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Best place for Civil Engineering

I have been wondering whether Imperial is the best place to study Civil Engineering... I think (and I also think I'm right) that Imperial is the best place to study engineering in the UK... however I've read of many people going/applying to good unis for Civil Engineering but not to Imperial! Is this because they (or you!) dont want to live in London... or are there any academic reasons?

Reply 1

shyopstv

15

Possible reasons why people chose not to go to Imperial:

Some people don't want to go to London because it is expensive/big/dirty/noisy/polluted
The famous male:female ratio
It isn't the prettiest uni in the world
It is not a campus uni like Warwick for example

Academically it is the best in the UK along with Oxbridge

Reply 2

kitsune

OP

12

but what I tried to ask was... is Imperial the best for Civil Engineering? It might be for other Engineerings (I see prospects engineers applying to Imperial)... but not for Civil... just wondering...

well I want to go to Imperial coz it's in LONDON! :biggrin:

dont really care about ratios...

I dont like campus uni...

I just go to the uni to study, do I care if it's pretty? :smile:

Reply 3

Manifest

kitsune

I have been wondering whether Imperial is the best place to study Civil Engineering... I think (and I also think I'm right) that Imperial is the best place to study engineering in the UK... however I've read of many people going/applying to good unis for Civil Engineering but not to Imperial! Is this because they (or you!) dont want to live in London... or are there any academic reasons?

Get over this best thing stuff, I honestly don't like it when people ask which is the best. Trust me, most UK universities are good for engineering. I will start by making reference to your oxford application, if you really want to study civil engineering in the best university, then oxford is one of the "crappest" place to study ask anyone. Let me stop there before I get kicked by oxford engineers...... Don't get deceived by the league table, it's not accurate. They based most of their ratings on research and you know most Uni are not funded or best known for doing research and it doesn't make them crap. A decent engineering university is good, go to anyone of them you feel like. I said this before and I will still say it. Engineering is about experience and not best university. Most engineers end up becoming managers, accountants or working in finance firm. When I went for my interview at imperial, a 4th year mechanical engineering student was paid to persuade us to study and choose mechanical engineering at imperial. But all he did was just the complete opposite and I know for him to have said that he must have really gone through hell. What is the point studying engineering in the best university for the course when you are not even certain about the job. You need to have a work experience and see how boring engineering and engineers are before you end up studying it for four years.

As for Imperial, I don't know much about civil but in general Imperial has the best engineering courses. Most graduates of imperial start earning in their second/ 3rd year and the rate is 24-25k. All other unis are 20-21. Imperial might be expensive, stressful but in the long run you enjoy the benefits. It is just four years, before you know it is 2010.

You might want to ask me why engineering...I don't mind answering but as for now, take it or leave it, Imperial or anywhere is cool.

Reply 4

bluenoxid

13

kitsune

I have been wondering whether Imperial is the best place to study Civil Engineering... I think (and I also think I'm right) that Imperial is the best place to study engineering in the UK... however I've read of many people going/applying to good unis for Civil Engineering but not to Imperial! Is this because they (or you!) dont want to live in London... or are there any academic reasons?

Sadly youve hit it on the head

My chat with the UCAS Coordinator went like this

UC: Now Noxid, I believe you want to study Civil Engineering.

N: Yes, Ive got a rough list in my head, errmmm Cardiff

UC: Cardiff is a great uni, I would recommend that place and I believe Mr McClean pushes that uni too.

N: Well yes I liked the city and thought the dept was wonderful

UC: What about other places, errrmmmm London

N: Queasy look on my face, No Thanks

UC: Good decision, its bloody expensive and there are terrorists trying to blow you up at every opportunity

I agree that that is an unfair perception of London. But when it comes down to it. A lot of outsiders find London, too busy, very unfriendly and not worth the cost when you get stuff all from Government.

I personally didnt want London, and neither did alot of my mates.

When it comes down to it, your choice of uni wont matter that much. You will gain the same qualification whether you study at Imperial, or Salford (sorry to anyone who studies at Salford)

-----------------------------------------------------------

Alot of it is personal perception, I like Cardiff and found quite a few of the Bath students were toffee nosed. Manchester is in a bleedin rough area and Edinburghs accomodation is a joke if you go self catered. Newcastle is nice, Sheffield is nice and Loughborough is mainly sport.

Reply 5

cj42

Manifest

Get over this best thing stuff, I honestly don't like it when people ask which is the best. Trust me, most UK universities are good for engineering. I will start by making reference to your oxford application, if you really want to study civil engineering in the best university, then oxford is one of the "crappest" place to study ask anyone. Let me stop there before I get kicked by oxford engineers...... Don't get deceived by the league table, it's not accurate. They based most of their ratings on research and you know most Uni are not funded or best known for doing research and it doesn't make them crap. A decent engineering university is good, go to anyone of them you feel like. I said this before and I will still say it. Engineering is about experience and not best university. Most engineers end up becoming managers, accountants or working in finance firm. When I went for my interview at imperial, a 4th year mechanical engineering student was paid to persuade us to study and choose mechanical engineering at imperial. But all he did was just the complete opposite and I know for him to have said that he must have really gone through hell. What is the point studying engineering in the best university for the course when you are not even certain about the job. You need to have a work experience and see how boring engineering and engineers are before you end up studying it for four years.

As for Imperial, I don't know much about civil but in general Imperial has the best engineering courses. Most graduates of imperial start earning in their second/ 3rd year and the rate is 24-25k. All other unis are 20-21. Imperial might be expensive, stressful but in the long run you enjoy the benefits. It is just four years, before you know it is 2010.

You might want to ask me why engineering...I don't mind answering but as for now, take it or leave it, Imperial or anywhere is cool.

