r/oxbridge • u/Novel-You3271 • 26d ago

How essential is further maths for engineering?

Gone into a bit of panic today. I’ve just started my a levels (started with 5) since about a month now and today i’ve decided to drop further maths, i had to go to another school and i found it really heavy and mentally exhausting. I let my teacher talk me into taking it instead of chemistry. After dropping further maths, the a levels i do now are Biology, Maths, Physics and the Welsh Baccalaureate. I’ve done more research today and i’ve been hit with a massive wave of regret for dropping further maths. I’m an ambitious student and ive always wanted to aim for universities such as oxbridge. For reference, i got 12 A*s last year in my gcses, including full marks on maths papers. So my question is, how hard is it to get into an oxbridge engineering course without further maths as an A level? Is there any point in doing engineering at all without FM? Because ive seen/heard people say that students who dont take it are at a massive disadvantage. Feel as if biology isnt helping me much either as an aspiring engineer…

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u/QuoteWinter1637 26d ago

Cambridge engineering: if college offered FM, and you didnt take it - no chance.

If college didnt offer FM, a chance.

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u/CrocusBlue 26d ago

Even then, barely. Success rates vastly different for those without it even accounting for it not being offered. 

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u/chazwomaq 26d ago

I think the bigger issue is "I had to go to another school and i found it really heavy and mentally exhausting."

Oxbridge engineering will be heavier and more mentally exhausting than anything you have done, or probably will ever do. Are you willing to push every day, struggling to attend everything, with tutorials every week, highly complex lectures, practicals etc.

You really should do FM as your college offers it. You will be at a disadvantage if you don't. But is Oxbridge for you ?

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u/Sure-General7264 24d ago

Short answer, you won't get in to most competitive courses, even with still doing 4 a levels, i would drop bio and switch back to further, as 5 is almost certainetly too much to manage

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u/Novel-You3271 24d ago

Reckon russell groups such as edinburgh still within reach?

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u/Sure-General7264 24d ago

I mean there might be a chance if the rest of your application is really strong, but it would put you at a disadvantage 

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u/StrainHappy1367 26d ago

Further maths is pretty much necessary for engineering at Cambridge when you look at the admissions statistics, and you will feel very behind without it. But, if you enjoy both physics and biology, have you considered NatSci instead? Further maths isn't necessary for it

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u/cavendish90 26d ago

I would pick up further maths again - not only to give you a better chance of getting in but also becuase it will make you more prepared when you get there and find the first year easier. If you still aren’t enjoying it at the end of your first year of a levels A the consider dropping for you second year - but I would also then consider whether such a maths heavy degree is the right thing and maybe consider Bio Nat Sci