Engineering Science, Oxford

5/19/2018 Engineering Science, Oxford

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Course ReportEngineering Science, Oxford

This report gives you detailed information on the key features of the Engineering Science course at

Oxford, along with a running commentary from a graduate who studied the course, Thakoon.

How do the forces act on the Millennium wheel?

(Past interview question for Engineering Science)


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Engineering, Oxford


Course Outline

Duration

Four years

Degree awarded

MEng

Colleges

Balliol, Brasenose, Christ Church, Exeter, Hertford, Jesus College, Keble, Lady Margaret Hall, Lincoln,

Magdalen, Mansfield, New College, Oriel, Pembroke, St Annes, St Catherines, St Edmund Hall, St Hildas,

St Hughs, St Johns, Somerville, Trinity, University College, Wadham and Worcester

Course Overview

The Department of Engineering at Oxford teaches a broad-based four-year course that leads to the

degree of Master of Engineering (MEng), which is accredited by all of the relevant institutions (IChemE,

IMechE etc.). The course emphasises the core skills that a professional engineer will need. This includes astrong awareness of the practical skills that are required in the industrial sector. The course also aims to

instil versatility in the students during the first two years, allowing for exposure to the various

engineering disciplines before specialisms are chosen later in the degree.

Each of the degree courses consists of three main parts. At the end of the first year the undergraduate

must undertake preliminary examinations (Prelims). When these have been passed, the student can then

progress onto Part I Finals, which are taken at the end of the third year. In the fourth year the student

undertakes a major research project in a field of their choice, and completes three Finals Part II papers.

Average Intake

150

Applications shortlisted for interview: 72.2%

Successful applications: 23.8%

Entrance requirements

A levels: A*AA

Advanced Highers: AA/ AAB

IB: 3840 including core points

Or equivalent

Essential subjects

Candidates are expected to have Physics and Mathematics to A level or equivalentand takingmechanics modules is recommended. Further Mathematics can also be helpful for applicants, though it is

not required.

Admissions test

Candidates for all Engineering courses must take the Physics Aptitude Test (PAT) in their own school or

college or an approved test centre on the 2nd

November 2011. They will need to register themselves

before Oct 14th

via Cambridge Assessments entries extranet.

Written work

Candidates are not expected to submit any written work.


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Engineering, Oxford


Our Case StudyThakoon

Thakoon applied to Oxford in 2005. He began the Engineering course in 2006 and graduated in 2010. Here

he describes his academic background and how he found studying the course.

Did you apply pre- or post-A level?

Pre-A level because I did not want to take a gap year and was confident of achieving the required A level

results.

What were your GCSE results at the time of your application?

6 A*s, 4 As and 2 Bs

What were your A2 subjects at the time of your application?

Mathematics (A), Further Mathematics (A), Chemistry (A), Physics (A), General Studies (A)

Was your offer conditional or unconditional?

Conditional: AAA, including in Maths and Physics, and excluding General Studies

How did you find studying Engineering at Oxford?

The course was four years, which I found to be the right duration for a general engineering course. It

allows the undergraduate to gain a firm understanding and background in the theory of engineering in

addition to becoming used to methodology of logical problem-solving which is imperative to engineers in

their profession.

Contact time with tutors was idealOxford University prides itself on the contact with tutors it provides

undergraduates. All tutors I encountered were punctual and reasonably flexible in that if you required

rearrangement they would accommodate as best they could.

The majority of tutors I encountered were good teachers, at worst they were passionate about their

subject but lacking the ability to relate to undergraduates who had not been doing the subject for the

past 10 years. I have on occasions heard of tutors who were less interested in students learning, and

much more so by their own research, but did not encounter any.

The course is organised well and allowed for us to cover all the basic tools after which we focussed on our

optional subjects. The only problem is that for the less organised or proactive students, information

regarding admin isnt always well advertised.


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Engineering, Oxford


An Overview of the Course

Year One

Thakoon says:The aim of the first year was to gain a firm footing in the subject, by going over the

requisite A level material, albeit very quickly, and introducing undergrads to the majority of topics that

would be covered later in the course. This was done through lectures, where lecturers would go through

subject matter. Following lectures, we completed problem sheets in preparation for tutorials and we also

had laboratory sessions regularly in order to gain practical experience.

