Engineering: Where to Study it?

HowItsMade

Hi,i'm currently in 6th year and sitting my leaving certificate in June, hoping to go into Engineering next September.

I've looked at the 3 main universities in Dublin (UCD,TCD,DCU) and a little into DIT, and all of their courses seem fairly similar.

So Can anyone give me some advice on which one to choose?

ie. the differences between each college and is there anywhere im missing out on?
CAO points aren't a huge problem hoping to break the 500 mark, i'm also open to travelling.
Have no idea where to study, and don't want to go into a certain college and regret it in years to come.

Any Advice Welcome.:)

Dermighty

There are different types of engineering. Were you looking at one in particular?

HowItsMade

I don't have a concrete specific interest, hoping to head into the common entry and take it from there. If I'd to choose tomorrow it'd be between Biomedical, Computer, or Mechanical

Dermighty

I'm someone who has tried a few different courses and decided to do engineering as a final attempt at finding something I liked.

I'm in Cork Institute of Technology. I'm studying a BEng in Mechanical (level 7), I'm in 3rd (final) year and will hopefully be moving on to the BEng (Honours) in Mechanical (level 8) immediately after. I'm 28 years old.

Mechanical, from what I've been told, encompasses many different disciplines and is the broadest form of engineering, covering a small bit from most of the other disciplines, but definitely not specialising or mastering any one area. The course is very interesting, being about 50% mathematical subjects and 50% academic subjects.

The reason I chose the level 7 instead of the level 8 (I had points for both) was that the level 7 contains modules like welding, machining and CAD (2D & 3D) which the level 8 does not have. This was recommended by a number of people who hold level 8 degrees in mechanical.

If you're unsure I would recommend mechanical, broad and interesting and you can get jobs that other engineering degrees cannot do.

Example: I've been told on a number of occasions that a mechanical engineer can get a biomedical engineer field job, but the reverse is not necessarily true.

You learn a lot in the workplace and I only learned recently that when you graduate you often go into a job that you are not able to do without proper training. The employers know this and give you the time to learn.

I've tried 3 different courses, computer science, environmental science and mechanical engineering. The practicality of mechanical far outweighs that of the other two I've tried. Computer science was very problem solving orientated but because it's software based it's very theoretical, engineering is far more tangible, and therefore I found it easier to grasp and get good at.

One thing I will say about biomedical and computer engineering is that with biomed you wont end up being a mechanical engineer with biomedical skills, you'll be a biomedical engineer. With computer engineering you will be a software engineer, you don't learn everything and specialise in one area. Mechanical does not specialise like these courses, and is definitely the best choice for people who don't want to specialise. I recently had a look at a friends civil engineering subjects and 4 out of the 6 modules per term are completely different to mechanical, with the exception of CAD and engineering maths. So the courses don't overlap as much as you may think.

Best of luck with your choice.

HowItsMade

Dermighty wrote: »

I'm someone who has tried a few different courses and decided to do engineering as a final attempt at finding something I liked.

I'm in Cork Institute of Technology. I'm studying a BEng in Mechanical (level 7), I'm in 3rd (final) year and will hopefully be moving on to the BEng (Honours) in Mechanical (level 8) immediately after. I'm 28 years old.

Mechanical, from what I've been told, encompasses many different disciplines and is the broadest form of engineering, covering a small bit from most of the other disciplines, but definitely not specialising or mastering any one area. The course is very interesting, being about 50% mathematical subjects and 50% academic subjects.

The reason I chose the level 7 instead of the level 8 (I had points for both) was that the level 7 contains modules like welding, machining and CAD (2D & 3D) which the level 8 does not have. This was recommended by a number of people who hold level 8 degrees in mechanical.

If you're unsure I would recommend mechanical, broad and interesting and you can get jobs that other engineering degrees cannot do.

Example: I've been told on a number of occasions that a mechanical engineer can get a biomedical engineer field job, but the reverse is not necessarily true.

You learn a lot in the workplace and I only learned recently that when you graduate you often go into a job that you are not able to do without proper training. The employers know this and give you the time to learn.

