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Engineering/Science Combined Degree (1 Viewer)

Monsterman

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Anyone know why the actual uai/atar is actually lower than the engineering course?
Take for example: Engineering/Science = 89.15
and most of the engineering courses require 89.30-89.45..like civil, chemical, etc..

and is anyone doing this course? cause i struggling to decide whether to go to usyd or unsw cause usyd would allow me to do advanced science in the combined degree and unsw doesnt (only normal science).. but unsw is the best for engineering.. so its kind of a hard decision.. if you know what i mean..
 

LordPc

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well science is a bit lighter on contact hours so that will make the degree a little easier than a straight engineering one. hence the lower ATAR, also why science is on average lower.

i suppose the answer will be based on your preference. if you are looking more at the science side of the degree (ie, you like science more, you want to get a job in science when you finish uni, etc) then advanced science at usyd. and vice versa for engineer at unsw

the reason i think you cant do adv sci double at unsw is cause they would be expecting you to be completely dedicated to science. its like a degree for people that know they will be a scienist when they finish uni, no ifs or buts, and are motivated to do well so adv science just helping them along, giving them more knowledge. they want you focused on it so you can excel, therefore no distracting double degrees.
 

Monsterman

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well science is a bit lighter on contact hours so that will make the degree a little easier than a straight engineering one. hence the lower ATAR, also why science is on average lower.

i suppose the answer will be based on your preference. if you are looking more at the science side of the degree (ie, you like science more, you want to get a job in science when you finish uni, etc) then advanced science at usyd. and vice versa for engineer at unsw

the reason i think you cant do adv sci double at unsw is cause they would be expecting you to be completely dedicated to science. its like a degree for people that know they will be a scienist when they finish uni, no ifs or buts, and are motivated to do well so adv science just helping them along, giving them more knowledge. they want you focused on it so you can excel, therefore no distracting double degrees.
Does that mean i would be doing some downgraded course since you said it is easier with the lighter hours which i assume means going to uni less than usual?

what i really want to do is get hired by those Macquarie Bank people. Earn a living then go back to engineering or science when i'm older when realised that i've lived a superficial lifestyle.


and thank you for explaining all of that it was much appreciated. i went to the unsw open day and asked the same question to several people and they couldnt explain it properly
 

tommykins

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pprobs just supply and demand for the uai bit. wouldn't matter at all.

all double degrees is a 'downgrade' as you often miss out on 'electives' (non-core subjects) during your course.
 

LordPc

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Does that mean i would be doing some downgraded course since you said it is easier with the lighter hours which i assume means going to uni less than usual?

what I mean is that the typical engineering subject is 5-7 hours or classes per week, which is fairly heavy. im not 100% sure but I believe that science type subjects dont have this many contact hours per week, which means a science course has, on average, fewer classes per week. thats what i meant by 'lighter'

but as tommy said, double degrees are a bit of a downgrade. a normal degree has a set of core subjects that you must take, and then there are free electives where you pick what course you want to take, usually related to your degree. but these arent core, they are just to help learn more about your field.

a double degree however takes all of these electives and replaces them with courses from your 2nd degree. so when you do a double degree you do the core subjects for both degrees and then perhaps a few elective courses in each
 

Monsterman

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Would this mean that i would miss out on the options which would lead me get into companies such as Macquaire Bank?

cause i'm seriously debating between.. engineering/science and engineering/commerce cause i would be burning my atar points by doing engineering/science.. i want to do it but it wont lead me to where i want to be after uni.
 

tommykins

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first of all - only idiots would do a course because they got a mark for it. there is no such thing as wasting ATAR/UAI.

second, if you do a double degree, you simply do the core subjects of each degree and miss out on a few 'electives'.

you'll know the basics of both fields, whereas a single degree you'd know abit more extensive.
 

withoutaface

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Anyone know why the actual uai/atar is actually lower than the engineering course?
Take for example: Engineering/Science = 89.15
and most of the engineering courses require 89.30-89.45..like civil, chemical, etc..

and is anyone doing this course? cause i struggling to decide whether to go to usyd or unsw cause usyd would allow me to do advanced science in the combined degree and unsw doesnt (only normal science).. but unsw is the best for engineering.. so its kind of a hard decision.. if you know what i mean..
Do a straight engineering degree, and get out in 4 years. By the end of your science degree you'll realise you've wasted your time.

(I'm an Eng/Science student)
 

Monsterman

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first of all - only idiots would do a course because they got a mark for it. there is no such thing as wasting ATAR/UAI.

second, if you do a double degree, you simply do the core subjects of each degree and miss out on a few 'electives'.

you'll know the basics of both fields, whereas a single degree you'd know abit more extensive.
ty
i was about to edit that part but you beat me to it LOL

i remember reading from somewhere that an elective was Business Management but it turned out to be a postgraduate course so yea... it was nothing..


Do a straight engineering degree, and get out in 4 years. By the end of your science degree you'll realise you've wasted your time.

(I'm an Eng/Science student)
i only want to do the science for interest.. i'm not sure about unsw science though cause I havent heard many good things about it
 
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Silvo

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I'm exactly in the same dilemma. I don't know whether to do advanced science/engineering in usyd since they offer it, or normal science/engineering in unsw.. like you said.. it's the best for engineering. Also I'm confused whether to do science with engineering or commerce/engineering.

Can someone with more idea give an indication to the scope of engineering in Australia? I'm contemplating doing mechatronics engineering, but I'm not sure if I would easily be able to find a job in the field.

Exact same question here. What are the prospects for mechatronic engineering in Australia? Same question for Aeronautics. I'm thinking about doing combining either of them (with the Space stream) with science at USYD.

And can I ask about the combined degrees: if I did engineering/science, how much science would I be doing? The info I have read has been a bit vague. Would I be doing subjects for my science degree for all 5 years, or just the first 3? You've said that you don't do any electives in a combined degree, which is fine with me, but would I be able to major in both maths and physics, and also combine that with engineering?
 

Geologic

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As tommykins said its just the level of demand for the course, each program is like a commodity the Uni supplies on the open market, the more people want to do it, the higher the UAI cut-off goes. It doesn't say anything about the actual content of the course. Plus UNSW would provide a lot of engineering degrees so the supply keeps it down.

Am doing Eng/Sci @ UNSW and am having a great time, as you can study a wide range of interests, plus it's a great uni. Seriously, I enjoy going to class. :apig:
 

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