babski56:

Sagamite, you are a great man but I don't agree with your comments about exeter.
I am a first year student and It is by no means a bbb uni. I barely got in with aab, also
it has consistently been in or around the top 10 for the last few years? Please explain how you arrived at your opinions?
I rejected Manchester and nottingham to go here, however I would agree that it is not as good as four of the unis you stated above, but kcl and especially bristol are debateable.

First of all, I think you have to take the "BBB" analysis in the context that I used my era in university. Now that average A-level results are getting high, the average might have moved up.

Top 10 where? The local leagues? I will take that with a pinch of salt. I have more regards for international rankings than local ones which use some methodologies that do not have that much of a correlation with academic or prestige ratings.

I don't think Exeter is as easily known and respected in or outside the UK as the universities I listed.

I think Bristol is better but the margin is not that significant. I would expect most students with a choice to pick Bristol over Exeter on average. Same for Manchester and Nottingham, but to a lesser degree, as the margins between them and Exeter in regards to prestige is as thin as a hair-line to the point of insignificance.

you rejected manchester to go to exeter?

i rejected beyonce to go for mercy johnson. i hope you don't regret your actions when you start looking for jobs.
manchester? rejected? it's either you are lying or you are just dumb!

Lol, I am not lying and I am not dumb. Exeter for Economics is a lot better than manchester and also has one of the highest student satisfaction rates in England, I liked the idea that it was a small university based on teaching undergrads. It is also a growing uni, 250 million pounds has been invested in the uni in the last three years and it received one of the higest govt endowments last year. Campus is absolutely beautiful, but that goes without saying as it is in Devon.

At the end of the day, where you went to uni doesn't matter to much, it's what you get, and I don't plan to waste my fathers money. A 2.1 or better from here and a masters at an ivy league university should land me whatever job I want.

I also rejected reading which was my last choice, manchester was my second to last choice but they were the first uni to grant me admission. Also with the grades I got, Exeter was a lot harder to get get into, Manchester is a BBC to ABB uni whereas the minimum grades for any course at exeter would be aab.

If anything, I'll regret not going to nottingham but thats just because I did a levels in that area and my friends are there. What have you got to say about that?

babski56:

you rejected manchester to go to exeter?

i rejected beyonce to go for mercy johnson. i hope you don't regret your actions when you start looking for jobs.
manchester? rejected? it's either you are lying or you are just dumb!

Lol, I am not lying and I am not dumb. Exeter for Economics is a lot better than manchester and also has one of the highest student satisfaction rates in England, I liked the idea that it was a small university based on teaching undergrads. It is also a growing uni, 250 million pounds has been invested in the uni in the last three years and it received one of the higest govt endowments last year. Campus is absolutely beautiful, but that goes without saying as it is in Devon.

At the end of the day, where you went to uni doesn't matter to much, it's what you get, and I don't plan to waste my fathers money. A 2.1 or better from here and a masters at an ivy league university should land me whatever job I want.

I also rejected reading which was my last choice, manchester was my second to last choice but they were the first uni to grant me admission. Also with the grades I got, Exeter was a lot harder to get get into, Manchester is a BBC to ABB uni whereas the minimum grades for any course at exeter would be aab.

If anything, I'll regret not going to nottingham but thats just because I did a levels in that area and my friends are there. What have you got to say about that?

the circle of friends/classmates you meet in these schools play a bigger role than the certificate. it's called networking.
if i make a pass out of m-i-t. i should be better than a first class degree holder in exeter!

economics? hmmmmm not too sure about economics in manchester - lse should be the best in europe.
manchester is better in science/engineering. so you might be right choosing exeter over manchester.

the circle of friends/classmates you meet in these schools play a bigger role than the certificate. it's called networking.
if i make a pass out of m-i-t. i should be better than a first class degree holder in exeter!

economics? hmmmmm not too sure about economics in manchester - lse should be the best in europe.
manchester is better in science/engineering. so you might be right choosing exeter over manchester.

