engineering at uni
hi, looking to apply for engineering at university of birmingham and warwick. Not sure which branch of engineering yet, probably mechanical or civil, there is an engineering course where you specialise in a branch in 2nd year. What is the difference between this course and say a civil engineering course? Does doing a civil engineering course have any clear benefits over it? thx 
Original post by burntspark
hi, looking to apply for engineering at university of birmingham and warwick. Not sure which branch of engineering yet, probably mechanical or civil, there is an engineering course where you specialise in a branch in 2nd year. What is the difference between this course and say a civil engineering course? Does doing a civil engineering course have any clear benefits over it? thx
I study civil engineering at Leeds so I can't speak for those two universities, but generally speaking most engineering courses have pretty standard, generalised modules in the first two years, with maybe a couple of optional modules in second year. This gives you a well-rounded knowledge of the subjects so that you have chance to switch between the different degrees under that faculty (e.g. I could switch to Architectural Engineering before the end of second year). Third year is where you'll have a good idea of which parts you like and start to specialise more and even more so in fourth year.
In terms of which type of engineering to do, there is no major 'benefit' to any type, except for personal opinion on which industry is more lucrative to be in when you graduate. Ultimately, any kind of engineering is a very useful degree, mostly due to the analytical skills you gain which many industries love. It's no surprise that so many engineers go into finance related jobs after graduating. It sounds cliché but do what you enjoy. Take a look at the modules you'll be studying each year for the degrees you're interested in, they'll be on the university websites.
Civil is all about buildings and structures. The maths is mostly statics, using design codes to size beams,columns,foundations, etc. You'll design your own hypothetical structures and draw them in CAD. There's structural, water, geotechnics, environmental, project management. These are what you'd specialise in after second year. Mechanical I haven't studied but there'll be similar pure maths initially, and I'm assuming a lot of dynamics, thermo, etc as well as their own CAD work.
Original post by aadil10
I study civil engineering at Leeds so I can't speak for those two universities, but generally speaking most engineering courses have pretty standard, generalised modules in the first two years, with maybe a couple of optional modules in second year. This gives you a well-rounded knowledge of the subjects so that you have chance to switch between the different degrees under that faculty (e.g. I could switch to Architectural Engineering before the end of second year). Third year is where you'll have a good idea of which parts you like and start to specialise more and even more so in fourth year.
In terms of which type of engineering to do, there is no major 'benefit' to any type, except for personal opinion on which industry is more lucrative to be in when you graduate. Ultimately, any kind of engineering is a very useful degree, mostly due to the analytical skills you gain which many industries love. It's no surprise that so many engineers go into finance related jobs after graduating. It sounds cliché but do what you enjoy. Take a look at the modules you'll be studying each year for the degrees you're interested in, they'll be on the university websites.
Civil is all about buildings and structures. The maths is mostly statics, using design codes to size beams,columns,foundations, etc. You'll design your own hypothetical structures and draw them in CAD. There's structural, water, geotechnics, environmental, project management. These are what you'd specialise in after second year. Mechanical I haven't studied but there'll be similar pure maths initially, and I'm assuming a lot of dynamics, thermo, etc as well as their own CAD work.
In terms of which type of engineering to do, there is no major 'benefit' to any type, except for personal opinion on which industry is more lucrative to be in when you graduate. Ultimately, any kind of engineering is a very useful degree, mostly due to the analytical skills you gain which many industries love. It's no surprise that so many engineers go into finance related jobs after graduating. It sounds cliché but do what you enjoy. Take a look at the modules you'll be studying each year for the degrees you're interested in, they'll be on the university websites.
Civil is all about buildings and structures. The maths is mostly statics, using design codes to size beams,columns,foundations, etc. You'll design your own hypothetical structures and draw them in CAD. There's structural, water, geotechnics, environmental, project management. These are what you'd specialise in after second year. Mechanical I haven't studied but there'll be similar pure maths initially, and I'm assuming a lot of dynamics, thermo, etc as well as their own CAD work.
interesting, I was a little confused as I saw that you can do the generic Engineering BEng with lower grades than civil engineering BEng, but then in second year you can specialise in civil, not sure if there is any draw backs here. do you enjoy civil engineering?
Original post by burntspark
interesting, I was a little confused as I saw that you can do the generic Engineering BEng with lower grades than civil engineering BEng, but then in second year you can specialise in civil, not sure if there is any draw backs here. do you enjoy civil engineering?
Yeah I remember being a little confused as there seems to be so many options available. I guess only someone studying that can say, but I assume just 'engineering' will give you a broad overview of different topics for people who are unsure which avenue they wish to pursue. I suppose a potential drawback is possibly not having as much in-depth knowledge of whichever area you choose to specialise in when you go into second year. It's definitely worth contacting the uni about and discussing the two different paths, and ideally finding someone studying the course there.
Personally I love civil engineering, I think most people realise within a few weeks if it's for them or not, so we had a dozen or so people drop out in first year because they preferred mechanical for example. Engineering is intense so you really have to enjoy what you're studying or you'll find it dull. I find some aspects really good, such as any structural design and CAD work, whereas other aspects such as geotechnics I don't particularly enjoy (so I know what I won't be specialising in!).
Its well known mechanical engineering is superior to civil 
Its really depends what you want to do there is a joke civil engineers build targets, mechanical engineers build weapons.
Whilst this is in jest, I think you can tell the difference in what sort of industries a mechanical or civil engineer would go into
In mechanical the main areas you would look as solid mechanics & dynamics, thermodynamics (energy transfer via heat), fluidmechanics (forces moving between fluids or fluids and solids for example generating lift on an aircraft).
You will do some manufacturing, materials & electrical as well.
Id really think about what type of things interest you, there are a few general engineering degrees but most require you to pick the core subject in year 1.
Its really depends what you want to do there is a joke civil engineers build targets, mechanical engineers build weapons.
Whilst this is in jest, I think you can tell the difference in what sort of industries a mechanical or civil engineer would go into
In mechanical the main areas you would look as solid mechanics & dynamics, thermodynamics (energy transfer via heat), fluidmechanics (forces moving between fluids or fluids and solids for example generating lift on an aircraft).
You will do some manufacturing, materials & electrical as well.
Id really think about what type of things interest you, there are a few general engineering degrees but most require you to pick the core subject in year 1.
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