Imperial EIE or Oxford Engineering Science?
I have received offers to study Electronic and Information Engineering (something like EEE + computing) at Imperial and Engineering Science (general engineering) at Oxford. Which should I choose? Right now I'm interested in doing a computer-related field, with interests in areas like machine vision and artificial intelligence.
Some things I'm considering:
- how Imperial might be cheaper if I don't get a scholarship, and do 3 years to get a bachelor's, while Oxford's degree is 4 years to culminate in a master's.
- how Imperial will definitely give me more depth in EIE, and give me more exposure to computing, something I'm particularly interested in (as opposed to Oxford's, which gives me at most around 30% focus on information engineering)
- how Imperial will provide more hands-on experience and industrial exposure
- how Oxford might force me to understand things on a more fundamental level through the tutorial sessions (Imperial also has for first two years, but less frequent - once every 2 weeks - and it might be less self-paced, with a focus on problem sheets)
- how Oxford's global brand and connections might benefit more as I don't intend to stay in UK (I'm an international student from Singapore)
- how Oxford's more diverse student body (humanities) will allow me to have a broader worldview and also be able to switch to other professions should I so choose in the future
Some things I'm considering:
- how Imperial might be cheaper if I don't get a scholarship, and do 3 years to get a bachelor's, while Oxford's degree is 4 years to culminate in a master's.
- how Imperial will definitely give me more depth in EIE, and give me more exposure to computing, something I'm particularly interested in (as opposed to Oxford's, which gives me at most around 30% focus on information engineering)
- how Imperial will provide more hands-on experience and industrial exposure
- how Oxford might force me to understand things on a more fundamental level through the tutorial sessions (Imperial also has for first two years, but less frequent - once every 2 weeks - and it might be less self-paced, with a focus on problem sheets)
- how Oxford's global brand and connections might benefit more as I don't intend to stay in UK (I'm an international student from Singapore)
- how Oxford's more diverse student body (humanities) will allow me to have a broader worldview and also be able to switch to other professions should I so choose in the future
(edited 7 years ago)
You can specialize on the Oxford course from third year onwards, so you'll have >50% information/electronic engineering accounting for two years of information engineering plus related first and second year courses. Imperial has more "pure" computer science e.g. algorithms and complexity however.
Specifically in the Oxford course you can take options in information engineering systems, software engineering, circuits & communications and control systems in third year which will largely correlate to the content of the Imperial course. You then specialize further in final year, in for example machine vision & robotics or machine learning; so you have excellent depth and breadth across both the broad academic area you're interested (information engineering) as well as specific research areas within that (such as machine learning) as well as having a good grounding in fundamental engineering principles from the first two years.
The Imperial course however offers more computer science options including as noted algorithms and computational complexity, plus various other areas such as computer architecture and digital signal processing that may not be available on the Oxford course (although the former is likely to exist in some form in the electronic options in third year, and the latter may well be available otherwise). Both are very reputable globally, and Imperial is well known for it's engineering strengths in particular.
The student body notions are fairly irrelevant in terms of job prospects; it might add a bit of variety to student life but the college experience will make more difference to how you experience your university years than knowing people on humanities courses. Imperial has the debatable quality of being based in London; it's right next to the museums of science and natural history, as well as the V&A. Whether you will enjoy London life is impossible to say, as it's quite an individual preference.
Both are excellent opportunities so congratulations in any case, you can't really make a wrong decision, only one that's more right for you
Specifically in the Oxford course you can take options in information engineering systems, software engineering, circuits & communications and control systems in third year which will largely correlate to the content of the Imperial course. You then specialize further in final year, in for example machine vision & robotics or machine learning; so you have excellent depth and breadth across both the broad academic area you're interested (information engineering) as well as specific research areas within that (such as machine learning) as well as having a good grounding in fundamental engineering principles from the first two years.
The Imperial course however offers more computer science options including as noted algorithms and computational complexity, plus various other areas such as computer architecture and digital signal processing that may not be available on the Oxford course (although the former is likely to exist in some form in the electronic options in third year, and the latter may well be available otherwise). Both are very reputable globally, and Imperial is well known for it's engineering strengths in particular.
