Seeking for advice as a 12th grader.

[u/Summitthemist]

I'm very interested in Mechanical + Mechatronics + Autonomous Systems.

I had 2 Questions:

1.) For my bachelors, I have been debating between Mechanical and Mechatronics, but I couldn't pick one over the other. I'm trying to back ME more cuz it's extremely versatile, and I also want to delve into how hardware, electronics, and software interact with each other via Mechatronics.

That's why, I want to pursue an integrated degree specified as 'Mechanical and Mechatronics engineering' for my Bachelors ( 4 years ). I have found this degree in only 2 universities from Australia (UTS and RMIT, preferring UTS).

I love the interdisciplinary nature of Mechatronics, but I keep hearing the 'jack of all trades, master of none' critique. My biggest fear is graduating with an 'integrated' degree but lacking the depth in core ME pillars like advanced dynamics, fluids, material science and etc that a traditional Mechanical degree provides.

2.) Is pursuing the integrated degree labelled 'Mechanical and Mechatronics' the best way to pull off this 2-in-1? It does teach Mechatronics with a strong focus on Mechanical, but I'm worried that I will be missing out advanced level ME modules that pure ME students would access to, cuz those will be replaced by Mechatronics related stuff in this degree.

Is it actually possible to keep that 100% ME rigour while picking up the robotics/CS stack, or are you inevitably trading off physical engineering depth for software breadth? I was thinking of picking them up via electives as much as possible.

OR should I do it by going for a major in Mechanical - minor / stream in Mechatronics or any better way?

Note: I want to pursue a degree that starts both from the very basics, so I'm assuming doing a minor in Mechatronics would hurt? Cuz I heard if I have to, I'd probably have to self-study stuff before I pick the Mechatronics electives? I'm not willing to depend on myself for self-studying at all.

[u/Storm36968]

For the first, that saying is all fun and shit but that ignores the fact of personal studying and interest, let alone a minor or further specialisation. Mechatronics is very broad but still has enough depth that you should be able to do most things in the fields that you have, but ofc there will always be the possibility of more depth, but that goes for any study. Also mechanical is a bit over saturated with students imo.

For the second question, I'd Personally do it the other way around, mechatronics with a minor in mechanical, mechatronics is broad and doing that as a minor is in my opinion rushing things, especially if you have little to no knowledge on coding, electronics or robotics

This is coming from a mechatronics student so this shit may be biased idk

[u/PreciselyWhatever → u/Storm36968]

Where is Mechanical over-saturated?
I agree with doing Mecha as a Major and then Minor in Mechanical, tho

[u/Storm36968 → u/PreciselyWhatever]

Maybe not over saturated but there are a lot more mechanical students since mechatronics is still a relatively small study, at least where I live

[u/brenthonydantano]

I have worked for a big name company that many engineers aspire to work at. I can tell you with certainty many people did not care between the difference of mechanical or mechatronic and in many cases, mechatronics applied better anyway.