go where more Wu hua?

Wega007 SG

Had a Friend going to switch major and study Electrical/Electronics Engineering.
So his guess is need to study full 4 yrs.
Cannot switch in Local Uni to do EE or EEE as no COM.
Go overseas which Uni (all PEB accredited) below is good choice and value for $$$?

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Cost per yr is as quoted by the Uni Website.

University of Adelaide - OZ$20K a yr + OZ$250 a week = OZ$30K a yr
Curtin University of Technology - OZ$20.2K + OZ$260 a week = OZ$31K+ a yr
University of Melbourne - OZ$25440 + OZ$15K a yr = OZ$40K+a yr
University of New South Wales - OZ$22500 (OZ$470 x 4 Cool + OZ$16K = OZ$38k a yr
Monash University (Clayton Campus) - OZ$25.2K + OZ$16K = OZ$41K a yr
University of Queensland - OZ$21.5K + OZ$15K = OZ$36K a yr
QUT - OZ$20k + OZ$235 a week = OZ$30K
RMIT - OZ$22.5K + OZ$15k = OZ$37k a yr
University of Sydney - OZ$24K + OZ$360 a week = OZ$38K a yr
University of South Australia - OZ$18.5k + OZ$10K = OZ$28.5k
University of Western Australia - OZ$22.5k + OZ$13k = OZ$35k a yr
University of Wollongong - OZ$20k + OZ$10K = OZ$30K

Canada
Fees here include insurance and Uni fees.
University of Alberta - CND$17.4K + CND$6k = CND$24K or OZ$28K a yr
University of British Columbia - CND$23K + CND$11K = CND$34K or OZ$40K
University of Calgary - CND$17K + CND$6K = CND$24K
McGill University - CND$15k + CND$8K (not sharing) = CND$23K or OZ$27K a yr.
McMaster University - CND$18K + CND$7.5K = CND$25.5K or OZ$30K
Memorial University of Newfoundland - CND$9.7K + $3.5K = CND$13.2 or OZ$15.5K a yr!
Queen's University of Kingston - CND$19.2k + CND$8k = CND$27.2K or OZ$31.6K a yr
University of Toronto - CND$19K + CND$13K = CND$32K or OZ$37K
University of Western Ontario - CND$16K + CND$8k = CND$24K or OZ$28K a yr

molgax SG

go where u think u can afford and tahan out for the duration of studies

ur this question is too general

so what i say is to help u narrow it down

FireIce SG

studies leh, your future leh......

u think go fairprice buy watermelon ah.....

Fatum SG

ermmmm ... your figures for Canada's a bit off .... 6k per year for cost of living is being optimistic, very very optimistic, your rent alone would be almost 6k a year for edmonton or calgary ... but UA, McGill and McMasters have good engineering programs ... Western is more known for her business program than engineering school ...

and you can certianly get excemptions for a host of subjects, provided your poly grades are good enough, but got to go badger the dean of engineering for each one individually, they won't give you much exceptions on the admissions evaluation. so don't really have to spend 4 years there ... Wink ... sides, there are some big names there, if your friend can get in at all, should have no problems with excemptions ...

udontknowme SG

you can tell your friend to strike memorial univesity of newfoundland off his/her list!

its like a graveyard there. no life. and the people there are a lil...erm...you might not be used to it Neutral

Fatum SG

but think of the moose hunting and cheap lobsters ... Laughing

hisoka SG

a little crazy??

is that why you went there? Laughing

udontknowme SG

dont change topic! Evil or Very Mad Razz

but OI!!!!
you go there for food or studies?????

Twisted Evil Laughing

but really lah...if not used to it, most people will go home after a few months leh Neutral

i think queen's is good for engineering...cant remember...
but one thing about queens...its a VERY VERY BORING place.
a large percentage of the people there are erm...old folks

Fatum SG

udon's in nova scotia, not newfoundland .... Laughing

zheshi SG

lolx..that a nice one

countdracula SG

edmonton and calgary have bigger asian population if that’s part of your criteria…end of the day, study and get honors…then you are good to go onto your next phase of your life..

udontknowme SG

toronto and vancouver have an EVEN LARGER asian population Razz Razz Razz

but unis like UBC and UofT are now filled with foreigners... Neutral
the locals are moving away...
calgary is a nice place to move to now! Razz
you only have to pay 7% tax too!!!! Twisted Evil Razz
as compared to the 14% you have to pay at some places Neutral

Wega007 SG

sorry, CND$6K is taken from their site.
Would think Uni quote higher.
http://www.registrar.ualberta.ca/ro.cfm?id=421
http://www.careers.ualberta.ca/Living/index.aspx?Page=27

As stated, friend will be switching major. From NYP - IT to EE. So don't hope to get exemptions.

so many talk on Canadian Uni, go there more Wu Hua? Better deal then going Australia?

Wega007 SG

Originally posted by udontknowme:

i think queen's is good for engineering...cant remember...
but one thing about queens...its a VERY VERY BORING place.
a large percentage of the people there are erm...old folks[/b]

Can tell the life in Queens?
no nite life? places close early? college kid not fun?

