Mechanical Engineering: Manch., Notts.,South.

Southampton has the best reputation for mech eng out of those three universities. I have family members who did mech eng and electronics there and both got excellent jobs straight out of university, as did their peers. It has a vibrant student scene and accommodation is relatively cheap and plentiful. It has a lovely campus, but all accommodation is off- campus and most is within walking distance.
Nottingham and Manchester are also ranked quite highly for mech eng , but Southampton is renowned as an " engineering" university for all types of engineering.
Manchester accommodation is very expensive ( like a lot of city universities) and in some years there hasn't been enough university accommodation for first years. Private accommodation is also expensive in Manchester. It is amazing amazing city to live in though and has a lively student scene with lots of sporting/ musical facilities.
Nottingham has a beautiful campus and everyone I know who has been there has loved their time at university. There is plenty of private accommodation available and it is more expensive than Soton, but cheaper than Manchester.
Out of all the three universities, I'd advise Southampton or Manchester. Southampton has a huge international student cohort , especially in engineering. Both cities have airports too! Good luck.

Hello, my son as an international student (Turkey) received offers from 5 schools for mechanical engineering first year. We visited the schools and narrowed it down to three schools. Manchester, Nottingham and Southampton universities. I would be grateful if anyone who has studied at these schools and / or has an idea writes. University life in the city, educational characteristics of universities, accommodation, job opportunities, one year industry placement, social life....

Hello, my son as an international student (Turkey) received offers from 5 schools for mechanical engineering first year. We visited the schools and narrowed it down to three schools. Manchester, Nottingham and Southampton universities. I would be grateful if anyone who has studied at these schools and / or has an idea writes. University life in the city, educational characteristics of universities, accommodation, job opportunities, one year industry placement, social life....

Hello @dincdincer68,
Thank you for your questions!
I’m currently in my second year studying psychology, so I don’t have any first-hand experience with mechanical engineering, but I can tell you a bit about it and discuss my general experiences with the university and city.
The City
I’ve really enjoyed my time at the University of Southampton so far and have found it to be a very lively city. Your son would likely be studying at Highfield and Boldrewood campuses, which are both very close to the city centre and to a student area called Portswood. They are accessible by bus, and first years who live in student accommodation are given a free bus pass for the year. The transport is very regular, making it easy to travel between campus, accommodations and other parts of the city. There are many different things to do in Southampton, including shops, parks, libraries, sports centres and gyms, cinemas, clubs, bars and pubs, etc… We also have a train station close to campus, making it easy to explore other cities too.
The University
I love how the campus feels like its own little village, and it's nice to have access to lots of green spaces and various other facilities. In my experience, all of the staff members have been so friendly and are always there to help if anyone is struggling. The university has strong support systems which offer help with finance, mental health, academic skills, accommodation, making friends, etc… The students union offers lots of different events, societies and sports which are especially great for helping international students create a sense of community in an unfamiliar environment.
Accommodation
The most popular student accommodations are Mayflower Halls, Wessex Lane and Glen Eyre. These are safe, comfortable and affordable, and have great rooms and facilities. You can find out more about these here. They are all relatively close to campus and are easy to access by bus.
Job Opportunities
There are lots of part-time job opportunities, especially in the city centre and the university itself. There are opportunities to become a student ambassador and complete shifts on campus and elsewhere, for example, at open days and careers fairs. Some people also work in the campus shops and cafes. These pay well and are very convenient. The university offers paid UoS internships to complete either during term time or in the holidays. These pay well, are very flexible and are great for skills development and work experience. As for careers after university, Southampton has links with professionals from various sectors and careers advisers can help us make a plan. There are many opportunities for networking, including careers fairs, course lecturers, internships and placements.
Industry Placement
It is possible to take mechanical engineering with a year in placement. This is a great opportunity to develop skills, and the university offers guidance and support. Students must apply to placements themselves, but the university can offer help with finding placements as staff members have links with professionals from the industry.
Social Life
As mentioned above, there are lots of ways to socialise in Southampton, including sports, societies, nightlife, courses, events, etc. The nightlife is great and Southampton has lots of clubs, bars and pubs very close to campus. There is also a pub on campus called The Stags. Freshers week is a good opportunity to make new friends and try out different societies and events that the university does. When I was in first year, I attended events such as quizzes, club nights, paint and sip, society tasters, etc.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineering is an accredited course and in 2021, engineering at Southampton was ranked 4th in the UK for research power and grade point average. In 2023, Southampton was ranked UK top 10 and world top 100 for mechanical engineering. You can read more about the department here!
I hope this helped and let me know if you have any more questions
Poppy, 2nd Year Psychology