Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi all,
Vanilla are planning an update to the site on April 24th (next Wednesday). It is a major PHP8 update which is expected to boost performance across the site. The site will be down from 7pm and it is expected to take about an hour to complete. We appreciate your patience during the update.
Thanks all.

What to look for in an Engineering degree?

Options
  • 05-10-2014 3:29pm
    #1
    Troxck
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,386 ✭✭✭


    So I'm a Sixth Year and I'm looking at what I'd like to study in college. I've been attracted to Computer Science since about 3rd year but recently I feel like Electrical & Electronic Engineering would suit me better.

    Anyway, when looking at different course (Ireland has an abundance of Engineering degrees) I'm wondering, what should I look for in that degree? If I'm going to spend 4+ years at that college, I'd like to know I'm getting the best I can get out of it. My points range is roughly mid 400s so Trinity and UCD are not choices at all.

    I have a slight worry about my Maths skills. I love the subject but the new syllabus (Project Maths) has things in it I find difficult (Financial Maths, I failed that) but I'm quite good at Algebra and Complex Numbers. On the new course they have gotten rid of Vectors but have added a substantial amount of Algebra. I'm good at Physics too and the Mechanics and Electricity section are my best/favourite. Should I worry about my competence and disregard doing a degree relating to Engineering?

    TL;DR What should I look for in a degree and would my weakness in certain Maths areas put me at a disadvantage?

    (Also to the Mods, if this doesn't seem like an appropriate section for this thread, please move it. I just thought if I could get feedback from actual Engineers/Engineering students, it would be better!)


Comments

  • Options
    #2
    CatFromHue
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 18,139 Mod ✭✭✭✭CatFromHue


    For me I found that the work placement I did in college helped alot when I left college. UL has an 8 month placement and DCU a 6 month one as far as I know, I'm not sure about other colleges.

    I don't know anything about Project Maths or what it entails but alot, if not all now, uni's have a maths learning centre to help you out.

    I wouldn't worry too much not going to UCD or Trinity as the other colleges will have excellent courses but will be much cheaper to live near.


  • Options
    #3
    Troxck
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,386 ✭✭✭Troxck


    CatFromHue wrote: »
    For me I found that the work placement I did in college helped alot when I left college. UL has an 8 month placement and DCU a 6 month one as far as I know, I'm not sure about other colleges.

    I don't know anything about Project Maths or what it entails but alot, if not all now, uni's have a maths learning centre to help you out.

    I wouldn't worry too much not going to UCD or Trinity as the other colleges will have excellent courses but will be much cheaper to live near.

    Thanks for the reply! The Work Placememt would be a very important part of why I would pick a college. Certain courses are accredited by Engineers Ireland, would you be at a disadvantage if the course you picked wasn't?


  • Options
    #4
    miss no stars
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,957 ✭✭✭miss no stars


    Troxck wrote: »
    Thanks for the reply! The Work Placememt would be a very important part of why I would pick a college. Certain courses are accredited by Engineers Ireland, would you be at a disadvantage if the course you picked wasn't?

    Yes. Massively so. If they're not accredited they're not worth the paper they're written on.


  • Options
    #5
    Troxck
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,386 ✭✭✭Troxck


    miss no stars wrote: »
    Yes. Massively so. If they're not accredited they're not worth the paper they're written on.

    Okay see, but how? Also, if I end up doing a course that isn't accredited is there an exam or extra course one can do to become accredited?

    So basically, a college that offers decent work placement and is accredited is what I'd look for?


  • Options
    #6
    TimeToShine
    Registered Users Posts: 4,881 ✭✭✭TimeToShine


    What do you mean your points range is in the mid 400s? It's only October. If you want to go to UCD, UCC or TCD then start working and you'll have plenty of options available to you.

    I'm not saying these places are better than any other but ruling them out this early because you think you can't get the points is madness.


  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #7
    Troxck
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,386 ✭✭✭Troxck


    TimeToShine wrote: »
    What do you mean your points range is in the mid 400s? It's only October. If you want to go to UCD, UCC or TCD then start working and you'll have plenty of options available to you.

    I'm not saying these places are better than any other but ruling them out this early because you think you can't get the points is madness.

