Engineering - Course Outline

The University of Cambridge offers an undergraduate course in Engineering. The course equips students with all aspects of the subject. The engineering course incorporates a fine blending of theory and practical exercises. The course description is given below.

Part First

The solid foundation of the first two years part first 'A' and part first 'B' ensures that students develop the understanding of basic principles over a broad range of subjects with an appreciation of the economic environmental and social pressures wherein these ideas are to be applied.

Part First 'A'

Year First

In the first year part first 'A', students need to take four papers in:

Mechanical Engineering Electrical and Information Engineering Structural Mechanics and Materials Mathematical Methods (offering two parallel classes that are taught at different levels)

Coursework includes:

Drawing
Exposition
Product design
Structural design
Computing
Management
Microprocessors
Electronic instrumentation
Seventeen laboratory experiments are carried out covering the behaviour of components, materials and systems

Part First 'B'

Year Second

In the second year part first 'B', students study eight papers on subjects at a more advanced level:

Structures
Mechanics
Materials
Mathematical Methods
Electrical Engineering
Information Engineering
Business Economics
Thermofluid Mechanics

In the third term of the second year, students need to choose two topics from a foreign language option and seven professional engineering disciplines. These topics equip students with information to the more specialized work of the third year. These papers lay emphasis upon engineering design and serve to combine the knowledge obtained earlier in the course.

Coursework incorporates laboratory experiments along with computing exercises and numerical analysis. There are various laboratory experiments are associated with around the common theme of earthquake-resistant structures. In the second year, students need to create an Integrated Design Project where students have to work in a team of six to build and design robot vehicles, which are subsequently tested against each other.

Parts Second 'A' and 'B'

Year Third and Forth

Students may take specialization in the third year part second 'A'. Students have to choose a combination of ten papers from a wide portfolio where a core to be related to the following disciplines of engineering.

Electrical and Information Sciences
Mechanical Engineering
Engineering for the Life Sciences
Energy and the Environment
Instrumentation and Control
Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Information and Computer Engineering
Aerospace and Aerothermal Engineering
Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering

In the third year third term, students need to take a project work where they select two activities from different design and computer-based projects, a surveying project or projects in a foreign language. The department conducts exchange programmes where students are sent to abroad to spend a year.

In the forth year part second 'B', students may take further specialization where they need to choose eight papers from a list of around hundred. These programmes are taught by expert professionals in the particular field. Students will graduate with a master's level appreciation of practice and theory in their selected area. A major project expands throughout the final year and this may be expected to occupy approximately half their time. There are many projects related to present department research and have direct application and input.