EEE at Bristol or Edinburgh

For UCAS, I have chosen Bristol as my firm and Edinburgh as my insurance for EEE. Yesterday, I went to the Edinburgh visit day. I quite liked the place and the director of studies that spoke to me really sold it arguing it was superior to Bristol's EEE department. Regardless, I still preferred Bristol as a university town and am under the impression their teaching is superior to Bristol's for EEE. Does anyone here know how they compare?

Reply 1

Scuttle

Ises

For UCAS, I have chosen Bristol as my firm and Edinburgh as my insurance for EEE. Yesterday, I went to the Edinburgh visit day. I quite liked the place and the director of studies that spoke to me really sold it arguing it was superior to Bristol's EEE department. Regardless, I still preferred Bristol as a university town and am under the impression their teaching is superior to Bristol's for EEE. Does anyone here know how they compare?

I would have, subjectively, said that Bristol is a better 'engineering university'. It would I suspect, be more readily listed in a run down of top engineering places, but take that with a pinch of salt.

Job prospects, the same, this is engineering.

So, go where you like the best, and only you can know what that means.

Reply 2

Ises

OP

Yeah you're probably right and both Guardan and Times league tables have consistently rated Bristol above Edinburgh for EEE.

Reply 3

Scuttle

Ises

Yeah you're probably right and both Guardan and Times league tables have consistently rated Bristol above Edinburgh for EEE.

Well I wasn't basing it on league tables, just there is a sort of unofficial list most people have of the places which have really good engineering faculties, and are known for engineering. Edinburgh isn't really known as one, but that doesn't matter, and if you prefer the atmosphere, teaching, surroundings or anything else about it, then have no qualms about going there.

Don't worry about the league tables (especially not the Guardian, but the Times is roughly accurate) as engineering companies don't really care for any of that. It is the degree you take that defines your employability far before the place you went factors into it (of course some gimp from UCL will claim that their university is more respected and so their degree in classics makes them more employable than you coming from Edinburgh, but they are wrong in extremis). In any case both are good places.

Reply 4

Ises

OP

Thanks for the advice Scuttle. I agree with you that the Times University Guide is undoubtedly better than The Guardian's. However, my mistake that the Guardian ranks Edinburgh lower than Bristlol for EEE. It didn't in the latest but the Times has always rated Bristol higher for EEE and Bristol seems to be a better regarded university on the whole, as well. I don't know what it was but the interviewer just seemed so sincere in believing that Edinburgh is superior than Bristol for EEE. He argued their rivals are Southampton, Imperial and Cambrdige, which are undoubtedly three of the best EEE Universities. I am 100% certain Bristol will be my firm. Out of interest where are you going to?

Reply 5

Wootz

I personally live in Edinburgh, i was offered an unconditional there to study Chemical Engineneering, yet i chose to go to strathclyde.
Living here, I know a great deal about the University, throughout high school I have had to go there numerous times.
League tables tell you nothing, its about the reps the universities have in the industrial world.
Edinburgh is overlooked for heriot-watt and strathclyde which have better company links, and you are therefore likely to get a job at the end of the day. i know diddly squat about english universities, as i dont want to have to pay for an education that i can just as well get for free...but edinburgh does not have a good rep with companies...well in comparison anyway.

hope that helps.

Reply 6

Samtooth

10

So what does this unofficial list look like?

Reply 7

Scuttle

Wootz

I personally live in Edinburgh, i was offered an unconditional there to study Chemical Engineneering, yet i chose to go to strathclyde.
Living here, I know a great deal about the University, throughout high school I have had to go there numerous times.
League tables tell you nothing, its about the reps the universities have in the industrial world.
Edinburgh is overlooked for heriot-watt and strathclyde which have better company links, and you are therefore likely to get a job at the end of the day. i know diddly squat about english universities, as i dont want to have to pay for an education that i can just as well get for free...but edinburgh does not have a good rep with companies...well in comparison anyway.

hope that helps.

This is very true of engineering. Places like Southampton and Loughborough are not generally ranked highly overally, or thought of as "prestigeous" by the general populus, but they are in bed with massive engineering companies.
There is no list so to speak of, but I think a trip to the uni's will show where is best.
For example, places that could be considered like Edinburgh, highly ranked generally but not in engineering in England, would be places like Warwick and Durham.

I don't mean to piss on anyones parade, and no one is going to be left without a job, but in engineering it isn't about prestige or anything, it's about engineering.

Reply 8

TheMole

1

Just because it's not about the prestige of the university doesn't mean companies aren't interested in graduates from universities with better engineering courses - especially if you're coming straight out of uni with no experience. Admittedly, in the long term the university hasn't great bearing.

I visited both Edinburgh and Bristol - I'd argue Bristol had more impressive, modern electronic facilities and sold the course very well. Edinburgh sold the city very well but I was less than impressed with the campus. I didn't see anything to suggest it was superior to Bristol. In fact I was talking to one of the tutors who asked where else I had applied, mentioned Bristol, and spent the rest of the time talking about how good a university it was!

I was particularly put off by the extra year of study at Edinburgh - a lot of the first year stuff I saw was reminiscent of GCSE Electronics.

Reply 9

Ises

OP

I was thinking exactly the same thing, Mole. They also ask for high entry requirements to enter second year. So are you going to Bristol, Mole? I'm surprised the director of studies that interviewed you had such different opinions. The one who interviewed me said Bristol is 'quite good' just not in the same league as Edinburgh, Southampton, Imperial, Cambridge, etc. What did the DOS who interviewed you say?

Reply 10

tanc

I am a 2nd year student studying EEE in Bristol. It is really up to u actually. If you have any questions to ask abt the facilities in Bristol just let me know on this thread.... :smile:

Reply 11

Ises

OP

Well my querie is what's the course and teaching like in the first year?

Reply 12

tanc

first year is not that hard (u'll realize when u get to yr 2 that a lot of stuff falls into place)... it's the later years that you need to work very hard in. (besides, first yr doesnt count)

it's basic theories and stuff like that... some of the stuff you might not understand in 1st year, but u'll just have to learn.

Lecture wise, most of them are pretty good (cept for engineering maths, but it isnt EEE department anyway, but have been told the standard is improving...), and of course, there is this certain lecture that is pretty boring....

Reply 13

Ises

OP

Thanks for the honest answer. I just hope I get in come August.

Reply 14

TheMole

1

Ises

I was thinking exactly the same thing, Mole. They also ask for high entry requirements to enter second year. So are you going to Bristol, Mole? I'm surprised the director of studies that interviewed you had such different opinions. The one who interviewed me said Bristol is 'quite good' just not in the same league as Edinburgh, Southampton, Imperial, Cambridge, etc. What did the DOS who interviewed you say?

Yeap I've put Bristol as my firm for Computer Systems Engineering.

The tutor at Edinburgh was actually English... which might have had something to do with the differing opinions!

EEE at Bristol or Edinburgh

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