I've tried 3 different courses, computer science, environmental science and mechanical engineering. The practicality of mechanical far outweighs that of the other two I've tried. Computer science was very problem solving orientated but because it's software based it's very theoretical, engineering is far more tangible, and therefore I found it easier to grasp and get good at.

One thing I will say about biomedical and computer engineering is that with biomed you wont end up being a mechanical engineer with biomedical skills, you'll be a biomedical engineer. With computer engineering you will be a software engineer, you don't learn everything and specialise in one area. Mechanical does not specialise like these courses, and is definitely the best choice for people who don't want to specialise. I recently had a look at a friends civil engineering subjects and 4 out of the 6 modules per term are completely different to mechanical, with the exception of CAD and engineering maths. So the courses don't overlap as much as you may think.

Best of luck with your choice.

Thanks a lot, very useful information. Have been looking at Computer Science as well but the course seems to be very hot and cold with students so I'm staying clear.
I have heard that the level 7 courses have a lot more practical work. Do you've any idea on the likeliness of getting into the level 8 after? Is it high?

I'm not too worried about which speciality I'll choose at the moment as most of the sectors interest me. Also why did you choose CIT

CatFromHue

Work experience would be a good thing to have.

UL and DCU both have work experience programs. The UL one is 9 months but I'm not sure how long the DCU one is.

If you're being interviewed for a job straight out of college and your competition has no work experience but you do then you'll be at a massive advantage.

Dermighty

HowItsMade wrote: »

Thanks a lot, very useful information. Have been looking at Computer Science as well but the course seems to be very hot and cold with students so I'm staying clear.
I have heard that the level 7 courses have a lot more practical work. Do you've any idea on the likeliness of getting into the level 8 after? Is it high?

I'm not too worried about which speciality I'll choose at the moment as most of the sectors interest me. Also why did you choose CIT

You need a 60% average from the final year of the level 7 to get into the mechanical or sustainable energy level 8's both of which are two years. There's also two other level 8's which are 1 year each, advanced manufacturing technology or process plant technology.

The level 8 had a work experience component in year 3, which is the first year of the level 8 you do if you move to it from the level 7.

I chose cit because I am from Cork and it has a great reputation. They teaching and examination style is very different from UCC, much more structured, with each term (half the year) being independent from the next. Cit is a great college.

mawk

CIT is indeed a great college for Engineering. The department is well funded and a lot of interesting resources are to hand. Especially in the way of tooling and materials.

The building itself is not as pretty as UCC or TCD but I dont see that as a real factor to choosing a location.

A few colleges do a common engineering first year, where you study engineering fundamentals first year and specialise into a stream in second. This is a good idea if you have no idea what you want to study, but might be a waste of time if you have picked an area. No point learning basic Civil if you want to be a software engineer..

Cit's lvl 7 mech actually has quite a few lvl8 follow on degrees within the campus. BE. Mech B.E Sustainable Energy B.sc Process Plant B.sc Advanced manufacturing.

I did the lvl7 mech followed by the lvl 8 in AMT. Worked out fine for me (posting from my office in work) but ymmv.

UL also has good engineering faculties that are worth looking at.

HowItsMade

Thanks lads, appreciate the advice.
Can anybody tell me how important the college/university is when getting a degree and looking for careers?

mawk

My opinion only, but I do carry out interviews.

I don't know what colleges almost anyone in the building went to. Performance matters.
Experience is king, having worked summers doing relevant work and getting a 2.2 is better than being untested with a 1.1
Beg borrow and intern for experience when starting off

HowItsMade

mawk wrote: »

My opinion only, but I do carry out interviews.

I don't know what colleges almost anyone in the building went to. Performance matters.
Experience is king, having worked summers doing relevant work and getting a 2.2 is better than being untested with a 1.1
Beg borrow and intern for experience when starting off

Thanks a lot, looks like I'll be going to a place that offers a work placement

2011

mawk wrote: »

My opinion only, but I do carry out interviews.

I don't know what colleges almost anyone in the building went to. Performance matters.
Experience is king, having worked summers doing relevant work and getting a 2.2 is better than being untested with a 1.1
Beg borrow and intern for experience when starting off

This!

