses (Strathclyde and Aberdeen I believe are both considered good), and I'm not sure how strong the engineering courses are in the prestigious universities, although you might consider it a fair trade for the prestige.

Thank you! I had a look at all the universities you suggested and contacted some of their admissions officers for further info

Would you mind me asking which subjects you studied before applying to Durham?

Thanks so much! Stay safe :smile:
Original post by amberidescence
Thank you! I had a look at all the universities you suggested and contacted some of their admissions officers for further info

Would you mind me asking which subjects you studied before applying to Durham?

Thanks so much! Stay safe :smile:

I'm Scottish so I studied Physics, Maths, Chemistry, Graphic Communication, English, and Modern Studies for my National 5s (equivalent to GCSEs).
I then studied the same subjects for Highers (equivalent to AS level).
In my 6th year (final year) I took Physics, Maths, and Chemistry for my Advanced Highers (equivalent to A-levels), and also studied Computing Science as a crash Higher.

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