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Chemical engineering MEng UCL vs Nottingham (with placement and MEng)

Hi, I’m really stuck on whether to pick UCL or Nottingham for chemical engineering, I’ve already decided to pick Loughborough as my insurance choice but when it comes to my firm I’m on the verge of losing my marbles.

When it ones to ranking UCL is much better ranked overall however Nottingham is much better ranked for chemical engineering, this included satisfaction with teaching and so on. Obviously getting a job from either uni wouldn’t be much of a problem since they are both seen as prestigious in chemical engineering. As far as the future goes I would like to stay within the chemical engineering sector and probably not go into finance but not completely cutting it out the question. As an area I heavily prefer going London to Nottingham.

Could someone help me with the strengths and weaknesses when it comes to either university regarding chemical engineering please?

Sorry for the long message
Original post by ChasingGrades123
Hi, I’m really stuck on whether to pick UCL or Nottingham for chemical engineering, I’ve already decided to pick Loughborough as my insurance choice but when it comes to my firm I’m on the verge of losing my marbles.

When it ones to ranking UCL is much better ranked overall however Nottingham is much better ranked for chemical engineering, this included satisfaction with teaching and so on. Obviously getting a job from either uni wouldn’t be much of a problem since they are both seen as prestigious in chemical engineering. As far as the future goes I would like to stay within the chemical engineering sector and probably not go into finance but not completely cutting it out the question. As an area I heavily prefer going London to Nottingham.

Could someone help me with the strengths and weaknesses when it comes to either university regarding chemical engineering please?

Sorry for the long message


Ill make some collective thoughts:
- firstly the finance point: if you later decide you’re interested in pursuing finance as a career, you’ll also need to decide what to do in “finance” so you may benefit from a conversion course anyway, people who don’t know are generally chasing money (if this is the end goal you are best of studying finance or economics & using your 3 years at university to focus entirely on the financial services conveyor belt because spring week applications start as soon as you arrive at uni in first year), if you do have a loose passion for capital markets then you can study them as a hobby regardless (and invest your own money), if it’s just being in a commercially influential job then you can do this in any industry.
- Rankings really are irrelevant, both are very well respected & basically no benefit from a graduate job perspective, particularly with the way the big industry players recruit nowadays. Reputation is more important if you wish to pursue jobs abroad (important to note reputation is not the same as ranking).
- Im less familiar with the UCL chemical engineering department but at faculty level (i.e. engineering) Nottingham certainly is the bigger player in engineering research & has a very strong industry links with lots of the multinationals investing in engineering research. Both are obviously very well connected & research power houses, but engineering is a research focus at Nottingham & UCL is probably more focused on other fields.
- the cities are very different, and provides a very different student experiences. Nottingham is very well known for its student nightlife, sports, the beautiful campus (and benefits from lower cost of living in the midlands). UCL is a classic London uni college, it has everything London has to offer available via the tube and all of Londons opportunities but that comes with the overcrowding & costs of London.
Ultimately I am a Nottingham alumni so am definitely biased, but Ive tried to give a fair reflection. Personally im not convinced London is worth the costs unless there is something very specific London has to offer you want.
Ill make some collective thoughts:
- firstly the finance point: if you later decide you’re interested in pursuing finance as a career, you’ll also need to decide what to do in “finance” so you may benefit from a conversion course anyway, people who don’t know are generally chasing money (if this is the end goal you are best of studying finance or economics & using your 3 years at university to focus entirely on the financial services conveyor belt because spring week applications start as soon as you arrive at uni in first year), if you do have a loose passion for capital markets then you can study them as a hobby regardless (and invest your own money), if it’s just being in a commercially influential job then you can do this in any industry.
- Rankings really are irrelevant, both are very well respected & basically no benefit from a graduate job perspective, particularly with the way the big industry players recruit nowadays. Reputation is more important if you wish to pursue jobs abroad (important to note reputation is not the same as ranking).
- Im less familiar with the UCL chemical engineering department but at faculty level (i.e. engineering) Nottingham certainly is the bigger player in engineering research & has a very strong industry links with lots of the multinationals investing in engineering research. Both are obviously very well connected & research power houses, but engineering is a research focus at Nottingham & UCL is probably more focused on other fields.
- the cities are very different, and provides a very different student experiences. Nottingham is very well known for its student nightlife, sports, the beautiful campus (and benefits from lower cost of living in the midlands). UCL is a classic London uni college, it has everything London has to offer available via the tube and all of Londons opportunities but that comes with the overcrowding & costs of London.
Ultimately I am a Nottingham alumni so am definitely biased, but Ive tried to give a fair reflection. Personally im not convinced London is worth the costs unless there is something very specific London has to offer you want.


Thank you very much for your detailed response and giving a balanced argument I can see why Nottingham is good for engineering and to add on to the going abroad aspect (which I’m considering at the end of it all) even though I think UCL has a better reputation globally both degrees are IChemE accredited so I’m pretty sure being a graduate from Nottingham and then going to the US would be quite possible.

Thanks again for your reply.
Original post by ChasingGrades123
Thank you very much for your detailed response and giving a balanced argument I can see why Nottingham is good for engineering and to add on to the going abroad aspect (which I’m considering at the end of it all) even though I think UCL has a better reputation globally both degrees are IChemE accredited so I’m pretty sure being a graduate from Nottingham and then going to the US would be quite possible.
Thanks again for your reply.

Yes moving abroad would be no problem, its more name recognition which makes it easier getting your foot in the door at graduate level abroad (not really an issue after you become “experienced hire” anyway).

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