BlogUSYDPros and Cons of Aeronautical Engineering at USYD

Pros and Cons of Aeronautical Engineering at USYD

Are you considering studying Aeronautical Engineering at USYD? Perhaps you’re unsure about certain parts of the degree?

We’ve spoken to Aeronautical graduate Samanvay, and second year student Niamh to hear their opinions about the degree, and their experiences in it.

Just in case you missed it and want to find out more about Aeronautical Engineering at USYD check out our article here!

Let’s dive in!

Why should you study an Aeronautical Engineering degree at USYD?
Top 3 Pros of an Aeronautical Engineering Degree
Top 3 Cons of an Aeronautical Engineering Degree
Mistakes You Shouldn’t Make
Things to Know Before Starting USYD Aeronautical Engineering
What Makes this Degree Different
Motivations for Studying USYD Aeronautical Engineering
Potential Career Paths

Why should you study an Aeronautical Engineering degree at USYD?

If you have a passion for space and science, a Bachelor of Aeronautical Engineering is likely the path for you! Not only is it a niche field with a very focused degree, but you gain a range of skills that make you a valuable employee beyond the field of aeronautics.

Aeronautical Engineering USYD - Student Quote 1

Top 3 Pros of an Aeronautical Engineering degree

#1: Very practical

If you choose to study Aeronautical Engineering at USYD you can expect a fair bit of practical work, which is a great opportunity for you to apply your knowledge from other units. You’re constantly working on projects, building models, designing aircrafts and satellites (of course these projects vary depending on the units you choose)!

Samanvay said, “It’s a very practical degree — you won’t just be in a classroom the whole time.”

“The practicals are really fun. Even though the core subjects are fundamental, they’re really interesting,” Niamh said.

#2: Great community 

Although Aeronautical Engineering at USYD has a considerably high level of excellence and is an academically demanding degree, the vibe of the cohort is positive and collaborative!

It’s such a great community and we all help each other out,” Niamh said.

#3: Applicable skills which improve employability

The problem solving skills you learn and the ability to pick things up very quickly make you highly employable,” Samanvay said.

As mentioned earlier, the ability to come up with solutions to complex problems is a valued skill in any workplace. Throughout a degree in Aeronautical Engineering you’ll find that you focus heavily on problem solving, and consequently these skills become applicable in numerous domains, not just in the Aeronautical industry!

 

Top 3 Cons of an Aeronautical Engineering degree

#1: It’s a very demanding degree

“The workload!” as Niamh said, is very content heavy and academically demanding. 

Samanvay added, “It’s a stressful degree and it’s of quite a high difficulty… you’ll be very academically focused in the final two years of the degree.”

Although this might make Aeronautical Engineering at USYD sound particularly daunting, if you’re interested in this field of study, you’ll be satisfied when the hard work pays off!

#2: Employment in the aeronautical domain is limited

One of the issues with studying Aeronautical Engineering is that demand for employment does not align with the number of graduates every year. So it becomes very difficult to get a job specifically in the Aeronautical or Aerospace industries straight out of uni.

“The employment prospects in the aerospace domain are quite limited… just having the degree won’t be enough for you to get a job — you have to get out there and get involved in networking and societies,” Samanvay said.

That being said, the skills gained in this degree are applicable to various other industries.

Samanvay said, “The opportunities are out there, so if you work hard at it, you can get into the industry.”

#3: Not very space-focused

With Aeronautical Engineering at USYD you are able to take space units. In fact many students are interested in the aerospace aspect of the course.

However, you will find that the number of aerospace units you can take are limited, and the degree is heavily directed towards the aeronautical side of things.

“I definitely went in expecting to do more space-related subjects, but you’re only doing about 20% space subjects and 80% will be more focused on the aeronautical side of things. Even going into the space stream, this is something you should expect,” Samanvay explained.

Any regrets? 

“Not really! What I learnt in the degree gave me leverage and got me to where I am now. I do wish I did more programming/computer programming because that’s what I focus on now, but I mean I did learn them later on anyway and that would’ve taken away from the space subjects which I really enjoyed,” Samanvay said.

What do you wish you had known before starting Aeronautical Engineering at USYD? 

USYD Aeronautical Engineering - Student Quote 2

Definitely take care of your mental health going through 3rd and 4th year. If it’s getting too much, consider extending the degree and space out your subjects,” Samanvay said.

What makes this degree different from the ones offered at other universities? 

The main differentiating factor for Aeronautical Engineering at USYD is that it’s a very niche field. Not many other universities offer it as a standalone degree, you’re able to really specialise in this area of study.

“Definitely the practical projects; we have a lot of practical projects compared to other universities,” Samanvay said.

So if you already have your heart set on Aeronautical Engineering, USYD could be the perfect uni for you if you really want to expand your practical skills through the various projects!

What inspired you to choose Aeronautical Engineering at USYD?

For both Samanvay and Niamh, they had an interest and passion for science and maths, so a degree in Aeronautical Engineering is a great domain to apply these subject areas.

“When I was 8 years old I was living in a place called Mauritius, it’s a small island in the middle of the Indian Ocean, and one day I was looking at the night sky and I remember thinking I saw a shooting star but it was in the sky for a few minutes. 

“My dad told me it was actually a satellite and that was kind of the moment I thought, ‘Whoa this is really cool’. I wanted to do satellite making, but I didn’t really know what that meant at the time. So definitely, the passion for space was always there for me,” Samanvay said.

What are the possible career paths?

USYD Aeronautical Engineering - Careers

The job prospects for an Aeronautical Engineering graduate are innumerable, and the skills you learn throughout the degree are transferable across numerous industries. 

Some of the career paths you might be interested in are:

    • Aeronautical Engineer 
    • Aircraft manufacturing
    • Aerospace Engineer
    • Space research
    • Defence services, research and development
    • Avionic System Engineer

However, as mentioned earlier, the demand for aeronautical jobs is somewhat low. More often than not, Aeronautical Engineering graduates end up being highly valued in finance, commerce, management, data and technology industries.


Nandini Dhir is a Content Writer at Art of Smart and is currently studying a Bachelor of Arts (majoring in Marketing) and a Bachelor of Advanced Studies (Media and Communications), as a Dalyell Scholar, at Sydney University. She enjoys covering local issues in her area and writing about current events in the media. Nandini has had one of her pieces published in an article with the Sydney Morning Herald. In her free time, Nandini loves doing calligraphy, ballet, and sewing, or is otherwise found coddling her cats.   

 

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