Studying Computer Science/Software Engineering in Melbourne

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  frondono on 20/08/2015 - 10:58

  Can you do a double degree?

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    Cynicaloflife on 20/08/2015 - 11:24

    It will be two courses at two different Uni. .

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    Cynicaloflife on 20/08/2015 - 12:42

    I heard about that. Honestly, I will have to take the risk. I cannot keep being scared due to a lack of employment prospects.

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  [Deactivated] on 20/08/2015 - 13:18

  Do you know how to do any sort of basic programming? Are you good at pure maths? Do you even like maths and IT?

  I would say just do one degree. Doing a double degree has its drawbacks.

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    Cynicaloflife on 20/08/2015 - 18:30

    Thanks!. I did some delphi programming in high school and did the highest maths offered in the state.

    Personally, I enjoyed maths but found it a bit difficult (I did well in it). But I do enjoy IT.

    The problem currently is that the degree I am doing is not in the technology area. Hence, I will need to start CS from scratch.

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  adante on 20/08/2015 - 14:30

  1. CS imo.
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  kywst on 20/08/2015 - 14:57

  I'm with Cheap Charlie to some extent here. Your employment prospects aren't increased with a double degree over a single. A true advantage is a solid portfolio which basically forms your CV. The industry moves at such a rate that you shouldn't be studying these courses to pursue an interest in a given programming discipline or language. It's more about the underlying theory and concepts behind 'code', how the software/hardware layers interact and how to solve problems (generally with an emphasis on efficiency over effectiveness which you'll discover is not how much of the industry operates).

  Don't be put off - just make sure you're going the right way about achieving your goals.

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  scotty on 20/08/2015 - 17:16

  1. Naturally you do a lot more with an engineering degree — both thesis and industrial experience are required for completion of the course (at least in UNSW). Personally if two candidates are equal I would be inclined to hire one with engineering degree.

  2. Sorry don't know about Melbourne.

  3. Between Master of IT and Bachelor of Computer Science, I would pick the BSc. Also in a bachelor degree you are more likely to meet course mates who are really into computing (rather than studying just to be employable). Get to know them, be friends with them (despite some might be weird), join their all night coding hackathons, etc.

  4. Nah, never too old to get started.

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    theoofside on 20/08/2015 - 17:46

    Thesis is a waste of time unless you want to pursue an academic career path.
    And it’s harder to find industrial experience placement than a proper graduate job, let alone the lower pay.
    Better to graduate 1 year earlier and get real experience on a full salary.

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      [Deactivated] on 20/08/2015 - 18:55

      At my university the thesis is done in your 4th year of engineering with 3 subjects each semester. Only the 2nd rate universities and poor performing students don't do their honours thesis.

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      scotty on 20/08/2015 - 18:59

      Thesis is a waste of time unless you want to pursue an academic career path.

      Undergraduate thesis has never been about its academic value. It's about training the students' ability to set their own goals, make plans and execute them, over a period of 2 semesters. It's a lot of fun and many graduated developers wouldn't have that privilege of running their own projects in their own schedule.

      harder to find industrial experience placement than a proper graduate job, let alone the lower pay

      You are supposed to do the industrial training over the summer holidays. Yes it could be hard for an unqualified student to find suitable industrial training opportunity but many managed to build invaluable experience and connection before they graduate.

      Better to graduate 1 year earlier and get real experience on a full salary.

      Maybe, if finding a job is all there is.

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        theoofside on 20/08/2015 - 19:22

        It's about training the students' ability to set their own goals, make plans and execute them, over a period of 2 semesters. It's a lot of fun and many graduated developers wouldn't have that privilege of running their own projects in their own schedule.

        If you want to run your own project another option is to do a startup. You don't accumulate another year of student debt and if you're lucky, just might get rich.

        Bear in mind that a thesis involves lots of writing (which may or may not be fun), and you might end up with a project that may or may not be fun and may not even be your own.

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        adante on 21/08/2015 - 12:23

        Undergraduate thesis has never been about its academic value. It's about training the students' ability to set their own goals, make plans and execute them, over a period of 2 semesters. It's a lot of fun and many graduated developers wouldn't have that privilege of running their own projects in their own schedule

        Believe it or not but the same is true of a postgraduate thesis, including at PhD level. One thing I've heard from multiple advisors is that a lot of candidates approach their PhD it as if it is going to be their magnum opus and the peak of their contribution to a field of study. That is largely the exception, not the rule. It's just another series of checks that attempts to ensure a candidate is suited for an academic/research career path.

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    Cynicaloflife on 20/08/2015 - 18:42

    Thanks Scotty for the info.

    Just wondering why would you choose BSc over MIT? Other than having great course mates.

    The reason why I was leaning towards MIT was because it is a repackaged BSc at a ligher qualification level. I have heard that a Masters is really desirable overseas. - Please correct me if I am wrong.

    Additionally, if I was to do Masters of Software Engineering at UoM or CS at UNSW, which one would be preferable? Keeping in mind that UNSW is a better CS uni and is 2 years as compared to UoM which is 3 years (but is an engineering masters).

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      scotty on 20/08/2015 - 19:15

      Sorry I really have no idea about University of Melbourne. I've been on UNSW campus for ~20 years, dealing with mostly overseas students so I am more aware of the courses. In terms of content MIT would appear offering more — up to 16 subjects from CSE where most BSc students only can choose in their 3rd year. For a BSc student they have to do all the "elementary" subjects & maths in 1st & 2nd year.

      HOWEVER, MIT are offering COMP9xxx subjects which are Master-equivalent to COMP3xxx/COMP4xxx subjects. Personally I found the classes for undergrades more engaging — because of better course mates. You have some really smart kids in the class that really push the lecturers and tutors to go extra mile or two. The projects are more fun because there will be people who want to do more than required — if you know what I mean. Whereas for Master programs you rarely get very passionate people doing them (as well as full of overseas students).