Engineers study mathematics and physics in order to model, design, and build novel systems of benefit to mankind ― systems with scales ranging from the nanometres of quantum devices to the kilometres of chemical plants, and with a diversity spanning hypersonics to artificial intelligence, blood-flow to soil stability, and so on. The profession is extraordinarily wide-ranging, but our aim in the Engineering Science course at Oxford is to enable our students to apply and adapt fundamental engineering approaches to new, and previously unsolved, societal challenges.
In the first two years, you will receive lectures on electronic, mechanical, thermofluidic, materials, and information engineering; building on the foundations laid in school. They are complemented by hands-on work: you will learn to code, build radios, stress-test bridges, and so on ― activities that test and illuminate your understanding. In college, tutorials and classes are an opportunity to discuss engineering principles, based on your reading and problem-solving completed during the week.
In the third year, you’ll begin to specialize in areas broadly defined by the professional disciplines of civil, mechanical, electronic, information, chemical, and biomedical engineering. An interesting component is the group design project, which challenges you to set aims and objectives in collaboration with three or four other students from the department, just as you will in your career. In the fourth year you undertake an individual research project in your specialism, attached to one of the department’s many research groups. Through both these years, you may also choose to study topics in management and entrepreneurship.
Our engineers in St Anne’s are diverse and lovely bunch of men and women from all over the world. Perhaps the characteristics they hold most in common are:
* delight in creative problem-solving in physics and mathematics
* curiosity about how things work – and how they break
* motivation and organization
* a wish to improve society through engineering
* a desire to work constructively with others
Many of them will go on to become professional engineers, finding their degree a passport to an international career. Some take this route after continuing to complete a doctorate. For others, their engineering degree is an excellent grounding in analytical problem-solving and teamwork, and they enter the complete spectrum of careers.
James, a 4th year, writes: “I specified mechanical engineering on my UCAS application, so it comes as a bit of a surprise to be writing this whilst specialising in biomedical and information engineering. I am extremely grateful for the breadth the Oxford course offers, and have no doubt that guidance and teaching offered by world-leading academics will be invaluable in my future career.”
Amelia, 2nd year, writes: “I found it really daunting making a decision on specialisation before even starting an engineering degree so studying a general degree has been perfect for me! Tutorials (pairs of students being taught by the tutors) are my favourite part of studying here as I’ve learnt so much more as a result of the Anne’s tutors’ thoroughness and support.”