I still don't think you understand, I WAS right in picking Exeter over Manchester.
Your point about MIT and Exeter is also invalid as even Sagamite states that Exeter is full of posh rich kids which is completely true. The ratio of public to state school undergraduates at Exeter, is one of the highest in the country. Check.
A first class degree holder from any top 30 university in England will ALWAYS be better than a pass out of MIT. In this day and age, much to my disappointment, I assure you, 95% of university places are given on merit, so you are more likely to find the sort of people one would want to network with at Oxford Brookes and not MIT.
I really can't believe you think the certificate isn't as important as the people you meet, you'll just have to explain that one a lot better to my 'dumb' self. I should also add that I'm a product of one of the better schools in West Africa and in England so if networking is the issue, then I could say I know people. Dangotes and Adenugas were in the schools I went to #just saying.

babski56:

I still don't think you understand, I WAS right in picking Exeter over Manchester.

you're flogging a dead horse. i said since you are studying economics, you may be right cos i was thinking sciences/engineering when i said manchester is better.

[qute]
Your point about MIT and Exeter is also invalid as even Sagamite states that Exeter is full of posh rich kids which is completely true. The ratio of public to state school undergraduates at Exeter, is one of the highest in the country. Check.

[/quote]

you'll find posh rich kids at this level so you are hardly proving any point here, my friend.

[quote]
A first class degree holder from any top 30 university in England will ALWAYS be better than a pass out of MIT. In this day and age, much to my disappointment, I assure you, 95% of university places are given on merit, so you are more likely to find the sort of people one would want to network with at Oxford Brookes and not MIT.

i strongly disagree. . . . .a first class degree holder in exeter is not better than a pass out of mit! that's erroneous. the standards are different, mate!
the pass degree holder would probably cop a first class degree in exeter and if you are unlucky to be applying for the same job in an interview, he would take you to the cleaners - don't even sweat it!

I really can't believe you think the certificate isn't as important as the people you meet, you'll just have to explain that one a lot better to my 'dumb' self. I should also add that I'm a product of one of the better schools in West Africa and in England so if networking is the issue, then I could say I know people. Dangotes and Adenugas were in the schools I went to #just saying.

it's the networking and the references and the fact that he actually passed through mit.
we are talking about global networking, you are talking about dangotes//adenugas kids who would all return back home to workk for their parents.
mit networking will get you into ftse-100 without hassles. forget the fact that you made a pass!

i strongly disagree. . . . .a first class degree holder in exeter is not better than a pass out of mit! that's erroneous. the standards are different, [color=#000099]mate!
the pass degree holder would probably cop a first class degree in exeter and if you are unlucky to be applying for the same job in an interview, he would take you to the cleaners - don't even sweat it!

it's the networking and the references and the fact that he actually passed through mit.
we are talking about global networking, you are talking about dangotes//adenugas kids who would all return back home to workk for their parents.
mit networking will get you into ftse-100 without hassles. forget the fact that you made a pass![/color]

Dude what's you background? I sincerely do not understand your thought process, and at this point I would like other people on this forum to get involved. do you know what a pass is? Someone who averages 40% over 4 years is better than another who averages 85%? Are you kidding me? The variance in standards is not that great man. If you were talking about some absolutely rubbish university in Nigeria and MIT, I would understand.

Also, any university in the top 400 or even top 1000 universities in the world, should be regarded as 'global'. What self-respecting lecturer would write a reference for a student who barely passed his course, what known successful person would want to be associated with such? They would have to be family for that to happen.

An interview would not be based on where one has gone to university, I doubt that would account for anything, surely any respectable employer would want to understand your character, thought process etc Your C.V is what gets you the interview so by extension your employer already knows where you've been too school. Therefore if two people, one from MIT and one from Kingston university are called for an interview, they are more or less on a level playing field in the eyes of their prospective employer and so it would be other factors which would decide who gets the job?
As this is Nairaland, I mentioned Nigerians. Also, significant Nigerians are easier to point out, There would be no point telling you I am friend's with Justin King's son as there is a higher chance you haven't heard of him. Also, it's a bit ignorant to assume that dangote's kids and adenuga's kids are all going to go back and work for their parents,

Looking forward to your reply 'mate'. It's a decent break from revision.

babski56:

An interview would not be based on where one has gone to university, I doubt that would account for anything, surely any respectable employer would want to understand your character, thought process etc Your C.V is what gets you the interview so by extension your employer already knows where you've been too school. Therefore if two people, one from MIT and one from Kingston university are called for an interview, they are more or less on a level playing field in the eyes of their prospective employer and so it would be other factors which would decide who gets the job?
As this is Nairaland, I mentioned Nigerians. Also, significant Nigerians are easier to point out, There would be no point telling you I am friend's with Justin King's son as there is a higher chance you haven't heard of him. Also, it's a bit ignorant to assume that dangote's kids and adenuga's kids are all going to go back and work for their parents,

Looking forward to your reply 'mate'. It's a decent break from revision.

level playing field?
thanks for making my day at least!

