Questions/Uncertainty Reagrding Undergraduate Economics Courses (1 Viewer)

[atm1991]

Hey all,

I'm hoping that come the end of this year I'll be able to do a Bachelor of Economics. However, which uni to do it at is still troubling me. I think if I really work hard I can get the UAI's required to get into Economics at either USYD or UNSW (just under 92), but there seems to be so many different reasons for choosing various unis.

UWS: I live 15 mins max from the campus, so travel would be very simple.

However, I'm also 5 mins walk from a major train station, and an hour or less travel time to and from wouldn't concern me.

USYD: The general prestige associated with the uni (hear say, but I honestly don't know enough to form an opinion)

UNSW: I guess similar prestige to USYD.

ANU: I've read a few thread where ANU Economcis has been promoted well, and that the low UAI is only a reflection of demand for courses in Canberra.

So basically, I'm looking for any advice on the various unis and their Bachelor of Economics course, such as the overall teaching quality, campus (quality and level of resources), social environment, employment rates/general opinion of employers in regards to economic graduates of one university over another, timetabling etc

Any advice appreciated, and if I've got this thread in the wrong place, Mods feel free 2 move.

 

[tallkid34]

Hey all,

I'm hoping that come the end of this year I'll be able to do a Bachelor of Economics. However, which uni to do it at is still troubling me. I think if I really work hard I can get the UAI's required to get into Economics at either USYD or UNSW (just under 92), but there seems to be so many different reasons for choosing various unis.

UWS: I live 15 mins max from the campus, so travel would be very simple.

However, I'm also 5 mins walk from a major train station, and an hour or less travel time to and from wouldn't concern me.

USYD: The general prestige associated with the uni (hear say, but I honestly don't know enough to form an opinion)

UNSW: I guess similar prestige to USYD.

ANU: I've read a few thread where ANU Economcis has been promoted well, and that the low UAI is only a reflection of demand for courses in Canberra.

So basically, I'm looking for any advice on the various unis and their Bachelor of Economics course, such as the overall teaching quality, campus (quality and level of resources), social environment, employment rates/general opinion of employers in regards to economic graduates of one university over another, timetabling etc

UNSW is the best in terms of commerce degrees.

In addition, you can either choose from commerce and do an eco major under it or do a straight eco degree if that's your natural preference. Or you could do both degrees concurrently like me. Simply put, our business faculty is king shit when it comes to prestige. We probably have the most wide-ranging commerce degree around and apart from Macquarie, we also offer actuarial if that's your thing. UNSW is known for its commerce degrees as due to the large amount of internationals at our uni, so our qualifications are easily recognised in the Asia-Pacific region. And commerce as well can be combined with a number of things like law or science or engineering or you could end up doing specialised versions of commerce like com (liberal studies) or com (international studies) here if that's your thing.

Overall teaching quality is too insubstantial for me to summarise. It all depends on your majors, natural learning ability and it sometimes comes down to luck as to whether your tutor can speak english properly or not. If you're doin majors like accounting and/or finance, expect tutors who probably know their shit but don't speak english as a first language.

Social environment depends as well to be honest. UNSW is full of asians (the international kind). It's annoying and yet something you'll just have to get used to, especially in our faculty. However, they're not really a nuisance and unless you don't have to do group work with them, they won't bother you. If you get past this, there is heaps here to do and get involved in but I'm not in the mood to go further.

Employment rates.... Depends on what you do. Times are shit at the moment so there is really not much work (especially in the finance sector) around at the moment. Still, we're pretty highly rated and it also depends on you as an individual when it comes to finding your own employment.

That's it. If you get the UAI, then come to UNSW.

 

[Studentleader]

There is alot of stuff you could do that will get you a job, the thinking that coming from a prestigous university makes you a strong worker is the kind of shit that has fucked up the economy. HOWEVER it is important to consider which university a company comes to first when they want interns: that being said it is not what you know but who you know. My involvement with the student organisation SIFE got me working with UBS, a minor role but a role nother the less: alot of my friends were pretty jealous of this.:rofl:

I can only speak onterms of quantitative units, UTS is one of the best financial engineering universities in the world and you can see that is the case by the units they offer.

