Civil Engineering Course Decision

Equium

Hi

At the minute Im doing an ordinary degree in civil engineering and next year I want to do an honours degree. I have a few options, such as to stay in Ireland and do a BEng or go to the UK and do a BEng or MEng, and I was just wondering what other engineers and employers would consider to be the best qualification? Is there much difference between the Irish honours degree and the UK masters degree?, because I've heard conflicting reports from many people. So far I have offers from

Dundee University (MEng)
Queens Belfast (MEng)
Aberdeen University (MEng)
Heriott Watt Edinburgh (BENG)
DIT (BEng)
Napier University Edinburgh (BEng)

I've also applied for Trinity and Galway, but no replies yet. I'd appreciate if I could get some feedback because I'm at a loss as of what to do at the moment.
Thanks

mac09

Equium wrote: »

Hi

At the minute Im doing an ordinary degree in civil engineering and next year I want to do an honours degree. I have a few options, such as to stay in Ireland and do a BEng or go to the UK and do a BEng or MEng, and I was just wondering what other engineers and employers would consider to be the best qualification? Is there much difference between the Irish honours degree and the UK masters degree?, because I've heard conflicting reports from many people. So far I have offers from

Dundee University (MEng)
Queens Belfast (MEng)
Aberdeen University (MEng)
Heriott Watt Edinburgh (BENG)
DIT (BEng)
Napier University Edinburgh (BEng)

I've also applied for Trinity and Galway, but no replies yet. I'd appreciate if I could get some feedback because I'm at a loss as of what to do at the moment.
Thanks

So you are looking to progress from your level 7 to level 8 or 9 qualification.

In my experience, employers evaluate your qualification based on the perceived level of the instiute you received it from. So if a certain academic institution has an excellent engineering department but is recognised as average overall, then the employer will view your qualification as having come from an average institution as they are not privy to or interested in the actual quality breakdown of each department.

If you check the link below then you will see that queens is the highest ranked overall of the institutions you mentioned.(http://extras.timesonline.co.uk/tol_gug/gooduniversityguide.php)

Checking the civil engineering departments puts dundee top of teh list with queens in second place.
http://extras.timesonline.co.uk/tol_gug/gooduniversityguide.php?AC_sub=Civil+Engineering&sub=15&x=19&y=11

You should perhaps think about a slightly different approach in terms of gaining qualifications. The Meng at queens will take you 3 years to complete after you Beng (ord) level 7. However if you take the Beng (hons) after 2 years at queens, you can then choose a MSc in an area you are interested in to become more specialised. The Meng is very general and will not focus on any particular area.

Have a look at the link below which highlights the different areas you could specialise in at queens, water, structures, environmental, management, etc

http://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/SchoolofPlanningArchitectureandCivilEngineering/Education/

I dont know a lot about the other institutes you mentioned but if i was going to scotland, i would be edging towards heriot watt or dundee, and would steer clear of napier (had many friends there, not a comphrensive or involving course)

Galway in the past demanded at average of 80% to allow you into 3rd year of the 4 year honours degree. if you didnt achieve this you would start in secong year.

Trinity im not too sure about on entry criteria but i do believe you receive a minor degree in maths along with you r primary bachelors.

UCAS looks for 65% (at least it did) to allow entry into the british institutions you mentioned.

Hope this answers some questions. If it was me, i would look to a Beng and then a specialised MSc. only potential growth areas in engineering in the short term are in the very very niche markets. Find them and train up.

RealityCheck

Equium wrote: »

Hi

At the minute Im doing an ordinary degree in civil engineering and next year I want to do an honours degree. I have a few options, such as to stay in Ireland and do a BEng or go to the UK and do a BEng or MEng, and I was just wondering what other engineers and employers would consider to be the best qualification? Is there much difference between the Irish honours degree and the UK masters degree?, because I've heard conflicting reports from many people. So far I have offers from

Dundee University (MEng)
Queens Belfast (MEng)
Aberdeen University (MEng)
Heriott Watt Edinburgh (BENG)
DIT (BEng)
Napier University Edinburgh (BEng)

I've also applied for Trinity and Galway, but no replies yet. I'd appreciate if I could get some feedback because I'm at a loss as of what to do at the moment.
Thanks

Hi Equium.

You are in the exact same position as I was in last year, looking to transfer from the ordinary degree to the honours degree. In my case I transfered into NUIG, which seems to be going fine. As regards recognition etc it would be up there with any of the universities mentioned, whether the course is as good I dont really know. I supect it may not be. The entry requirement was only a distinction (>70%) which was a drop from previous years (due to a drop in demand). If applying for NUIG you dont get an offer until at least mid July at the earliest. You may well have taken an offer up elsewhere by the time this comes.