You're welocme.
I take it I'm right as there isn't a proper response.
Stick to talking about football.

babski56:

You're welocme.
I take it I'm right as there isn't a proper response.
Stick to talking about football.

it's tedious haggling with an undergraduate.
in the next 3-4 years when you get shafted in the job market, you'd come back here to tender a belated apology to me(i'm assuming you possess the decorum to do so).
for now, keep enjoying your exeter blues!

coogar:

it's tedious haggling with an undergraduate.
in the next 3-4 years when you get shafted in the job market, you'd come back here to tender a belated apology to me(i'm assuming you possess the decorum to do so).
for now, keep enjoying your exeter blues!

Perfect answer

it's tedious haggling with an undergraduate.
in the next 3-4 years when you get shafted in the job market, you'd come back here to tender a belated apology to me(i'm assuming you possess the decorum to do so).
for now, keep enjoying your exeter blues!


No doubt if I find I have any problems in the job market I shall come on this and apologise.
Lol, in a bit man.

babski56:

i strongly disagree. . . . .a first class degree holder in exeter is not better than a pass out of mit! that's erroneous. the standards are different, [color=#000099]mate!.

An interview would not be based on where one has gone to university, I doubt that would account for anything, surely any respectable employer would want to understand your character, thought process etc Your C.V is what gets you the interview so by extension your employer already knows where you've been too school. Therefore if two people, one from MIT and one from Kingston university are called for an interview, they are more or less on a level playing field in the eyes of their prospective employer and so it would be other factors which would  decide who gets the job?
As this is Nairaland, I mentioned Nigerians. Also, significant Nigerians are easier to point out,  There would be no point telling you I am friend's with Justin King's son as there is a higher chance you haven't heard of him.  Also, it's a bit ignorant to assume that dangote's kids and adenuga's kids are all going to go back and work for their parents,

Looking forward to your reply 'mate'. It's a decent break from revision.

I agree with you to an extent, if I'm interviewing a 1st class candidate from Kingston vs a 2:1 or 2:2 from the likes of UCL. I would not be considering the university- the fact that they've both made it to the interview stage puts them somewhat on a level playing field. It now depends on the performance on the interview.

Yes, employers weed out candidates based on uni- but it's not as prevalent as you might be made to believe. There are more objective tests of your skills set nowadays. Just focus on getting the best classification out of your programme. It also depends on what you're studying as some uni's have a strong reputation for certain courses- I'm in science and engineering so assessments are more objective and not really what uni you're affiliated with.  My own 2 cents!

The basic problem is that there is no definition of the ideal university. Is it big or small? Is it better at research or at teaching? Is it a specialist science and technology institution with heavy research income – or does it focus primarily on the humanities and social sciences? Is it adventurous or risk averse?

Next, what are the data? On teaching, there are simply no robust data on which global comparison can be made. Some tables rely on curious proxies, such as the number of PhDs awarded per academic, the number of undergraduates admitted per academic and the income per academic. None of these say anything about the quality of teaching.

We might expect measures of research excellence to be robust, because top research is a globalised activity. Yet we would be disappointed. Take research income. There is a world of difference between scientific and medical institutions – where research is expensive and grants tend to be large – and other types of institution. This helps to explain why a world-class institution such as the London School of Economics can be ranked in one table no higher than 86th. What's more, research income is an input measure, and will tend to be higher in countries investing seriously in research. It does not speak to the quality of output, where UK universities have consistently demonstrated outstanding return on investment.

hmm very interesting

This is a think tank that churns out decent number of high-flying thinkers advising on policy.

http://www.policyexchange.org.uk/people/Alumni.cgi

Looking at universities their alumni attended is a good indicator of some top unis.