The three courses have a common first year in which the student takes five compulsory papers. Each of

these has equal weighting and must be passed before the student is allowed to continue with the course:

Mathematics: designed to ensure that the student has sufficient awareness of the mathematical

concepts required throughout the rest of the degree.

Electrical and information engineering: builds on the knowledge of electronics gained at A level.

Structures and Mechanics: consists of five main topicsStatics, Kinematics, Stress and Strain,

Dynamics, and The Analysis of Beams.

Energy and the environment

Coursework module: based on continual assessment of the practical work that students

undertake during the first year. The practical aspect of the course is given a high priority and the

demonstrators in the laboratory sessions are knowledgeable.

Preliminary examinations take place in seventh week of the summer term and last three hours in each of

the four examined papers.

Thakoon says:The whole course was compulsory in the first year, so I had no options to pick. I spent

twelve hours in lectures per week, three in tutorials and six in labs, as well as thirty hours spent on two

weekly problem sheets, and lab reports.

There were four exams, one for each of the subjects: Mathematics and Computation, Electricity and

Digital Systems, Thermodynamics and Materials, and Statics and Dynamics. Each of these was three hours

long, and involved problem solving.


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Engineering, Oxford


Year Two

Thakoon says:The second year builds upon the work of the first year but becomes more focused on

Finals Part I, which is taken at the end of the third year. Furthermore, a new written paper is introduced,

some topics are shifted between papers and we took some introductory courses on economics and

management. Using the work carried out in these lectures, candidates had to write three coursework

essays at the end of the year which form another Finals Part I paper. We also took courses that relate

technical issues to engineering practice in societyfor example the professional obligations of engineers

and engineering project management. These were not examined however.

All students in their second year take the following papers, including another practical paper:

Mathematics

Electronic and Information Engineering

Structures, Materials and Dynamics

Energy Systems

Engineering students will also have practical work. It is included alongside each of these subjects and

includes intensive courses on various practical topics carried out during the summer term of the second

year. You will also take courses that look at how technical issues relate to engineering practice in society.

The first segmentPart Aof your Finals will take place in this year. It involves four written exam papers

and an assessment of your practical work.

Thakoon says: No options once again, and the workload ramped up a little this time around. I hadtwleve weekly hours of lectures, five more in labs and two or three tutorials per week. I would then

spend thirty hours a week completing two problem sheets, and writing up my labs.


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Engineering, Oxford


Year Three

Thakoon says:The main aim of the third year is to complete material from the core Part I Finals papers.

In addition, we took on two intermediate optional modules from a choice of six, which would also be

examined later on in the year. A third year collaborative design project made up the remainder of work in

our third year and constituted a tenth of our Finals Part I grade.

During the third year, there are two compulsory courses:

Engineering in Society

Engineering Computation

Students also choose two options in the following areas:

Mechanical Engineering

Civil Engineering

Electronic Engineering

Information Engineering

Chemical Engineering

Biomedical Engineering

Practical work supplements each of these subjects and includes intensive courses during the summer

term of the second year that focuses on various practical topics. There may be the opportunity to take an

approved language course in place of some coursework. You will also take courses that relate technical

issues to engineering practice in society.

An important part of the third year is theEngineering Science third year design project. You work in a

small design team of four to five students to produce a report in the form of a detailed design proposal

which could then be used either by a manufacturer as the basis for a marketable product, or as a design

for a proposed engineering project. You have to make the main design and economic decisions, selecting

from among several, possibly conflicting design possibilities, allocate work packages amongst your group,

and organise your own project meetings outside of the weekly classes that are held with the academic

project leaders. Visiting professors of Engineering Design participate and provide guidance and technical

advice drawn from their industrial experience.

The second segment of Finals examsPart Bis taken in the summer term.

