Engineering

Engineering is about solving problems: about designing processes and making products to improve the quality of human life. From reservoirs to robots, aircraft to artificial hips, microchips to mobile phones—engineers design and manufacture a huge variety of objects that can make a real difference to both individuals and society.

 

 

The Cambridge Engineering course is unique. When you graduate, you’ll be equipped to be flexible across the range of engineering disciplines. You will have learnt the skills necessary for effective team leadership, and be able to apply new technologies in novel situations. In other words, you’ll have the skills needed to master technical and managerial demands throughout your professional career.

The Department of Engineering in Cambridge has approximately 1,200 undergraduate and 600 graduate students, which amounts to about 10 per cent of the University. Our students come from all over the UK, as well as from Europe and further afield, and from every type of background. The Department is a leading international centre for research and consistently gains the highest rankings in the assessment of research achievements in British universities. The facilities within the Department are excellent, and links to industry are strong. More than a third of our 300 largest research projects are funded by industrial companies.

Our four-year Engineering course is designed to produce graduates who aren’t limited by the boundaries between traditional disciplines. Part I provides a broad and robust education in the fundamentals of engineering. This enables you to make a genuinely informed choice about the area in which you’ll specialise in your third and fourth years, fully aware of your strengths and interests. Part II provides in-depth training in your chosen professional area, whether it be Civil, Structural, Mechanical, Aerospace, Biomedical, Electrical, Electronic, Information or Manufacturing Engineering. Even if you already know the branch of engineering in which you want to specialise, you’ll benefit from the way our course is structured. The broad foundation provided by Part I makes you uniquely well suited to work in and to lead multidisciplinary teams. That said, it’s not a ‘general’ course—all our students specialise and our graduates emerge fully qualified in their chosen area with as much knowledge as those from other less flexible courses.

Engineering at Caius

Engineering is a large and thriving subject at Caius. We admit around 16 students each year which makes for an active and engaging College community. Caius has many Fellows with teaching and research interests in Engineering: Dr David Holburn (digital image processing, computer architecture), Dr Giorgia Longobardi (semiconductor engineering), Professor Rob Miller (turbomechanics), Professor Alex Routh (chemical engineering), Professor Malcolm Smith (control engineering), Professor Glenn Vinnicombe (control engineering and jet turbines), Professor Axel Zeitler (chemical engineering). There are also two Life Fellows, Dr Tom Bligh and Dr Michael Wood, who continue to contribute to Engineering at Caius, The Caius Engineering Society holds regular social and academic functions and publishes its own magazine.

Teaching Fellows

Admissions

We look to admit hard-working, imaginative students with strong academic records. A-level Mathematics and Physics (or equivalent) are essential for Engineering applicants, and a third mathematics/science/technology A-level (or equivalent) is also highly desirable. If your school or college is able to offer Further Mathematics, you’re strongly encouraged to study this. If it’s not available, or you’ve recognised its desirability too late, we advise you to do as much additional pure mathematics and mechanics as possible, for example by taking stand-alone modules or Further Mathematics AS level.

All applicants for Engineering (including Chemical Engineering via Engineering) are required to sit the University's Admissions Assessment in Engineering. We interview the majority of candidates who apply to Caius. Each candidate will usually be interviewed twice by subject specialists. Interviews  last about 20 minutes, and will be academic and problem-driven in their focus.

Any questions about application can be directed either to the Directors of Studies or to admissions@cai.cam.ac.uk.