Hi everyone,
I have been considering starting a computer science degree in the coming year, and my choices are Melbourne (Rmit and Monash) and Brisbane (Qut and UQ).
Which state (or uni) do you think I could have many networking opportunities and industries representation to find work placements, internships during first and second year? Heard Rmit has many opportunities (apart from major companies) and their courses are more practical.
Appreciate your comments. Thank you.
Compsci Undergrad Opportunities in Melbourne and Brisbane
LNimNim on 26/06/2019 - 19:23
Comments
Thanks, haven't considered Sydney because of the higher living expenses but I'll have a look UNSW and UTS. Make sense Sydney has many opportunities.
Don't forget the Computing and Software Systems major in the Bachelor of Science at UniMelb. Rated very highly academically.
I have heard the same about RMIT. Some RMIT courses have a placement year. Monash and Melbourne don't have them. There are companies such as the algorithmic trading guys who will visit the Group of 8 Uni's and not RMIT.
Internships for first and second year are usually going to be self-sourced. Finding one in the first year will be difficult without connections or prior programming projects. Use sites like GradAustralia and GradConnection to source them. Applications start opening around Feb and the final ones open in July.
Atlassian, Microsoft, Google, ect who are in Sydney will have recruiters in Melbourne and will fly you over for an interview if you make the final rounds. The big 4 accounting firms and the big 4 banks all have Melbourne operations too.
Most of the jobs are in Melb or Syd. A few in Brissie, some Government contractors (eg Lockheed Martin) in SA and mining all in regional areas. But in my opinion if you have the projects, marks, willingness to learn, participate in programming competitions and push yourself any of those Unis will give you good prospects.
Aren’t large firms only targeting go8 unis to hunt the best and the brightest. Isn’t it better to choose a uni that represents mid-size companies as well (not sure whether go8 unis do it) to enhance network opportunities or to fall back if you couldn’t get an opportunity in a large and reputed company?
When I look at non go8 uni courses, their elective courses tend to be more practical, hence later on you could easily follow and start your own project like you said. Go8 syllabus is academic, so you have to learn outside the curriculum to do a project. Not sure about it but that’s what I felt when I looked at the course structure.
Brisbane has more game studios if that matters
To be honest, Sydney is the place to go. I know that might be an unpopular opinion here, but they do have most of the top Tech company headquarters in Australia, the better Start-up community and generally just the largest corporations.
QLD would probably be a nicer experience for study, Melbourne might get you a job, but doing study and pursuing a career should be more than just pursuing a degree style program that might get you a $20 a hour monkey job after uni.
Aim high!