With a commercial diving qualification being offered to me, and also the chance to do a Civil (and Coastal) Engineering degree, I was pretty stoked. The reqired entry level involved me getting 14 points at A-level (which isn't very high when you onsider the high quality of the course), to ... Read review
Advantages: Friendly atmosphere, high standards of teaching Disadvantages: distance from main campus can make access to library etc. difficult
...the chance to do a Civil (and Coastal) Engineering degree, I was pretty stoked. The reqired entry level involved me getting 14 points at A-level (which isn't very high when you onsider the high quality of the course), to get on to the full degree course, and only 4 points for entry on to the HND. However, I think that this is different for each person, as it depends on your predicted A-level results.
Living in Cornwall for nearly ... ...fact, I strongly believe that Civil Engineering is one of the hardest things that you could possibly do. It's very maths an physics based. And being a degree course, its of a much much higher standard than A-level. It can be really tough, and anyone who takes this course, I'd strongly recommend working very hard right from the start. If there is something that you don't quite understand at the beginning, your going to get a little bit lost, and falling ... more
With a commercial diving qualification being offered to me, and also the chance to do a Civil (and Coastal) Engineering degree, I was pretty stoked. The reqired entry level involved me getting 14 points at A-level (which isn't very high when you onsider the high quality of the course), to get on to the full degree course, and only 4 points for entry on to the HND. However, I think that this is different for each person, as it depends on your predicted A-level results.
Living in Cornwall for nearly all of my life, and being a keen angler (sea an freshwater) and surfer, I've always loved the sea. This was going to be the ideal course for me with its marine tendencies. It was close to home too which was a massive bonus, and was one of the things I was looking for.
the course is by no means easy. In fact, I strongly believe that Civil Engineering is one of the hardest things that you could possibly do. It's very maths an physics based. And being a degree course, its of a much much higher standard than A-level. It can be really tough, and anyone who takes this course, I'd strongly recommend working very hard right from the start. If there is something that you don't quite understand at the beginning, your going to get a little bit lost, and falling behind will be quite inevitable. Any problems you have, speak to the lecturers about it A.S.A.P.
Becaus the Engineering buildings (Palace Court) is off of the main campus slightly (10 minute walk), its more of a friendly place. You get to know nearly everybody, kind of more like a little school or something.
You're expected to attend roughly 20 hours of lectures a week (which doesn't really seem like much but it's a lot compared to other courses). You work on 6 modules at a time. These include things like maths, structural analysis, building, geology etc. etc. And there's also the diving which counts as one module). You don't have to do the diving, so don't let that put you off if its not your sort of thing. If you do wish to partake in this, be warned, it is expensive. But its worth it. It's not just a padi qualification, it's a proper commercial one.
Plymouth really is the best place in the country to study Civil Engineering (and thats not just my opinion. It achieved 23 out of 24 in the Governments mark scheme).
This department is situated just a very short distance from the Barbican (harbour and marine aquarium, shops, fish and chips, pubs etc.). And in the other direction, is the town.
Check my other opinion on Plymouth for a more all round view of the univesity.
Advantages: Good lecturers, facilities, close to amenities Disadvantages: Sheffield, if youve never been visit to make sure you like the city.
I am currently studying at the University of Sheffield on the postgraduate course, Environmental Management of Urban Land and Water.
#About the department
The Civil and structural engineering courses have been rated as the 2nd best in the country for the second year running in the guardian. My course is part of the civilengineering, so my views of lectures and course will be about that aspect. Although any comments about the department in general will still apply as we share the same facilities.
~ Lecturers'
Lecturers who have taught me are all part of the Groundwater Protection and Restoration Group (GPRG), this is a large research group which combines international quality scientific research, supported by engineering applications and wide dissemination. They are a group from all parts of the world who contribute their own ...
Advantages: One only - Bradford is cheap. Disadvantages: Many, read opinions.
Having been temporarily a student at Bradford University, I can assure you it's not a nice place to go to. I manage to get a transfer out, but I was lucky. Bradford itself is a fairly quiet city, with an awful architecture and planning. The University of Bradford is a bottom of the class University except for the Peace Studies Department and the Management Centre based degrees. Even so, the Peace Studies department was under threat of being extinct as they could not get funding and the Management Centre is trying to become an independent educational institution. It has a small library, a computer centre that simply does not work (they had their servers hacked recently, this shows how the professionals are) and a Sports Centre that is very poor.
My experience was with the Civil and Environmental Engineering department. Once ...
I'm about to begin Stage 2 of the M.Eng/B.Eng Civil and Coastal Engineering programme. I have nothing but praise so far for the department I am in. What I especially like is the accessibility of my lecturers, members of staff and other students.
The staff are friendly and approchable and make learning about Engineering a joy.
Plymouth, itself, is a very nice town. The university is located such that just about everything one requires is within easy reach. They are good pubs, clubs, restaurants and loads of other recreational activities within walking distance of the campus and the nearby districts where most studenys live. Its also not a very expensive place to live.
Being by the sea is a bonus but it rains far too much! ...
