EgyptianDude007

Hey guys,

I am planning to start my postgraduate studies in the UK by Sept.. 2013 and have already received some offers from several universities. However, I think I have moved from the phase of "worrying about the outcome of my application?!" to the phase of "wondering what to choose?!"

Therefore, I decided to generate this thread as a manner of seeking help from other (more experienced) students...I am wondering what would be the best to follow out of the following:

Imagine yourself as:
1. a member in a scholarship-awarding committee (Chevening, for example!), what would you choose?!!!!
2. A student who have received these offers and wondering which to one pick that might guarantee him a sponsorship?!!!!!!!!!!

Imperial College London ---> MSc Environmental Engineering
University College London ---> MSc Environmental System Engineering
University of Bristol ---> MSc Water and Environmental Management
University of Leeds ---> MSc Environmental Engineering and Project Management
Cranfield University ---> MSc Water and Wastewater Engineering
University of Surrey ---> MSc Water and Environmental Engineering
Loughborough University ---> MSc Water and Environmental Management
University of Sheffield ---> MSc in Environmental Management of Urban Land and Water
University of Southampton ---> MSc Water Resources Management

What would you do if you are only allowed to pick four, and rank them according to your preferences?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

cupcake

I think you are looking at a very specialist area so you really need to ask a specialist in your field. I mean if you asked a random person on the street in the US, I very much doubt whether they would have heard of any of those unis (I dare you to ask a random person to pronounce "Loughborough"!). However, for all I know Southampton uni might have the most famous and well respected MSc in Water Resources Management (at least it has lots of water! Only Southampton, Bristol and I think Surrey if it's in Brighton are coastal)in the world and people in that field might be queuing up to employ you the world over. Are you Egyptian or do you want to live/work in Egypt in the future? Is any particular one of those unis or one of those courses very well respected in Egypt?

When you say "sponsorship" do you mean for a US work visa? Or UK? That is more of a lottery really.

TheRealKEVP

I also don't know anything about the subject you are planning to study.

But overall, the two places on your list with the best overall national and international reputations are University College London (which I always remember still has a special cupboard where they keep Jeremy Bentham) and Imperial College London.

University College London is the oldest school on your list, Imperial, Bristol, Leeds and Sheffield were all founded early in the 20th century, Southhampton in the 1950's, and the rest in the 60's. Some people consider (whether consciously or subconsciously) older schools to be more prestigious than newer ones.

KEVP

EgyptianDude007

Yes, I am Egyptian and living in Cairo.... working as a T.A. at Cairo University. However, I am planning to conduct my MSc sudies abroad, particularly in the UK...

What I meant with a sponsorship, is a having a full financial support from one of the funding organizations...

In Egypt, the higher the rank, the better and more respected the uni. However, Imperial and UCL has a top reputation...

Finally, I found an amazing website proving official information regrading the departmental ranking in each college/university. it's an official and authorized website called "Research Assessment Exercise"

If you are interested, you can find all what you need on the following link...
RAE 2008 : Quality profiles

I have finally decided to go for Imperial, UCL, Sheffield, Bristol and Surrey

Thank you guys for sharing your opinions (which have massively affected my choices )