Thakoon says:Finally getting to pick some options, I chose Electronic and Information Engineering. The

primary reason for my choice was that I enjoyed the subject matter and that since the academic work

carried out in the fourth year follows on from the options chosen in the third year I did not want to be

stuck with options in which I did not enjoy the expanded topics. Furthermore, the two subjects played to

my strengths as they are both heavily mathematical and also have some common subject matter.

I had the same amount of work to do as in my second year, with similar time spent in labs, lectures,

tutorials and private study. There was a second round of Finals held at the end of this year, in the same

format as the last year.


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Engineering, Oxford


Year Four

Thakoon says:The aim of this year was twofold: theory and the fourth-year project. Regarding the

theory, we chose specialist options which generally follow on from the ones chosen in the third year. The

three options we picked formed one half of our Finals Part II grade, the other half is the fourth year

project which you do either alone or at with at most one other student. The work usually involves

significant original design and construction, or original research, and can be based on your own idea

provided that you can find a member of the academic staff to supervise it.

In the final year, you choose specialist options which generally follow on from the ones you chose in the

third year. The range from which you choose is reviewed every year, but covers the major engineering

disciplines.

You also carry out a fourth year project, working on your own, or at most, with one other student. The

work usually involves significant original design and construction, or original research, and is done inclose consultation with a nominated supervisor from the academic staff. Over 100 topics are offered by

supervisors in the Department. It is sometimes possible to work on an idea of your own, or one suggested

by a sponsoring company, provided that you can find a member of the academic staff to supervise it. The

following are examples of fourth year projects:

Foldable structures for medical applications

Design of a solid-state MP3 player

Brake cooling systems

Control of a free-flying object

Some opportunities may exist for overseas study in the final year, either as part of an exchange scheme(e.g. with Princeton University in the USA) or in the form of a six-month placement.

Part C of your Finals takes place at the end of the final term.

Thakoon says:For much the same reasons I chose similar options for my third year. I enjoyed the

subject matter and felt those subjects played to my strengths as an engineer. My workload was a bit less

than in previous years, and I was left more to my own devices to complete my project.

We also had fewer exams to take, which was a relief.


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Engineering, Oxford


My Experience

Thakoon looks back at his time studying Engineering Science:

Why did you choose to apply for Engineering?The main reason was that I both enjoyed, and was gifted in, Mathematics and Physics. I enjoyed the

subject matter at A level but in particular the parts which I knew would be expanded most in an

Engineering course. I also relish problem-solving, so Engineering was an obvious choice.

Why was your course a good choice for you?

Without a doubt, it is a fantastic course: the breadth of subject matter and the mindset it leaves you with

is, in my opinion, the best for solving problems of any kind, not just those of an engineering nature.

What did you enjoy the most about your course?

The courseschallenging nature. Luckily, due to a natural affinity for Mathematics and Physical Sciences, I

was able to overcome the challenging nature of the course without too much distress and it made the

whole experience incredibly solidifying.

What did you enjoy the least about your course?

In all honesty, I cant say there was all that much I didnt enjoy about the course, but at a push I might say

that while the course was well organised, information regarding lectures and course structure was not

always easily obtained. Perhaps with more and more admin migrating to the web this may have been

bettered by now.

Would you like to have studied Engineering at a different institution?

No. Since a large part of the reason I enjoyed the course so much is due to its challenging nature which I

feel is in part due to Oxford Universitys reputation for pushing its students.Furthermore, there are very

few universities which offer a proper information engineering course, which was one of my favourite

subjects on the course.

Would you like to have studied a different course?

No. It is difficult to compare with other courses without having read them, however from my knowledge

of other courses, none of them offer the same mixture of applied mathematics and rigorous problem-

solving that engineering does.

What would you have done differently during your time at Oxford?

Yes, I would certainly have studied harder and attended more lectures to get the most out of the course.

While I enjoyed my time, I really feel I didnt do as well I could have, had I have prepared more

thoroughly for tutorials and labs.

How would you advise students to get the most out of studying Engineering?

Without wanting to sound too draconian, I would suggest they make study the overriding priority whilst

at university. With some humanities courses it can be very beneficial to talk about ideas etc. with fellow

undergrads and it does not feel too much like work. Sadly, I do not feel this is the case with engineering,

in which the only way to get better and gain more from the course is to practise and understand topics in

more detail through reading.


