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What uni should I apply for? (mechanical engineering)

I am a year 13 student wanting to take mechanical engineering at university and I have gotten offers from loughborough, sheffield, and bristol so far and I'm thinking about what university i'll potentially firm. i know that loughborough will be my safe but between sheffield nd bristol my main concern is what employees think is the stronger uni. Would it be better to go to Bristol because it is higher ranked generally and still great in mechanical or go for sheffield that is more strongly ranked in mechanical?

Reply 1

Original post
by Sally_school
I am a year 13 student wanting to take mechanical engineering at university and I have gotten offers from loughborough, sheffield, and bristol so far and I'm thinking about what university i'll potentially firm. i know that loughborough will be my safe but between sheffield nd bristol my main concern is what employees think is the stronger uni. Would it be better to go to Bristol because it is higher ranked generally and still great in mechanical or go for sheffield that is more strongly ranked in mechanical?

Hi,

Both universities are a part of the Russell group which is equally advantageous. Other than that, employers do not look and compare the specific ranking of each university especially if it gives the same accreditation, what’s more important is your overall grade. Perhaps you can look at the structures of the courses, modules, accommodation prices etc to help you make a decision.

-Sarah (Kingston Rep)

Reply 2

Original post
by Kingston Sarah
Hi,
Both universities are a part of the Russell group which is equally advantageous. Other than that, employers do not look and compare the specific ranking of each university especially if it gives the same accreditation, what’s more important is your overall grade. Perhaps you can look at the structures of the courses, modules, accommodation prices etc to help you make a decision.
-Sarah (Kingston Rep)

No, RG is totally irrelevant for Mech Eng - what is FAR more important is a year's placement.

Reply 3

Original post
by Sally_school
I am a year 13 student wanting to take mechanical engineering at university and I have gotten offers from loughborough, sheffield, and bristol so far and I'm thinking about what university i'll potentially firm. i know that loughborough will be my safe but between sheffield nd bristol my main concern is what employees think is the stronger uni. Would it be better to go to Bristol because it is higher ranked generally and still great in mechanical or go for sheffield that is more strongly ranked in mechanical?

For Enigneering, RG is irrelevant. of these Loughborough has the best placement offer so I'd go for that. What other two unis have you applied to?

Reply 4

Original post
by Muttley79
For Enigneering, RG is irrelevant. of these Loughborough has the best placement offer so I'd go for that. What other two unis have you applied to?
I've also applied for Durham and Imperial but they haven't come back to me yet.

Reply 5

Original post
by Sally_school
I've also applied for Durham and Imperial but they haven't come back to me yet.

Drham isn't that highly regarded for Engineering - I don't think I know any student that has gone there for Engineering. It's much better known for Arts subjects.

As most on here know I'm not a fan of Imperial owing to poor student support.
(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 6

Original post
by Sally_school
I am a year 13 student wanting to take mechanical engineering at university and I have gotten offers from loughborough, sheffield, and bristol so far and I'm thinking about what university i'll potentially firm. i know that loughborough will be my safe but between sheffield nd bristol my main concern is what employees think is the stronger uni. Would it be better to go to Bristol because it is higher ranked generally and still great in mechanical or go for sheffield that is more strongly ranked in mechanical?
Honestly, employers don’t really split hairs between Bristol and Sheffield. Both are solid and well respected universities. Bristol has a bit more overall prestige, while Sheffield is especially well known for mechanical engineering and strong industry links. In reality, what matters much more is how you do there, your grades, projects, placements and internships. Go with the one you’d be happiest at and think you’d perform best in.

Reply 7

The University of Bristol is highly respected in the field of engineering, with a particularly strong reputation in aerospace and mechanical engineering. Bristol is a major aerospace hub in the UK and hosts numerous leading aerospace companies, including GKN Aerospace, BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, Airbus, Lockheed Martin, MBDA, and many others. As a result, the University of Bristol has excellent industrial links that it actively offers to its students. Students may have the opportunity to work on industry-related projects while studying at the University of Bristol and, in some cases, gain experience working directly with these companies. This represents a unique and highly valuable opportunity for students.

Reply 8

Original post
by spaceengineer
The University of Bristol is highly respected in the field of engineering, with a particularly strong reputation in aerospace and mechanical engineering. Bristol is a major aerospace hub in the UK and hosts numerous leading aerospace companies, including GKN Aerospace, BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, Airbus, Lockheed Martin, MBDA, and many others. As a result, the University of Bristol has excellent industrial links that it actively offers to its students. Students may have the opportunity to work on industry-related projects while studying at the University of Bristol and, in some cases, gain experience working directly with these companies. This represents a unique and highly valuable opportunity for students.

