Should I apply to Bristol and Sheffield with AAA for mechanical engineering?

2

I have predicted grades of AAA and I'm looking at applying to Bristol and Sheffield, which usually want A*AA for Mechanical Engineering. Has anyone had offers from them with AAA? Would you recommend trying for one or both, or focus on other unis?
Looking as Warwick and Birmingham as my realistic choices.
Is it smarter to apply for BEng?

Reply 1

University of Sheffield Students

Official Rep

16

Original post

by ProGolfer74

I have predicted grades of AAA and I'm looking at applying to Bristol and Sheffield, which usually want A*AA for Mechanical Engineering. Has anyone had offers from them with AAA? Would you recommend trying for one or both, or focus on other unis?
Looking as Warwick and Birmingham as my realistic choices.
Is it smarter to apply for BEng?

Hey ProGolfer74, 👋

It's great to hear you are looking to apply to Sheff for MechEng!

So you're right that in general Sheff asks for A*AA however this is not the be all and end all. There are other options that allow for slightly lower entry requirements such as AAA, if you have an A in a relevant EPQ or A in AS or B in A Level Further Maths.

There's also the offer you could get through Access Sheffield (which would be AAB, including A in Maths and B in at least one of Physics, Chemistry or Biology). If you would like more information about how the Access Sheffield contextual offers work and what the eligibility factors are you can go to the webpage here.

Also I have found in my experience that Sheffield is more lenient on grade results if you firm them as your top uni choice. My partner (ChemEng) and I (EngLit) both got slightly lower than expected A-Levels but we were still offered places on our respective courses as we firmed Sheff! This was through the conventional route not through Access contextual offers.

So it is up to you whether you would prefer to choose one high target uni or a couple. I personally chose one reach uni, one safety net, and the rest that were firmly within my grade predictions. But, as I said, there are various ways where you can get onto this course, even if your predictions don't line up exactly.

In terms of BEng and MEng, they both have the same entry requirements so it doesn't matter too much which you apply for. Once you start the course, if you decide you want to change to the other one, you can do that. My partner swapped from the MEng to the BEng for instance, but it also works in the opposite way if you decide you want to do the full master's.

I really hope this helps, but please don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions, and if you want to chat to a current MechEng student with any course specific questions you can get in touch with ones of our student ambassadors here.

Best of luck,
Phoebe 😀
Student Ambassador - PhD in English Literature

Reply 2

going-tooth

7

Original post

by ProGolfer74

I have predicted grades of AAA and I'm looking at applying to Bristol and Sheffield, which usually want A*AA for Mechanical Engineering. Has anyone had offers from them with AAA? Would you recommend trying for one or both, or focus on other unis?
Looking as Warwick and Birmingham as my realistic choices.
Is it smarter to apply for BEng?

just got rejected from Bristol with A*A*A but would recommend you go for Sheffield

Reply 3

intended-ineptit

5

Original post

by going-tooth

just got rejected from Bristol with A*A*A but would recommend you go for Sheffield

thats crazy, what was their reason?

Reply 4

going-tooth

7

wasn't high enough on their application list (also I saw someone else got rejected with A*A*A* in fm math physics)

Reply 5

Marleygb

3

Original post

by going-tooth

wasn't high enough on their application list (also I saw someone else got rejected with A*A*A* in fm math physics)

Damn I got an offer A* A* A* maths physics psychology

Reply 6

spaceengineer

8

The University of Bristol is an excellent institution with a highly respected engineering department. It is particularly strong in aerospace and mechanical engineering and is widely regarded as one of the top engineering universities in the UK, alongside the University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, University of Bath and the University of Manchester.

(edited 2 weeks ago)

Reply 7

lcigroup

7

Yes — with AAA, you should definitely apply to both Bristol and Sheffield for Mechanical Engineering.
Bristol usually asks AAA–A*AA, so with strong Maths/Physics and a decent personal statement, you’re competitive but not guaranteed. Sheffield is more realistic at AAA, and many students with those grades do get offers.

Should I apply to Bristol and Sheffield with AAA for mechanical engineering?

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