Engineering at Trinity (International Prospective)

jdouglassmith

hey TCD forums,

I'm new and just wondering if anybody has any information about Engineering at trinity. Is it hard to get into or competitive? What's the drop out like?

I'm from Scotland and desperately seeking a place there. I know it is a lot harder for me to obtain a place than an Irish student since I qualify for free fees and obviously Irish places cannot just be handed out to foreign students and neglecting their own. I obtained ABBBC at scottish higher and awaiting one higher result and two advanced highers (predicted AB in advanced higher and A in higher).

CAO are ridiculous and keep changing how much points my grades are worth and trinity only give rough estimates and not any tables.. so i think i'll be around 470 with those results. Would this give me a placement?

if anyone could give me any information about studying 1st year at trinity like tips on how to get through, part-time work opportunities to pay bills.. just little things would be a huge help. really lost ha.

tl;dr - information about engineering at trinity, yearly costs as a 1st year, part-time job opportunities (yes i know this doesnt look likely atm), any sort of student loans/grants available.. literally anything would be useful.

brownacid

As far as I know the points for Engineering in trinity last year were approx 410, I cant remember specifically, having said that I can't remember the last time that the points for the TCD engineering course was up as high as the 470 mark. When I went in 4 years ago it was 45 (I think) so if you're looking at getting approx 470 for your results you should be guaranteed a place.

The thing about the cao is that is completely anonymous so the fact that you are applying through that it wont make a difference if you're Scottish.

The drp out rate for our year was worst in first year, a good few people dropped out after xmas, then a few people didnt come back for second year. I think there was roughly 160 starting in first year and when we finshed this year it was roughly 130ish so its not that bad.

They have changed the structure of first year since they restructured the course to be a 5 year course a far as i know so Im not too sure on the module breakdown now. When I did it, first ear wasn't that bad, there was a lot of messing going on but that always gonna happen when you have over a hundred 18 year olds in a room together. Most of the material in first year isnt that in depth, just getting you to dip your toe in the water. They also do a mangonel design project throughout the year which was a lot of fun when we did it.

A lot of people including myself put off doing too much work in first year and opted for the whole cramming towards the end of year, still came out with a 2.1 for it though. Bottom line is, first year isn't too bad and you should fly through it, especially having any sort of backround in physics, maths or applied maths.

jobs wise, you could apply for a couple of jobs like teh student shelver job in the library, working in the SU or JCR. Or just walk around town and get a job in any of the bars, you shouldnt really find it too difficult to get a part time job in town at all.

jdouglassmith

Thanks acid. appreciate the detailed response. Do you know if CAO decide whether or not you're in the course or is it the actual university? Reason i ask this is that i have to meet specific entry reqs for the course and i had to debate with admissions at trinity to qualify for the maths level.. (I've done scottish higher maths which is same level as irish leaving maths but they wanted scottish advanced higher which is higher than A-level.. although i've done advanced higher physics and computing). anyway, they finally accepted it but i'm scared incase they forget and just dispose of my application. Sorry to botherr again!

brownacid

I'm not too sure on that one, I know for Irish students coming straight out of school the CAo does everything and you will almost never have to get in contact with the admissions office. However I would say that seeing as you are a foreign student that the admissions office will have informed the CAO of their decision to accept your subjects. I would expect that you have nothing to worry about. Especially as you have all but been told that you have a place on the course.

gavmcg92

Hi Op,
I have just finished my first year of Engineering in Trinity College, so I think that I can answer the majority of your questions relating to the course itself.

As far as I can remember, the points to get into the course last year were 415 (was 410 in 2009 and 455 in 2008). So with the points that you think you are getting then I think that you would be ok. Make sure that you also look into what minimum grade you would require in maths. For Irish students it is a Higher C3.

As for the course. I am sure that you have seen the list of the subjects that you have to do. There are 11 in total. If you haven't done Chemistry (like myself) you are advised to come in and complete a week-long crash course in the basics in Chemistry. I would highly recommend it, and pay close attention. I found myself struggling with the Chemistry aspect of the course... If only I payed more attention! :P

You will have labs in Physics once every second week for the first term and the same with Chemistry in the second term. Through-out the year you will have Engineering labs, for example in flow dynamics, surveying, AC current etc..

There are also two very important projects in two of the courses, Introduction to Professional Engineering and Engineering Design. These two courses are based on a final project only. The Prof. Eng. project is written. The topic changes each year but for me the title was, Design a product that you improve health in Ireland by 2020. The Eng. Dsgn. project comprises of several tasks but the main objectives is to construct a mangonel.

If you are thinking about how much you will need for books and materials, I will list all of the things (well the main things) that you will need to purchase for the course. Maths book (90 euro), Physics book (70 euro), Programming book (60 euro), Drawing materials (50 euro)... From what I can remember that is about it.

For the student loan, I would advise you to look up or call Ulster Bank. When I opened my student account with them, they were offering me a loan that I wouldn't have to pay off for 5 years. I also believe that it had a very small interest rate too. To be safe I would advise you to ring them.

There is just a bit of information that I could think of. If you have any more questions about this or the course then feel free to get back to me.