    I understand what you are saying, but someone can work as hard as they can and get whatever they get. It's all I'm capable of but I'd be delighted if I got it.

    I'm not ruling them out, they will be on my CAO (well, TCD won't be) but sometimes you have to be realistic.


  • Options
    #8
    miss no stars
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,957 ✭✭✭miss no stars


    Troxck wrote: »
    Okay see, but how? Also, if I end up doing a course that isn't accredited is there an exam or extra course one can do to become accredited?

    So basically, a college that offers decent work placement and is accredited is what I'd look for?

    Any course that teaches engineering to a required level that has produced graduates is accredited. If its long established and not accredited it's because EI basically don't think it equips students well enough to become engineers. Afaik, there is no extra exam you can sit. It's about the comprehensiveness and completeness of your engineering education. Check if you can even join EI without an accredited qualification (or be studying for one). Probably your only option is to do an accredited masters afterwards. Though under new rules you'd have to do that anyway if you ever want charter ship. My own 2c is steer well clear of courses not accredited.


  • Options
    #9
    Dermighty
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,748 ✭✭✭Dermighty


    I'm in CIT, I did a level 7 and I'm studying a level 8 now, both in mechanical engineering and I think that that is the best way to go about it, though you spend an extra year in college (3+2, as opposed to 4) you get more practical skills and in general should have better applied skills than the level 8 students you join when you switch from level 7 to 8.

    Also you'll have a final year project (FYP) in 3rd year of the level 7 which is very handy for your level 8 project because you will have recognised your pay failures, hopefully, and will be at a considerable advantage over those who haven't an FYP done.

    Switching after getting a level 7 degree is dependant on your grades but a 60% average seems to do the trick these days.


  • Options
    #10
    Troxck
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,386 ✭✭✭Troxck


    Dermighty wrote: »
    I'm in CIT, I did a level 7 and I'm studying a level 8 now, both in mechanical engineering and I think that that is the best way to go about it, though you spend an extra year in college (3+2, as opposed to 4) you get more practical skills and in general should have better applied skills than the level 8 students you join when you switch from level 7 to 8.

    Also you'll have a final year project (FYP) in 3rd year of the level 7 which is very handy for your level 8 project because you will have recognised your pay failures, hopefully, and will be at a considerable advantage over those who haven't an FYP done.

    Switching after getting a level 7 degree is dependant on your grades but a 60% average seems to do the trick these days.

    I'm glad you replied because it's good to see people going other routes instead of directly to a Level 8. I have looked into CIT regarding the Level 7 approach but they don't seem to have an Engineering discipline that interests me, unfortunately.

    I'll definitely keep that in mind when filling in my CAO, always useful to have a backup!


  • Options
    #11
    Turbulent Bill
    Registered Users Posts: 1,621 ✭✭✭Turbulent Bill


    I'd recommend doing an omnibus (general entry) degree, regardless of where you do it. It's surprising the number of people who start these degrees thinking they want to do one speciality, but end up preferring something else - the general degree gives you time to decide. Also, many of the interesting jobs are multidisciplinary, and with a general entry course you'll at least get a flavour of everything.

    Doing an EI-acreddited course is a no brainer, mainly because your degree will be recognised abroad. It's useful at home too as a (very) rough quality standard.


  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #12
    Troxck
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,386 ✭✭✭Troxck


    Turbulent Bill wrote: »
    I'd recommend doing an omnibus (general entry) degree, regardless of where you do it. It's surprising the number of people who start these degrees thinking they want to do one speciality, but end up preferring something else - the general degree gives you time to decide. Also, many of the interesting jobs are multidisciplinary, and with a general entry course you'll at least get a flavour of everything.

    Doing an EI-acreddited course is a no brainer, mainly because your degree will be recognised abroad. It's useful at home too as a (very) rough quality standard.

    I have been told to do a General entry (almost all Colleges offer one now) due to that reason. I only said about EE Engineering as at the moment that would be my preference, although other disciplines seem interesting.

    At the moment UCD seems to be the number one choice as it is General entrance and is accredited.


  • Options
    #13
    Hibbeler
    Registered Users Posts: 541 ✭✭✭Hibbeler


    I've just been reading through this thread and see that a lot of stuff has been said about making sure that whatever engineering course the OP does eventually pick is accredited with Engineers Ireland and I thought I might share some of my experience as someone who came out of an engineering course that wasn't accredited.