So, why is Oxford crap then?

As for my take on the matter, allow me to put it this way. An engineering friend of mine was one of only three people (in the year of ~160 if I recall correctly) who failed every single one of his 1st year prelims and got kicked out. He then got straight in to Imperial.

Also, why is Imperial "the best"? Because of a marginally-higher league-table average starting salary? Having said league tables don't matter, you then quote what are clearly league table figures - and irrelevant ones at that. The average starting salaries of all the London universities are invariably at the top of league tables year-after-year, not because they're "the best", but BECAUSE THEY'RE IN LONDON, where salaries (and the cost of living) are both higher.

Reply 6

kitsune

OP

12

Ok... fine so people do not apply for Civil Engineering at Imperial, not because the course or uni but because that it's in London.

I've been living in Madrid for 2 years now... and I NEED a big city... I really enjoy it. However, my favorite course is the one at Sheffield! However, I've got the feeling I wouldnt be happy at Sheffield and my parents wouldnt be too happy about it... their point of view is Oxbridge or stay in Spain. So I think I'll be staying in Madrid and starting another degree (dont like engineering in Spain!) or go to Imperial for Civil Engineering...

The point of this thread is that... well the typical offer for Civil Engineering at Imperial is ABB (although most offers are AAB) and many other unis are giving out AAB offers for the same course! and well I thought Imperial was THE UNI for Engineering... I mean... I havent read about a person been rejected for Civil Engineering from Imperial... is it because it has a low applicants/offers ratio or because Civil Engineering is undersuscribed across all UK unis?

Reply 7

Tindo

1

I didnt apply to Imperial because its in London. Two of my friends who applied same courses as me, went there for interviews and both told me Imperial is amazing.Another friend said its well good. I regret not appyling there because it is an amazing Uni outweight the fact that it is London.

Reply 8

kitsune

OP

12

ok fine.. (are you in Oxford???? :eek:

) therefore... the best point for me about ICL is that's in London so... THE BEST UNI FOR ME! :biggrin:

I love the zone where it is as well! :smile:

Reply 9

Tindo

1

I aint in Oxford University, but I live in Oxford. Though I got rejected by Oxford Uni. :biggrin:

Reply 10

kitsune

OP

12

This year? You are in the same position as me then! :smile:

really liked oxford, beautiful city :biggrin:

Where do you wanna go to study then? :smile:

Reply 11

Arminius

14

I don't know what the best uni's in the uk for civil are.

For me, i did not apply to any london uni's because of the cost and because i don't like the huge scale of london. I come from the country and have found bristol plenty big enough for me.

I think in civil its more about the experiance you have than what uni you went too. As long as the uni is a red brick i think they are all pretty similar.

If anyone has heard distinct order of preference, speifically for civil. I would be interested to know.

Reply 12

110111

8

kitsune

So I think I'll be staying in Madrid and starting another degree (dont like engineering in Spain!)

I am curious.
What do you dislike about engineering in Spain ?

And to play the role of devil's advocate:
Are you sure that the same issues will not be a problem at Imperial ?

Reply 13

EPD

11

As long as your course is accredited, you'll have no problems finding graduate jobs.

Reply 14

Malik

12

For civil engineering its not the best or at the top in my opinion. Its good uni though with a nice reputation for engineering. It has strong links to industry and great graduate employment rate.

Reply 15

Arminius

14

i'm biased but i think the tariff is quite a telling factor in those tables, bristol and imperial have much higher tariffs than the others.

Reply 16

kitsune

OP

12

poohbear

I am curious.
What do you dislike about engineering in Spain ?

And to play the role of devil's advocate:
Are you sure that the same issues will not be a problem at Imperial ?

EVERYTHING!!! Well... that's the thing... maybe engineering is not for me... that's why I'm doubting whether to give it a try in UK or to change degree in Spain (and do Languages or Politics)

the first thing I most dislike is that there is no Civil Engineering in Spain (like such)

second, the average time for finishing the degree I'm doing is 10.5 years!!!

third, I dont like aeronautics :p:

and there's absolutely NO PRACTICAL WORK in the Spanish system (I mean, I've got Chemistry in my first year and we are NEVER going to go to a lab, not even if you are doing a Chemistry degree!!!)

forth, people do not speak English... I love people talking in English... :smile:

fifth, I want to study / work in as many countries as possible

what do you think about his? :smile:

Reply 17

Tindo

1

kitsune

This year? You are in the same position as me then! :smile:

really liked oxford, beautiful city :biggrin:

Where do you wanna go to study then? :smile:

Bristol or Manchester.

10.5 years :eek:

Thats over the top.

Reply 18

kitsune

OP

12

I know... the thing in spain is that NO ONE finishes an engineering year by year... and with passing you are VERY happy... not like in the UK that u are not happy if you dont get a first or upper second :smile:

Reply 19

bluenoxid

13

kitsune

The point of this thread is that... well the typical offer for Civil Engineering at Imperial is ABB (although most offers are AAB) and many other unis are giving out AAB offers for the same course! and well I thought Imperial was THE UNI for Engineering... I mean... I havent read about a person been rejected for Civil Engineering from Imperial... is it because it has a low applicants/offers ratio or because Civil Engineering is undersuscribed across all UK unis?

Very few people get rejected because of the fact it is under subscribed, Civil especially. People see Civil Engineers as posh builders. Until they start driving around in their porsches

Most Civ Eng Depts give ABB

Bath seems to think its better than the rest so it gives AAB.

Cardiff is the best uni in Wales and the Welsh are all going there, so demand is high. this means Cardiff is AAB :mad:

Which annoys me :biggrin:

Best place for Civil Engineering

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