Applied physics

Pred192 · 23-08-2010 10:30AM #1

Can anyone please help me and shed some light on this course? I researched it but I would love if someone can confirm with me about the course.

I wanted to get into engineering but I didn't get the result I needed in math. My other choices were science in UCD and Trinity where i would then choose to go into physics. But because of the massive increase in points (50 point jump for UCD) I got my last choice which was Applied Physics in DCU.

Can anyone please help me and confirm that I will still get a similar degree in this as I would if i went into physics through the science course in UCD or Trinity?

Thank you very much for the help.

Pred192 · 23-08-2010 10:43AM

If anyone has any info at all I would greatly appreciate it. I'm getting really scared at the moment and i'm studying for a maths exam in Galway to see if I can get accepted into the engineering course there.

I love the science course though but I don't know a whole lot about this course compared to the others at UCD and Trinity.

I'm getting very scared and thinking about repeating my leaving cert.

23-08-2010 10:47AM

Can't help you specifically but I did Applied Physics and Instrumentation in CIT years ago, graduated 7 years ago. I've worked in Pharmaceutical and Med device industries since in various engineering roles. One or two went on to do post grad stuff and one lad did 2nd level teaching. What are your concerns as such with the course ?

Pred192 · 23-08-2010 11:14AM

RoverJames wrote: »

Can't help you specifically but I did Applied Physics and Instrumentation in CIT years ago, graduated 7 years ago. I've worked in Pharmaceutical and Med device industries since in various engineering roles. One or two went on to do post grad stuff and one lad did 2nd level teaching. What are your concerns as such with the course ?

Thank you very much for the info.

I want to be an electronic engineer and my main concerns are with this course, does it provide the same qualifications as the science courses in UCD and Trinity? and could I get a job as an engineer?

Realistically thinking I would go on for a masters degree.

23-08-2010 11:35AM

Wouldn't set your heart on being an electronical engineer, in the place I was in before here I was a quality engineer in a med device company, a lady there was an electrical engineer by qualification, she claimed only 10% of her classmates had gotten work in that area.

In Cork after 2nd year you could opt for the Instrumentation degree or the semiconductor degree, we did lots of electronics in 1st and 2nd year.

Pred192 · 23-08-2010 11:41AM

Thank you very much. Would the electrical engineer be the same as electronic though? with electronic its more robotics and working with phones and very closely tied to biomedical engineer.

I love physics in school and wouldn't mind going into anything physics and electronic based. I also love space and topics like that. A semi conductor degree seems nice. So even though i'm not going into a science course like UCD or Trinity it is still pretty much the same physics degree?

Thank you very much for the help

23-08-2010 11:51AM

Well the Applied Physics course I did had more labs and obviously had instrumentation in it which the course in UCC could not offer. We did all the Physics Physics head wrecking stuff too, if you post a link to the college course you are thinking of I might be able to help more, generally they detail course content in the prospectus

23-08-2010 11:52AM

Pred192 wrote: »

Thank you very much. Would the electrical engineer be the same as electronic though? with electronic its more robotics and working with phones and very closely tied to biomedical engineer.

Same course I think.

23-08-2010 11:57AM

http://www.dcu.ie/prospective/deginfo.php?classname=AP&degree_description=B.Sc.+in+Applied+Physics+%28Bachelor+Honours+Degree%29

this the one ??

Seems a good ole course to be honest, no harm to have a broad base degree rather than a specific one, changing times and all that.

The basic foundations of physics will be laid in Years 1 and 2, while in Years 3 and 4 you can choose to follow specialist routes such as semiconductor physics or nanotechnology.

That would suit you, work experience in 3rd year too so you could try and go somewhere that interests you

Points aside I'd do that over the physics biomed course they have and over any Electrical/Electronical engineer course. I was offered elec eng too but opted for the Applied Physics, I've neve regretted it although if I had my time back again I probably would have followed my heart and went into the motor trade

Pred192 · 23-08-2010 12:57PM

Thank you very much for all of your time and help I greatly appreciate it.

Yes that is the course, the more I read into it and think about it the more I like it and think it could be a better option. I've always loved electronics but looking at it now with this degree I can go on with my masters and maybe Phd and possibly get a job with Nasa or the likes which would be far more interesting.

You are right this course provides a broader range so I could change into something else that would suit me better.

Thank you again for your help

lithiumoxide · 23-08-2010 07:03PM

I didn't do AP but I did Physics with Astronomy and we shared a lot of the same modules. I found the physics modules to be of very good quality, and will cover everything from classical physics to quantum physics. The lecturers are very much in touch with what's going on, so new advancements and discoveries are likely to be mentioned and looked at in the appropriate modules. Most space science is covered in the astronomy course, but you will touch on some in AP. I found electronics classes and labs to be very interesting, and you have opportunities to come up with your own electronics projects, with plenty of support from the lecturers and tutors.

As for what happens after your course, many of my friends from AP went on to study at MSc and PhD level (actually I think the MSc people have now transferred to PhD), and myself, I'm doing a part-time postgrad in physics in DCU.

The vast majority of the staff are friendly and very approachable, and from what I hear about other lecturers, I'm guessing that while they're very professional they can be nicely laid-back in a good way!

Hope you enjoy the course!

Darren1o1 · 23-08-2010 07:45PM

You say Engineering is your first choice? Email Brian Corcoran at the Engineering dept (brian.corcoran@dcu.ie). He is the head for the open opportunities for Engineering. It is a course that will give you entry in Engineering (Electronic or Mechanical dept in DCU). I believe there may be an exam but most of it is an interview... PM if you need details

sugarnutmuffin · 28-08-2010 02:40AM

anyone doing enterprise computing in dcu.....non of my friends are going to dcu and will be all alone anyways does nyone know what kind of matertrial will we be studying in the course...and how far is dcu from city centre.....by the way are many people commuting to dublin?

Applied physics

Comments