Is studying a double degree worth it? (1 Viewer)

[red152]

I've already completed my UAC preferences, but I'm not sure of the order that I should arrange my preferences in. I've selected the following (all at UNSW):

1) Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)/Bachelor of Commerce - Mechatronic
2) Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Mechatronic)
3) Bachelor of Data Science and Decisions
4) Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Software)
5) Bachelor of Actuarial Studies

My main concern is whether I should do a double degree or not. Doing the double degree will add an extra 1.7 years at university, and I will end up with more debt. However, I think that I want to go into a career that involves both engineering and finance.

Another concern I have is that if I choose Software Engineering, without having done Software Design and Development in Year 12, I will struggle to keep up with the other students who probably already have some background in coding. I want to do Mechatronic engineering because I want to develop broader engineering skills (which will complement a commerce degree) and I want to be able to learn code too. Could anyone weigh in on this?

Also, I would like anyone who studies Data Science or Actuarial Studies to share their thoughts about these degrees.

 

[blyatman]

It's pretty difficult to find a job that would involve both engineering and finance. I mean, you could end up working in the finance department of an engineering company, but you wouldn't be doing the work of an engineer.

An extra 1.7y is really nothing in the long run, and neither is the extra debt it incurs. It shouldn't deter you in doing what you want.

 

[Trebla]

Being a quant or financial modeller in a trading firm or a bank is probably where engineering/finance majors end up.

 

[StudyOnly]

I've already completed my UAC preferences, but I'm not sure of the order that I should arrange my preferences in. I've selected the following (all at UNSW):

1) Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)/Bachelor of Commerce - Mechatronic
2) Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Mechatronic)
3) Bachelor of Data Science and Decisions
4) Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Software)
5) Bachelor of Actuarial Studies

My main concern is whether I should do a double degree or not. Doing the double degree will add an extra 1.7 years at university, and I will end up with more debt. However, I think that I want to go into a career that involves both engineering and finance.

Another concern I have is that if I choose Software Engineering, without having done Software Design and Development in Year 12, I will struggle to keep up with the other students who probably already have some background in coding. I want to do Mechatronic engineering because I want to develop broader engineering skills (which will complement a commerce degree) and I want to be able to learn code too. Could anyone weigh in on this?

Also, I would like anyone who studies Data Science or Actuarial Studies to share their thoughts about these degrees.

I am on the same boat, I have no clue if I should do Software Engineering or not (I want to do it though). SDD didn't run in my school and I didn't do IPT since it collided with another one of my subjects...

 

[blyatman]

Being a quant or financial modeller in a trading firm or a bank is probably where engineering/finance majors end up.

Yeah being a quant is the closest thing I can think of, but you're not really doing "engineering" in that sense. The coding part is probably the closest aspect of mechateonics engineering, but that's really about it. It's probably more closer to a mathematics/finance degree than an engineering/finance degree. An algo dev role is probably the closest thing for a software/finance degree.

Btw I'm speaking in the context of OP's desire to enter a role that involves actual mechatronics engineering combined with finance, rather than the viable career routes where they can end up.

Edit: I just read the second half of the original post about them wanting to just get broad engineering/coding skills. Disregard my post.

 

[red152]

I don’t think I’ve looked into the commerce majors enough. Which majors would best complement engineering?

 

[Drdusk]

You should look at Computer Science over soft eng in my opinion. Not having done SDD won't impact you too much. Sure it helps with a lot of theory and problem solving with the tasks you have to do, but you can still do well without having done SDD. You'll just need to put in effort into learning how to code and not slack off.

The hardest bit of coding is initially learning the basics of your first language, after that you can basically adapt to any language and understand code that is not familiar to you.