@sagamite. Just came in contact with this section of your discusion and will need your advise on this aspect. Just got an offer to study msc logistic and supply chain management in both university of Lancaster and Heriot watt university. Though the course fast track into CIPS and CILT in Heriot watt and does not in lancaster, which will u advise me to accept. Hope to hear from u soon.

HW is better and more prestigious than lancaster uni.
They also have a better relationship with the Industry so you slightly stand a better chance of getting employed on completion of your course

Although I would disagree with jaybee that HW is more prestigious, I would still say for such a course at that level (MSc), there is not much prestige difference between the 2. It is a good course at both. So pick the one you think best suits your needs.

Una see?

Yale don use style invite Chimamanda to come and do a degree course there.

http://www.yale.edu/macmillan/african/alumni.html

They have seen the potential.

So, now if she wins anything, Yale will claim she is an alumni and that is the reason. When it will have virtually nothing to do with them.

pls how much wud it cost to take an engineering cost at manchester includin a level

prof.em:

pls how much wud it cost to take an engineering cost at manchester includin a level

Use the internet to find out yourself.

hi all, .

Hi all,
I am having a difficulty in picking between Lancaster and Loughborough for msc management, would like to know which one of them is internationally known, job prospects and any other vital info. Thank u

Hi Sagamite,
I really would love to hear your opinion on my case. I have a lower division 2nd class in Chem Engr and I tried all the Canadian schools for MSc in Petroleum/Offshore Engineering but they don't take my "kind", sadly. I have since turned my attention to the UK and which schools would you advise I try? I've got between 15k-20k budgeted. Pls note that the main issue is my 2:2, and bear in mind I would only take a pre-master's as a lost resort. You always seem to give valuable info, you know, like a sage watching from the backstage. Kind regards.

kunlewoye:

Hi Sagamite,
I really would love to hear your opinion on my case. I have a lower division 2nd class in Chem Engr and I tried all the Canadian schools for MSc in Petroleum/Offshore Engineering but they don't take my "kind", sadly. I have since turned my attention to the UK and which schools would you advise I try? I've got between 15k-20k budgeted. Pls note that the main issue is my 2:2, and bear in mind I would only take a pre-master's as a lost resort. You always seem to give valuable info, you know, like a sage watching from the backstage. Kind regards.

Frankly, except you have some significant work experience, you may have no option but the pre-masters or look at the lowest tier universities that offer your course (e.g. Liverpool John Moores, South Bank etc). The top universities would be crowded with students with stronger profiles applying, especially from Asia.

Also try and see if you want to explore other Engineering fields that are less competitive. Restrain yourself from following the herd. It seems a significant number of Nigerian students all want to do Petroleum Engineering, when they finish it then they will all have to compete for the same jobs in the oil sector that might not be able to accommodate all. Guess the selection criteria they would use to sieve the candidates.

Answer: 2:1 and MSc merit/distinction (if lucky, sometimes maybe the "and" is substituted with "or" ).

I will let some like jay bee add anything else you might need to know.

Try the following uni's
Cranfield: They offer subsea/offshore/pipeline engineering
Robert Gordon University
HW: My wife had a 2:2 in chemical engineering from Nottingham university and still had an offer from them (you just have to convince them with a powerful personal statement)
Newcastle University

Hey Everyone,
I am new to the forum and found it really useful. I am moving from India to Aberdeen on Tier 2 dependent visa. I have an experience of 3 years in McKinsey as an Analyst. Just wanted to know how is the job scenario in Aberdeen ? Are there good consulting firms/banks in Aberdeen or its just oil and gas? Is there any scope to get into business planning/research divisions of Oil companies with this experience ?

The fall back plan for me is to go for a 1 year course in University of Aberdeen and then apply for jobs after a year.

Just wanted to know which courses have overall best recognition in terms of good students intake and placement scenario in Aberdeen and Robert Gordon University ? Would be great to hear views from people working/studying in Aberdeen/UK.

Thanks
Aanchal

Aanchal01: Hey Everyone,
I am new to the forum and found it really useful. I am moving from India to Aberdeen on Tier 2 dependent visa. I have an experience of 3 years in McKinsey as an Analyst. Just wanted to know how is the job scenario in Aberdeen ? Are there good consulting firms/banks in Aberdeen or its just oil and gas? Is there any scope to get into business planning/research divisions of Oil companies with this experience ?

