College Admissions Procedures

Colleges organise their assessment procedures in slightly different ways, but, in broad terms, all are looking for students who show:

• A sound knowledge base and confidence in a range of skills. This includes not just the capacity to do well at A Levels, but the potential to go beyond the A Level syllabus and to use this knowledge in less familiar situations;
• A wider engagement with the subject, expressed through an interest in new ideas and an enthusiasm for reading round the subject; 
• Self-discipline, self-motivation and commitment; 
• Capacity to learn. 

For Engineering, evidence of motivation and commitment might be shown in a number of ways that could include:

• Relevant hobbies and interests;
• Participation in
  • STEMNET events and activities,
  • Engineering Education Scheme projects,
  • a Headstart course,
  • the Arkwright Scholarship scheme,
  • Smallpeice Trust courses,
  • Young Engineers activities,
  • and other similar courses or activities;
• Relevant work experience placements;
• Applying for deferred entry in order to participate in schemes such asthe Year In Industry;
• The seeking of industrial sponsorship.

Applicants for Engineering are required to take a pre-interview Admissions Assessment. More details about this assessment can be found here.

The table on the next page gives information about Colleges' admissions procedures for Engineering. To obtain more information about any part of an individual College's procedures you should contact the Admissions Office of the College concerned. The table covers some basic information about typical number of students admitted (more statistics are available), accomodation, number of Engineering Fellows and also covers the following issues related to admissions:

• Subject Interviews: The number of subject interviews (interviews focused on assessing the applicant’s aptitude for Engineering) that are usually given as part of the selection procedure, and how long such interviews are. Unless otherwise stipulated these interviews are one-to-one. If a ratio is given, the first integer gives the number of interviewers involved, the second the number of applicants.
• General Academic Interview: Whether there is a separate “general academic” interview (usually with an Admissions Tutor), and, if so, how long it is.
• Test at Interview: Whether a test is used as part of the assessment procedure at interview, and, if so, in what form.

At present no College requires applicants for Engineering to submit written work in advance or to bring it with them to interview.

Deferred Entry

All Colleges welcome applications from students wishing to defer entry in order to pursue an Engineering related gap year.  Queens’ and Jesus are particularly keen to support such applicants and their Directors of Studies would welcome enquiries from prospective students seeking advice about suitable gap-year activities.

The Department has a full-time Industrial Experience Co-ordinator, whose role is to help deferred entrants and undergraduates find suitable industrial experience. If a College makes you an offer, she will be pleased to provide advice on gap year placement.

Further advice about finding a gap year placement is provided elsewhere in this prospectus.