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Which UK Universities have the best maths faculties?

Is it possible to go into engineering without doing A-Level Maths?

  • I am doing Politcis, Economics, Drama and Physics for A-Level. I am predicted an A/A* for Maths, and got a Silver in the UK Intermediate Maths Challenge. I am quite good at Maths, but find it quite dull sometimes, and therfore do not want to do it at A-Level. But I have been very interested in doing Engineering (Structural or Automotive or Aeronautical). Would Universities look at the good Maths achievements and let me do engineering without doing the maths at A-Level?

  • Answer:

    Well, everyone has either said yes, you would be able to get in, or no, its not possible, but i would say its possible, but hard. to do engineering at degree level you really need to have a good knowledge of maths, which will include topics like differentiation, integration, complex numbers, and many more topics, and these are all covered in the A level course. your abilities im sure are great (i know for a fact the maths challenge is REALLY difficult), but there are some things you will need to know that aren't taught at GCSE level. some universities do whats called Foundations of engineering degrees, a kind of 1 year diploma for those who come from a non-mathematical background who want to do engineering. it covers all maths and physics needed, picking up from GCSE, and arriving just beyond the beginning of the first year of the degree. i have provided the link to my university site, where i suggest you email the admissions officer there and ask them directly. if you do that, it shows you are interested, and they may make special arrangements for you (i know a a few people who did the same without any kind of engineering subjects, not even physics). its a great university for engineering, and i would recommend it to anyone. as far as the job goes however, you will be asked to do a great deal of boring maths, so if you don't like it now, i would try to get used to it!! www.brunel.ac.uk/admissions

Adam Robertson at Yahoo! Answers Visit the source

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highly unlikely that ur gonna be accepted. i looked up all universities and not all want physics but all require A-level maths as a MUST. sorry buddy !

Dusty Rhodes

I would be extremely surprised if you could do an engineering degree without a Maths A-level. I'm pretty sure it was a requirement for my degree (civil engineering, graduated 2007). The other option that is open to you is to not do a maths a-level, and then do an engineering foundation degree before your main degree. A foundation degree is for people who didn't do the right a-levels (or didn't do well enough in them). If you already know you want to be an engineer, I would recommend doing the maths a-level. There's no point wasting a year of your life doing the foundation degree when you don't need to. And judging by how good you seem to be at maths (and the fact that you'll have already done physics a-level) you would find the foundation degree incredibly dull, as it is mainly maths and physics.

Steve-Bob

It is very unlikely that any university that has a good engineering course would let you in without doing A level maths and even if they did you would find the course very tough. I even know people who found A level physics hard because they weren't doing A level maths. In an engineering degree almost every class in the first few years involves a lot of maths so if you find it very dull now imagine doing it for every class. I would defiantly recommend doing A level maths if you are even considering engineering.

Claire

Adam, every branch of engineering requires that you learn various principles of physics and chemistry. Most of these principles can be readily understood by anyone of normal intelligence and education. To put these principles to use in the design of machines, structures and systems, you must use advanced mathematics, some of which is frightfully complex. To successfully complete an engineering degree, you do not have to love maths and you do not have to be a first class mathematician but you must enjoy maths and you must be highly competent at it. Do not even think about enrolling in an engineering degree course, if you have any doubts about your maths status. If you are interested in engineering from a practical point of view, you might care to consider becoming an apprentice electrician because the same principles are involved but the maths is massively easier.

Percy

I will put in the simplest way I can. In any Engineering course, you need all the math help that you can have.

Pointy

even if an engineering course does not specify that A-level maths is required, trust me, you need it. and you need to be pretty damn good at it. physics will be a great help though. i would also recommend applied maths and chemistry if you want to study engineering.

mr m

I would recommend doing A level math if you are going in to structural engineering!

BRAIN

Math’s is like doing French and never going to France. Its all about application, it has to make sense to do it. But to go to France without learning French, is plain dull! So that’s a yes. Though, if you are already great at maths, it may be that the university course you are intending to take, will offer math’s as part of the course work criteria? Most do. Talk to the university, it may be that you will need to take further math’s, but that you are adequately qualified for entry.

William E

No disrespect, but if you sometimes find Math dull, then perhaps engineering is not the best profession for you. Your life as a engineer will very much involve Math throughout your entire career and avoidance at your stage is probably not the corrrect choice. Much of the higher level math taught at college does not get used in your everyday tasks as an engineer, but it forms a basis for a particular way of thinking (i.e. it enhances problem solving skills, which is essential for engineering). You will build a better knowledge foundation for your future education if you have a good math basis early. -Licensed Structural Engineer

GatorBill

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