Fatum SG

that's only cos we studied, or are studying there ... Laughing

believe me, that figure is optimistic, way too optimistic ... alberta is in the middle of a gigantic oil boom now .... it's getting more and more expensive by the day ... calgary alone saw property prices shoot up more than 50% the past few years, you say leh ? ... Wink ... as for big cities like van or T.O, nuff said ...

I switch majors from engineering to com sci and economics too, but I did get some excemptions ... things like first year calculus, first year statistics, and some programming courses of couse ... and electives like marketing or management also, they can be counted towrds your business elective. your friend can fight for excemptions on all of these subjects, if not, if your friend is going for the full four years, you'll be looking at an average of at least 120 credits (3 credits per course, 40 courses at around S$2000 to 3000 each + living expenses), you're looking at more than one hundred thousand dollars already ... and engineering courses can often go up to 150 credits or more ...

and I got to warn you, there are lots of hidden costs that can bust any budget plans very quickly, for example, in some provinces, health insurance is free, but alberta, BC, etc, are not ... and health costs can be a real killer, no poly clinics here ... Laughing

and you'll be getting a comprehensive education, not a specialized one, there'll be lots of electives you have to clear, most schools have a language requirement (French, or another European language), humanities requirements, logic and philosophical courses, political science, natural science (usually two of physics, chem, bio, or interesting things like geology) etc ... it may not be what your friend wants, I mean, what the hell has reading plato and shakespeare do with engineering, I have no idea ... Wink

Wega007 SG

I am surprise that Uni rate for 9mths is way too optimistic.
after looking at the off-campus housing listing, I must agree with U. Must at least be like CND$9K. They should work hard and update the site!

Seem that U regret the part on Comprehensive Education. I must agree many Singaporean dislike the comprehensive part and like yourself have no clue why need to study Plato or Shakespeare. The system has been there for awhile in Canada and USA. Maybe there for a reason, else Singapore local education will not try to add in the Plato/History/Lanaguage component in the Engineering program.

I guess no matter where u go, there will be hidden cost that will burst any budget planning.

Anyone know in Australia must pay for health Insurance?

Fatum SG

I don't exactly "regret" the electives, infact I rather enjoyed some of them, (except my political science electives, which was populated with unwashed, millitant vegetarian leftist hippies) and electives are generally considered easy credits, depending on your major, people usually treat them as average boosters, but some people would rather concentrate on their chosen majors eh ? ... Wink

perhaps your friend should pay a visit to the Canadian Education Centre eh ... I have to admit that studying in Canada is certainly more expensive than Australia, but it depends on what your friend want out of his degree ...

rmyfrm SG

Trust me, the health insurance, is minimal compared to your day to day expenses. Most internationals in Melbourne/Sydney spend typically $350/wk, although the majority I know receive $450-$500. Everyone likes to deny how much they really spend in order to project the typical "uni-life-is-so-tough-and-boring-i-m-just-a-poor-frugal-hardworking-student" image.

If you don't plan your expenses properly and you blow your budget, that's when kingdom come.

I'll give you a rough breakdown:

Accomodation - $100-$150/wk rent alone depending
Bills (HP+Internet+Electricity+Water+Gas) - $50/wk
Food - $100/wk +/- $50 depending how often you eat out

That's $300 right there.

When I was 18< and taking the bus, I spent $30/wk on transport.

Now that I'm >18 and driving, I spend $30/wk on petrol - and I'm driving a really fuel economical car - if you buy R33,34,S15 like most of the other internationals and my friends, its going to cost you at least $60-70/week

You have approx $350 right there.

Budget carefully, this is a major life switch - factor in things like bills still have to be paid when you come back to Singapore for holiday - your rent/internet etc. anything that is under a contract.

Besides studying, you would also want to have a life. That's gonna cost $$ as well.

rmyfrm SG

IMHO - there's no such thing as wu hua in an overseas education. It's a luxury, not a necessity - and your parents are under no obligation to give you one either - most of those who are/have received one acknowledge this privilege

The best thing you can do to "repay", so as to speak, your parents is to go into the top universities (regardless of which country) and do your best. Don't think it's a stride through the park because it sure ain't. Singaporeans tend to over inflate their self worth. If you're entering a Go8 uni in Australia, you're going to be competing amongst some of the very best that the States have to offer - of course, there will be ALOT of crappy internationals, but those who aren't uni material tend to drop out, or get by so marginally that really, you don't notice.

Having said that, for Australia, the general consensus is that the best universities belong to the Go8 - UNSW, Monash, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, UWA, UQ, ANU

There are some minor differences here and there - e.g. some people say UNSW engin is better blah blah blah - but seriously, factor in where you'd rather be - as in, Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, Queensland, Canberra

Melbourne is BORING to me - I reckon Sydney pwns, and Queensland seems to be a really happening place though I've yet to do any "real living" there aside from being a tourist.

EDIT: FYI: I received my pre-tertiary education in Australia - I actually really wanted to go to CA/UK/US but because of my liability (aka the DUTY Wink ) to the nation, I could not choose to pursue my tertiary education beyond AU - I really recommend going to CA if you can - I've spent time there and it is AWESOME! Calgary might be abit .. though Mr. Green

^spidee^ SG

Health insurance is necessary for all international students studying in Australia, as it is part of the requirements when you apply for a student visa. It costs about AUD350 a year.