The student body notions are fairly irrelevant in terms of job prospects; it might add a bit of variety to student life but the college experience will make more difference to how you experience your university years than knowing people on humanities courses. Imperial has the debatable quality of being based in London; it's right next to the museums of science and natural history, as well as the V&A. Whether you will enjoy London life is impossible to say, as it's quite an individual preference.
Both are excellent opportunities so congratulations in any case, you can't really make a wrong decision, only one that's more right for you
Reply 2
congrats on the offer. I have an offer for engineering science also (at Oriel College) what college is your offer from? It seems to me that Oxford has a strong information engineering department http://ori.ox.ac.uk/ heres the website if you want to look.
Original post by artful_lounger
You can specialize on the Oxford course from third year onwards, so you'll have >50% information/electronic engineering accounting for two years of information engineering plus related first and second year courses. Imperial has more "pure" computer science e.g. algorithms and complexity however.
Specifically in the Oxford course you can take options in information engineering systems, software engineering, circuits & communications and control systems in third year which will largely correlate to the content of the Imperial course. You then specialize further in final year, in for example machine vision & robotics or machine learning; so you have excellent depth and breadth across both the broad academic area you're interested (information engineering) as well as specific research areas within that (such as machine learning) as well as having a good grounding in fundamental engineering principles from the first two years.
The Imperial course however offers more computer science options including as noted algorithms and computational complexity, plus various other areas such as computer architecture and digital signal processing that may not be available on the Oxford course (although the former is likely to exist in some form in the electronic options in third year, and the latter may well be available otherwise). Both are very reputable globally, and Imperial is well known for it's engineering strengths in particular.
The student body notions are fairly irrelevant in terms of job prospects; it might add a bit of variety to student life but the college experience will make more difference to how you experience your university years than knowing people on humanities courses. Imperial has the debatable quality of being based in London; it's right next to the museums of science and natural history, as well as the V&A. Whether you will enjoy London life is impossible to say, as it's quite an individual preference.
Both are excellent opportunities so congratulations in any case, you can't really make a wrong decision, only one that's more right for you
Specifically in the Oxford course you can take options in information engineering systems, software engineering, circuits & communications and control systems in third year which will largely correlate to the content of the Imperial course. You then specialize further in final year, in for example machine vision & robotics or machine learning; so you have excellent depth and breadth across both the broad academic area you're interested (information engineering) as well as specific research areas within that (such as machine learning) as well as having a good grounding in fundamental engineering principles from the first two years.
The Imperial course however offers more computer science options including as noted algorithms and computational complexity, plus various other areas such as computer architecture and digital signal processing that may not be available on the Oxford course (although the former is likely to exist in some form in the electronic options in third year, and the latter may well be available otherwise). Both are very reputable globally, and Imperial is well known for it's engineering strengths in particular.
The student body notions are fairly irrelevant in terms of job prospects; it might add a bit of variety to student life but the college experience will make more difference to how you experience your university years than knowing people on humanities courses. Imperial has the debatable quality of being based in London; it's right next to the museums of science and natural history, as well as the V&A. Whether you will enjoy London life is impossible to say, as it's quite an individual preference.
Both are excellent opportunities so congratulations in any case, you can't really make a wrong decision, only one that's more right for you
Thanks for your advice! Do you think I can self-study the computer science topics covered at Imperial? I will have 10 months of free time before I enter university next year (I was accepted for deferred entry due to military service commitments).
The difference in computer science content seems quite significant though.
Oxford: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/d8w3y3sj3x86y08/AADCCeKS_H_rwGeahHieyBpoa?dl=0
Imperial: http://intranet.ee.ic.ac.uk/electricalengineering/eecourses_t4/index.asp
Original post by Orlandothefraser
congrats on the offer. I have an offer for engineering science also (at Oriel College) what college is your offer from? It seems to me that Oxford has a strong information engineering department http://ori.ox.ac.uk/ heres the website if you want to look.
Mine's from harris manchester. Yup it's definitely strong, just worried that I"m losing out if I can delve deeper into that area at Imperial >< Did you make that same decision between Oxford and Imperial? How did you decide?
And congrats to you too!
