Are the communication courses at UTS good? Job prospects? (1 Viewer)

[Danoraptor]

Also, how does it compare to communications at usyd

 

[simplyinsanity]

I'm enjoying studying communications a lot. In terms of job prospects, that probably varies depending on which major you're studying and how willing you are to search for internships.

I think the main difference between USYD and UTS communications is specialisation. The UTS courses all require you to choose a major which great if you have a specific area of communications which you are interested in focusing upon or getting a job in. For example, I am studying public relations but other options include journalism, advertising and digital/social media as well as areas such as social inquiry and cultural studies. There are also core subjects which help you apply specific skills towards communication as a whole.

On the other hand, in USYD, the communications course is more generalised and you study subjects from a wide range of areas. In USYD, you also have to complete majors in arts subjects which is I guess good if you are into that. From my understanding, the USYD course isn't as well reputed if you wish to work in a specific field of communications.

Hope this helps!

 

[Danoraptor]

I'm enjoying studying communications a lot. In terms of job prospects, that probably varies depending on which major you're studying and how willing you are to search for internships.

I think the main difference between USYD and UTS communications is specialisation. The UTS courses all require you to choose a major which great if you have a specific area of communications which you are interested in focusing upon or getting a job in. For example, I am studying public relations but other options include journalism, advertising and digital/social media as well as areas such as social inquiry and cultural studies. There are also core subjects which help you apply specific skills towards communication as a whole.

On the other hand, in USYD, the communications course is more generalised and you study subjects from a wide range of areas. In USYD, you also have to complete majors in arts subjects which is I guess good if you are into that. From my understanding, the USYD course isn't as well reputed if you wish to work in a specific field of communications.

Hope this helps!

Thanks for the detailed answer!

The main reason I want to go to USYD is the prestige surrounding the degree and the uni life. But from my understanding, UTS graduates are more employable, right?

Also, the ATAR for usyd is 95.5! While communications at UTS is 80s, whats up with that? Does this mean that the USYD graduates are better regarded or respected? (Not to say the UTS graduates aren't )

 

[Drifting95]

Thanks for the detailed answer!

The main reason I want to go to USYD is the prestige surrounding the degree and the uni life. But from my understanding, UTS graduates are more employable, right?

Also, the ATAR for usyd is 95.5! While communications at UTS is 80s, whats up with that? Does this mean that the USYD graduates are better regarded or respected? (Not to say the UTS graduates aren't )

ATAR is determined through forces of demand and supply and isn't a good indicator of the course. It could be the case that UTS offers more spots for the degree, i'm not too sure. A higher ATAR cut off won't make USYD grads more desirable than UTS either, i think UTS would be looked better upon because you're actually specialising in a particular area of communications and have a stronger knowledge of that specific area.

Despite all this, industry experience and internships will get you the edge, don't rely on your degree alone.

 

[OzKo]

Thanks for the detailed answer!

The main reason I want to go to USYD is the prestige surrounding the degree and the uni life. But from my understanding, UTS graduates are more employable, right?

Also, the ATAR for usyd is 95.5! While communications at UTS is 80s, whats up with that? Does this mean that the USYD graduates are better regarded or respected? (Not to say the UTS graduates aren't )

Prestige for uni degrees is a load of rubbish unless you're studying something like Law. Even then, it won't count for too much.

ATAR is determined through forces of demand and supply and isn't a good indicator of the course. It could be the case that UTS offers more spots for the degree, i'm not too sure. A higher ATAR cut off won't make USYD grads more desirable than UTS either, i think UTS would be looked better upon because you're actually specialising in a particular area of communications and have a stronger knowledge of that specific area.

Despite all this, industry experience and internships will get you the edge, don't rely on your degree alone.

While USYD comms students may be regarded as more capable (because you have the guarantee that the last successful applicant had an ATAR of X), as a measure of employability, it counts for nothing. Academic performance in high school is not a reflection of performance in university so organisations will always consider a WAM/GPA over a student's choice of university.

 

[Danoraptor]

Prestige for uni degrees is a load of rubbish unless you're studying something like Law. Even then, it won't count for too much.



