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Msc Civil Eng TCD - Anybody do it?

  • 08-05-2012 02:32PM
    #1
    david4791
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 373 ✭✭


    Msc civil engineering, full time course
    Hello,
    Any experiences of this masters in civil engineering at tcd?

    What is the timetable like weekly?

    Job prospects?


Comments

  • #2
    breadmonkey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,608 ✭✭✭breadmonkey


    Haven't you been a practicing engineer for 10 years or something? Or were you looking at this for someone else?


  • #3
    david4791
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 373 ✭✭david4791


    Hello Breadmonkey,
    Quite right, I'm a practicing Engineer with 12 years post grad experience, I wish to add an Msc to my qualifications base. Have you completed this course?


  • #4
    godtabh
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 23,285 Mod ✭✭✭✭godtabh


    I did it. Best thing I got from it was a piece of paper at the end of it.

    If you are a past Trinity Graduate I think there is very little point of doing it. I was and a lot of the modules were the same as the under grad (3 years apart).


  • #5
    david4791
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 373 ✭✭david4791


    Was it a tough course?
    Was it relevant to your career and help you?
    Many places?
    What was the timetable like?


  • #6
    godtabh
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 23,285 Mod ✭✭✭✭godtabh


    I did it part time. I was within walking distance so hours weren't an issue.

    For me the only value was the many thousands of € trinity got from me! If you are a trinity graduate I wouldn't recommend it. Maybe as a refresher but what's the point then?

    There was one or two good modules but not enough specliasim for me


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  • #7
    f1dan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,002 ✭✭✭f1dan


    Would anyone recommend this course for a Civil Engineering graduate who is looking to convert to a Structures and Geotechnics oriented qualification?


  • #8
    breadmonkey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,608 ✭✭✭breadmonkey


    David,

    In my opinion, a Master's degree should be a specialisation of some kind. Civil engineering as an undergraduate degree is very very broad. I looked at that Trinity MSc a couple of years ago and decided against it as it seemed like an extension of undergrad with no specific focus on structures, geotech, water-related etc. That seems to tie in with what Godtabh is saying though s/he may wish to correct me.

    I remember some of your other threads. Would I be correct in thinking that you're looking to move from site work to a design office? Are you in work at the moment? I think you should be wary of doing this course just to fill a gap in the hope that things will have picked up sufficiently by then because they most likely won't. That's just the impression I get; I could be way off.


  • #9
    godtabh
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 23,285 Mod ✭✭✭✭godtabh


    breadmonkey wrote: »
    David,

    In my opinion, a Master's degree should be a specialisation of some kind. Civil engineering as an undergraduate degree is very very broad. I looked at that Trinity MSc a couple of years ago and decided against it as it seemed like an extension of undergrad with no specific focus on structures, geotech, water-related etc. That seems to tie in with what Godtabh is saying though s/he may wish to correct me.

    I remember some of your other threads. Would I be correct in thinking that you're looking to move from site work to a design office? Are you in work at the moment? I think you should be wary of doing this course just to fill a gap in the hope that things will have picked up sufficiently by then because they most likely won't. That's just the impression I get; I could be way off.

    Its a taught masters and is limited in that regard. If you want deep specialism you would need to do a research one.

    This MSc isnt worth the money for what you will gain from it especially if you are a former trinity under grad.


  • #10
    david4791
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 373 ✭✭david4791


    Thanks for advice all, certainly food for thought.


  • #11
    breadmonkey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,608 ✭✭✭breadmonkey


    godtabh wrote: »
    Its a taught masters and is limited in that regard. If you want deep specialism you would need to do a research one.

    This MSc isnt worth the money for what you will gain from it especially if you are a former trinity under grad.

    Sorry when I said "specialised", I meant to one general area of civil engineering (i.e. geotechnics).


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  • #12
    godtabh
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 23,285 Mod ✭✭✭✭godtabh


    breadmonkey wrote: »
    Sorry when I said "specialised", I meant to one general area of civil engineering (i.e. geotechnics).

    Even still I think that what it offers is still limited. A lot will come down to the thesis at its application to the real world and more importantly to the work you do


  • #13
    david4791
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 373 ✭✭david4791


    Godtabh and bread monkey,
    Do you think an Msc is only for engineers working principally as designers?


  • #14
    breadmonkey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,608 ✭✭✭breadmonkey


    david4791 wrote: »
    Godtabh and bread monkey,
    Do you think an Msc is only for engineers working principally as designers?

    It depends on the MSc :) Civil MSc courses that I've come across have definitely all been geared towards the design side of things. Have you considered something like a project management course of some sort? Trinity had a part time one for professionals when I was looking around about two years ago.


  • #15
    godtabh
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 23,285 Mod ✭✭✭✭godtabh


    david4791 wrote: »
    Godtabh and bread monkey,
    Do you think an Msc is only for engineers working principally as designers?

    Pretty much.


  • #16
    2rkehij30qtza5
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,476 ✭✭✭2rkehij30qtza5


    godtabh wrote: »
    david4791 wrote: »
    Godtabh and bread monkey,
    Do you think an Msc is only for engineers working principally as designers?

    Pretty much.

    Firstly I disagree that this course is primarily for designers. It covers a broad enough spectrum for it to apply to many areas, not just design engineers. I'm not a design engineer and I certainly wouldn't say it's designed purely for the role of a design engineer.
    Anyway, i did this course. Former NUIG graduate. Found it very easy tbh. It's a practical course alright from a working point of view...in that you will learn things you may not necessarily have done during your primary degree (depending on your Alma Mater of course!).
    However, I personally don't really rate it as a great course. I genuinely found it far too easy for an M.Sc.
    You can do it part-time over two years or full-time over 1 year. Lectures were during the day during my time but that could have changed now. To be honest, consider your options at UCD or NUIG if considering a masters. I don't regret having done the M.Sc. but I personally think its not up to the standard it should be. If I had my time back I'd prob do an M.Eng.Sc. in NUIG instead.


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