Pros and Cons of a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) at UTS

So you’ve got the lowdown on what Civil Engineering at UTS is all about. Now, what? Let’s go into the pros and the things you should be aware of before jumping into this degree. 

We’ve asked Alice, a third-year Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) student at UTS, to give us a more in-depth insight into the course. 

Let’s dive in!

Why should you study a Civil Engineering degree at UTS?

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 UTS Civil Engineering

What Makes this Degree Different

Motivations for Studying UTS Civil Engineering

Potential Career Paths

Why should you study a Civil Engineering degree at UTS?

Across the world, engineers make up a booming industry. Studying a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) at UTS guarantees a career path to many jobs since it builds both technical and transferable skills.

If you’re passionate about influencing the human-made physical world around you, this is the degree for you!

But why UTS? Alice says, “I think doing Engineering at UTS offers a really good balance of studying, gaining experience and also making sure you have a life outside of uni.”

The Engineering faculty staff at UTS are industry professionals — “[They] can give you a real insight of how to apply the things you learn at work,” Alice adds. 

Top 3 Pros of a Civil Engineering degree

#1: Friendly Cohort

“You really don’t have to go through anything alone, and it’s way easier to get through your subjects with help from friends,” Alice says.  

There is strong team spirit and solidarity in the cohort. Everyone’s in the same boat, so naturally, it has a supportive culture. If you’ve missed a lecture or tutorial, “Pretty much everyone is willing to give you notes,” Alice says. 

 #2: Faculty Support

Engineering courses can get pretty tricky, but, if you ever feel overwhelmed, you’ll always find help. In addition to the U:PASS sessions which offer extra help, Alice says that “the tutors really do try and make sure you are learning“. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and voice your concerns! 

“It’s also really easy to get help if you’re struggling and every subject coordinator I have interacted with is really understanding of your circumstances and really wants you to learn,” Alice adds. 

 #3: Career and Extracurricular Support

Since the ultimate goal of the course is to support students’ journey to becoming professional Civil Engineers, UTS also offers a lot of career support.

“The university helps you get internships (if you struggle),” Alice says, “There is also Women in Engineering and IT (WEIT), who are a really great support network for girls.”

Outside of the Engineering faculty, Alice also recommends participating in a “bunch of extracurricular programs and activities that you can add to your resume or use to network” and diversifying your interests while at uni. She is also currently on the editorial team of the UTS student-run magazine, Vertigo! 

Top 3 Cons of a Civil Engineering Degree

#1: Difficult Subjects

Regardless of the strong faculty and cohort support, Alice says that “there are certain subjects that are incredibly difficult“. 

This may come as a reality shock to current students when they receive a mark they weren’t expecting. But, accepting this and knowing how to do better in the future is key. 

#2: “Bludge” subjects

On the flip side of the coin, Alice says, “There are definitely some bludge subjects too.” 

You may feel that some of these subjects are too simple or get you wondering why this subject is offered in the first place. But, looking to the bright side, you can use these subjects to drive up your WAM and balance out the difficult subjects!

#3: High Workload

Studied in a mix of lectures, tutorials as well as laboratory sessions and practicals, Civil Engineering at UTS demands dedicating a lot of time to your study. 

‘[It] often requires you to attend uni at least 4 times a week; in contrast to other degrees that only require 2 to 3 days,’ Alice says. This means less free time for social activities and hobbies.

Any regrets? 

“I wish I studied a bit harder earlier on,” Alice admits. 

“It’s easy to do well in your subjects and maintain a high WAM in your first 3 years,” Alice says, “But then, the much harder subjects come and are unavoidable. It is much harder to fix your WAM at that point.”

What do you wish you had known before starting Civil Engineering at UTS? 

Don’t isolate yourself in your university experience, and know when to ask for help.

Societies are a great way to open yourself up to new connections! The UTS Engineering Society and Engineers Without Borders are great for career connections.

On the more social side, societies like the UTS Gamer’s Guild and Anime@UTS hold fun events for meeting UTS students outside of the Engineering faculty. 

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

With a focus on your career, the degree structure for a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) at UTS is quite different from other universities.

“UTS is unique in that you must complete two 6-month internships in order to graduate from your engineering degree,” Alice says, “This makes you more competitive in the job market once you graduate. In terms of employability, it is also second only to UNSW (which is significantly more study-intensive).” 

What inspired you to choose this Civil Engineering at UTS?

“In Year 12, my Extension Maths teacher told me that UTS would suit me out of the blue. She was one of my favourite teachers and I knew she wanted the best for me so it stuck with me,” Alice explains. 

“I knew I wanted to do Engineering and had trouble deciding which university to do it at. UNSW had trimesters and was way too study/assignment intensive. [For USYD], the culture didn’t seem to thrive in comparison to its Law and Medicine faculties,” Alice adds.

Finally, when checking out UTS, Alice found that “UTS had a pretty building, good employability rates and a laid back yet impressive culture“.

Ultimately, when choosing universities, she listened to her gut feeling, and “my hunch was right,” says Alice. 

What are the possible career paths?

Naturally, the most relevant career option is becoming a civil engineer. There is a wide range of industries that graduates can work in, depending on their specialisation.

These include:

• • Water, waste, soil and energy industries
  • Civil/Infrastructure 
  • Project management
  • Mining
  • Energy
  • Conservation and natural resource management

Lynn Chen is a Content Writer at Art of Smart Education and is a Communication student at UTS with a major in Creative Writing. Lynn’s articles have been published in Vertigo, The Comma, and Shut Up and Go. In her spare time, she also writes poetry.