Of the other Universities fellow student went to mainly University of Dundee, Edinburgh and Napier. Both Dundee and Edinburgh are of similar standard. The requirement for both is 60% for both 2 year honours degree courses and 70% to enrol in the 3 year masters programmes, but it is possible to transfer from one course to the other while there.

Napier University would be seen as a step down, I think the entry requirement was quite low, about 55%. I would'nt advise here unless you miss out on the other two colleges.

Queens is another college of high reputation, but none of my former class mates went there. Think the entry requirements are the same as Dundee and Edinburgh Universities.

Dont really know anything about the courses in Trinity, Aberdeen or Herriot Watt. But from what I have heard Herriot Watt would be of similar standard to Napier University. Both Trinity and Aberdeen are highly regarded universities but as for there engineering faculties, well that could be a different story altogether.

I know DIT is well sough after by many, especially those with a leaning towards structural engineering. I think the entry requirement is around the 70% mark.

At the end of the day its your decision. One thing that I would strongly advise is to try and contact maybe people who went onto homours degrees from the same college as yourself. See their opinions of the various colleges.

On a personal level I find NUIG to be grand. I have settled in well. I generally find that those who transfer tend to do well. The course itself I find is maybe a little mundane and boring, in need of change. On paper it is a good degree to have, but I think the course seems a tad outdated.

On the issue of the Irish honours degree Vs the British masters. You are not really comparing like to like. You always have the option of doing a masters once you complete your honours degree here. With regards doing the 3 years masters degree courses in Britain, you can always just complete the 2 years if at any time in the future you feel you dont want to do the masters. You are not commiting to it now, although with demand for postgrads so high you might be well advised to do the 3 year course so as to have the option. Ultimately that decision rests with you.

If you want any further info you are more than welcome to PM me.

Equium

Thank you both for your replies. They’ve given me quite a bit of food for thought.
At the minute I think I’m leaning towards going to Scotland to do a MEng simply for the cost as there are no fees there, and ive been told that to do a specialist MSc here or up the north can cost anything over ten grand. It looks like it’s between Dundee and Heriot Watt, because I agree that Napier isn’t the greatest uni (someone told me that they only go in for 2 or 3 hours a day), but then again I might change my mind over the next few months. Anyway, thanks again for the feedback...

annfield1978

As far as i know the Meng degree is required now in order to be chartered in the UK

Did the MEng in queens, graduating in 2001, can recommend the course, very very tough but rewarding

Soil Mechanic

Whilst the advice from the above OP's are sound and reasoned, from an albeit heavily biased note..........

Go Aberdeen.

James Clark Maxwell may have something to say about the Engineering faculty, as would Sir Fraser Noble.....

Great option as an ancient University to change your final as you go, thanks to a (relatively) common syllabus (syllabi???), ideal if your still not entirely sure what you want to 'do' at the end of it all.

Also you get to hunt the golden easter egg on your first day (Tee-Hee). Sorry.

On the other hand - VISIT THEM ALL on the open day options, see what faculty seems to be be most geared (no pun intended) to what you think you may like to do.

Choose wisely & GOOD LUCK!

cazmcco

Hey OP!

I was in the same position as you last year.

As far as I am concerned, with colleges in Edinburgh, Napier is the 'lowest' of the three main ones. Saying that however there is a huge number of Irish students that join the civil engineering programme in 3rd year and I personally know a large number of people who are/did go there and have come out with good degrees and been able to find decent jobs after, including in Ireland.

With regards world rankings, Edinburgh university is supposed to be very highly rated. However, i also know people there and their workload is unreal.

I chose Herriot-Watt in the end. Personally I liked the atmosphere and set up out on campus. I had a look around the uni of Edinburgh and i didn't like it at all.

For me last year, with regards entry requirements, both the uni of Edinburgh and Heriot-watt requirements were almost the same, both required a 65% overall average with the uni of Edinburgh looking for at least 65% in certain subjects.

With regards my own personal experience in Heriot-Watt, the college and its facilities are fantastic. Everything in the Heriot-Watt campus is togerther, unlike the uni of Edinburgh campus which is spread out all over the city. The course is pretty good overall, although from a personal point of view it is very office and design orientated. I personally prefer the practical side of engineering, but then again design and office based work is more of a level 8 standard. I applied for the BEng, and I will be staying in it, however there is very little problem with transferring into the MEng course during third year, as long as you get 60% average in third year. MEng students in Heriot-Watt also have the opportunity to go away for 4th year on an exchange programme run by the college. Its also opened to direct entry students (which you will be) as long as again you get a 60% overall average from semester 1.

