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Engineering Sciences

Average number of places available each year at Exeter College: 6.

Engineering at Exeter College

Exeter has a strong Engineering tradition, particularly in information and automotive engineering, and is proud of the recent academic record of its students. Exeter’s central location means that the Engineering Department is only half a mile’s walk away, allowing students a few more precious minutes’ sleep before early morning lectures.

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

Professor Michael Osborne is an information engineer; more specifically, he works in Machine Learning (a component of Artificial Intelligence). Professor Osborne designs intelligent systems: algorithms capable of substituting for human time and attention. Such algorithms, like humans, are faced with the task of understanding and acting upon complex, uncertain, data. Professor 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. Most recently, he has addressed key societal challenges, analysing how intelligent algorithms might soon substitute for human workers, and predicting the resulting impact on employment.

Dr Martin Davy’s primary research interests lie in the development of low-emission internal combustion engines for transportation and power-generation and the development of optical diagnostics for combustion research. His current research includes experimental studies of low temperature diesel combustion and fuel-air mixing processes in gaseous fuelled engines, as well as the numerical modelling of alcohol fuel blends. Dr. Davy is also interested in problems of a more fundamental nature related to atomization and sprays, and the auto-ignition of turbulent jets. Dr. Davy’s research has a strong industrial focus with companies such as Jaguar Land Rover, Shell Global Solutions, Ford Motor Company, and Lotus Engineering collaborating on current and recent research projects. Prior to embarking on an academic career, Dr. Davy worked as a Race Engineer in the South-American and Italian Formula 3 Championships. He retains a strong interest in motor racing.

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: many move into finance, commerce, management or research. The College regards practical training as essential to every Engineer’s education and encourages and aids all students to gain industrial experience during the long vacations. Exeter has, in recent years, excelled in obtaining industrial placements for its students over the summer, particularly in the automative industry, including Jaguar Land Rover.

Admissions

Like the other Oxford colleges, Exeter follows the University-wide entry procedures and course structure for Engineering Sciences.

Course overview

Course requirements

Teaching and Research Staff: