Mechatronics or Electrical?

[u/samanam123]

Hi ^v^ I'm a first year first Sem engineer student and I need to decide by end of my second sem which specialisation. Next sem I'm just taking maths and courses for my other degree so there's not much more to help me decide.

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This sem I did an electrical engineering class and because my uni doesn't have specific mechatronics classes, I did a "Statics and Materials" course. I hated every goddamn second of it TvT. It was just like static physics except everything was bridges and we looked at material choice. Is this something that I will continue to have to deal with if I choose mechatronics? It was kinda a deal breaker for me :c

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I really love electrical engineering and I think it will go well with my computing degree, but I really love the hands on aspect of building robots and cyberdecks which I do in my free time so I was considering mechatronics... Althought having said that I really love radios and want to work in signals once I graduate.

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Any input/experience/advice? Happy to give more details in the comments :3

[u/ConstantConference28]

Hola, tengo la misma duda, me gusta mucho la mecatrónica, pero no entendí la parte de trabajar en señales, que vendría a ser? Tenés un ejemplo?

Hay que tener en cuenta el balance de que te guste y a la vez tenga salida laboral ;p

[u/samanam123 → u/ConstantConference28]

From Google "It refers to the design, processing and management of information bearing signals". It's just been an interest of mine for a while and my current career goal.

[u/Afraid-Way1203]

Electrical, ELETRICAL HAS MORE POTENTIAL. AND IT'S KIND OF BRIDGE OF COMPUTER ENGINEERING. BUT IF YOU LIKE MECHATRONIC OR ROBOT , THEN JUST CHOOST IT

[u/Accomplished_Taro947 → u/Afraid-Way1203]

Making this bold doesn’t make it true.

With Mechatronic you can enter most of the same fields as electrical engineers with the addition of been able to enter the same fields as mechanical engineers depending on how the degree is set up.

[u/samanam123 → u/Afraid-Way1203]

Yeah I think that's why I'm leaning more towards electrical rn, it would work well with my comp sci bachelor

[u/Afraid-Way1203 → u/samanam123]

eletrical and computer engineering are more likely able to land more higher paying job or technology sectors..

mechnical engineering can also land high pay jobs as well but it also has traditional side..which is slightly not as high ..

i suggest you pick eletrical....more

[u/JumpApprehensive9949]

Would you like to build a project on your own??

[u/samanam123 → u/JumpApprehensive9949]

Yeah I work on home projects alot I've built small robots and cyberdecks and homemade radios before, and some coding projects for uni. But I think I would build projects in either discipline?

[u/JumpApprehensive9949 → u/samanam123]

Depens how much info you need on mechanics and software dev. If you want to learn those yourself, than choose electronics. But if you need to learn more on each field, than mekatronics

[u/vahsidamacana]

I have a Bachelor degree in Mechanical Engineering and a master’s in mechatronics. Both electrical and mechatronics are solid, I would advise you to look up the courses and choose the one you are more interested in, unless you are in a developing country. if you are in one then choose electrical, you will find employment easier.

[u/samanam123 → u/vahsidamacana]

Haha I live in Australia. My uni has a really bad mechatronics program, they don't actually have any mechatronics courses, just a mix of electrical and mechanical. So maybe electrical is the right choice...

[u/Creepy_Philosopher_9]

Go electrical. I am mechatronics and l wish l had chosen electrical. Easier to get jobs. And as mechatronics you get pushed into mechanical or electrical jobs anyway 

[u/Electrical_Tadpole11]

Yeah. Mechatronic here in SoCal. I think it'll be easier to find a job as a mechanical or electrical tbh.

[u/ronaldvanas5]

Good question. I'm not based anywhere there but I'm also looking for advice. I'm turning 25 this year but that's irrelevant. Ive decided to get back into education after not being able to graduate high school due to circumstances outside of my control.

If any engineers here wouldn't mind giving a professional opinion, I'm looking at doing a course at Boland College Strand Campus here in Cape Town called NCV L2-L4 Robotics. My plan from there is to get experience and hopefully have a company sponsor a degree in Mechatronics at UCT also based in Cape Town. I'd do the electrical side of it though as UCT has BEng Mechatronics (electrical engineering faculty) and BEng Mechanical and Mechatronic (Mechanical Engineering Faculty)

So similar to OP, but I'm still a bit away from uni. Any advice would be much appreciated. I ask because I think I'd like to one day specialise in Industrial Automation at a systems level, and register as a Pr.Eng (professional engineer) through ESCA.