I dont know if you know where abouts Heriot-Watt is in Edinburgh, so just incase, it is not in the city! but dont let that turn you off. Its located on the outskirts of the city on the western side, near the airport. There is a good bus service to and from the city center, with three bus services, two of which go every 10/15 mins at least. You can get a rida-card over here which you top up regularly that gives you basically unlimited travel for the period of time that you have topped up your card for.

With regards work and UK qualifications, I dont really think that there is a major difference (i also heard conflicting reports about standards of qualifications etc between ireland and the UK). The majority of engineers that I know spent some time abroad studying, and the majority of those came to Edinburgh/Scotland to get their BEng, so I think Irish employers will have a good idea about Scottish universities and civil engineering.

anyways, if you have any other questions about Edinburgh or Heriot-Watt pm me and ill try answer any questions for ya!!

Best of luck in whatever you decide!!!

conor86

cazmcco wrote: »

Hey OP!

I was in the same position as you last year.

As far as I am concerned, with colleges in Edinburgh, Napier is the 'lowest' of the three main ones. Saying that however there is a huge number of Irish students that join the civil engineering programme in 3rd year and I personally know a large number of people who are/did go there and have come out with good degrees and been able to find decent jobs after, including in Ireland.

With regards world rankings, Edinburgh university is supposed to be very highly rated. However, i also know people there and their workload is unreal.

I chose Herriot-Watt in the end. Personally I liked the atmosphere and set up out on campus. I had a look around the uni of Edinburgh and i didn't like it at all.

For me last year, with regards entry requirements, both the uni of Edinburgh and Heriot-watt requirements were almost the same, both required a 65% overall average with the uni of Edinburgh looking for at least 65% in certain subjects.

With regards my own personal experience in Heriot-Watt, the college and its facilities are fantastic. Everything in the Heriot-Watt campus is togerther, unlike the uni of Edinburgh campus which is spread out all over the city. The course is pretty good overall, although from a personal point of view it is very office and design orientated. I personally prefer the practical side of engineering, but then again design and office based work is more of a level 8 standard. I applied for the BEng, and I will be staying in it, however there is very little problem with transferring into the MEng course during third year, as long as you get 60% average in third year. MEng students in Heriot-Watt also have the opportunity to go away for 4th year on an exchange programme run by the college. Its also opened to direct entry students (which you will be) as long as again you get a 60% overall average from semester 1.

I dont know if you know where abouts Heriot-Watt is in Edinburgh, so just incase, it is not in the city! but dont let that turn you off. Its located on the outskirts of the city on the western side, near the airport. There is a good bus service to and from the city center, with three bus services, two of which go every 10/15 mins at least. You can get a rida-card over here which you top up regularly that gives you basically unlimited travel for the period of time that you have topped up your card for.

With regards work and UK qualifications, I dont really think that there is a major difference (i also heard conflicting reports about standards of qualifications etc between ireland and the UK). The majority of engineers that I know spent some time abroad studying, and the majority of those came to Edinburgh/Scotland to get their BEng, so I think Irish employers will have a good idea about Scottish universities and civil engineering.

anyways, if you have any other questions about Edinburgh or Heriot-Watt pm me and ill try answer any questions for ya!!

Best of luck in whatever you decide!!!

Hi
What are the options for some one with below 60% result? With only a year work experiences in civil engineering, I’m I at a loss. There may level 8 aboard are here that could take me on?

cazmcco

conor86 wrote: »

Hi
What are the options for some one with below 60% result? With only a year work experiences in civil engineering, I’m I at a loss. There may level 8 aboard are here that could take me on?

Hey conor86,

If your looking at Edinburgh as a place abroad to get your level 8 degree, then going on requirements that i had to meet last year then Napier is your only option to get into 3rd year of a Beng course. i dont know if your years experience will do you any good with getting in. all you can really do is email the head of dept and see.

if you wanted to get into a course other than Napier, then you could be offered a place in 2nd year of a course rather than 3rd year.

you'll probably have to wait until next year to apply at this stage though as the UCAS deadline is in January for most colleges.

conor86

cazmcco wrote: »

Hey conor86,

If your looking at Edinburgh as a place abroad to get your level 8 degree, then going on requirements that i had to meet last year then Napier is your only option to get into 3rd year of a Beng course. i dont know if your years experience will do you any good with getting in. all you can really do is email the head of dept and see.

if you wanted to get into a course other than Napier, then you could be offered a place in 2nd year of a course rather than 3rd year.

you'll probably have to wait until next year to apply at this stage though as the UCAS deadline is in January for most colleges.

