Now that you’ve gotten a pretty good idea of what studying a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) at RMIT University looks like, are you keen to hear more about what current students think of the degree?
If so, we’ve got you covered! We caught up with Kalebe, a third year student, to get his expert opinion on the pros and cons of studying Engineering at RMIT.
Let’s take a look!
Why should you study an Engineering degree at RMIT?
Top 3 Pros of an Engineering Degree
Top 3 Cons of an Engineering Degree
Things to Know Before Starting RMIT Engineering
What Makes this Degree Different
Motivations for Studying RMIT Engineering
Potential Career Paths
Why should you study an Engineering degree at RMIT?
A Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) at RMIT University is designed to be a really thorough, hands-on degree that gives students as much industry experience as possible.
Kalebe said, “Engineering is an applied science. It needs to be applied. You can’t learn properly just sitting in a classroom and RMIT gets that.”
Whether you know what Engineering discipline you want to pursue, or are still a bit unsure, this degree caters for all!
First year covers all of the generic Engineering foundations, as well as giving students the chance to pick multiple Engineering electives, giving them a better idea of what different specialities entail.
This gives undecided students a chance to suss out what they like, while students who already know what discipline they want to pursue have an opportunity to confirm this before they dive straight into it in second year.
Top 3 Pros of an Engineering degree
#1: Great campuses
Studying at RMIT means that your time will be split across the Brunswick, Bundoora and Melbourne City campuses.
According to Kalebe, spending time in the Melbourne City campus is one of the main pros of studying this degree. “I like the way it isn’t like a traditional campus. In the city I like the way the buildings are dispersed and it isn’t one big compound,” he said.
As uni students, you’re likely to spend a lot of time on campus and so it is important that you like the physical layout of the uni. No one wants to spend their days in an environment that they don’t enjoy!
#2: Friendly staff
The staff at RMIT are great. They are super helpful, quick to respond to emails and very understanding of just how busy uni students can get.
The Engineering faculty are really friendly, which makes it easier to build strong relationships with your lecturers and tutors.
“It is very casual,” Kalebe explained. “Lecturers don’t mind if you call them by their first name, which makes them very approachable.”
#3: Plenty of future job prospects
Engineers are invaluable members of society. Their unique skill sets, which include critical thinking and advanced problem solving, make them very attractive to future employers. Because of this, graduates of RMIT’s Engineering degree have plenty of job prospects awaiting them.
Kalebe said, “It is one of those fields that is never going away. Engineering will always be relevant.”
Top 3 Cons of an Engineering degree
#1: Grapple with difficult content
In this degree, you are constantly being introduced to really complex theories and content. You are expected to understand and apply knowledge from various science and mathematical subjects.
At any given time you need to be able to draw on knowledge from physics, biology and chemistry to solve difficult engineering problems. Juggling all of this can be pretty tricky!
#2: Time-consuming
Engineering is a full-on area of study. As mentioned before, there is a lot of content that needs to be covered. As a result, managing lectures, tutorials, labs, assessments and self-directed study can be hard.
“It can get really frustrating and it requires a lot of commitment and dedication,” Kalebe said.
#3: Expensive degree
This degree can get pretty pricey. Depending on which specialisation you choose, the total cost for four years of study can vary from $15,800 to $58,000!
But don’t stress, you don’t have to pay this off all at once. In Australia, you are able to defer your fee payment using the HECS-HELP loan. By doing this, it is only when you have a full-time job and are earning over a certain amount that you start paying off this fee.
What do you wish you had known before starting RMIT Engineering?
Kalebe explained that he wished he was more informed about what exactly an Engineering degree entailed.
He said that when he first started, “It was actually quite different to what I expected.”
“It is all about knowing different processes and designing experiments, finding solutions to problems that are efficient and cost-effective. At first I was disappointed, but now I realise that is the important stuff — knowing the theory and making products that are beneficial, which further human development,” shared Kalebe.
What makes this degree different from the ones offered at other universities?
Kalebe said that a stand-out feature of this degree is the emphasis placed on practical, industry learning.
What inspired you to choose RMIT Engineering?
Kalebe really enjoyed Science in high school and this was his motivation behind pursuing engineering.
As to why he chose RMIT, Kalebe spoke very highly about the positive campus culture and state-of-the-art facilities available to students at RMIT.
“Their campus facilities are very good. We use top-tier machinery that is very expensive and very relevant to different Engineering professions,” he said.
“Not only are there study spaces, but also these areas where you can lounge and do your work in a more casual setting,” he added.
Kalebe even said that RMIT has nap rooms, fully equipped with beanbags and ambient lighting!
What are the possible career paths?
There are a tonne of career pathways available to RMIT Engineering graduates. The options are diverse and extensive, with graduates being able to work in laboratories, corporate settings, or on construction sites.
Exactly what options are available to students is dependent on the specialisation they choose in second year, however some of the potential career pathways include:
- Computer Hardware Engineer
- Aerospace Engineer
- Nuclear Engineer
- Chemical Engineer
- Electrical Engineer
- Environmental 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.