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Engineering, Oxford


How to Prepare

All of the below suggestions serve only as examples for the kinds of things you should be considering

reading. The key factor in determining what you read must be your own interest, as you will find reading

and absorbing the learnings difficult otherwise.

Mathematical Methods for Science StudentsG Stephenson

This is the main set text for the course and will cover all the maths that you will need right up

until the end of your second year. Although a bit dry, this book is the essential text for the first

few years of your course and is worth having just as a reference on your shelf.

Engineering MathematicsK A Stroud and D J Booth

This covers the syllabus in a lot more detail but it is often hard to find the relevant material in

amongst the more advanced theory.

Modern Engineering MathematicsandAdvanced Engineering MathematicsG James

These two books cover all of the maths that you will need in a clear and concise manner.

Strength of Materials and StructuresCase, Chilver and Ross

You shouldnt feel pressured to rush out and buy all of these books in order to prepare for your interview

(many students use library copies once they are at university) but it would be a good idea to try to get

hold of them to familiarise yourself with some of their contents. For some more light-hearted reading try:

The New Science of Strong Materials: Or Why You Don't Fall Through the FloorJ E Gordon

Cats Paws and CatapultsSteven Vogel

What Engineers Know and How They Know ItW G Vincenti

Flying Buttresses, Entropy and O-RingsJames L Adams

Invention by Design: How Engineers Get from Thought to ThingHenry Petroski

DONT FORGET:

Re-read your personal statement and consider questions that might be asked. In 2010, 64% of all

applicants were asked about their personal statement in their interview.

Re-read all the information on the course and the college. Think about the obvious questions that

might be asked. These may include questions about the appeal of Oxford, Engineering and the

college. You should also think about what you have to offer the collegewhat would you contribute

to the community?


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Engineering, Oxford


My Preparation

Thakoon answers our questions on how he prepared for his application:

Where did you go to school?An independent school; 40-70 people applied to Oxbridge each year, and around 50 got in.

What help did you receive from your school?

My form tutor helped me by offering to check drafts of my personal statement and while I didnt attend

them, there were sessions which helped prepare students for the interviews.

What help did you receive from your parents?

They gave me moral support.

How did you prepare?

While I couldntsay I prepared all that well for my interview, I knew that the best way to prepare was to

know all of the standard procedures (i.e. differentiation, integration) from A level Mathematicsthoroughly. In the interview the tutors look to see who can use their tools to solve a new problem in the

most efficient and intelligent manner.

In my personal statement I simply wrote honestly about my passion for Engineering, why I felt the course

would be good for me and also, why I felt I would be good at the course.

What advice would you give to an applicant preparing for an Engineering interview?

The best way to prepare for the interview is to know and, importantly, be able to use the analytical tools

you have already been taught at A level, particularly those learnt in mathematics and physics. The

interviewers will want to see some evidence of passion for engineering outside of theory and so its

always good to have a recent, interesting engineering story to talk about


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Engineering, Oxford


My Interview

Thakoon answers questions about his interviews. The details he gives are specific to his experience but

should give you a general idea of what might happen at your interview. Remember, no two interviews are

ever the same.

How many interviews did you have in total?

Two interviews.

What was the format of the interviews?

There were quick introductory statements both from the interviewers and myself, then onto some

problem solving questions.

They asked me to differentiate x to the power of x, asked a question about the forces felt on an

aeroplane in circular motion and another one on electrical circuits with an infinite resistance (i.e. an open

circuit).

How did you go about answering the questions asked?

I went about my task by talking through what I knew would form part of the answer, writing down

information I knew to be true and then asking (relevant) questions in order to gain more information and

push forward towards the answer.

What was your overall experience of the interviews?

I actually enjoyed them, I enjoyed being able to talk about why I want to do engineering with people who

clearly love the subject, and the challenge of the problem solving section, although, admittedly, I would

have enjoyed this far less if I hadnt managed to reach the solution.

What do you think interviewers are looking for in a prospective student?