Thanks for that, but I think if I waited that long something else would turn up. At the moment I really see my only options would be to do 2 year level 8 in Carlow IT ‘never heard anybody that has done it’ or management in Tralee IT with is what most engineer end up doing?

Hells Kitchen

I finished my Honours degree in Aberdeen last year. I was accepted to do the MEng but transferred back to BEng when i was over there. There was 23 Irish in my class and only 3 of them did the MEng. A good few stayed in Aberdeen this year doing MSc's after doing the BEng. I'm actually doing an MSc in Queens this year and the step up in workload and intensity is unreal. Absolutely loved Aberdeen. I found the course wasn't too hard which was just as well as i'm fond of the good life. I actually know a couple of guys in third year civil in Queens at they seem to have a pretty high workload.

I only had a 50% average i think going over. I wouldn't be too worried about deadlines and not meeting certain marks. A mate of mine e-mailed the Eng department a week into term and they accepted him without going through UCAS at all. Maybe that was just Aberdeen though.

Most Irish lads go to Aberdeen, Dundee or Napier in my experience. I'd agree with the rest in saying that Napier would be your last option.

Overall i really enjoyed Scotland. Found it a great experience to live in an other country and would recommend it to anyone.

conor86

Hells Kitchen wrote: »

I finished my Honours degree in Aberdeen last year. I was accepted to do the MEng but transferred back to BEng when i was over there. There was 23 Irish in my class and only 3 of them did the MEng. A good few stayed in Aberdeen this year doing MSc's after doing the BEng. I'm actually doing an MSc in Queens this year and the step up in workload and intensity is unreal. Absolutely loved Aberdeen. I found the course wasn't too hard which was just as well as i'm fond of the good life. I actually know a couple of guys in third year civil in Queens at they seem to have a pretty high workload.

I only had a 50% average i think going over. I wouldn't be too worried about deadlines and not meeting certain marks. A mate of mine e-mailed the Eng department a week into term and they accepted him without going through UCAS at all. Maybe that was just Aberdeen though.

Most Irish lads go to Aberdeen, Dundee or Napier in my experience. I'd agree with the rest in saying that Napier would be your last option.

Overall i really enjoyed Scotland. Found it a great experience to live in an other country and would recommend it to anyone.

Jesus sound great, what year did you have to go in? And do you have to pick form the 'taught programmers'. Personally I know you won’t learn a great deal I’m just trying to stay employable as an engineer,

Hells Kitchen

I went into year 3 of the 4 year BEng. I've never heard of anyone doing anything different like going into second year like someone said above. Guys doing the MEng do a lot of the same stuff as BEng and i think do one extra subject or something. Don't think there was any picking of subjects in third year but in 4th you chose between doing Structures or Environmental Eng. All this now is based on my experience in Aberdeen so other places might operate differently.

BERmad

conor86 wrote: »

Hi
What are the options for some one with below 60% result? With only a year work experiences in civil engineering, I’m I at a loss. There may level 8 aboard are here that could take me on?

You should try athlone IT they only require a 50% average as far as i know.

conor86

BERmad wrote: »

You should try athlone IT they only require a 50% average as far as i know.

Thanks I’m apply their too.

Aberdeen looks like a great place, but Applications have been record high so no late applications. Time is moving on, so my choice as it stands is Carlow or Athlone. I’m waiting to see if civil management is running in Tralee.

I can help but think I should be using this time to find an engineering job!

murphy10101

hi guys, I've to make a final decision on which college to choose from napier, herriot-watt or dundee.. is napier really that bad?? i just want to pick the best college to gto nd not one which is a shambles of a place. are the courses in the herriot-watt or dundee much of a step up if coming from an institute of technology in Ireland?

i know that the results for other 60% for the other two colleges.. nd for napier u only need 50%

any views would be appreciated, tanks

murphy10101

conor86 wrote: »

Thanks I’m apply their too.

Aberdeen looks like a great place, but Applications have been record high so no late applications. Time is moving on, so my choice as it stands is Carlow or Athlone. I’m waiting to see if civil management is running in Tralee.