(edited 7 years ago)
Original post by artful_lounger
You can specialize on the Oxford course from third year onwards, so you'll have >50% information/electronic engineering accounting for two years of information engineering plus related first and second year courses. Imperial has more "pure" computer science e.g. algorithms and complexity however.
Specifically in the Oxford course you can take options in information engineering systems, software engineering, circuits & communications and control systems in third year which will largely correlate to the content of the Imperial course. You then specialize further in final year, in for example machine vision & robotics or machine learning; so you have excellent depth and breadth across both the broad academic area you're interested (information engineering) as well as specific research areas within that (such as machine learning) as well as having a good grounding in fundamental engineering principles from the first two years.
The Imperial course however offers more computer science options including as noted algorithms and computational complexity, plus various other areas such as computer architecture and digital signal processing that may not be available on the Oxford course (although the former is likely to exist in some form in the electronic options in third year, and the latter may well be available otherwise). Both are very reputable globally, and Imperial is well known for it's engineering strengths in particular.
The student body notions are fairly irrelevant in terms of job prospects; it might add a bit of variety to student life but the college experience will make more difference to how you experience your university years than knowing people on humanities courses. Imperial has the debatable quality of being based in London; it's right next to the museums of science and natural history, as well as the V&A. Whether you will enjoy London life is impossible to say, as it's quite an individual preference.
Both are excellent opportunities so congratulations in any case, you can't really make a wrong decision, only one that's more right for you
Specifically in the Oxford course you can take options in information engineering systems, software engineering, circuits & communications and control systems in third year which will largely correlate to the content of the Imperial course. You then specialize further in final year, in for example machine vision & robotics or machine learning; so you have excellent depth and breadth across both the broad academic area you're interested (information engineering) as well as specific research areas within that (such as machine learning) as well as having a good grounding in fundamental engineering principles from the first two years.
The Imperial course however offers more computer science options including as noted algorithms and computational complexity, plus various other areas such as computer architecture and digital signal processing that may not be available on the Oxford course (although the former is likely to exist in some form in the electronic options in third year, and the latter may well be available otherwise). Both are very reputable globally, and Imperial is well known for it's engineering strengths in particular.
The student body notions are fairly irrelevant in terms of job prospects; it might add a bit of variety to student life but the college experience will make more difference to how you experience your university years than knowing people on humanities courses. Imperial has the debatable quality of being based in London; it's right next to the museums of science and natural history, as well as the V&A. Whether you will enjoy London life is impossible to say, as it's quite an individual preference.
Both are excellent opportunities so congratulations in any case, you can't really make a wrong decision, only one that's more right for you
Thanks for the advice! Hmm do you think I'll be able to self-study the Imperial computer science content? I have over 10 months before uni as my entry is deferred till next year due to military service commitments. I'll refer to syllabi and recommended texts available online to do so.
Original post by Peractio
Thanks for the advice! Hmm do you think I'll be able to self-study the Imperial computer science content? I have over 10 months before uni as my entry is deferred till next year due to military service commitments. I'll refer to syllabi and recommended texts available online to do so.
I am beyond certain the computer architecture and signal processing content will be covered by various options within the course. The programming elements may not be covered in as much depth but, you'll do at least a basic level of programming in the main course and the rest you can pick up just by consistently using your programming in both curricular projects and self driven projects in your own time.
There will also be plenty of computer science students and staff at Oxford you can talk to about these topics, and in some of the more computer science related options you may well be able to discuss these in more depth in tutorials (which you won't have the same opportunity to do at Imperial).
Realistically, on the academic side the courses are equal, and cover broadly the same content depending on options selected; the Oxford course has less obvious CS elements but they are there, somewhat disguised in some cases. I would suggest you base your selection more on the feel of the universities and cities, and financial considerations of the 3 vs 4 year course. Both are excellent academically and will prepare you very well for a career in industry or academia, so it will make more of a difference for you to choose the one where you will be most comfortable and happiest as that will allow you to achieve your full potential academically
Reply 7
Original post by artful_lounger
I am beyond certain the computer architecture and signal processing content will be covered by various options within the course. The programming elements may not be covered in as much depth but, you'll do at least a basic level of programming in the main course and the rest you can pick up just by consistently using your programming in both curricular projects and self driven projects in your own time.