Turbulent Bill

OP, from the sounds of it a common entry eng course would be perfect for you; there's plenty of time to specialise later. Very few people leaving school know enough about the various fields to have an informed preference. I went to TCD and found it fine, most of the common courses will be similar.

Whatever you end up doing, make sure that your course has some international accreditation, so the qualification will be recognised abroad if necessary.

HowItsMade

Turbulent Bill wrote: »

OP, from the sounds of it a common entry eng course would be perfect for you; there's plenty of time to specialise later. Very few people leaving school know enough about the various fields to have an informed preference. I went to TCD and found it fine, most of the common courses will be similar.

Whatever you end up doing, make sure that your course has some international accreditation, so the qualification will be recognised abroad if necessary.

What exactly made you choose tcd? Yeah a masters of engineering is internationally recognised.

Turbulent Bill

HowItsMade wrote: »

What exactly made you choose tcd? Yeah a masters of engineering is internationally recognised.

I actually had UCD as first choice (thought the eng facilities looked better at the time), but missed its maths requirements so ended up in TCD. Long time ago now so requirements might have changed. Had a good time there and never regretted it.

I have plenty of friends who did similar courses in UCD, DCU etc. and switched colleges to do postgrads later. Nobody noticed significant differences between the different places.

bren2001

CatFromHue wrote: »

Work experience would be a good thing to have.

UL and DCU both have work experience programs. The UL one is 9 months but I'm not sure how long the DCU one is.

If you're being interviewed for a job straight out of college and your competition has no work experience but you do then you'll be at a massive advantage.

DCU is 6 months from April to September. Runs straight from the end of 3rd year (you only do a half term in the second semester) to the very start of 4th year.

Tbh it doesnt really matter what College you go to. As has been said it is all about experience. I went to DCU and picked there because I live a 20 minute cycle away from it. DCU has a common entry first year (no matter what discipline you put on your CAO, its common entry)

HowItsMade

bren2001 wrote: »

DCU is 6 months from April to September. Runs straight from the end of 3rd year (you only do a half term in the second semester) to the very start of 4th year.

Tbh it doesnt really matter what College you go to. As has been said it is all about experience. I went to DCU and picked there because I live a 20 minute cycle away from it. DCU has a common entry first year (no matter what discipline you put on your CAO, its common entry)

Was at there open day today, got a lot of useful info, there huge emphasis on the INTRA programme, it seems to work. A lot of lecturers saying a lot of students get their future careers from their INTRA, sounded very good.

limiter12

I did the lvl7 mech followed by the lvl 8 in AMT. Worked out fine for me (posting from my office in work) but ymmv.


I have completed a level 7 in mech eng , would you recommend doing AMT and what industry are currently working in having finished the course. Also had you any difficulty in obtaining a job and was there much of a wage variation between a level 7 and LEVEL 8 as im currently debating whether to enrol in either AMT or process plant.

bren2001

HowItsMade wrote: »

Was at there open day today, got a lot of useful info, there huge emphasis on the INTRA programme, it seems to work. A lot of lecturers saying a lot of students get their future careers from their INTRA, sounded very good.

Yep, the open day is today and yesterday. A huge emphasis is placed on INTRA and it was a fantastic experience.

I finished the course last May, from a class of about twenty I can count 7 people who got job offers from INTRA and 3 from within the university. Nobody from my class is now not working or doing a masters/PhD. I put the job offers down to INTRA as we cover the same material as every other university

kevohmsford

I don't think it really matters where you study Engineering once it is a recognised course.

Experience is King. I work with lads that have a Level 7 in Manufacturing and Automation. They have way more Engineering experience than me and are getting paid more.

I studied Mechanical Engineering in Bolton Street and got the level 8.

If you can get experience during your degree it will be easier to get work when you finish.

HowItsMade

bren2001 wrote: »

Yep, the open day is today and yesterday. A huge emphasis is placed on INTRA and it was a fantastic experience.

I finished the course last May, from a class of about twenty I can count 7 people who got job offers from INTRA and 3 from within the university. Nobody from my class is now not working or doing a masters/PhD. I put the job offers down to INTRA as we cover the same material as every other university

Reassuring advice, seems like the INTRA scheme can do no wrong haha

HowItsMade

bren2001 wrote: »

DCU is 6 months from April to September. Runs straight from the end of 3rd year (you only do a half term in the second semester) to the very start of 4th year.

