Top 5 Universities in the UK for Engineering

Thinking about studying engineering in the UK but not sure where to go? We at Afterschool.my are here to help you choose the right institution to pursue your studies abroad.

Since engineering is such a broad field, this list looks at the general engineering courses offered in the highest ranking universities in the UK. Engineering programmes in the UK typically run for four years.

These are the top universities in the UK, according to Guardian University Guide 2018, for pursuing engineering:

1. Imperial College London

Image via Imperial College London

Established in 1907, the main campus of Imperial College London is located in South Kensington in central London. The university has continually been ranked among the top universities in the world and is one of the six elite British universities that make up the ‘Golden Triangle’.

Besides that, Imperial College London has been crowned the most international university in the UK by Times Higher Education, with individuals from over 125 countries across the world making up the student body. The Faculty of Engineering at Imperial College London is widely recognised as a world-leading engineering school.

Imperial College London offers a range of engineering courses:

• Aeronautical Engineering
• Bioengineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Computing
• Design Engineering
• Earth Science and Engineering
• Electrical and Electronic Engineering
• Materials Science and Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering

Annual fees for international students range from RM130,000 to RM150,000 (£25,000 – £28,000).

2. University of Cambridge

Image via WorldAtlas

The University of Cambridge is ranked the #1 university in the world by both Times University Guide 2018 and Guardian University Guide 2018. It has consistently been recognised as one of the world’s top five universities.

The engineering course at the University of Cambridge typically takes four years to complete and leads to two types of degrees: BA (with Honours) and MEng. The first two years of the course are essentially the same for all students, giving them a broad overview of subjects including mechanical, structural, materials, electrical and information engineering.

In the third year, students are required to specialise. The specialisations in engineering offered at the University of Cambridge are as follows:

• Aerospace & Aerothermal Engineering
• Bioengineering
• Civil, Structural & Environmental Engineering
• Electrical & Electronic Engineering
• Electrical & Information Sciences
• Energy, Sustainability & the Environment
• Information & Computer Engineering
• Instrumentation & Control
• Mechanical Engineering
• Chemical Engineering (a three-year, self-contained specialisation starting after Year 1 of Engineering or Natural Sciences)
• Manufacturing Engineering (a two-year, self-contained specialisation starting in Year 3)

Annual fees for international students are approximately RM163,700 (£30,678).

3. University of Oxford

Image via 'University of Oxford’ by Happy Traveler

With evidence of teaching dating as far back as the year 1096, the University of Oxford is the oldest university in the English-speaking world and is often heralded as one of the world’s leading academic institutions together with the University of Cambridge.

One of the most difficult universities to get into, an astounding total of 69 Nobel Prize winners, four Fields Medalists and six Turing Award winners have studied, worked or held visiting fellowships there.

The first two years of the four-year MEng programme are devoted to general engineering topics that are crucial in understanding the field. In the third and fourth years, students specialise in one of the following branches of engineering:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Information
• Mechanical Engineering

Annual fees for international students range from RM87,000 to RM127,500 (£16,230 – £23,885).

4. University of Durham

Image via BT.com

The University of Durham, regularly known as Durham University, is the third oldest university in England. Consistently placing in the top 10 UK university rankings, Durham University is often considered a traditional alternative to the Oxbridge giants (University of Oxford and University of Cambridge).

Engineering has been taught at Durham University since 1838, making it the first course of its kind in England. What sets apart the engineering course offered at Durham University from other institutions is that the university regards engineering as an integrated subject instead of sub-dividing the discipline into narrow areas. This gives students a huge amount of flexibility throughout their undergraduate degree.

The courses offered are BEng in General Engineering, MEng in General Engineering as well as several postgraduate programmes in specific engineering disciplines.

Annual fees for international students are approximately RM123,260 (£23,100).

5. University of Bristol

Image via University of Bristol

The University of Bristol is situated in the south of England and is one of the nine ‘red brick universities’ founded in the major industrial cities of England in the 19th century. Ranked in the top 50 universities in the QS World University Rankings 2018, the University of Bristol is acknowledged by the government and industry as a major centre for enterprise, innovation and research.

The duration of the engineering course is three years for BEng (with Honours) and four years for MEng. The Faculty of Engineering in the University of Bristol offers the following specialisations:

• Aerospace Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Computer Science
• Electrical & Electronic Engineering
• Engineering Mathematics

Annual fees for international students are approximately RM108,320 (£20,300).