Contemplating a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Civil) at QUT but looking for a sense of what the degree is really like?
Well, you’ve come to the right place as we’ve spoken with Jarrad, a third-year Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Civil) student at QUT, to give you all the answers to your burning questions.
Let’s dive in!
Why should you study a Civil Engineering degree at QUT?
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 QUT Civil Engineering
What Makes this Degree Different
Motivations for Studying QUT Civil Engineering
Potential Career Paths
Why should you study a Civil Engineering degree at QUT?
A Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Civil) at QUT is a practical, hands-on degree that equips students with the functional skills and the innovative mindset to design, plan and test infrastructure for our community.
The degree already has Honours embedded in the course structure, so you will graduate with the advanced qualifications needed to give you a professional step-up in the industry.
Top 3 Pros of a Civil Engineering degree
#1: Practical learning
“If you enjoy multimodal learning and diverse delivery methods, this is a really great degree as you will easily pick up new information through your labs and practicals,” said Jarrad.
In setting up students for the advanced knowledge and skill set necessary for the workforce, a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Civil) at QUT puts a huge emphasis on real-world, hands-on learning.
With a focus on practical teaching, QUT delivers industry-relevant courses and requires engineering students to complete 60 days of work experience through their Work Integrated Learning Program.
#2: Campus location
Situated in the heart of Brisbane’s CBD, the Gardens Point campus is a vibrant space where you’ll find a range of students studying business, design, engineering, health, information technology, law, justice, mathematics, science, and urban development. The campus is conveniently close to public transport and is only a short distance away from the cultural hub of South Bank.
#3: Social life
“I don’t think I’ve seen any other university with as strong as a club base as QUT. The campus life is a very strong point of the student experience, and there are many diverse clubs that you can join,” said Jarrad.
With over 150 clubs and societies on offer, QUT is brimming with opportunities to connect with like-minded students and engage in social, academic, and professional events.
Jarrad urges students to join in on the fun and shared with us his key selection of societies, including QUT Civil Engineering Student Society, Engineers Without Borders QUT, and QUT Bubble Tea Society!
Top 3 Cons of a Civil Engineering degree
#1: Less international recognition
“QUT is less internationally recognised than other universities, so if you do an exchange, you will likely have fewer parallels with other universities,” said Jarrad.
If exchange is something you’re keen on, it’s important to do your research on the universities you are able to attend when you go on exchange and if they offer subjects that are the equivalent of QUT Engineering units. There are certain requirements you’ll need to fulfil when going on exchange, so it’s essential to be aware of them!
#2: Quality of staff
Due to staff reductions and the merging of roles, Jarrad tells us that the teaching quality has suffered some strain as the faculty is working harder to deliver content with fewer members.
“Some of the units that used to be run with five to six members of staff have been reduced to one or two people. It’s not optimal when the unit coordinator is also the lecturer, the tutor and the marker,” says Jarrad.
#3: Jarrad couldn’t think of a third!
Overall, he says that he’s enjoyed his experience at QUT and appreciates the flexibility that the degree has given him in exploring all the different aspects of Civil Engineering.
Any regrets?Â
Jarrad’s high-school dream of pursuing architecture panned out slightly differently than he expected.
In the end, Jarrad found the degree that he was looking for and was left without any regrets.
What do you wish you had known before starting QUT Civil Engineering?Â
For Jarrad, the biggest thing he wishes he had known was that the transition from your first year of Uni to your later years demands a lot more self-reliance.
“At the beginning, I asked a lot of questions, and I relied on staff being able to answer them, but as the degree progressed, I started relying more on my friends in the unit. I think that knowing that the enthusiastic teaching staff of the first year doesn’t extend to your later years would have prepared me better,” explains Jarrad.
What makes this degree different from the ones offered at other universities?Â
Jarrad tells us that a great feature of a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Civil) at QUT is the flexibility that the course offers in allowing you to specialise later in your degree. Unlike other unis that may require you to specialise straight out of the gate, QUT recognises that students often feel indecisive at the start of their degree and enables students to go to the end of their second year by just completing general units.
What inspired you to choose QUT Civil Engineering?
After speaking to a Westfield Engineer about pursuing architecture, Jarrad discovered that its focus on creative design, drawings, and illustrations wasn’t well-suited to his passions.
“I was looking for a degree that was focused on mathematical design elements, and that’s what drove me towards engineering. I thought that civil engineering was an especially good fit, and the degree offered at QUT was ranked highly,” shares Jarrad.
What are the possible career paths?
When you study a Civil Engineering degree, there are so many different career paths that you can take depending on your area of interest. With specialisations available in areas like Construction Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Structural Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Transport Engineering, the possibilities are limitless.
Here’s a few of the potential roles you may land:
- Technical director
- Construction manager
- Urban designer
- Sustainability consultant
- Catchment management
Learn about a range of different types of engineers in our article here!
Ashley Sullivan is a Content Writer for Art of Smart Education and is currently undertaking a double degree in Communications (Journalism) and a Bachelor of Laws at UTS. Ashley’s articles have been published in The Comma and Central News. She is a film, fashion and fiction enthusiast who enjoys learning about philosophy, psychology and unsolved mysteries in her spare time.
