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Graduate jobs after Brunel or Brookes BEng?

I'm looking at Mechanical Engineering BEng at both Brunel and Oxford Brookes. Can anyone share what graduate employment is like from either uni, and how easy it is to get a good job or placement after? Thanks! 😊

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Reply 1

darx005

Brunel

Reply 2

mnot

Universities Forum Helper

Original post

by ilsa62

Both are decent, and basically the same regarding exit prospects.

How difficult is it to get a graduate job? For most very difficult, for some very easy…

The reality is most students have very similar profiles with minimal relevant little track record (outside core university projects) and a 2.1 or 1st, with little idea what they want to do and have a general profile, and so these graduates end up applying for very competitive entry level roles, and often have make several dozen applications…

If you have a clear passion, you pursue specific skills relevant to the role, and can demonstrate trust and responsibility in a professional environment plus strong interest and going above and beyond in your engineering studies. Then you will probably find it relatively straightforward to secure a placement year, the placement year makes it far easier to land a graduate role… basically small proactive decisions before your placement year compound to a much easier pathway.

My suggestion, make sure you get some real world paid work before university (in the summer), at university do some side projects directly related to either the skills or industry you are passionate about. Use your summers to get more paid work, and more in depth engineering projects. And do something worthwhile in a voluntary capacity at some point at university. Then when you go for placement years, target a specific area, make a clear profile and apply very early for as many companies as you can.

Reply 3

Muttley79

Original post

by ilsa62

Brookes but do take the placement year.

Reply 4

OxfordBrookesDan

Official Rep

Original post

by ilsa62

Hi,
I hope you’re doing well! The Mechanical Engineering course at Oxford Brookes places a strong emphasis on employability and practical engineering skills alongside core theoretical knowledge. The degree covers key areas such as mechanics, thermodynamics, materials, manufacturing, control systems, and design, with a significant amount of laboratory work, group projects, and applied learning throughout the course.

Graduate employment is a major focus of the programme, with companies such as Pfizer, British Airways, and JCB being mentioned on the course page. Students are supported by a dedicated Careers Service, which offers help with CVs, applications, interview preparation, and access to employer-led events. Alongside Oxford Brooke’s outstanding teaching quality, engineering students also benefit from industry-linked projects, guest lectures, and opportunities to engage with employers during their studies.

The course offers the option of a sandwich (placement) year, and many students choose to take this route. The university provides structured support when applying for placements, and students have successfully secured roles across a range of engineering sectors, including manufacturing, automotive, energy, and consultancy. Completing a placement year can significantly improve employability and often leads to graduate job offers, and the academics use their industry connections to make the process easier.

Oxford Brookes engineering degrees are designed with professional accreditation in mind, supporting progression towards Chartered Engineer (CEng) status, which is valued by employers in the UK and internationally. This is supported by specialist facilities, located in the recently opened Workshop and New Headington Hill Buildings.
Overall, graduates from Mechanical Engineering at Oxford Brookes typically progress into graduate engineering roles, further study, or industry-based training schemes. Students who actively engage with placements, projects, and careers support generally find themselves well prepared for the graduate job market.

I would recommend attending an Open Day or Offer Holder Day to speak directly with academics and current students about placements and graduate outcomes, as they can provide the most up-to-date and course-specific information. Another option is to chat to a current student, which can be done via Unibuddy.

I hope this helps, and feel free to ask if you have any further questions about Mechanical Engineering at Oxford Brookes!

Reply 5

sami002

Brookes! Oxford Brookes mech eng students are very sought after in the automotive industry, especially due to the amazing formula student team. It’s on par with the likes of the University of Bath in that regard.