The Best Engineering Schools in the UK

When looking for the best engineering schools in the UK or other places in the world, it is good practice to always consider the teaching methods and the quality of knowledge and skills being taught inside the classroom.

It is also important to do background research about the university to find out about critical information like faculty to students’ ratio, undergraduate programs, financial assistance programs, and international programs among others.

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It is not easy to decide on which school to attend overnight. It may take the whole senior high school year for a student to think about his/her options. Not to mention, your choices may not be your parents’ choices – which can be stressful if parents become insistent on what they want rather than allow the students to choose for themselves.

Finding the Best Engineering School in the UK

In the decision-making process, you have to consider what course degree to take. If you choose to study in the engineering field, there are plenty of engineering courses you have to look at before choosing. Then you got to look at what the university has to offer in terms of student life on the campus.

How about the tuition fees and the location? Will the school help in finances in case you don't want to pay upfront? Will the location be far from home? Do you actually want to attend a university that's located somewhere else, or in a certain location?

Other factors that affect decision making when choosing the best engineering schools in the UK include the school’s curriculum, its total number of students, and its reputation.

For engineering schools to be legitimate or to be allowed to offer engineering courses, they have to be accredited by the ABET. If not, then it is not recommended that an engineering student pursue his/her studies at an unaccredited university. But in the UK, you don't have to worry about that.

What are the best engineering colleges in the UK?

Some of the best engineering colleges in the UK include:

University of Bradford – students will find that there’s no end to productive activities on the campus. The school offers many opportunities for them to explore and enjoy their interests as well as find new ones.

University of Exeter – one of the best engineering colleges in the UK that’s making amazing things happen. The school is involved in fundraising campaigns for philanthropic work.

University of Warwick – it is the school’s aim to strengthen fundamental research along with several other disciplines on and off-campus. They currently have research on Energy, Biomedical Engineering and Sustainable Cities.

University College of London – at this university, students will learn to turn every discovery into a solution – something the world can use in the future in real-life situations. This includes improving medical treatment and facilities, constructing houses, designing transportation, and many others.

University of Cambridge – the engineering department at the university is the largest among all other departments. The school is known for being one of the best engineering schools around the world because of its quality teaching and research.

University of Oxford – students will have the privilege of studying at the engineering science department at this university. It has a prestigious reputation in terms of its research efforts and results throughout the entire world.

These are just a few of the best engineering colleges in the UK that students can start exploring and considering once they’ve started the process of choosing which school they want to attend.

What are the usual requirements in universities in England?

Students coming from other countries should know that the requirements for each level of education are not the same. Requirements for local students are also different from international students.

First and foremost, the requirement for studying in one of the universities in England is to be competent in the English language, both in the written and spoken form. There are three types of English language tests:

TOEFL – Test of English as a Foreign Language

IELTS – International English Language Testing System

UCLES – University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate

Next important requirement is to pass the entrance exam known as the GCSE. The requirement for this exam may differ from one university to another. The main requirements will be determined by the exams boards in the UK.

Then, there’s the A-level Entry requirement, which is also dependent on which college the student chooses to enroll in. For those applying for vocational courses, there is no need to worry about such requirements and/or qualifications. But again, proficiency in speaking, understanding, and writing the English language is a must!

There are other universities in England that will require an interview, but some don't have it as a requirement. Examples of universities that require an interview with a student applicant are the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge.

The different types of engineering degrees

The names of the different types of engineering degrees may differ from one university to another – or one country to another, but here are the most common engineering degrees within universities in England:

Computer Engineering – this branch of engineering deals with computers and electronic hardware. Computer Engineers are often also trained in related fields such as electrical engineering and electronics engineering.

Electrical Engineering – it is a discipline that deals with the exploration, design, and implementation of technical theories into actual work on gadgets that use electricity.

Civil Engineering – Engineers in this profession are experts in the construction and maintenance of the physical structures, private buildings, and public works.

Mechanical Engineering – this type of engineering deals with applied physics, mathematics, and mechanical principles of design among others.

Architectural Engineering – this type of engineer is responsible for the planning and design of infrastructure, for example, and management of construction and operations surrounding it.

Environmental Engineering – This type of engineering makes use of almost all branches of science to take care of the environment. For example, improving waste disposal and public health.

Biomedical Engineering – as Biomedical Engineers, they are responsible for designing equipment used in medical treatments. They make use of technology and invent special devices such as artificial internal organs to help patients in their mild to critical medical conditions.

Chemical Engineering – this branch of engineering is involved in the manufacturing processes of chemicals like fuel, drugs, food, and beverages.

Petroleum Engineering – this specific engineering degree deals with the discovery and extraction of oil, gas, and petroleum from under the earth.

There are many opportunities for international students to study in the UK, and there are many engineering colleges that accept international students. Make sure to identify your top choices, carefully review their requirements and do everything you can to be considered for an engineering program.