The fall back plan for me is to go for a 1 year course in University of Aberdeen and then apply for jobs after a year.

Just wanted to know which courses have overall best recognition in terms of good students intake and placement scenario in Aberdeen and Robert Gordon University ? Would be great to hear views from people working/studying in Aberdeen/UK.

Thanks
Aanchal

There would be no reputable consulting firm based in Aberdeen. Consultancies that serve that region would be based in London with consultants travelling down to Aberdeen. The only exceptions would be probably very small niche-consulatancies serving the oil sector.

Banks are more likely to be based in Edinburgh.

Some of the leading UK universities are going fundraising crazy at the moment. Here are the leading fund-raisers. This is also an indicator of reputation of universities.

Largest fund-raising campaigns
Oxford – Launched a campaign in 2008 to raise £1.25bn by 2016. They have already raised the target (£1.25bn) by 2012.
Cambridge – Launched a campaign in 2005 to raise £1bn by 2012. They had already raised over the target (£1.17bn) by 2011.
KCL – Launched a campaign in 2010 to raise £500m by 2015. They have already raised £200m by 2012.
Edinburgh – Launched a campaign in 2006 to raise £350m by 2011. They had already raised £330m by 2011, seems they missed the target.
UCL – Launched a campaign in 2004 to raise £300m by 2014. They had already raised £200m by 2011.
Imperial – Launched a campaign in 2007 to raise £207m by 2010. Missed target, £157m raised by the end of the period.
Durham – Launched a campaign in 1997 to raise £175m by 2007. They raised the target (£175m) by 2007.
Aberdeen – Launched a campaign in 2000 to raise £150m by 2009. Missed target, £134m raised by the end of the period, but raised the £150m by 2010.
Nottingham – Launched a campaign in 2011 to raise £150m by 2016. No updates yet.
LSE – Launched a campaign in 1997 to raise £100m by 2007. They raised over the target (£105m) by 2007.
Bristol – Launched a campaign in 2003 to raise £100m by 2014. They had already raised £83m by 2011.
St Andrews – Launched a campaign in 2008 to raise £100m by 2016. They had already raised £29m by 2011.
Birmingham – Launched a campaign in 2009 to raise £60m by 2011. They had already raised £50m by 2011, seems they missed the target.
Warwick – Launched a campaign in 2011 to raise £50m by 2015. No updates yet.

Here is a list of the universities with the largest aggregate of wealthiest students.

The Telegraph did a research of the universities in terms of what proportion of their home student rejected, or did not qualify for, the student maintenance grants. Basically, they paid their accommodation and living costs out of their/parent's pocket (or, in minority of cases, maybe the university was local and they stayed at home).

Universities with the highest proportion of rich students

1) St Andrews (58%)
2) LSE (52%)
3) Imperial (51%)
4) UCL (49%)
5) KCL (42%)
6) Cambridge (36%)
7) Glasgow (36%)
Edinburgh (34%)
9) Nottingham (34%)
10) Warwick (32%)
11) Manchester (29%)
12) Oxford (27%)
13) Southampton(27%)
14) Bristol (24%)
15) York (24%)
16) Durham (23%)
17) Birmingham (19%)
18) Sheffield (19%)
19) Leeds (18%)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/8882007/Universities-with-the-richest-students-or-parents.html


Mix with highest proportion of privately educated students (i.e. paid heavy fees at secondary level to avoid going to government schools).

Universities with the highest proportion of privately educated students

1) Oxford (45.3%)
2) Durham (40.8%)
3) Cambridge (40.7%)
4) Bristol (40.0%)
5) St Andrews (39.3%)
6) Imperial (37.9%)
7) UCL (35.9%)
Nottingham (30.4%)
9) LSE (29.3%)
10) Edinburgh (29.2%)
11) Exeter (29.1%)
12) Oxf. Brooke(28.4%)
13) KCL (28.3%)
14) Leeds (25.8%)
15) Bath (24.5%)
16) SOAS (23.8%)
17) Warwick (23.4%)
18) Royal Holl.(21.7%)
19) Manchester (21.4%)
20) York (20.6%)

Then you can use both to gauge which are the poshest schools. Obviously, posher students, on average, go to and have access to more prestigious universities.