BlogUniversityPros and Cons of a Bachelor of Engineering at UTS

Pros and Cons of a Bachelor of Engineering at UTS

So, you’ve almost decided that UTS Engineering sounds like a very good option for you and you’ve already got all the info on the degree — take a quick look here if not! 

But you want to know how students really feel about this degree? 

That’s why we’ve had a chat with a current UTS Engineering student, Sarah Tran! We ask her all those questions you really want to know the answers to so you know what you’re in for.

Let’s get started! 

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

Why should you study an Engineering degree at UTS?

UTS Engineering - Student Quote

You’ll definitely stand out from the crowd because not only is Honours built into the degree — but also practical experience through the Diploma of Professional Practice (sweet!). 

Top 3 Pros of an Engineering degree 

#1: Diploma of Professional Practice 

Alongside your degree, you complete two 6-month internships which is part of the Diploma in  Professional Engineering Practice (plus these are usually paid internships!). That means once you graduate, you’ve already had a year of experience in the real world. 

“I think UTS offers the best course and I think it’s mainly due to the Diploma,” Sarah said. 

She added, “Like that Diploma, you can’t buy that kind of industry experience, the amount of industry experience it gives you when you do it is so good. It gives you a step above everyone else that’s just doing a normal Bachelor’s and Honours.”

#2: Super flexible

So, if you know that you want to do Engineering at UTS but can’t figure out which major to choose (there are 12 different ones), don’t worry because you don’t have to choose straight away! There’s some flexibility and you don’t have to enrol in a major straight away. 

Sarah told us, “The good thing about UTS is that you can go into first year and not know what major to do.”

“You can be a flexible engineering first year student and dabble in a bit of everything and find out what you like and major later on,” she said. 

Check out the Flexible Engineering BE (Hons) major for more info on this! 

#3: Awesome faculty culture

There’s no doubt that Engineering students at UTS have fun!

“We’re all actually close-knit and there’s always someone you can run to if you need help and the uni offers clubs and societies so that’s actually really fun,” said Sarah.

You’ll definitely want to join the UTS Engineering society because they’re a social bunch and it’s a great way to meet people plus a ton of social and networking events. 

There’s also a few other Engineering related clubs — lucky you! If you choose Biomedical or Electrical Engineering as your major, you’ve got your own club to join: have a look at the Biomedical Engineering society and Electrical society.

There’s also the Women in Engineering and IT for all those boss Engineering girls! So, there’s definitely a lot of opportunities to make your mark and have fun at UTS as an Engineering student. 

 

Top 3 Cons of an Engineering degree

#1: Only learn the basics of other majors

Now, this was Sarah’s least favourite part about the degree!

“We only learn the basics of other majors (like mechanical, electrical, data, software) making it a bit difficult to learn the skills in depth,” she said. 

Sarah added, “I like to call ourselves jack of all trades, master of none. We literally do a little bit of everything.”

#2: You have to find your internships

As you know, you’ve got to do two 6-month internships as part of your Diploma in Professional Engineering Practice. “We do have to find the internship ourselves however we do have quite a good support system,” Sarah said. 

UTS posts any internship opportunities on CareerHub, so it’s just a matter of regularly checking it out and applying for any that you want. 

“They help you with your resume and interview skills. But actually finding it and actively looking is pretty much all on you to do that,” she said. 

#3: Easy to fall behind

It’s a pretty full on, jam-packed degree so have to be organised! 

“You have to manage your time and be on top of things because it’s very, very easy to fall behind — if you slip one week, you end up slipping 5 weeks and it piles up very fast,” Sarah told us. 

Any regrets? 

Sarah said that she had “no regrets — it’s a degree that can take you a lot of places due to its versatility.”

“The industry is growing so that’s a great thing,” she added. 

What do you wish you had known before starting the degree? 

Time management and organisation are essential for this degree because it’s full-on! 

“You really have to manage your time very well and you’re trying to be social as well because we’re all students — we want to socialise. We don’t want to put our head in the books all the time,” Sarah told us.

So the key is finding a balance between your studies, social life and part-time job! 

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

#1: Graduate as a Stage 2 Engineer 

Thanks to the Diploma in Professional Engineering Practice! 

“That is really valuable industry experience that I don’t think any other uni has and that actually allows us to graduate as a Stage 2 Engineer as opposed to a Stage 1 Engineer, which is only a Bachelors and Honours,” said Sarah. 

She added, “We probably all learn the same thing in terms of our degree. I’m not going to lie about that but our Diploma is what makes UTS stand out.”

#2: Awesome staff 

A degree can only be as good as the lecturers and tutors! Luckily, you’ll be taught by some pretty impressive people who have a lot of experience and are working  in the industry — that means they’re up to date with the latest developments. 

“They’re all like professors and researchers and they have their own research group as well,” Sarah said.

“You learn about the projects they do and they actually bring in guest speakers that are in the industry and talk about the stuff that they’re doing and how it relates to what we’re learning,” she added. 

#3: The campus vibe

Yes, we all know by now that UTS is a young uni with a lot to offer!

“Everyone is so nice and so friendly — it’s actually just a really good, positive vibe kind of campus. I feel like the social life is great,” Sarah said. 

What inspired you to choose this degree?

Sarah knew that she wanted to work in the medical field and have a positive impact on people’s lives. However, she didn’t want to become a doctor or nurse and that’s how she decided on Biomedical Engineering.

“It’s more behind the scenes work and it’s great to know that I can help or improve someone’s standard of living from the technology that is used,” she said. 

Sarah told us that she chose UTS because of its “convenient location to get to — it’s literally in the heart of the CBD. Also its Diploma is also an attractive trait.”

What are the possible career paths?

UTS Engineering - Careers

Depending on which major you choose within UTS Engineering, there are a whole lot of different job opportunities for you! Now, these are just some of them: 

    • Aerospace Engineer 
    • Biomedical Engineer
    • Civil Engineer
    • Chemical Engineer 
    • Electrical Engineer
    • Geological Engineer 
    • Marine Engineer 
    • Mechanical Engineer
    • Software Engineer 

As you can see, there are a whole lot of options and these are only a few! 


Tanna Nankivell is a Content Writer at Art of Smart Education and is currently in Germany completing a year of study for her double degree in Communications (Journalism) and Bachelor of Arts (International Studies). She has had articles published on Central News – the UTS Journalism Lab and wrote a feature piece for Time Out Sydney during her internship. Tanna has a love for travel and the great outdoors, you’ll either find her on the snowfields or in the ocean, teaching aqua aerobics or creating short films.

 

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