I can help but think I should be using this time to find an engineering job!

hi guys, I've to make a final decision on which college to choose from napier, herriot-watt or dundee.. is napier really that bad?? i just want to pick the best college to gto nd not one which is a shambles of a place. are the courses in the herriot-watt or dundee much of a step up if coming from an institute of technology in Ireland?

i know that the results for other 60% for the other two colleges.. nd for napier u only need 50%

any views would be appreciated, tanks

Equium

Hi
Personally if i was choosing between those three, i'd plump for Dundee. I was over at the open days for those three unis and Dundee just seemed the best in terms of content and reputation. A number of engineers and lecturers I talked to also recommended it to me.
I was talking to a few fellas who went to napier and they said it's a fairly straight forward course, with around 18 to 20 hours a week. It seems to have a bit of a bad reputation for whatever reason but the campus/location and staff seemed alright to me. I'd say you're better off getting info from someone whos gone there before though to get an insight into the actual course content or get some insight into the reputation from employers.

cazmcco

conor86 wrote: »

Thanks I’m apply their too.

Aberdeen looks like a great place, but Applications have been record high so no late applications. Time is moving on, so my choice as it stands is Carlow or Athlone. I’m waiting to see if civil management is running in Tralee.

I can help but think I should be using this time to find an engineering job!

Athlone has a pretty good set of lecturers up as far as 3rd year in the ordinary degree programme. However the honours degree programme is relatively new to the college (first set of graduates in either 2008 or 2009). Its not certified by the IEI and at the moment they don't have all the facilities on campus for some of the subjects thought in the hons course.
A new engineering building has been built for the civil/construction dept, but this has not been opened yet, even though it has been ready since about last summer.

conor86

cazmcco wrote: »

Athlone has a pretty good set of lecturers up as far as 3rd year in the ordinary degree programme. However the honours degree programme is relatively new to the college (first set of graduates in either 2008 or 2009). Its not certified by the IEI and at the moment they don't have all the facilities on campus for some of the subjects thought in the hons course.
A new engineering building has been built for the civil/construction dept, but this has not been opened yet, even though it has been ready since about last summer.

General most IT are pretty good, but talk about the standards of engineering course being eroded during the boom years (that what their saying). And with all the third level institute in trouble their a good chance athlone wouldn’t get IEI certifies and other newer places if anything they might even start dropping higher courses in my opinion. Could be a reason why they having open yet?

It’s all about what the employer want at the end of the day and that’s nearly always work experience.


I would put Dundee as my first choice!

cazmcco

Well from what iv heard it could be a while before AIT gets the higher degree certified. As for the buliding not opening... well iv also heard the reason for it not yet being opened is far from politics

Yup, its always down to the work experience that you have. Even for advertised graduate jobs, 99% of employers look for a certain amount of experience.

kieran--f

I have got accepted to UWS c2 average for motorsport engineering and Heriot watt b3 average for mechanical enginerring
I went to the UWS open day it looks good but Heriot watt gets immense praise but ive never been there so I really dont know

FesterBeatty

I'll answer your question simply - DIT!

kieran--f

why DIT

forfcksake

bump!!

forfcksake

i have applied to transfer into third year of the civil engineering course in NUIG, i was just wondering does anyone know when you find out whether or not your in?

RealityCheck

forfcksake wrote: »

i have applied to transfer into third year of the civil engineering course in NUIG, i was just wondering does anyone know when you find out whether or not your in?

Around now, end of the month at the latest. It was this time lasy year when I got through.

Divorce Referendum

I would recommend WIT from my own experience. The Engineering department is very good with plenty of practical lectures unlike universities. Any interview i have been in, the employer always regarded the course i did very highly.

conor86

An update,,, I’ve applied to carlow and attended the Bridge math. I found it very helpful and lecturer is a good math teacher. I’m also going to do the math exam in athlone, see which one I like more. Have heard form tralee?? Both places are rough the same distance away and only one Credit!

Napier is a university after all and that still an option. I’m finding it hard to make a decision still?

forfcksake

does anyone know if you transfer to NUIG from an IT . . whats the situation with the tuition fees? do you have to pay them if your receiving a grant from the vec?

RealityCheck

forfcksake wrote: »

does anyone know if you transfer to NUIG from an IT . . whats the situation with the tuition fees? do you have to pay them if your receiving a grant from the vec?

No tuition fees, just the standard 'administration' fee. But If you receive a grant you probably will only have to pay the student levy, something like €200. Administration fee is about €1500.

forfcksake

RealityCheck wrote: »

No tuition fees, just the standard 'administration' fee. But If you receive a grant you probably will only have to pay the student levy, something like €200. Administration fee is about €1500.

cheers, appreciate the reply!

nojobsinthat

Go and do a course in a big city where you can get a job and some experience. The best place to move is the UK where you might develop a career. There will be no jobs in Ireland in civil for 5 years and if some college tells you otherwise they are bulls*itting you.