Engineering at Cambridge University: Honest Review

Summary

Leila Karim shares a personal, candid review of studying mechanical and aerospace engineering at Cambridge from 2022 to 2026. Her account reflects her own experience rather than a comparison with other universities. She hopes it will help applicants make an informed choice, not discourage them.

Workload and who might enjoy the course

The workload is substantial and can build up quickly. It includes lectures, labs, small-group supervisions, independent study, problem sets, lab preparation and reports, computing coursework such as coding and CAD, and exam practice.

Lectures may require considerable follow-up study to understand the material. Example questions can be time-consuming, and students are expected to work on them throughout the year rather than leave them until exam season. Holidays are not necessarily study-free: Karim worked on engineering during the Christmas and Easter breaks and says students are expected to do substantial work during the holidays.

The course may suit students who genuinely enjoy tackling difficult mathematics and physics problems. Students who thrive under pressure may also find it rewarding, though extracurricular activities can require sacrifices.

Course content and structure

Karim found the course highly theoretical, describing it as closer to applied mathematics than to hands-on design training. Practical work is included in labs, but she says there are relatively few opportunities within the degree to physically build things. Students looking for more practical construction or design experience may want to compare other courses.

The first two years are general, which can help students who are unsure what area of engineering they want to pursue. However, it can also mean studying topics outside their preferred specialty. In the third and fourth years, students can choose from a range of modules and may combine subjects across specialties.

Some module combinations are required for professional accreditation, but Karim advises choosing subjects based on interest rather than trying to maximize credentials. She says that failing one final exam meant she did not receive the professional accreditation she had aimed for, because the relevant rules required passing every module.

Teaching, feedback, and assessment

Supervisions are small-group lessons where students may be questioned closely. Karim says staff often give demanding feedback to push students, so being able to treat criticism as useful rather than personal may help.

She found the criticism difficult because she is sensitive to it, and says the experience affected her mental health. She encourages students to take their wellbeing seriously and seek support when needed.

In Karim’s account, exams were very difficult and often left students feeling unprepared or as though they were failing. Marks were scaled after exams, which she says helped many students pass despite low raw scores. She describes the grading distribution during her course as roughly 40% receiving firsts, the next 45% receiving upper seconds, and those below that receiving lower seconds, thirds, or failing. She cautions that achieving a first can be difficult in a very strong cohort.

Reputation, admissions, and choosing a university

Karim acknowledges that Cambridge’s reputation and potential future opportunities can be appealing, but says reputation alone may not sustain motivation through a demanding degree.

Admission is highly competitive. According to staff Karim had spoken with, the process can involve a significant element of luck among strong applicants. She says rejection should not be taken as proof that someone was not capable.

Other universities may offer engineering courses that are just as good, with more practical work or a better work-life balance. In hindsight, Karim says she might have chosen another university, while noting that personal reasons also influenced that view.

She advises applicants not to let family pressure determine whether they apply or attend. The decision should be theirs, and families as well as students should understand the demands of the course. She also says that if a student starts the course and later discovers it is not right for them, that is okay: it can be difficult to know in advance exactly what a university or degree will feel like.

Other aspects of student life

At many colleges, accommodation is available throughout the degree, potentially avoiding the private rental market. Karim says rents and arrangements vary by college. At her college, students paid rent only for the weeks they were there, and utilities were included.

Cambridge offers a free student counselling service, which Karim used and found helpful. Short terms do not mean little study: she says teaching is intensive and students are expected to work during parts of the holidays.

Overall advice

Karim’s closing message is to choose based on genuine interest, realistic expectations, and personal wellbeing—not only prestige or external pressure. She encourages prospective students to be resilient and prepared for heavy workloads, while also reminding them that their worth is not defined by their university, degree, or whether they attend university at all.

Speakers and sources featured

• Leila Karim — The video’s narrator, sharing her personal experience of Cambridge engineering.
• No other speakers or named sources are featured.