While USYD comms students may be regarded as more capable (because you have the guarantee that the last successful applicant had an ATAR of X), as a measure of employability, it counts for nothing. Academic performance in high school is not a reflection of performance in university so organisations will always consider a WAM/GPA over a student's choice of university.

Thanks for letting me know about that dude...

My atar is sitting around 94, so I would have to do the whole arts then transfer drama to get in, but UTS might seem like a better option anyway I'll definately get the ATAR for that.

 

[simplyinsanity]

Are you actually interested in arts subjects? (Eg languages, history, sociology). Because if you go with USYD, those subjects will make up around 2/3 of the course.

Also, ATAR cutoffs for a course vary every year.

But from my understanding, UTS graduates are more employable, right?

It helps that UTS has a lot of industry connections and the course emphasises developing practical skills. For example, one of the first assignments atm is to conduct a filmed interview with someone actually working in communications. However, you'll only become more employable if you actually take the opportunities given to do things such as internships.

 

[enoilgam]

Also, how does it compare to communications at usyd

With a Communications degree, there are a broad range of options available within generalist areas of a business. You might find it hard to make it into a graduate program, because they are usually focused on specialist fields, but that doesn't make the degree useless. You could definitely use a Communications degree to get into sales, customer relationships or operational fields within a business.

Despite all this, industry experience and internships will get you the edge, don't rely on your degree alone.

Prestige for uni degrees is a load of rubbish unless you're studying something like Law. Even then, it won't count for too much.

This pretty much - university brand is not going to get you a job in 2014 Australia. It might have 30 years ago, or it might carry weight in the US/SE Asia, but here and now uni brand is worthless. That being said, some of the more prestige unis have better industry connections which can help immensely with the job hunt.

While USYD comms students may be regarded as more capable (because you have the guarantee that the last successful applicant had an ATAR of X), as a measure of employability, it counts for nothing. Academic performance in high school is not a reflection of performance in university so organisations will always consider a WAM/GPA over a student's choice of university.

If they consider it at all. For most graduate programs outside of Law, it's more or less a culling tool - a Distinction average would be enough to ensure you make it past this cull, but a Credit average is usually enough. Once the cull has been done, the marks are mostly worthless unless you have a HD average/Uni medal then it might carry a little more weight (but even then the difference is marginal). If we are talking entry level jobs, then marks are near worthless - most employers I've dealt with weren't interested in my grades (my grades were high) and I don't think any even asked to see a transcript.

Going off on a tangent, but one thing I realised quickly on the jobs market is that this is the age of "psychological recruitment". Gone are the days where having gun marks and a decent internship will pretty much land you your choice of graduate jobs. Employers are now using behavioural questions, psychometric tests and other mumbo jumbo to pick the "right" people. I think it's all a bunch of new age bullshit dreamed up by people living in ivory towers, but unfortunately it's reality. My advice would be to build up "experiences" which give you what you need to get past those behavioural questions and demonstrate to employers that you are the "right" fit.

EDIT: I do think personality/behavioural focus questions have a place with interviews, I just think they are misused and trusted to an extent which doesnt reflect reality given their inherent limitations.

 

[asalvatore]

I'm enjoying studying communications a lot. In terms of job prospects, that probably varies depending on which major you're studying and how willing you are to search for internships.

I think the main difference between USYD and UTS communications is specialisation. The UTS courses all require you to choose a major which great if you have a specific area of communications which you are interested in focusing upon or getting a job in. For example, I am studying public relations but other options include journalism, advertising and digital/social media as well as areas such as social inquiry and cultural studies. There are also core subjects which help you apply specific skills towards communication as a whole.

On the other hand, in USYD, the communications course is more generalised and you study subjects from a wide range of areas. In USYD, you also have to complete majors in arts subjects which is I guess good if you are into that. From my understanding, the USYD course isn't as well reputed if you wish to work in a specific field of communications.

Hope this helps!

Hi,

I'm really interested in the Public Communications course at UTS. Would you be up to have a chat?

Thank you.

 

[likeyousedto]

Hi,

I'm really interested in the Public Communications course at UTS. Would you be up to have a chat?

Thank you.

Hey so just wondering if you ever went on to do this. I'm thinking about it and need some help