    First of all I studied at NUI Galway and graduated in 2013. The reason my course wasn't accredited is because I was part of the first group to complete a new course. AFAIK if it hasn't been accredited by now then it is surely well on the way to being so. I certainly don't believe that it was a 'worthless' degree however

    I don't think that it's as big of a deal as is being made out on here and certainly has not hindered me in any way. I work abroad in the UK and am part of a training scheme designed to train me up to chartership status. The only time I've heard any mention of course accreditation is when I went to join CIBSE as a graduate member, they told me that my course wasn't listed on the Washington Accord (i.e. accredited). What happened then was I had to submit copies of my diploma and transcripts (I believe you have to do this anyway accredited or not) to them to look at at a special review. Anyway they liked what they saw and everything was moved on from there as though it was accredited (In all just took a little while longer to process my application as a result)

    So basically I am a member of an engineering institution and the UK engineering council and coming from an (as yet) unaccredited engineering degree was little or no hinderance to me. To be honest from my experience accreditation means nothing except for when going for charter****p and that's going to be 5-6 years down the line and you're probably going to need a masters (which I actually am doing as well) on top anyway.

    So if I were you only going into first year I wouldn't worry too much about accreditation at all. Pick an established course with an omnibus/undenominated first year or two in whichever university or IT that suits you best. That's my advice to you though if you can stay away from being the guinea pigs on the new course


  • Options
    #14
    Turbulent Bill
    Registered Users Posts: 1,621 ✭✭✭Turbulent Bill


    Hibbeler wrote: »
    So if I were you only going into first year I wouldn't worry too much about accreditation at all. Pick an established course with an omnibus/undenominated first year or two in whichever university or IT that suits you best. That's my advice to you though if you can stay away from being the guinea pigs on the new course

    The thing is, any decent established course should be accredited, and there are so many to choose from that there's no reason not to pick one. In my opinion EI's stamp of approval doesn't guarantee that a course is any good, but at least some minimum standard has been met.

    I agree with avoiding new courses though, mainly because the organisation isn't likely to be great.


  • Options
    #15
    Dermighty
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,748 ✭✭✭Dermighty


    Troxck wrote: »
    I have been told to do a General entry (almost all Colleges offer one now) due to that reason. I only said about EE Engineering as at the moment that would be my preference, although other disciplines seem interesting.

    At the moment UCD seems to be the number one choice as it is General entrance and is accredited.

    Cit has a level 8 general entry engineering degree.

    They have civil, building services, mechanical, electronic, chemical, biomedical, sustainable energy, electrical and marine engineering. No college in Ireland has that variety. All of those go to level 8 or above and AFAIK they're Ei accredited.


  • Options
    #16
    D_s
    Registered Users Posts: 149 ✭✭D_s


    I'm in 2nd year EEng in Maynooth University, and would be happy to answer any questions you have.

    Contrary to what some people are saying, I don't think it's necessary for you to do an Omnibus entry program if you know what you want. I had known since 5th year the Electronic/Computer Engineering is what I wanted to do, and Maynooth only offers Electronic Engineering (Letting you specialise in pure Electronics, Telecoms, or Computer Engineering in 4th year), so I could start doing what I know I love straight away. I think it's a well designed course, and enjoy it thoroughly so far. It was the right choice for me, it's not for everyone though. We also have a 6 month work placement in 3rd year, which is definitely important - and the local industry connections are definitely useful - with Intel and HP being just down the road, often sponsoring events, projects, scholarships etc.

    Essentially, my 0.02 is that if you know what you want to do, don't spend a year or two with it being 1/4 of your course. I know UL, DIT and DCU also offer EE from 1st year through, in fact probably most colleges do, it's just UCD and Trinity that I know of that don't.


  • Options
    #17
    KeithTS
    Registered Users Posts: 743 ✭✭✭KeithTS


    D_s wrote: »
    I'm in 2nd year EEng in Maynooth University, and would be happy to answer any questions you have.

