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Civil and Environmental

  • 11-01-2009 6:13pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9


    Hi guys, I'm in 6th yr goin to UCC next year. I'm kinda torn between Civil and Environmental and Energy atm, but leaning more towards Civil because its more broad and I could do the masters in energy anyway.
    So, anyone out there doing civil? How is it, and is there spare time for socialising (read:getting wasted....alot) and is it possible to change into a different type of engineering if you dont like it?
    cheers


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 521 ✭✭✭Prowetod


    I am in the same situation as you:confused:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,428 ✭✭✭quietsailor


    KevL wrote: »
    Hi guys, I'm in 6th yr goin to UCC next year. I'm kinda torn between Civil and Environmental and Energy atm, but leaning more towards Civil because its more broad and I could do the masters in energy anyway.
    So, anyone out there doing civil? How is it, and is there spare time for socialising (read:getting wasted....alot) and is it possible to change into a different type of engineering if you dont like it?
    cheers

    I'm in 1st year energy so I'd advise being careful about wanting to get into Energy Engineering through a Civil degree followed by a Masters in Energy. The Energy degree consists of lectures on electrical subjects as well as civil subjects. Depending on what you want to work as after college you might find you don't have sufficent electrical knowledge to get a job in a company supplying Energy services - ESB and Bord Gais would be very good examples. You mighn't meet their requirements with 90% civil knowledge as opposed to a 50/50 mix of civil and electrical knowledge.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9 KevL


    I'm in 1st year energy so I'd advise being careful about wanting to get into Energy Engineering through a Civil degree followed by a Masters in Energy. The Energy degree consists of lectures on electrical subjects as well as civil subjects. Depending on what you want to work as after college you might find you don't have sufficent electrical knowledge to get a job in a company supplying Energy services - ESB and Bord Gais would be very good examples. You mighn't meet their requirements with 90% civil knowledge as opposed to a 50/50 mix of civil and electrical knowledge.
    Cheers for the heads up. What's the course like as regards work load? And of course, is it interesting?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,428 ✭✭✭quietsailor


    @ KevL

    I'm a mature student so I find the work load harder than most of the rest of the class - simply because they've come straight from a regime of studying while I haven't studied like this in over 10 years.

    There is a lot of theoretical study here - Maths, Applied Maths (Mechanics) and Physics being the primary culprits but all the modules require work. Again the "proper" :rolleyes: first years still have a brilliant social life judging by the stories on Fri morning so the workload can't be as bad as I think.

    From talking to the lecturers third and fourth year will be much better as the modules and projects we choose kick in then. One good thing about 1st Year is the Energy Engineering module - the lecturer brought in a professional every week from industry to talk to us so we found out aboput work after college. I hope this is going to keep going throughout the 4 years.

    Basically if your willing to put in some work you'll manage ok - ** The points are/were 520+ this year so be warned you'll need to work hard just to get in. In fact after getting that many points in the Leaving you'll find it easy :p.

    One thing I would advise - Knowing Maths and Physics before you come here will be a big help, If you had Chemistry as well it would really ease your workload. Applied Maths and Technical drawing would also reduce the workload as well. ** KevL, that last paragraph is directed at other people who might read this post in future more so than you, if your not doing those courses don't sweat it, lots of my classmates never saw a T-square before last october and they're passing the weekly assignments with no problems.


    As for the course being interesting -- even though I bi**h about the Maths and Physics I enjoy it and find the course interesting -- and i worked as an engineer for 12 years before coming here


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9 KevL


    Dude that is possible the most helpful paragraph of information I've ever gotten on any course so far, thank you!:D Yeah I kinda like maths and physics, which would be a plus...just the whole points thing is my main worry. I was hoping to get in and around 550 at the start of fifth year and each Christmas and summer test has kind of reduced that by 25 points each time! Do you think it would be at all possible to switch to energy from Civil after first year? Or, actually, even after the first term?
    And @eoccork hope you found that as helpful as me!:P


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,428 ✭✭✭quietsailor


    Hey kevL

    I can't see why you wouldn't be able to switch courses, there is only 1 module different between civil and energy according to the UCC book of modules, all the 9 other modules we both study together. Best to email the admissions office and ask though, you could tell them your unsure of choosing civil or energy.

    If you need anything else write on here or PM me.

    Glad I was some help

    Shane


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 287 ✭✭Des23


    Quietsailor

    I am in an extremely similar situation to the above individual considering energy engineering. I feel like i would be suited to it if i could manage to get the points as I do all the subjects quoted earlier, maths, applied maths, physics , chemistry and tech drawing (or the now awful DCG!).

    Since ye have been talking to professionals in the field, what does an energy engineer actually do? Is it just a Civil Engineer with a more specialized skill set geared towoards working in the energy sector? Or would it be more of a profession on its own? When someone says energy engineer you wouldnt be able to define what they do as easily as you would most other type of engineer.

    Also regards employment, what is the demand out there like? I no UCC have been bigging it up in a large way, are their claims substantiated?

    Any reply would be appreciated.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,428 ✭✭✭quietsailor


    :)
    Des23 wrote: »
    Quietsailor

    I am in an extremely similar situation to the above individual considering energy engineering. I feel like i would be suited to it if i could manage to get the points as I do all the subjects quoted earlier, maths, applied maths, physics , chemistry and tech drawing (or the now awful DCG!).

    Since ye have been talking to professionals in the field, what does an energy engineer actually do? Is it just a Civil Engineer with a more specialized skill set geared towoards working in the energy sector? Or would it be more of a profession on its own? When someone says energy engineer you wouldnt be able to define what they do as easily as you would most other type of engineer.


    1. We're being told that we will be designing, maintaining and I'd presume managing/operating machinery that generates power. As well as this the idea is that we'd go into existing plants and make them more energy efficent. This isn't a new job, its simply putting a name to a job people are already doing. For instance I worked in a biomass plant that generated electricity for the national grid. That company also had 2 gas fuelled generating plants in Waterford that I'd work on so you could say an Energy Engineer would be the person who manages them. From the way the lecturers are talking and from the theoretical nature of the course I'd say UCC are aiming this course at making people into more management than operators of power generating machinery. This may or may not be a good thing, I've spent 12 years working on this type of machinery so I understand it, I don't know if a graduate would be able for it, thats not meant to be offensive just that no college prepares you for this, just experience.
    2. The statistical side of Energy and Ireland's Energy policy is mentioned a lot in the Energy Engineering module. That lecturer works for a think tank that advises the SEI who in turn advise the Goverment so he knows a lot more than most about Ireland's future Energy policy. That's another career path.,



    Also regards employment, what is the demand out there like? I no UCC have been bigging it up in a large way, are their claims substantiated?

    Any reply would be appreciated.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 521 ✭✭✭Prowetod


    KevL wrote: »
    And @eoccork hope you found that as helpful as me!:P

    It did indeed, thanks quietsailor!


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