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Course review
Review by: Ron J
University: University of Southampton
Course: Mechanical Engineering
Year of study: 1st
Level of Study: Undergraduate
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The course in general
How many contact hours do you have in the average week?
18
Ideally, what 3/4 subjects would you recommend doing in order to be in the best position for your course?
Physics, Maths, Further Maths
Why did you decide to study your degree programme?
Respectability of course. Job prospects and salary on graduation. Personal interest.
Explain the things you wish you'd known about your degree before you applied:
The intensity of it and the massive difference from A level physics and maths.
Describing your average day
Explain how your day is made up. For example, do you have labs/seminars/tutorials/lectures?
Two to three lectures per day. One hour supervision per day. Usually one, three hour lab per day. Optional seminars three times a week.
How much extra work/reading are you required to do out of lectures?
Yes, without it not much chance of surviving an Engineering degree.
The best and worst parts of the course
What do you like best about your degree programme?
The sheer scope of it.
What do you like least about your degree programme?
Statistical maths.
Academics and course content
What do you think of your university's academics and facilities?
They are excellent.
Explain how you expected your course to be and how it compares to how it actually is. Give an outline of the content of the course.
Teaching methods are purely: lecture -> lab demo/exercise -> supervision -> test. There is a heavy emphasis on putting in your own work.Expect to have a lot less free time than you think you will and also, you will have to spend a lot of money (upwards of £120) on textbooks which are essential for the first year.Content is very general for engineering in the first year, big stress on updating maths from A level standard.
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Other reviews for Mechanical Engineering
Sam F, 2nd Year doing Mechanical Engineering at University of Exeter
Ian D, 2nd Year doing Mechanical Engineering at King's College London, University of London Freddie W, 2nd Year doing Mechanical Engineering at University of Bristol Rupert D, 2nd Year doing Mechanical Engineering at University of Bristol
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University review
Review by: Ron J
University: University of Southampton
Course: Mechanical Engineering
Year of study: 1st
Level of Study: Undergraduate
Visit the University of Southampton forum and see what people are discussing right now!
Click here to go back
Describing your university
Sum up your university in one paragraph:
Brilliant university that offers the best of city and campus with immensely varied student body lacking the pretensions of other top universities. Cheap to survive at with a huge student village.
What is the academic life like at your university?
Very academic, and there is a huge library right in the middle of campus which encourages quiet work outside of contact hours.
Describe your Freshers' Week - was it as you expected, better or worse? Why?
Exactly as expected, a week long binge with days filled with free offers and society sign ups. There was a heavy emphasis on hall JCR though. However, there was very little for kids going straight into private housing. Gatecrashing essential!
What is the best and worst thing about your university?
Best thing: integration of campus and city, and huge student territory.Worst thing: distance of some halls from campus.
Sport and extra curricular
What are the sport and other activities on offer like at your university?
Excellent sports facilities and A.U. Cheap yearly sports rec pass grants total access to all uni facilities. There are many sports societies, even for bizarre sports.
The social scene
What is the social scene (and/or nightlife) like at your university? Is it particularly alcohol orientated?
Excellent social scene, huge halls with very active JCRs. Very alcohol orientated but non-alcoholic socials now compulsory for every uni affiliated organisation - all JCRs/Societies etc.
What do you think of the city your university is based in or near (as a city)?
Rarely venture in there. Most of the student orientated social scene is on campus, in the student village district and a single street in the city suburbs. Southampton city centre is good for shopping however.
Accommodation
Do you live in a halls of residence or a student house (or college)? What would you suggest is best in your opinion?
I lived in a student house in my first year. I would have preferred to live in halls but if you have the drive to gatecrash and make friends as myself and my housemates did you can more than make up for the social handicap not living in an immediate community like halls gives you.
If you are in a hall or college, is it catered or self catered? Which is better for the first year in your opinion and why?
Didn't live in halls, however self-catered is better in my opinion in order to prepare you to learn how to do the groceries cheaply for cooking in the years to come!
Approximately, what is the average cost of accommodation per week in your first year for catered and non-catered halls/colleges?
About £100-120 per week for catered. Self-catered around £70-90 pw
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