    Contrary to what some people are saying, I don't think it's necessary for you to do an Omnibus entry program if you know what you want. I had known since 5th year the Electronic/Computer Engineering is what I wanted to do, and Maynooth only offers Electronic Engineering (Letting you specialise in pure Electronics, Telecoms, or Computer Engineering in 4th year), so I could start doing what I know I love straight away. I think it's a well designed course, and enjoy it thoroughly so far. It was the right choice for me, it's not for everyone though. We also have a 6 month work placement in 3rd year, which is definitely important - and the local industry connections are definitely useful - with Intel and HP being just down the road, often sponsoring events, projects, scholarships etc.

    Essentially, my 0.02 is that if you know what you want to do, don't spend a year or two with it being 1/4 of your course. I know UL, DIT and DCU also offer EE from 1st year through, in fact probably most colleges do, it's just UCD and Trinity that I know of that don't.

    DCU offer it but you do the same common year in all disciplines, getting a taste of electronic, mechanical and all the other bits and pieces.
    Personally I think it's a great way to teach the basics and have people choose what they like best after giving each discipline a shot.

    In my day to day job as in electronics design I've to make decisions on mechanical design or think about how my hardware fits with things around it so having a basic understanding of stresses and strains and all that is useful regardless of what area you go into.


  • Options
    #18
    miss-p
    Registered Users Posts: 166 ✭✭miss-p


    DCU Engineering are offering a new course "BEng in Electronic & Computer Engineering (CAO Code = DC190)". Apparently it's not up on the CAO yet but should be in the next week. There should be more detail about the course at the open day this weekend etc.

    I'm pretty sure that everyone in DCU do a common year for first year, it doesnt matter what stream you go in on, you end up doing common year (mechanical and electronic).


  • Options
    #19
    D_s
    Registered Users Posts: 149 ✭✭D_s


    KeithTS wrote: »
    DCU offer it but you do the same common year in all disciplines, getting a taste of electronic, mechanical and all the other bits and pieces.
    miss-p wrote: »
    I'm pretty sure that everyone in DCU do a common year for first year, it doesnt matter what stream you go in on, you end up doing common year (mechanical and electronic).

    Got it, DCU do a common first year, I was mistaken. I still maintain that if OP knows he wants to do a certain type of engineering, he should consider going straight into his desired field with a course that doesn't have a common year.

    Interest definitely translates to Ability. I know/knew I like EE, if I had to do a year (or two) of structural and civil engineering I would imagine it would bring my grades down significantly as I have absolutely no interest in studying them.


  • Options
    #20
    Beargrylls01
    Registered Users Posts: 161 ✭✭Beargrylls01


    Dermighty wrote: »
    Cit has a level 8 general entry engineering degree.

    They have civil, building services, mechanical, electronic, chemical, biomedical, sustainable energy, electrical and marine engineering. No college in Ireland has that variety. All of those go to level 8 or above and AFAIK they're Ei accredited.

    Should be noted that CIT Chem Eng are probably the most employable in the country and that isn't going to change soon.

    Their industry based Research Project is an excellent idea.


  • Options
    #21
    djpbarry
    Registered Users Posts: 13,104 ✭✭✭✭djpbarry


    Troxck wrote: »
    If I'm going to spend 4+ years at that college, I'd like to know I'm getting the best I can get out of it. My points range is roughly mid 400s so Trinity and UCD are not choices at all.
    It's been said already, but just to reiterate, you really shouldn't be ruling anything out at this point - for all you know there could be a huge fall in points for TCD/UCD. I did engineering at UCD and I only got 420 points. I think. Maybe it was 440. It was a while ago! It definitely wasn't higher than mid 400s anyway.
    Troxck wrote: »
    Should I worry about my competence and disregard doing a degree relating to Engineering?
    Absolutely not. If you're capable of putting the work in to get the points in your leaving and meeting the entry requirements, then you're capable of doing the course.
    Troxck wrote: »
    At the moment UCD seems to be the number one choice as it is General entrance and is accredited.
    I’d recommend UCD – I enjoyed studying there. It was a good option for me because I really had no idea which engineering discipline to pursue, so getting a taste of each was a big help. The highlight for me was the project I did in final year.

    I would however say that I didn’t really enjoy the social aspect of UCD – I never really settled in the place. I found it very “cliquey”. I have heard similar stories from other UCD graduates, but I guess everybody’s different. I did my PhD at DIT and I think I probably would have had a better undergrad experience had I done my degree there, but then, the course may not have been as good.


