Number 1 in the UK for Engineering (The Complete University Guide 2025)
Engineering at Cambridge
This course aims to give you all the analytical, design and computing skills that underpin modern engineering practice.
You’ll also develop your creativity and problem-solving skills, which are so important to a good engineer.
First and second year of the course provide a broad education in engineering fundamentals, enabling you to make a genuinely informed choice about the area in which to specialise from your third year.
You can specialise in:
- Aerospace and Aerothermal Engineering
- Bioengineering
- Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- Electrical and Information Sciences
- Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
- Information and Computer Engineering
- Instrumentation and Control
- Mechanical Engineering
In the third year, there’s an opportunity for a small number of students to spend the year studying abroad. This is through our exchange schemes with Ecole Centrale Paris and the National University of Singapore.
We have 3 and 4 year course options:
- 3-year course is a BA honours degree
- 4-year course includes a Master's, so it’s a BA and Master of Engineering (MEng) degree
Industrial experience
By the end of your third year, you’ll need to complete 6 weeks of industrial experience. You can do this by:
- deferring your entry and completing a placement before you start the course
- completing placements during vacations
We have an Industrial Placement Co-ordinator to help you find suitable placements (in the UK and abroad). They can also offer support with finding sponsorship.
Teaching and facilities
Teaching
The Department is a leading international centre for research, consistently ranked the highest achieving amongst UK universities.
We also have strong links with industry, with many research projects funded by industrial companies.
Facilities
Our excellent facilities include:
- Dyson Centre for Engineering Design, equipped with traditional hand and machine tools, as well as modern computer-controlled machinery and rapid prototyping
- Design and Project Office, which has more than 80 workstations
- Engineering library, with 30,000 books and about 350 journals
The Engineering Department’s Language Programme for Engineers also offers specialised courses at all levels in French, German, Spanish, Chinese and Japanese.
You'll also have access to the impressive Cambridge University Library, one of the world’s oldest university libraries.
Becoming an accredited engineer
This course is accredited by the Engineering Council and by all the major institutions. This includes:
- Institutions of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE)
- Engineering and Technology (IET)
- Civil Engineers (ICE)
- Structural Engineers (IStructE)
- Institute of Measurement and Control (InstMC)
- Institute of Highway Engineers (IHE)
- Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT)
- Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM)
- Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS)
Accreditation of your degree will depend on the papers that you take during the course.
Course costs
When you go to university, you’ll need to consider two main costs – your tuition fees and your living costs (sometimes referred to as maintenance costs).
Your living costs will include costs related to your studies that are not covered by your tuition fees. There are some general study costs that will apply for all students.
Find out more about general study costs.
Other additional course costs for Engineering are detailed below. If you have any queries about these costs, please contact the Department.
Equipment
- University approved scientific calculator – CASIO fx 991 any version, CASIO fx 115 any version, CASIO fx 570 any version are recommended. This can be purchased from the department or other suppliers. Estimated cost £27.
- Drawing instruments – HB Pencil, Shine Plastic Eraser – part E210A or 760402, 300mm acrylic ruler with metric and imperial scales, Ecobra Compass – part 3754, Rumold Circle template – part 2812, Rumold Protractor – part 1026 or equivalents. These can be purchased from the department or other suppliers. Estimated cost £22.
Printing
You will only need to pay for printing if you exceed the free printing quota (£2 in Year 1, £3 in Year 2, £7 in Year 3 and £9 in Year 4). Extra printing is up to 4p per sheet in black and white.
Field trips and study abroad
Optional trips if you are taking language courses – estimated cost £350.
Placements
Students are required to complete a minimum of 6 weeks of relevant industrial or equivalent experience by June of Year 3. You will need to cover any costs associated with this industrial or equivalent experience. Industrial experience requirements can be met through paid work placements.
Your future career
When you graduate, you’re fully qualified in your chosen area, knowledgeable across the range of engineering disciplines, and able to apply new technologies in novel situations.
This gives you an advantage over engineering graduates from other more narrowly focused courses.
Our students are in great demand and they go on to careers in all the major industrial and commercial sectors.
Positions currently held by some of our graduates include:
- Graduate Engineer, Atkins
- Graduate RF Systems Engineer, Airbus Defence and Space
- Consultant, TTP plc
- Analyst, Goldman Sachs
- Real-Time Control and Software Engineer, UK Atomic Energy Authority
- Business Analyst, McKinsey & Company
- Manufacturing Engineer, Rolls-Royce plc.