Tbh it doesnt really matter what College you go to. As has been said it is all about experience. I went to DCU and picked there because I live a 20 minute cycle away from it. DCU has a common entry first year (no matter what discipline you put on your CAO, its common entry)

And what did you choose to specialise in after first year?

HowItsMade

Also is there anyone out there who did an Engineering and managed to get a job without any work experience?

BrianG23

I'm doing Electronic and Comms Engineering in DIT(level 7). Electronic engineering is basically the most practical electrical engineering course you can do. Its specifically for tinkering with electronics and ensure you can build whatever an Electrical Engineer designs. It's also in line with Computer science. In that Computer sciences focuses on the Software side and Electronics focuses on the Hardware(While still giving you experience in Software). I think the correct term for an Electronics engineer is a technologist.

The Level 8 i'll be moving onto is Electrical and Electronics, i'll be going into 3rd year of that, my course and that course are very alike for the first 2 years I think. I don't like Comms engineering myself so i'm gonna be aiming at electronics jobs afterwards. IT tallaght do a 2 year level 7 Electronics engineering course if you're interested in doing it. In DIT, the practical work is building circuits on breadboards/brownboards, soldering, and programming a microcontroller. In first year a project(For me it was a Solar panel which was build with light sensors on the sides, and a little motor which could turn in all directions and programmed to turn towards to highest light source around it, done with via a microcontroller) everyone did different ones anyhow, some people had little screens saying stuff on them, some just made LED cubes, some made little piano's. Other than that you learn how to use a circuit simulation program. You also learn low level programming languages as well as high level ones(C++ etc), this year is a little odd, we're doing less practical work in 2nd year...sort of, more like they're giving us the choice in what way to do it(Build a circuit on a breadboard, or do it on PSPICE/circuit sim) Everyone picks the sim software because it takes way less time. In one of the modules we do have to use Breadboards though. In 3rd year there is a project though. Robots and ****. Amplifiers etc Whatever you want really. Can't wait for that.

Here, when you finish second year http://www.leargas.ie/programme_main.php?prog_code=7026
Apply for it anyway even if you end up not wanting to do it. I'm applying for this year. Paid Work experience abroad - Why not?

If you really don't know what you want to do you can just go for the general engineering, however...some people did general engineering in my college last year, and are coming into my 2nd year. Which puts them at a massive disadvantage. As they haven't covered nearly as much as we did in first year in literally any area. I don't know how that works in other Colleges.

John.

BrianG23 wrote: »

Electronic engineering is basically the most practical electrical engineering course you can do.

How did you come to this conclusion?

BrianG23

Allah told me?

No no, from my understanding(I could be wrong), the whole point of the Electronics course, is to get more practical work done than other courses.

For example

Electronics - Theory 40%, Practical 60%
Electrical - Theory 60%, Practical 40%

From my understand, the level 7 courses are Engineering technician/tech courses. They're not proper engineering. The focus just isn't as much on theory and is more on being able to carry out the designs of an Engineer. Although looking at my quote up there, the way I worded it just seems wrong. Engineering in general is very practical. But there is a difference between the two degrees. Also, Electrical has more to cover theory wise. With just one extra year on top. Or, am I wrong?

John.

BrianG23 wrote: »

am I wrong?

Pretty much yeah

Darren1o1

Turbulent Bill wrote: »

I actually had UCD as first choice (thought the eng facilities looked better at the time), but missed its maths requirements so ended up in TCD. Long time ago now so requirements might have changed. Had a good time there and never regretted it.

I have plenty of friends who did similar courses in UCD, DCU etc. and switched colleges to do postgrads later. Nobody noticed significant differences between the different places.

I went to DCU for Biomed and Computer aided Mech. As above a key to getting your first job is getting some experience. DCU and UL have them built and really help finding them. I am not sure on the other courses. As for standard, I think they are all pretty similar as Engineers Ireland seems to standardize content etc as part for accreditation. I have friends who change colleges and seemed to be all overall similar. I would be happy to answer any questions on DCU.