There will also be plenty of computer science students and staff at Oxford you can talk to about these topics, and in some of the more computer science related options you may well be able to discuss these in more depth in tutorials (which you won't have the same opportunity to do at Imperial).
Realistically, on the academic side the courses are equal, and cover broadly the same content depending on options selected; the Oxford course has less obvious CS elements but they are there, somewhat disguised in some cases. I would suggest you base your selection more on the feel of the universities and cities, and financial considerations of the 3 vs 4 year course. Both are excellent academically and will prepare you very well for a career in industry or academia, so it will make more of a difference for you to choose the one where you will be most comfortable and happiest as that will allow you to achieve your full potential academically
There will also be plenty of computer science students and staff at Oxford you can talk to about these topics, and in some of the more computer science related options you may well be able to discuss these in more depth in tutorials (which you won't have the same opportunity to do at Imperial).
Realistically, on the academic side the courses are equal, and cover broadly the same content depending on options selected; the Oxford course has less obvious CS elements but they are there, somewhat disguised in some cases. I would suggest you base your selection more on the feel of the universities and cities, and financial considerations of the 3 vs 4 year course. Both are excellent academically and will prepare you very well for a career in industry or academia, so it will make more of a difference for you to choose the one where you will be most comfortable and happiest as that will allow you to achieve your full potential academically
There's an Oxford CompSci Tutor who has a TSR account. Perhaps he'll know more?
Posted from TSR Mobile
Reply 8
Original post by Peractio
Mine's from harris manchester. Yup it's definitely strong, just worried that I"m losing out if I can delve deeper into that area at Imperial >< Did you make that same decision between Oxford and Imperial? How did you decide?
And congrats to you too!
And congrats to you too!
I Didn't actually apply to Imperial because I didn't really want to study in London. I also really like the idea of a general course because I currently find both robotics/ electronics interesting as well as aerospace.
Original post by wolfmoon88
There's an Oxford CompSci Tutor who has a TSR account. Perhaps he'll know more?
Posted from TSR Mobile
Posted from TSR Mobile
Tagging ... @gavinlowe
(found the right one
)(edited 7 years ago)
Original post by Doonesbury
Thanks for the tag -- but I'm not sure what I'm being asked. OP has an offer for Engineering at Oxford: I don't teach on that degree, so can't give detailed comments on it. OP seems to have identified the main issues: it seems to come down to personal preference what would be best for him.
Gavin
Original post by gavinlowe
Thanks for the tag -- but I'm not sure what I'm being asked. OP has an offer for Engineering at Oxford: I don't teach on that degree, so can't give detailed comments on it. OP seems to have identified the main issues: it seems to come down to personal preference what would be best for him.
Gavin
Gavin
Ah, I *think* it's about the amount of CS content in the Engineering course... but yeah, different departments...
Thanks!
Posted from TSR Mobile
Original post by Peractio
I have received offers to study Electronic and Information Engineering (something like EEE + computing) at Imperial and Engineering Science (general engineering) at Oxford. Which should I choose? Right now I'm interested in doing a computer-related field, with interests in areas like machine vision and artificial intelligence.
Some things I'm considering:
- how Imperial might be cheaper if I don't get a scholarship, and do 3 years to get a bachelor's, while Oxford's degree is 4 years to culminate in a master's.
- how Imperial will definitely give me more depth in EIE, and give me more exposure to computing, something I'm particularly interested in (as opposed to Oxford's, which gives me at most around 30% focus on information engineering)
- how Imperial will provide more hands-on experience and industrial exposure
- how Oxford might force me to understand things on a more fundamental level through the tutorial sessions (Imperial also has for first two years, but less frequent - once every 2 weeks - and it might be less self-paced, with a focus on problem sheets)
- how Oxford's global brand and connections might benefit more as I don't intend to stay in UK (I'm an international student from Singapore)
- how Oxford's more diverse student body (humanities) will allow me to have a broader worldview and also be able to switch to other professions should I so choose in the future
Some things I'm considering:
- how Imperial might be cheaper if I don't get a scholarship, and do 3 years to get a bachelor's, while Oxford's degree is 4 years to culminate in a master's.
