Engineering

In our modern era, technology is advancing faster than ever before, and with major breakthroughs achieved due to multidisciplinary collaborations, the ability to bring a deep understanding of the ideas from different engineering branches is of great importance for a modern top-tier engineer.  The six Engineering Fellows at Christ's together with research students and external academics cover the entire range of the subject at a high level.  Chemical Engineering has its own page on this web site.

Directors of Studies:
Dr Elena Punskaya; Part 1
Professor Bill Fitzgerald; Part 2 and Manufacturing Engineering

Other Engineering Fellows:
Dr Mauro Overend; Building Engineering Design
Professor Archie Campbell, Emeritus Professor of Electromagnetism
Dr Dai Jones, Emeritus Fellow in Engineering
Professor Peter Rayner, Emeritus Professor; Information Engineering

University Website: http://www.eng.cam.ac.uk/admissions/

Engineering at Christ’s

The Engineering course (also called “The Engineering Tripos”) run by the Cambridge University Engineering Department (CUED) offers a unique opportunity to cover the “essential core” of the main branches of engineering at a fundamental level during the first two years (Part I), followed by specialization in the professional area of choice in the third and fourth years of study (Part II). The College, with its six Engineering Fellows whose collective expertise covers a broad scope of subjects, is very well placed to support these studies.

Whereas all the lectures, practicals and classes are organized by the Department, we are here to help students organise their work and understand all aspects of the material covered through a system of supervisions. During their first two years our students would typically have around three per week of one-to-one or two-to-one sessions (called “Supervisions”) with College Fellows, university lecturers or research workers. The specialized supervisions during the third and fourth years are organized by the Department with the University's best available scholars in each subject.

The College is conveniently situated in the heart of Cambridge and less than ten minutes walk from the Department; and our Directors of Studies are always there to assist with any kind of problems, to give advice and to help deal with any difficulties.

The courses

CUED currently offers two courses in Engineering, both involving a total of four years of study for the BA and MEng degrees (see CUED website for course content and structure)
* The Engineering Tripos (with specialisation in one of the main engineering disciplines in the third and fourth years).
* The Manufacturing Engineering Tripos (specialist training in marketing, design, manufacturing engineering and factory operation in the third and fourth years).

Chemical Engineering specialists normally change to the Chemical Engineering Tripos led by the Department of Chemical Engineering after one year of Engineering, Natural Sciences or Computer Sciences.

Two years in Engineering can also be followed by the one year Management Studies Tripos leading to a BA degree after a total of three years study.

Application and Interviews

We typically admit between eight and twelve engineering students per year who come from a wide variety of schools and backgrounds and form a friendly and supportive group.

Our students will have taken Mathematics and Physics to A2 standard or equivalent (such as the International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement Exams or Scottish Advanced Highers) plus a third A Level in a relevant science, often but not necessarily, Further Mathematics, Chemistry, Computer Science, Electronics, or Design & Technology. Offers are likely to be minimum A*AA at A-level and will also include STEP II typically at grade l. It's helpful to look at the Engineering Department website http://www.eng.cam.ac.uk/admissions/guide/requirements.html

In admissions interviews with our fellows (one interview will be with the Director of Studies) we will ask you to tell us more about your desire to study Engineering and, probably, about your achievements to date given in your personal statement: we are also likely to discuss your interests, motivation and ability to study independently. During these interviews, you will have an opportunity to show us your academic potential, your approach to solving problems and your ability to generate ideas. What the interviews are not designed to do, however, is to test your current level of knowledge in each particular subject, although sometimes you may be asked to show us some particular skills.

Do not forget that the interviews are not just there for us to ask you questions. They provide you an excellent opportunity to ask us about the course, the College and the University.

Deferred entry

Deferred entry applications for Engineering are encouraged by the College. A gap year can offer a valuable opportunity to travel and/or gain work experience in an industrial setting, which can be  a major advantage during the undergraduate course. Information about a gap year placement or sponsorship is provided by CUED, which also has a full-time Industrial Placement Co-ordinator who is ready to help if the College makes you an offer.

Further information

For more information about the Engineering Tripos you can visit Cambridge University Engineering Department (http://www.eng.cam.ac.uk/admissions/).

Details of the Department's Open Days may be obtained from the Teaching Office, Engineering Department, Trumpington Street, Cambridge, CB2 1PZ, tel: 01223 332625, or by email to: teaching-office@eng.cam.ac.uk

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