Uni Reccs?

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lyma

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#89456 2-Sep-2011 16:06

MUH I just wrote out a whole post but technology ate it :(

Just wanting to put feelers out. Now that I have moved to NZ I'm wanting to look at either starting a degree or just picking up some papers to see if it's for me (yes, I do realise how bad that sounds...)

I had previously started a BA but didn't really like. I never thought I'd say this but thinking about picking up some engineering subjects or starting a BE - for as long as I can remember I have always been fascinated with how things work and a couple of people have suggested it, planted the seed etc etc...

Anyway - I have no idea which unis to look at. I'm nth island so would prefer something on the nth and happy to look at off-campus or on, depending...

Does anyone have any ideas/recommendations/do-not-go-to's for me re: unis in NZ that offer BE?

Wasn't sure where to post this - hope this is the right place? If not, happy to move it!

Ta!

boby55

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#515809 2-Sep-2011 16:10

What are you wanting to go into Traditional Engineering? e.g Bridges, Buildings etc. Or Modern Engineering. E.g Network Engineering, Electronics & Robotics or Software?

If The first I would recommend going to Auckland & Vic for the latter

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lyma

13 posts

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#515814 2-Sep-2011 16:14

More the latter but not so much... I am quite interested in robotics, though? (I do realise how vague I am being, I just thought this might be a good place to start?)

Jaxson

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#515854 2-Sep-2011 17:30

Massey Uni does Mechatronics as a BE.
Available in Albany Aucks or Palmerston North

info link here

But then I'm biased.

mattRSK

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#515856 2-Sep-2011 17:39

Basically if you are looking at doing engineering the only place to go is Canterbury. If you want any specific information about courses send me a message.

nickb800

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#515869 2-Sep-2011 18:07

Yeap, Canterbury is the place for engineering, but to do a BE you will need a good level of calculus first. Robobtics sort of fits under Mechatronics, which draws from Electrical/Electronic & Mechanical

Jaxson

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#515886 2-Sep-2011 19:03

Just personally I'd see alarm bells ringing if you can't be too specific about what you want from the course. You're talking 4 years and a hell of a lot of hard slog to get there. Not to mention the financial costs and loss of earnings during that time.

In todays environment it might pay to workout what type of work you want to be in and then take a look at what it takes to get there, experience and qualification wise. Most places have open days, though you may have just missed the recent round.

mattRSK

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#515917 2-Sep-2011 20:08

nickb800: Yeap, Canterbury is the place for engineering, but to do a BE you will need a good level of calculus first. Robobtics sort of fits under Mechatronics, which draws from Electrical/Electronic & Mechanical

Yeah calculus is a must. I started earlier in the summer to do a pre-uni math and physics course as I had not come straight from school. Engineering is all maths.

michaelt

425 posts

Ultimate Geek

#515949 2-Sep-2011 21:18

Auckland and Canterbury are the only two universities with full engineering faculties, although there are some courses you can do elsewhere.

BE's not something you can really do a few papers at a time though. They're also pretty selective about entrance requirements. If you're really interested, then go talk to the faculty. If you want to start next year, then you should be doing this now or very soon.

Personally, I wasn't accepted straight out of school (went to uni two years too early), so I did one semester of a BSc and was accepted for the BE in the second semester. That may be an option for you.

It's a demanding 4 year program, and the first few years include a very broad range of subjects. Personally I realised it wasn't for me after about 1.5 years and switched back to a BSc.

If you just want to do a few engineering-related papers, then you may be able to either do them under a BA or a BSc, or maybe do a technical course somewhere like AUT or a polytech.

Basically, for a BE you'll pretty much have to start over and do the full 4 year course. You may be able to credit 1 or 2 of your BA papers, but that'll be it. Make sure you do your research before committing to it. I rushed in because it was expected of me, and it was a mistake.

lyma

13 posts

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#515971 2-Sep-2011 22:34

Thanks for your replies. Food for thought, I guess. I like learning for the sake of learning so I thought if I did a couple of papers and found it wasn't for me, no harm done?

Interested in why the DEF. go to Canterbury vs. DEF. go to Massey ?

I am in Nth Island so prob canterbury isn't an option, but still interested...

PS: Cheers for the replies - I hope I am not wasting your time/s!

mattRSK

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#516029 3-Sep-2011 08:09

Just compare the papers they offer and it is pretty obvious.

bazzer

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#517349 6-Sep-2011 10:20

mattRSK: Just compare the papers they offer and it is pretty obvious.

Not sure why you write off University of Auckland?

John2010

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#517405 6-Sep-2011 11:32

bazzer:
mattRSK: Just compare the papers they offer and it is pretty obvious.

Not sure why you write off University of Auckland?

He probably does so because he is at Canterbury

.

In the QS University rankings for Engineering and Technology faculties Auckland ranks 62 in the world and Canterbury 128.

Over all faculties Canterbury ranks below both Dunedin and Auckland, Auckland being the highest by a considerable amount.

nickb800

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#517412 6-Sep-2011 11:41

While im slightly biased as a science student at Canterbury, look at the rankings for specific subject areas. I think you will find that Electrical/Electronic at Canterbury is fairly highly regarded.

Either way, try to stick to Canterbury or Auckland if youre doing BE, they are the best in NZ (for engineering)

nzpat

167 posts

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#517422 6-Sep-2011 12:03

Having been to both Canterbury and Auckland (Eng/CS) UoAuckland Wins handsdown.

Jaxson

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#517425 6-Sep-2011 12:07

I'm yet to see a job advertised as required a BE from a specific location, in fact it's probably illegal.

Job wise, what is important is that you have it PLUS the other experiences, both work and life that you can bring to the table when you go for a job interview.

BE wise, they all start with 'roughly' 2 years of fundamental maths and science studies. It's not until you are well into it that you start to major in your specific field. This is not set in concrete but is a fairly typical progression.