The unis I would attend based on my own research would be (this could change as I did around more though I have done quite a bit):

1) USyd - 3 year course & advanced mathematics degree with extension
2) UTS - One of the best universities in the world for quantitative degrees
3) ANU - Strong units though it is in Canberra which is quite a turn off
4) UNSW - I like this uni the most however their general education scheme ruins it (I would have to do some arts units to get my bachelors degree which I view as a waste of my time and money)
5) UWA - Course is just too long for me


I hope that helped anyway

 

[tallkid34]

4) UNSW - I like this uni the most however their general education scheme ruins it (I would have to do some arts units to get my bachelors degree which I view as a waste of my time and money)

Depends how you look at this...

If you're doing a combined degree (except com/eco), then yes, you have to do 2-4 courses, (either worth 3 or 6 units of credit) about anything not related to your degree at UNSW.

Yes, it costs money.

Yes, it does take up a bit more time.

But whether you view this as a waste, depends? The money part is inescapable. You will obviously pay more to do more courses.

As to whether its a waste of time depends on who you are. If UNSW has a gened course that appeals to you and you're eligible to do it, then I doubt you'll find it a waste of time considering you're doing something that interests you. If this is not you, then a gened course is usually an easy way (depends on what course you choose) to get good marks and boost your WAM.

It's all subjective. Though many people find it fun and worthwhile as it can provide a nice change from all those com courses you'll be sitting through for most of your degree.

 

[Studentleader]

Depends how you look at this...

If you're doing a combined degree (except com/eco), then yes, you have to do 2-4 courses, (either worth 3 or 6 units of credit) about anything not related to your degree at UNSW.

Yes, it costs money.

Yes, it does take up a bit more time.

But whether you view this as a waste, depends? The money part is inescapable. You will obviously pay more to do more courses.

As to whether its a waste of time depends on who you are. If UNSW has a gened course that appeals to you and you're eligible to do it, then I doubt you'll find it a waste of time considering you're doing something that interests you. If this is not you, then a gened course is usually an easy way (depends on what course you choose) to get good marks and boost your WAM.

It's all subjective. Though many people find it fun and worthwhile as it can provide a nice change from all those com courses you'll be sitting through for most of your degree.

The UNSW GE units consider to be on par with the units that UWA offers over summer to anyone.

My problem with it is I am looking at doing advanced mathematics (quantitative finance) which involves very intensive units. The units that are offered through GE; I would call 'arts units' or interest units, they look and probably are resonably easy and probably won't help your primary career very much.

My degree means I cannot chose any science units as I am doing B.Sc so my programming units I have completed at UWA do not count and I doubt they will accept my economics units or let me do any finance units as that is involved in my course.

Economics does involve alot of politics so I suppose doing G units in politics would be good.

Gotta run to my micro lecture now ><

 

[seremify007]

I used to be very against the idea of geneds until I started to appreciate the whole... taking a break outside of normal Commerce, and seeing what else there is. At first I thought doing the bludgey online subjects would give me no value whatsoever (I did the work and safety, and environmental management) but oddly enough, I do admit that I learnt quite a few things from the work and safety regarding OH&S as well as the various environmental initiatives which companies embrace and offer... and as always, you work in teams/groups so for those who need some examples of leadership/team work for job applications, it will come in handy too! That, and you get to meet people outside your faculty.

On the other hand, some people even use geneds to do languages and creative ('arts') type things which they wouldn't otherwise be willing to spend money and/or time on.

 

[atm1991]

Can any current/former USYD or ANU Economics students shed more light on the differences in each unis' BEconomics. I'm still struggling as to which uni will be best in terms of recognition to employers, and all round level of knowledge.

 

[randomguy777]

don't do economics because of the lack of job opportunities the nature of the career.

just because you like HSC economics this does not mean uni is the same thing.

if you insist, i'd say ANU is probably the best place to study economics.

i don't know much about the economics at usyd or unsw but usyd offers an honours program which starts at your 2nd year which is much better than a single useless economics degree.

an economics degree is similar to an arts degree in that its course structure is quite loose/flexible, with various electives you can choose from. < this is a sign of random degree.( pm me for more info on this if interested.)

i do econ/fin at mq and i wouldn't recommend anyone doing it.

there are 2 types of economics students.
1. the one who is like me -made a mistake and might as well finish it off. one who is career focused with a money making mind.
2. the rich/bored student will could easily be persuaded into doing anything he/she is personally interested in i.e not career focused. basically people who would otherwise major in philosophy or some sort of ancient history.