Are you interested in pursuing civil engineering and have already checked out our article explaining what It’s like studying a Bachelor Civil Engineering (Honours) at Monash University?
Did you like what you read, but are craving to know even more? Well, we’ve got you covered!
We chatted with Viseshta, a final year Civil Engineering student at Monash, to give us some insight into all the pros and cons.
So, let’s get right into it!
Why should you study a Civil Engineering degree at Monash?
Top 3 Pros of a Civil Engineering Degree
Top 3 Cons of a Civil Engineering Degree
Mistakes You Shouldn’t Make
Things to Know Before Starting Monash Civil Engineering
What Makes this Degree Different
Motivations for Studying Monash Civil Engineering
Potential Career Paths
Why should you study a Civil Engineering degree at Monash?
Civil Engineering at Monash is an excellent degree for anyone who wants to be academically challenged and enter into an industry where there are ample job opportunities. It is ideal for anyone who enjoys using maths and science to understand how things work, as well as those who enjoy solving complex problems.
Viseshta explained that the best part of the degree is just how practical it is.
“Whatever we learn, we see it transform into a real thing, whether that be buildings, roads, sewage systems. Whatever calculations we do, we can actually see it in reality. Whatever we learn it can always transform into something,” she shared.
Monash is also ranked third in Australia for Engineering and Technology — so if you want to study at one of Australia’s top ranking universities for Engineering, then this is the degree for you!
Top 3 Pros of a Civil Engineering degree
#1: Lots of teamwork
Civil Engineering at Monash University really emphasises the importance of working teams. As a result, students are required to do a lot of group work throughout their degree.
This is a really valuable skill, as in the workforce, engineers are often working in teams with people from all kinds of specialties.
Viseshta said that this was one of the best things about the degree. In addition to preparing you for future employment, this group work also makes finding friends at uni a lot easier.
“I like that it is very team-orientated. It lets you form good relationships with people around you,” she explained.
#2: Supportive culture
The Engineering faculty at Monash are incredible. They are super supportive and friendly, which makes the stressful assessment periods a little bit more manageable.
Viseshta said, “The lecturers and the tutors are really helpful. They really go out of their way to help you out. Even your colleagues, you just need to ask and they will happily help you!”
#3: Awesome campus
Monash University is filled with state-of-the-art buildings and facilities — making it an ideal study environment for students.
According to Viseshta, “It is a very comfortable working space and study zone.”
Between attending classes, finding quiet spaces to study and hanging out with mates, it is likely that you’ll spend a lot of your time at uni — so a cool university campus is always a big tick!
Top 3 Cons of a Civil Engineering degree
#1: Busy schedules
Students in this degree have a pretty heavy workload. There are a lot of classes that need to be taken and their schedules tend to be a little full.
On top of this, they also need to complete their 420 hours of industry placement. While it can get stressful, it is all worth it in the end, because you graduate as highly competent and competitive civil engineers.
#2: Unexpected content taught
The content taught to Civil Engineering students is super diverse, stemming from a whole range of disciplines and specialisations. At times, it can be overwhelming learning so many different theories and calculations from so many different disciplines — specifically when you feel like it doesn’t relate to your own.
Viseshta said that this happened with her and coding.
“You may think that coding is only for Software or Electronic people, but in Civil Engineering you need to know coding. Which is kind of bad because I didn’t expect to have to do coding and I personally don’t enjoy it, but at the same time it is good because it makes your life easier by reducing how many calculations you have to do,” Viseshta shared.
#3: Too many food options on campus
Monash University’s Clayton campus has a lot of really yummy places to eat. Each building has at least one cafe or take-away place to buy food from.
This means that students are constantly battling crippling indecision and accidental overspending every time they want to grab something to eat.
According to Viseshta, “You tend to waste a lot of money because there are so many good food options.”
Any regrets?
Viseshta said that overall, she doesn’t really have any regrets. She has really enjoyed learning about Civil Engineering and is happy with her decision to do so at Monash University.
What do you wish you had known before starting Monash Civil Engineering?
However, Viseshta did express that she wished she had a better idea of what exactly the course entailed before starting.
What makes this degree different from the ones offered at other universities?
While Viseshta said that she can’t speak with certainty about the courses offered at other universities, she did say that a notable feature of the one offered at Monash was its well thought-out structure.
Focussing on basic Engineering units in the first year and then specialising in Civil from second-year onwards allows students to build the appropriate foundational knowledge before being introduced to more complex theories and concepts.
What inspired you to choose this degree?
“My dad inspired me to choose Civil Engineering,” she said. “He has always worked in that industry and has spoken so highly of it.”
As to why she picked Monash University to do this, Viseshta explained that she made a large pros and cons chart to help her decide.
“Basically I made a table with all the universities I could think of and looked at things like location and coursework. I analysed that and it led me to Monash,” she said.
What are the possible career paths?
Graduates who complete a Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Honours) at Monash University have a whole range of career paths available to them. Engineers are highly sought after in many industries, as their critical thinking skills and problem solving abilities make them very valuable employees.
Civil engineers look at everything to do with building efficient and sustainable cities, meaning future careers could include working on construction sites, designing transport networks, organising city waterways or constructing community green spaces.
Civil engineers can narrow down their specialisations even further, choosing to become an architectural engineer, a water engineer, transport engineer, or planning engineer.
Jessica Arentz is a Content Writer at Art of Smart and an undergraduate student at the University of Sydney where she studies a Bachelor of Arts/Advanced Studies (Media and Communications) (Marketing). She currently volunteers at 2SER community radio station as a producer and newsroom reader. When not writing, you can find Jess searching the web for cheap flights or spending her days with her head buried deep in a book.