  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #22
    Troxck
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,386 ✭✭✭Troxck


    D_s wrote: »
    I'm in 2nd year EEng in Maynooth University, and would be happy to answer any questions you have.

    Contrary to what some people are saying, I don't think it's necessary for you to do an Omnibus entry program if you know what you want. I had known since 5th year the Electronic/Computer Engineering is what I wanted to do, and Maynooth only offers Electronic Engineering (Letting you specialise in pure Electronics, Telecoms, or Computer Engineering in 4th year), so I could start doing what I know I love straight away. I think it's a well designed course, and enjoy it thoroughly so far. It was the right choice for me, it's not for everyone though. We also have a 6 month work placement in 3rd year, which is definitely important - and the local industry connections are definitely useful - with Intel and HP being just down the road, often sponsoring events, projects, scholarships etc.

    Essentially, my 0.02 is that if you know what you want to do, don't spend a year or two with it being 1/4 of your course. I know UL, DIT and DCU also offer EE from 1st year through, in fact probably most colleges do, it's just UCD and Trinity that I know of that don't.

    What area of Mathematics is studied mostly/used in EE Engineering?


  • Options
    #23
    miss-p
    Registered Users Posts: 166 ✭✭miss-p


    Troxck wrote: »
    What area of Mathematics is studied mostly/used in EE Engineering?

    i think its essentially the same in all areas of engineering but with different applications. The foundation would be calculus, algebra, matrices, vectors, some trigonometry and then you go onto more detail with some more complex maths like differential equations and Fourier transform's.

    You do use some probability and statistics too.


  • Options
    #24
    miss-p
    Registered Users Posts: 166 ✭✭miss-p


    Actually, one point about a common year first year. Most of the common subjects (in DCU) anyway are maths and the sciences, which you would do anyway in your chosen course. I think common year in first year gives you the opportunity to gain more understanding about what is involved in other engineering fields. This could be helpful for future interdisciplinary projects or even for working on a project that isn't pure EE you have the fundamentals of some mec understanding and visa versa. I think its good to be able to appreciate some of the knowledge that goes behind designing different stages of a project. Even the ones you're not involved in. In my experience you come to a stage in Education where you stop asking why do I need to know that and start asking how can I understand that better.


  • Options
    #25
    Iainkw4x
    Registered Users Posts: 41 ✭Iainkw4x


    Hi OP just thought I'd give my own experience.
    When I was in school I thought I knew exactly what I wanted to do, I only had 2 courses on my CAO! I got my first choice which was LM118 B.Eng in Electronic and Computer Engineering (this was September '11, the first year of the course). After only 4 weeks I hated the course. Even though I was adamant that this course was the one for me for over a year we just didnt click at all. I dropped out at week 10. while spending the next year working I really had a good hard think about what I liked and enjoyed.

    That's when I decided to do the Level 7 Mechanical Engineering course in CIT. And now that I'm in my final year and looking to move on to Level 8 I would highly recommend completing a Level 7 course first, especially in Engineering. The mix of practical and theoretical stuff covered gives you a good base in Engineering as a whole. You are also more employable if you go the Level 7 - Level 8 route, you have two major projects to show potential employers your skillset as opposed too only one for direct level 8 students, you cover 12 extra modules (That's the case in CIT anyway, not sure about other colleges) given you an even broader base. After talking to some employers at the CIT careers fair, many of them prefer the level 7 graduates (Intel and Kostal anyway) and some companies who hire level 7 graduates pay for your level 8. Level 7 also offers you more flexibility when it comes to deciding what you want to do next. There are many add on courses in the different ITs around the country so it doesnt necesarily have to 5 years, depending on your discipline.

    Hope this is helpful.


  • Options
    #26
    enda1
    Registered Users Posts: 5,166 ✭✭✭enda1


    Put #1 the course that you want as #1, even if you don't think you'll get it. That's the whole point of the CAO system. Don't fill in order of believed ability. So if TCD and UCD are 1 and 2, put them there. Then put in the more achievable courses. You're at no penalty for getting ion on your 7th versus 1st choice.


Advertisement