- how Imperial will definitely give me more depth in EIE, and give me more exposure to computing, something I'm particularly interested in (as opposed to Oxford's, which gives me at most around 30% focus on information engineering)
- how Imperial will provide more hands-on experience and industrial exposure
- how Oxford might force me to understand things on a more fundamental level through the tutorial sessions (Imperial also has for first two years, but less frequent - once every 2 weeks - and it might be less self-paced, with a focus on problem sheets)
- how Oxford's global brand and connections might benefit more as I don't intend to stay in UK (I'm an international student from Singapore)
- how Oxford's more diverse student body (humanities) will allow me to have a broader worldview and also be able to switch to other professions should I so choose in the future
Hi, would you mind sharing your ps or what supercurriculars you wrote in your ps? I'm applying for the same courses as you next year
Original post by peractio
I have received offers to study Electronic and Information Engineering (something like EEE + computing) at Imperial and Engineering Science (general engineering) at Oxford. Which should I choose? Right now I'm interested in doing a computer-related field, with interests in areas like machine vision and artificial intelligence.
Some things I'm considering:
- how Imperial might be cheaper if I don't get a scholarship, and do 3 years to get a bachelor's, while Oxford's degree is 4 years to culminate in a master's.
- how Imperial will definitely give me more depth in EIE, and give me more exposure to computing, something I'm particularly interested in (as opposed to Oxford's, which gives me at most around 30% focus on information engineering)
- how Imperial will provide more hands-on experience and industrial exposure
- how Oxford might force me to understand things on a more fundamental level through the tutorial sessions (Imperial also has for first two years, but less frequent - once every 2 weeks - and it might be less self-paced, with a focus on problem sheets)
- how Oxford's global brand and connections might benefit more as I don't intend to stay in UK (I'm an international student from Singapore)
- how Oxford's more diverse student body (humanities) will allow me to have a broader worldview and also be able to switch to other professions should I so choose in the future
Some things I'm considering:
- how Imperial might be cheaper if I don't get a scholarship, and do 3 years to get a bachelor's, while Oxford's degree is 4 years to culminate in a master's.
- how Imperial will definitely give me more depth in EIE, and give me more exposure to computing, something I'm particularly interested in (as opposed to Oxford's, which gives me at most around 30% focus on information engineering)
- how Imperial will provide more hands-on experience and industrial exposure
- how Oxford might force me to understand things on a more fundamental level through the tutorial sessions (Imperial also has for first two years, but less frequent - once every 2 weeks - and it might be less self-paced, with a focus on problem sheets)
- how Oxford's global brand and connections might benefit more as I don't intend to stay in UK (I'm an international student from Singapore)
- how Oxford's more diverse student body (humanities) will allow me to have a broader worldview and also be able to switch to other professions should I so choose in the future
I know this post is 6 years old, but just for other people who are looking at this now in the future.
If you are choosing between Electronic and Information Engineering (MEng) at Imperial versus Engineering Science at Oxford (MEng) for artificial intelligence and machine learning, then Electronic and Information Engineering at Imperial is vastly, tremendously superior to Oxford's course. Oxford only covers AI and machine learning in the 4th year, and even that is very little compared to Imperial. Ofcourse, this only applies for AI. I don't know about whether they are better for engineering or not; that's not my field.
Imperial covers AI and machine learning in the third and fourth year. For AI, Imperial is the superior choice. Also, when choosing an undergraduate degree at Imperial or Oxford, you should ALWAYS choose an integrated master's. Never choose a plain bachelor's degree at Imperial or Oxford, UCL, or any other top university. Always choose/apply for an integrated masters degree (MEng) over a (BEng) degree. The TL;dr, a standalone master's at Imperial or Oxford, UCL, Cambridge, or another top university, you essentially have to pay for half the cost of the course, and you have to pay living costs yourself, and you pay 6% extra tax from income from any job you have. Integrated master's, you have whole course paid, living costs paid, and you don't pay the extra 6% tax on income.
(edited 1 year ago)
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