They want evidence of high potential in mathematics and physical sciences, as the theory found in these

subjects is integral to succeeding in engineering. They also want to see a strong work ethic, since the

course is notorious for its heavy workload. A passion for engineering in the wider world is also critical.


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Engineering, Oxford


Past Interview Questions

The following questions have come up in Oxbridge interviews in recent years. We strongly recommend,

however, that you use these to help you to think laterally about your chosen subject rather than to learn

and rehearse answers to them.

General

What attracts you to Engineering and which part of Engineering fascinates you?

Why Engineering rather than Physics?

Do you have any ideas about what you may do for a final year project?

Why do you want to do the general engineering course rather than a specialised one?

Which engineers have most inspired you and why?

Are you considering a gap year in industry, if so what kind of companies are you looking for? If

not, why not, and what work experience have you undertaken/considered?

Explain the following to someone with no knowledge of physics: force, momentum, power, work.

Question about the whale that was created above a planet in The Hitchhikers Guide to the

Galaxy.

Electronics

Subject questions relating to resistance in electrical circuits.

Explain Kirchhoffs current law.

How small can you make a computer? What are the limiting factors?

Talk about a light bulb.

This torch has no battery. How does it work?

Mechanics

If you had a cylinder, sealed at both ends, with the pressure rising inside, would it blow at the

end or split along the side first?

A ship is traveling north at 200ms

-1and a cannon, 500m west of the ships centres starting

position, is to fire a cannon ball at the ship. If the ship is 50m long, at what range of speeds can

the ball be fired?

At what altitude h above the North Pole is the weight of an object reduced to one half of its

value on the earths surface? Assume the earth to be a sphere radius R and express h as a

fraction of R.

Explain how a combustion engine works.


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Engineering, Oxford


If you are on a boat with a hairdryer and a sail, and you blow the hairdryer into the sail, what are

the forces which are acting on the boat?

Explain how an aircraft flies.

Sketch the distribution of forces and moment in the beam below:

Sketch a velocity time graph for a skydiver jumping out of a plane.

What would happen if you drilled through the earth all the way to the other side, and jumped

into the hole?

Why are British aircraft carriers shorter than American ones?

Why does a bullet spiral?

Why does a cricket ball drift in a direction opposite to the spin imparted on the ball? Draw the

forces on a ladder.

If you were given two spheres of equal size and weight, but one was hollow and one solid, how

could you ascertain which was which?

How does a train go around a track?

How do the forces act on Millennium wheel?

How does wind speed relate to the amount of power produced by wind turbines?

How does a pendulum work, bearing in mind that the amplitude of the oscillations increases over

time rather than decreases?

Why do sausages split lengthways rather than around the circumference?

Draw an acceleration against velocity graph to describe the motion when you are in a lift.

Show that the balance condition for the Wheatstone bridge is

2

14

R

RRRx


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Engineering, Oxford


Maths

Simplify the following expression:

x

x

2cos1

2sin1

1

If xxf cos)( Sketch ))(();()2(;1

);()( xffxfxfx

fxfxf

Solve the following using partial fractions:

)4)(3( xx

dx

A rectangular sheet dimensions a x b is to be made into an open-topped box by cutting a square

of side h from each corner and folding the 4 sides up. Find the value of h which allows the

maximum volume of the box?

If I am in a room with 5 people and guess all their birthdays what is the probability of getting

(only) one correct?

Sketch32 3xxy

Find an equation for plane through the point (3, 1, 1) whose normal is parallel to vector (2, 1, -3).

Find an equation for the plane through (3, 0, 1), (1, 4, 0) and (5, 3, 2).

Using a diagram provided I had to try and identify how a jet engine worked.

Differentiate xxxy cos4

Sketch the graphsx

xf 1)( and

2

1)(

xxf comment on their characteristics.

Integrate xxxy sincos8 7

Which is bigger: 'e to the power of pi' or 'pi to the power of e'?


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Engineering, Oxford


Estimate the fifth root of 1.2

Can you express every natural number in fewer than 50 characters?

Prove 3 < < 4

Give two numbers that are prime and have 100 non-prime numbers between them.


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Engineering, Oxford


Notes

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Engineering Science, Oxford