What unis should I apply to?

6

Hi, I'm in Y12 doing maths, fm, physics and history. i want to apply to do mechanical engineering, preferrably at a russel group. my gcses are 99988888887 [9 - english lit, 8 - maths, further maths, english language]. I really want to apply to Oxford or Imperial, depending on my predicted grades at the end of the year. But I think any unis I want to apply to now aren't 'safe'/i'm most likely going to get an offer. what 'safe' unis should i apply to?

Reply 1

flowersinmyhair

Volunteer Section Leader, Clearing and Applications Advisor

20

Original post

by bhs009

Hi, I'm in Y12 doing maths, fm, physics and history. i want to apply to do mechanical engineering, preferrably at a russel group. my gcses are 99988888887 [9 - english lit, 8 - maths, further maths, english language]. I really want to apply to Oxford or Imperial, depending on my predicted grades at the end of the year. But I think any unis I want to apply to now aren't 'safe'/i'm most likely going to get an offer. what 'safe' unis should i apply to?

You should research universities for yourself because no one here knows you better than you do. The UCAS website is a good place to start to look at courses and then you can do some more research about those courses. I would also try and go to university open days to get a feel for the universities. I don't know anything about mechanical engineering so can't really recommend any universities to start looking at.

Just a note about Russell Groups - the title doesn't mean anything because the universities decide whether they get that title, it doesn't tell you anything about the quality of the teaching or whether you will like the environment of that university.

Reply 2

McGinger

20

You have until next autumn to think about this. Time to read Uni course pages, time to go to Uni Open Days in May/June, listen to subject/course presentations, look around and work out which Uni environment and which course will suit you best. No-one else can do this for you.

Reply 3

Wired_1800

20

Original post

by bhs009

Hi, I'm in Y12 doing maths, fm, physics and history. i want to apply to do mechanical engineering, preferrably at a russel group. my gcses are 99988888887 [9 - english lit, 8 - maths, further maths, english language]. I really want to apply to Oxford or Imperial, depending on my predicted grades at the end of the year. But I think any unis I want to apply to now aren't 'safe'/i'm most likely going to get an offer. what 'safe' unis should i apply to?

Some uni options to consider:

Oxford, Imperial, Surrey, Southampton, Bristol, Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle etc.

Reply 4

‎♡₊˚ ୨୧・₊✧

12

Original post

by bhs009

Hi, I'm in Y12 doing maths, fm, physics and history. i want to apply to do mechanical engineering, preferrably at a russel group. my gcses are 99988888887 [9 - english lit, 8 - maths, further maths, english language]. I really want to apply to Oxford or Imperial, depending on my predicted grades at the end of the year. But I think any unis I want to apply to now aren't 'safe'/i'm most likely going to get an offer. what 'safe' unis should i apply to?

as others have said, it's very early to be thinking about this so don't worry too much yet. visiting unis is the best thing you can do to get a feel for the environment you would be living/studying in

especially with engineering, the russel group isn't necessarily the best group of universities to apply to. for example, bath isn't russel group but is one of the most prestigious engineering unis in the country.

something to consider is support with industrial placements. as engineering is more of a career-focused degree, it'd be a very good idea for you to apply to places that offer a year in industry so you can learn what it's like to actually be an engineer, while improving your employability

but, for now, i think you'd be better off looking into supercurricular activities so that you can explore areas of your subject that you're interested and have enough to write in your personal statement :smile:

Reply 5

LSBU

Official Rep

11

Original post

by bhs009

Hi, I'm in Y12 doing maths, fm, physics and history. i want to apply to do mechanical engineering, preferrably at a russel group. my gcses are 99988888887 [9 - english lit, 8 - maths, further maths, english language]. I really want to apply to Oxford or Imperial, depending on my predicted grades at the end of the year. But I think any unis I want to apply to now aren't 'safe'/i'm most likely going to get an offer. what 'safe' unis should i apply to?

Hi there,

You’ve got a really strong academic profile already, your GCSE results and A-level subjects are an excellent combination for Mechanical Engineering. It’s fantastic that you’re aiming high with universities like Oxford and Imperial, but you’re also absolutely right to think about adding a few “safe” options to your UCAS choices. Building a balanced list is the smartest approach.

At London South Bank University (LSBU), we offer a range of engineering degrees that could be ideal as a safe or strong target choice, including BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering, BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering, and BEng (Hons) Electronic and Computer Systems Engineering. LSBU’s engineering courses are professionally accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) and the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), meaning your degree would fully meet the academic requirements for professional registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng). That’s a key mark of quality and something employers value highly.

While LSBU isn’t part of the Russell Group, it has an outstanding reputation for practical, industry-focused teaching, with strong links to engineering companies and opportunities for placements and real-world projects. In fact, LSBU graduates in engineering consistently achieve excellent employability outcomes,over 95% of our engineering students are in work or further study within 15 months of graduation, and many go on to work for top firms in London and across the UK.

When planning your UCAS choices, aim for:

•

2 aspirational universities (like Oxford, or Imperial),

•

2 realistic/target options

•

1 or 2 safe choices, LSBU would be perfect here, offering lower entry requirements while still giving you a professionally accredited, hands-on engineering degree in the heart of London.

If you’d like to learn more about LSBU’s engineering courses, we have an Open Day on Saturday 15th November. You can explore our specialist engineering labs, talk to lecturers, and meet current students who’ve gone on to great careers in mechanical and design engineering.

👉 You can sign up here: LSBU Open Day.
👉 You can also chat with our students through our Unibuddy platform: Chat with our students.

Remember what really matters is finding a university where you’ll thrive, get practical experience, and graduate career-ready. LSBU combines all of that with strong support, accreditation, and excellent teaching, making it a great complement to your more competitive applications.

Reply 6

LJMUStudentReps

Official Rep

17

Hi there,

I'd say that LJMU would be a great safe choice to apply to for Mechanical Engineering!

Our entry requirements for 2026 entry are BBC or 112 UCAS points, so depending on your predicted A-level grades (which guessing from your cracking GCSE results will be great) then LJMU could be a great safety option for you :smile: