Engineering-Help Please

Gulfstream757

Hi all

Have engineering in Trinity down as no.1 on the CAO, I was wondering could any people on the course perhaps give me a little more info/insights into their experiences?
What is the level of maths needed like? Is it true its more like applied maths?

Also I heard that you get a BA and BAI and an MAI if you do an extra year, is it true the BA is an ordinary mathematics degree?

Many thanks to all!!

BA is an ordinary degree - there's no denomination on it. But yeah, you're entitled to the ordinary BA after 3 years.

BAI after 4 years, MAI after 5 years.

There are plenty of maths tutorials, but its a step up from leaving cert. If you keep on top of lectures and tutorials, you'll be fine.

I graduated in 2007, but I doubt it has changed much!

Gulfstream757

Dónal wrote: »

BA is an ordinary degree - there's no denomination on it. But yeah, you're entitled to the ordinary BA after 3 years.

BAI after 4 years, MAI after 5 years.

There are plenty of maths tutorials, but its a step up from leaving cert. If you keep on top of lectures and tutorials, you'll be fine.

I graduated in 2007, but I doubt it has changed much!

Thanks Donal,

Could I ask what the hours/timetable is like? Is it Mon-Fri? Sorry if these questions are really basic I just want to get as much info as possible.

Gulfstream757

Gulfstream757 wrote: »

Thanks Donal,

Could I ask what the hours/timetable is like? Is it Mon-Fri? Sorry if these questions are really basic I just want to get as much info as possible.

It'll be about 30+ hours a week in lectures & tutorials & labs, Monday to Friday. Study on top of this. Expect to be busy!

A97

The course is pretty full time. I've just completed my first semester, and it was 9/10 to 5/6 most days. You'll also have a decent amount of work to do. Obviously I haven't gotten very far into the degree yet, but the maths isn't at a level very much higher than the Leaving Cert yet. I have been told that some of the maths that we did in some of the modules resembled that of Applied Maths. Despite not doing it for Leaving Cert, I was able to grasp it without too much trouble.

If you want to be an accredited Engineer, you should do the five years. Having said that, you don't need to commit to that until third year.

Personally, I like the course. It's hard work, but it's good.

The Lost Sheep

Ive a brother in 3rd year - now doing civil. First and Second year have a lot of hours/practical work. 30 hours or so across the week.
Maths as you'd expect is more practical etc and like applied maths from LC than anything else. Should be able to give more info tomorrow OP if you want....

anothernight

I would say that a large part of engineering is essentially applied maths, though at an advanced level compared to LC Applied Maths.
I found it a very enjoyable course, if a bit stressful at times. In general I found the lecturers pretty good.

In TCD you do 2 years of all the engineering streams and then 2 years of the stream you choose. If you choose mechanical engineering you get to choose your modules in 3rd or 4th year, which is really nice. The course content seems to compare very well with what my friends from the UK learnt over here, in my opinion.

Dónal wrote: »

I graduated in 2007, but I doubt it has changed much!

I think the mech eng course now has a heavier emphasis on computer aided engineering and design than only a few years ago. At least that's the impression I got from talking to people that did it before myself (I graduated in 2014).

A97 wrote:

If you want to be an accredited Engineer, you should do the five years. Having said that, you don't need to commit to that until third year.

The five year MAI lets you apply to become a Chartered Engineer. Getting only the BAI will still turn you into an accredited engineer.
OP, don't feel pressured into doing the 5 years in one go. Some people (like me!) took a year or two out before deciding to get a more specialised masters elsewhere. Also, depending on the stream you choose becoming chartered might not be very relevant.

Gulfstream757

Thanks very much to everyone for the advice, really helpful guys.

So on the whole you would all recommend the course?