Engineering at Exeter College

The teaching of Engineering at Exeter College is influenced in part by the specialisms of the College's Engineering Fellows. 

Dr Michael Osborne is an information engineer: he builds algorithms that can analyse and learn from data. More specifically, Dr Osborne works in Machine Learning (a component of Artificial Intelligence), studying the range of inferential tools enabled by probability theory, and in particular, Gaussian processes. Particular foundational problems of interest for Dr Osborne include quadrature (numerical integration) and global optimisation.

Dr Osborne is also interested in more applied problems related to sensor networks, including fault and changepoint detection, automated observation selection and sensor placement. He has also applied probabilistic techniques in a variety of interdisciplinary collaborations, ranging from autonomous vehicles to user interfaces, astrostatistics to zoology.

Dr Nik Petrinic lectures on topics in Structural Engineering and Solid Mechanics. His current research activities are focused onto integration of experimental and predictive modelling methods in Impact Engineering. His particular interests include contact mechanics, constitutive material at high rates of strain involving strain localisation, damage and dynamic fracture in materials for automotive and aerospace applications.

Dr Petrinic leads Oxford's Impact Engineering Team which is currently involved with a number of research projects funded by European Commission, EPSRC, DTI and Rolls-Royce plc. Dr Petrinic's publications cover a range of topics in experimental observation of material behaviour at high rates of strain, birdstrike on aeroengine components as well as various numerical aspects of predictive modelling of behaviour of materials and structures subjected to impact loading including the discrete element method, parallel processing and inverse modelling.

The Course

Engineering Science is a four-year course, leading to an MEng degree. The course covers a wide range of disciplines with core papers in Maths, Electrical and Information Engineering, Structures, Materials and Mechanics, and Energy Systems. In the third year and fourth years students begin to specialise, choosing options from a range covering all aspects of the core disciplines of Mechanical, Civil, Electrical, Information and Control, Chemical and Biomedical Engineering. In these years design and practical projects are also undertaken. The course is fully accredited by the relevant Engineering institutions.

The College regards practical training as essential to every Engineer’s education and encourages all students to gain industrial experience during the long vacations. 

Careers

Although many graduates find excellent careers in Engineering, career prospects are not confined to technology. Significant numbers move into research, teaching or finance and commerce. Others move on to Management after a few years in Engineering.