Options for course change of mind

UnknownSpecies

Just have a question here. I'm in third year now in a Science course in UCC. However, not sure if I want to continue on as I'm not confident of passing 4th year so would rather not waste the year. I would like to know what my options are with regards to changing course to something in Engineering. I realise I'd have to pay and all that, just wondering what the procedure in such a move is.

Also, if I were to quit my course now, I'm pretty sure I'd get a level 7 Ordinary degree.

confusticated

I'd say it'd be pretty tricky, even in changing between engineering courses you'd lose at least a year, and I'm not sure that a science course would have covered enough of engineering stuff to get you into even the year directly below, depending on the year and the courses involved. Which type of engineering would you be looking at? I'd assume process&chemical would be easiest if you were doing something chemistry related...

Also, I don't want to be negative about this but engineering's not a very easy ride, so if you're doubtful about passing fourth year in your own course be aware that it's no picnic in eng either.

Your best bet would be to contact the head of science/your course coordinator first to see if it's possible I'd say, then if it is contact the heads of engineering to see which would be best. Also, maybe see about a conversion course after your degree? If you could scrape a pass in your degree and then change over through a one year course it might be better, cheaper and easier. And shorter! Are you dead set on engineering? I know there're lots of conversion courses available in business, management etc., but don't think there're as many into engineering.

UnknownSpecies

Thanks for that, suppose the department would be a good place to start! Well you see the reason I want to change is because engineering has and will always be my main interest career wise. I chose Computer Science because I knew job prospects were good for CS graduates. The course really didn't hold my interest and I got lazy about it and didn't work even close to as hard as I could. When I say I'm not confident of passing 4th year, possibly an over reaction but I must get an insanely good mark to even get a respectable overall degree.

It would be Civil & Environmental that I'd go for. I'd even consider Architecture. They have always been my desired direction to go in, I regret not doing it first day Oh and I'd have enough CAO points to enter those courses, but I presume that it's different criteria for graduates.

confusticated

I know someone who changed between engineering departments and they needed to have good marks if they didn't want to start from scratch...but depends on the course I guess. You definitely wouldn't be able to go into third year civil not having done second year I'd say, first year possibly but first year has changed to be more general this year so they don't cover the same stuff as we would've exactly (I'm fourth year civil).

Check with your department head but I would just be prepared that they could easily tell you you'd have to start from first year again...hopefully not, but it's pretty likely I'd imagine.

CS would make one subject in first year a breeze, another one in second year, dunno about third year cos I didn't do it here, and would be handy for final year project (10 credits) if you pick one with a good amount of programming. That's about it though I think.

UnknownSpecies

confusticated wrote: »

I know someone who changed between engineering departments and they needed to have good marks if they didn't want to start from scratch...but depends on the course I guess. You definitely wouldn't be able to go into third year civil not having done second year I'd say, first year possibly but first year has changed to be more general this year so they don't cover the same stuff as we would've exactly (I'm fourth year civil).

Check with your department head but I would just be prepared that they could easily tell you you'd have to start from first year again...hopefully not, but it's pretty likely I'd imagine.

CS would make one subject in first year a breeze, another one in second year, dunno about third year cos I didn't do it here, and would be handy for final year project (10 credits) if you pick one with a good amount of programming. That's about it though I think.

Oh absolutely not! I would want to start from scratch. Don't care about the time I'd spend studying it, I want to get it right.

I heard there was programming in it alright so I should have a head start in those modules anyway.

I was more wondering about the costs more than anything but you're right, checking with the department would be the best thing to do

How did you find civil eng yourself? What are the prospects like at the moment?

confusticated

Well if you're starting from scratch I'd say it would be CAO then, it's just dropping out of your course and restarting. Unless you're over 23, then you might get in as a mature student, but not sure about how that works fees-wise. If you do go in from 1st year, you'll have full fees to pay for the first three years. It's around €7400 a year this year, I think that can change from year to year though, so I reckon you'd have to allow for it costing about €24000 overall...Fourth year would be registration costs of ~€2000 again then.

I like it, prospects aren't great though, you'd have to be willing to travel I'd say. Could have totally changed in 4/5 years time though. Not all that much going in Ireland in the civil sector, there's a bit in the UK and Canada are looking for people. Lots of people going doing postgrads and going into finance type things I think.

UnknownSpecies

Yea I was thinking that travel would be a must really. I'm still not fully decided yet though. The money would be a big thing, if it were to cost that much, I won't be doing it, no way possible that I could afford that. I'm sure that mature student fees are the same as full fees though.