3 UK universities nurturing a new generation of female engineers

From Christina Koch to Katie Weimer and Gwynne Shotwell — all these women have one thing in common. They have built their reputation and influence — as educators, innovators, and leaders — who are not only breaking the stereotype but also role models for the next generation of female engineers. 

Despite their achievements, the number of women in Science, Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) related fields still remains at an all time low as compared to men. In 2022, Engineering UK reported that women make up 16.5% of all engineers. This is a 6% increase of women working in the engineering field when compared to the figures in 2010. 

As the demands for STEM careers grow, where should aspiring female engineers study engineering? If you’re looking for an empowering education in engineering that’ll inspire you to be a global changemaker, below are four universities to consider:

Coventry University

The Faculty of Engineering, Environment and Computing is a hub for aspiring female engineers. Three out of four schools within the faculty are led by females. Academic Dean, Professor Catherine Hobbs is a mathematician by training; she has lectureship and leadership experience at leading UK universities.  In addition, Catherine leads the London Mathematical Society as its vice president and reviews several academic journals for Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). Her experience and expertise are reflective of the entire faculty’s team of academics.

Coventry University celebrates the diversity of female engineers’ achievements. What is more, the university recently opened its Beatrice Shilling Building in honour of her contributions to the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine which was pivotal to The Battle of Britain, with the British Royal Air Force gaining victory over the German Luftwaffe and preventing the invasion of Britain.

Mechanical and Manufacturing courses are professionally accredited: the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and Institution of Engineering and Technology accreditations cover courses such as BEng/MEng Mechanical Engineering, BEng/MEng Manufacturing Engineering, and MSc Advance Mechanical Engineering.

The best part? You will have access to modern facilities, such as the High Performance Engineering Centre that allows Engineers to mimic real-world problem-solving through industry-leading facilities, tools, and technologies. They include a wind tunnel, composites lab, metrology lab, rapid prototyping facility, to name but a few.Little wonder why Coventry University is ranked #9 in the Guardian League Table for Mechanical Engineering. Eager to get started? Click here to learn how you can kickstart your Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering career today in the third-best student city in England.

Swansea University

Engineering at Swansea offers students hands-on learning and world-class facilities. Source: Swansea University

Few purpose-built campuses can house award-winning teaching, world-class research and fun-filled excursions the way Swansea University can — making it an apt choice for aspiring engineers on the hunt for an enriching education.

Engineering at Swansea University offers accredited degrees in the following disciplines: Aerospace, Biomedical, Chemical, Civil, Electronic and Electrical, General Engineering, Materials Science and Mechanical Engineering.

Each route comes with unlimited access to supportive faculty members, outstanding facilities and rare experiential learning opportunities — a winning formula for a well-rounded engineering education. The University’s industry connections play a pivotal role in helping learners evolve into well-equipped professionals capable of meeting industry demands.

For its keen focus on student experience and its unique ability to keep learners happy, Swansea University ranks among the Top 15 in the UK for Course Satisfaction (Guardian University Guide 2023). Many international students who choose Swansea University spend days rich in insight, knowledge and fun.

What’s more, Swansea University spans two stunning campuses at each end of Swansea’s waterfront — Singleton Park is set in mature parkland and botanical gardens, overlooking Swansea Bay beach while Bay Campus is located on the beach on the eastern approach into Swansea. 

University of Dundee

University of Dundee is known for their student experiences and are ranked first among five other Scottish universities by an independent website, StudentCrowds. Source: University of Dundee

Located in Scotland, University of Dundee is ranked #22 out of 140 universities in the UK by StudentCrowds, which is an independent website reviewed solely by students. This also means they are ranked first among five other Scottish universities in the list. 

It offers a wide variety of undergraduate and postgraduate engineering programmes. You can find some courses which are accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM) on behalf of the Engineering Council and meet the benchmark requirements as a Chartered Engineer (CEng) by IMechE. 

Courses offered here span four years and are mainly full time. Students here will develop the technical and problem solving skills to address real-life engineering challenges. 

Take Farah Alsaqqa, an Industrial Engineering and Management MSc student, for example. “This course contains a great variety of subjects that will improve your understanding of engineering, business, and management principles and how to apply them in the real world,” she says. “The teaching staff are very helpful, welcoming and really supportive.”

Meanwhile, Biomedical Engineering BEng (Hons) students learn from engineers, scientists, and clinicians. They build a solid understanding of how engineering improves patient care while applying engineering principles to solve challenges in the healthcare industry. These lessons, on and off campus, prepare them to develop surgical devices, make improvements to medical instrumentation or discover new techniques in medical imaging in their future careers.

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International