Gav

AnneElizabeth

gavmcg92 wrote: »

If you haven't done Chemistry (like myself) you are advised to come in and complete a week-long crash course in the basics in Chemistry.

Is there one of those for Physics/Applied Maths? Or do you have any tips on what Physics to learn before starting the course? I only have Chemistry..
(Also hoping to start Engineering this year)

gavmcg92

AnneElizabeth wrote: »

Is there one of those for Physics/Applied Maths? Or do you have any tips on what Physics to learn before starting the course? I only have Chemistry..
(Also hoping to start Engineering this year)

No unfortunately there isn't. The physics part of the course is also quite intense too! Unlike in secondry school, it focuses very heavily on maths. Differentiation is used a lot (well duh! It's engineering)
I would advise you to

a) get the book early if you get into the course
b) Do the work that is given to you
c) don't be afraid to ask questions!!!

You get tutorials every week in the main subjects. These are from PhD students. They are very nice and they go through every little detail of bits of things that you did in lectures or questions that you have been given to complete.

The lecturer is very good... but he is quite stubborn and feels like you should know it all already (even if you haven't done physics) I would advise you to, after each lecture, go over what was discussed. This only applies to Physics, not all lectures

If you are going to do a little bit before hand then look into Springs, Laws of Equilibrium, Waves, Sound, Electronics and Mechanics... but you don't really need to do work before if you are willing to work hard in the first few weeks. People who hadn't done Physics have still managed to do well in the exams and are now going into 2nd year.

brownacid

gavmcg92 wrote: »

No unfortunately there isn't. The physics part of the course is also quite intense too! Unlike in secondry school, it focuses very heavily on maths. Differentiation is used a lot (well duh! It's engineering)
I would advise you to

a) get the book early if you get into the course
b) Do the work that is given to you
c) don't be afraid to ask questions!!!

You get tutorials every week in the main subjects. These are from PhD students. They are very nice and they go through every little detail of bits of things that you did in lectures or questions that you have been given to complete.

The lecturer is very good... but he is quite stubborn and feels like you should know it all already (even if you haven't done physics) I would advise you to, after each lecture, go over what was discussed. This only applies to Physics, not all lectures

If you are going to do a little bit before hand then look into Springs, Laws of Equilibrium, Waves, Sound, Electronics and Mechanics... but you don't really need to do work before if you are willing to work hard in the first few weeks. People who hadn't done Physics have still managed to do well in the exams and are now going into 2nd year.

Are Physics and Chemistry separate subjects now? They were the same subject when I started. I would advise to do as well as possible in your labs, look up how to write a technical report correctly as it is very different from secondary school. It is an essential skill you will need, as in Engineering you will have to write a LOT of reports.

I never did chemistry in school and I never bothered to take the pre course as I decided to stay working and earn an extra bit of money for freshers week. From my fiends who did do it they said it wasnt very beneficial but they did get to meet quite a lot of people so they had some people to hang out with during freshers week.

gavmcg92

brownacid wrote: »

Are Physics and Chemistry separate subjects now? They were the same subject when I started.

Yes they are both separate subjects now and they are quite intense to say the least. Quite a bit of work is needed and there is also a lot of lab work to do.

AnneElizabeth

gavmcg92 wrote: »

a) get the book early if you get into the course

Thanks for all the info! About the books: are the ones you mentioned the only ones needed or are they the only ones worth buying? I don't want to spend loads on books unless I have to

brownacid

AnneElizabeth wrote: »

Thanks for all the info! About the books: are the ones you mentioned the only ones needed or are they the only ones worth buying? I don't want to spend loads on books unless I have to

I bought the computer programming book, chemistry book nd maths book when I first started, I never once used the computers book, the notes were decent enough and there is an abundance of programming books in the library, same goes for chemistry. I would advise the only book neeeding to be purchased is teh Maths book as you get a lot of homeworks in first year, that and the Anton book they use is very good. I found myself always coming back to it throughout my four years. The other books I bought I sold after first year, if you are looking to save money only buy the maths book.

gavmcg92

AnneElizabeth wrote: »

Thanks for all the info! About the books: are the ones you mentioned the only ones needed or are they the only ones worth buying? I don't want to spend loads on books unless I have to

The books that you will need, no matter what, are :

Physics (College Physics - Vuille Serway)
Maths (Calculus, Late Transcendentals - Anton)
Maths (Elementary Linear Algebra - Anton)

The computer programming book is pointless if you pay attention in lectures and in tutorials.

jdouglassmith

really appreciate the responses acid and gavin.. lot more relaxed now with that info.
especially with regards to entrance and the books.

Gavin, since your going into 2nd year, did you have to find a flat to share with 1st year guys? if so, was it hard to find and expensive?

cheers

gavmcg92

jdouglassmith wrote: »

really appreciate the responses acid and gavin.. lot more relaxed now with that info.
especially with regards to entrance and the books.

did you have to find a flat to share with 1st year guys?

cheers

Nah man. I'm a Dubliner, born and bred. So I cycle into college in the morning.

Look up Daft.ie

There you can look up people who are looking for house mates or look up how much it will cost you to rent a house/apartment.