Which is better for engineering, UCC or CIT?

crystalbrite

Which is the better college for engineering, UCC or CIT?

z0oT

I would opt for UCC albeit I'm a tad biased. But for the sake of having a degree from an NUI as opposed to an IT, it's most certainly worth it in the future.

crystalbrite

Anyone else have any other input?

Nukem

Answered this previously so a cut+paste job (please note that CIT was not Semesterised when I left so a slight difference)

I did my Dip in CIT and Degree in UL both colleges are excellent in their own rights.

CIT is 9-5 nearly everyday and they harp on at you like school so if you need constant harrasment to study might be a better choice. CIT is a more practical college in my opinion. Better facilities for machining and hands on with more of a practical look at things and how they work and how you can apply it. CIT do try and look after their students and most lecturers that i have met since i left have been very supportive in terms of how are you getting on,if i needed a reference there was no worries. Also they pass out job Opportunities when they see them.

UL is more theory based with little or no practical experience. Its very laid back with way less hours and no one chases you for reports; if you dont submit them "Tough" you will fail and have to repeat,very little grey area, black or white. For Mech there is two tiers in 3rd and 4th year that will define what you want to do. There is solids teir which more to do with materials,ProEng ....etc...... Where the fluids strain deals with fluid dynamics and thermodynamics.

sul02

I followed the same path as Nukem, 3 years in CIT and 2 years in UL.

An IT gives you very good practical time in the workshop, machining, welding etc which is handy to have, even if you never use it. The 9 - 5 was tough especially seeing as i was expecting only having to do a few hrs a day.

Transferring to UL was a great experience and a nice change. It is more relaxed and you are treated like an adult in terms of you are there for yourself and its up to you how well you do.

When you finish college i think a degree from a uniersity looks better on your cv than one from an IT (no disrespect meant).

I think you should try out the route of myself and Nukem. Otherwise I reckon your best bet is UCC.

up them Schteps

UCC is very theory based. THe labs are handy but it also depends on what type of engineering your looking to do? In UCC the engineering courses are Electrical&Electronic (Basically a dual degree), Civil, chemical and process and Sustainable energy. I'm not sure what CIT offers, but for a 4 year level 8 UCC is handy enough. Great college life, better looking girls:p and (MAYBE) an easier route to a graduate job, rather than applying to another college after a few years after your initial degree.

fincollins

I was told by a few companies that my degree from CIT is highly respected from an engineering point of view, because of their work experience that they make you do.

I did automation, and my interviewer said the exact same thing. I don't know what its like in other colleges, but in my course (in Physics dept), I had to do 6months work exp, and he said that this was by far the most powerfull thing on my CV.

ITs are usually more hands on, and depending on what type of job your going for at the end of the day,this can really stand to you. If its research or something theoretical your after, then a university would be better.

quietsailor

crystalbrite wrote: »

Which is the better college for engineering, UCC or CIT?

I trained in CIT as a Marine Engineer originally and went on to work for a few years before returning to UCC last Sept to study the renewable energy degree (Energy Engineering). I'm glad i went this route as I have a huge practical background from the CIT and then from the industry I went into and now I'm gaining a degree that'll hopefully (if i get a job ) push me towards a management position.

From talking to various HR people in the different industries I've been in most like a CIT graduate rather than a UCC straight out of college as the CIT graduate will have more work experience, UCC may give you training for more design or management roles but your not going to get one of those straight out of college.

I hope you get whichever course you choose, either way you'll get a good degree from those colleges. One thing i will say is to get involved with the IEI as soon as you qualify and hound them for info on becoming a chartered engineer (if that's what you want). All the work I out in at sea was wasted as I never got it signed off by a chartered engineer so it's useless in an application for a chartered engineer

dahamster

Both UCC and CIT offer cooperative placement during third year of an honours degree (in elecs anyway). The difference is in the teaching pedegogies. CIT provides a higher lab / classroom ratio and during those lab sessions the student is more involved with the experiment than would be the case in traditional laboratory demonstrations in a university. It is in this manner that they gain more practical experience and not necessarily more work experience.

imported_guy

one word answer = UCC

janeybriggs

I'm doing the structural engineering degree in CIT (currently in final year). I have never gone to UCC so can't comment on it really but can give you a few pointers about CIIT:

- Semesterisation was introduced last year and has given the student scope to go across departments to take a different elective if you are interested in a particular topic

- Most degrees in CIT are offered as a straight 4 year level 8 or a 5 year stepping programme as long as your results are good enough to progress. I started the 4 year programme but looking back the 5 year route should be seriously considered. You receive an ordinary degree after 3 years and have the option to continue your studies in CIT or apply to other Uni's which widens your options. From my experience the students who do the 3 years first and then go on to a level 8 have more topics covered and have a better knowledge of final year projects etc as they have done it all already in the 3rd year of their Level 7.

All colleges have their good and bad points and usually it just comes down to your points!! Good Luck

Rebel_Emerald

Hi crystalbrite, I went to both CIT and UCC so have experience in both. I did the three year Civil Eng Dip in CIT then transferred to UCC to continue Civil Engineering to Level 8. I can honestly say that CIT is better in virtually every aspect. The lecturers know all students by name, help out with extra guidence with the courses where necessary, and actually cared about their students understanding the material. We also did lots of practiacal lab work with really helped me not to look like a complete rookie in my first full-time job.

Contrast this with the two years in UCC. With the very rare exception the lecturers just turned up to clock in, rambled on for 35 minutes, then finished early by saying to read the rest of the chapter in the book. Alot of lecturers also said they were too busy near the exams to help students, and some wouldn't even reply to emails. In Ireland most emplyers acknowledge the extra work IT students do, but outside Ireland its the University degree that gets noticed

So if you want to trudge through your degree on your own UCC is the place, if you like more lecturer input an IT is definately better. All the best whichever you choose.

MarcusFenix

Im doing Mech Eng in CIT and honestly ive seen other colleges projects, and they are of a lesser standard in general. CIT is technically what you would call a ****hole but very good engineering section, real ex-industry experienced lecturers with a cool vocational school vibe, everyone knows the lecturers and vice versa.

If I could afford it I would love a university degree but that only looks good on the mantelpiece. The ITs is where its at for engineering.:D