Yes but the amount of accommodation is poor with students placed in Wales in recent years. it's not a great place to live either. Other unis also have these links -

Reply 9

Original post
by Muttley79
Yes but the amount of accommodation is poor with students placed in Wales in recent years. it's not a great place to live either. Other unis also have these links -
The University of Bristol is currently addressing these accommodation issues by constructing new student housing facilities to better accommodate its growing student population. I believe Bristol is a very pleasant place to live. If you ask many people in London, they would often say that Bristol is their preferred place to live if London were not an option. Having lived in several cities across the UK, I can confidently say that Bristol is one of the nicest places to live.

Reply 10

Original post
by spaceengineer
The University of Bristol is currently addressing these accommodation issues by constructing new student housing facilities to better accommodate its growing student population. I believe Bristol is a very pleasant place to live. If you ask many people in London, they would often say that Bristol is their preferred place to live if London were not an option. Having lived in several cities across the UK, I can confidently say that Bristol is one of the nicest places to live.

Well I don't agree - Bristol does not have a great rep as a place to live. It should have built the halls BEFORE accepting too many students - it was totallyirresponsible tp put freshers in Wales!

Why mention London? I was thinking about Bath, Exeter, Oxford, Loughborough, York amongst many others as nicer places.

Reply 11

Bath, York, Oxford, Exeter can feel boring to some people, but that largely depends on personal preference. While some may find them unattractive, others might see Bristol as a more appealing and liveable city. You do not have to agree with this perspective; however, it is important to respect and acknowledge individual opinions and preferences.

Reply 12

Original post
by spaceengineer
Bath, York, Oxford, Exeter can feel boring to some people, but that largely depends on personal preference. While some may find them unattractive, others might see Bristol as a more appealing and liveable city. You do not have to agree with this perspective; however, it is important to respect and acknowledge individual opinions and preferences.

It's not just my opinion about Bristol - I'm talking about many people that have gone there as students.

Have you lived in those places to describe them as 'boring'?

Local press reports "Bristol has been ranked as one of the UK's most violent cities, with a 20 per cent increase in violent crime putting it above the national average"

"97% of women in Bristol have experienced sexual harrassment"

https://www.bristolnights.co.uk/projects/its-not-ok

Reply 13

Original post
by Sally_school
I am a year 13 student wanting to take mechanical engineering at university and I have gotten offers from loughborough, sheffield, and bristol so far and I'm thinking about what university i'll potentially firm. i know that loughborough will be my safe but between sheffield nd bristol my main concern is what employees think is the stronger uni. Would it be better to go to Bristol because it is higher ranked generally and still great in mechanical or go for sheffield that is more strongly ranked in mechanical?

Hi, personal view, but go for the one you liked the most/ where you will be happy. In my company we make applicants take off their university names ( and other personal features) so that we sift based on the content and not any other assumptions. Good luck with whatever you decide!
Original post
by Sally_school
I am a year 13 student wanting to take mechanical engineering at university and I have gotten offers from loughborough, sheffield, and bristol so far and I'm thinking about what university i'll potentially firm. i know that loughborough will be my safe but between sheffield nd bristol my main concern is what employees think is the stronger uni. Would it be better to go to Bristol because it is higher ranked generally and still great in mechanical or go for sheffield that is more strongly ranked in mechanical?

Hi Sally_school, 👋

I can understand your conflict here. Both are very good Russel Group universities and I'm sure you'd have an amazing time at either.

As others have mentioned, employers don't tend to split hairs over applicants who have been to equally highly regarded universities. What they care more about if the experiences you have had on the course and also you as a person, it will be about how you present yourself and the knowledge you have gained from the course.

I can't speak for Bristol, but Sheffield's MechEng course is fully accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and also offers opportunities to have a year placement, or to even study abroad. Sheffield has over 250 university partners worldwide, so the course definitely gives you plenty of opportunity to make your degree and your experience stand out.

The Engineering department is great and offers a lot of support on the course as well as finding partners for your placement. My partner did his ChemEng course and was able to do a year long placement at Sellafield which gave him great stand-out experiences and connections. 😃

More than this, Sheffield is an amazing place to live with so much to see and do. I cam for my undergraduate degree in 2018 and decided to stay on for my Master's and now PhD because I love the university and the city so much. Whether you love shopping, going out for food and drinks, catching a film at the cinema, exploring museums and cultural sites, or going for a stroll in a nice green space. The Peak District is also only a short bus ride away, my favourite spots are Ladybower reservoir, and popping to the town of Bakewell for a coffee and cake. 🌳🍰

Please do let me know if you have any questions about studying and/or living in Sheffield and I will be more than happy to help. 😀

All best wishes,
Phoebe
Student Ambassador - PhD in English Literature

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