Nanotechnology unis (1 Viewer)

[ming mong]

I'm interested in studying nanotechnology, but I'm not sure which university to apply for. I want to get into a university that has the best career prospects in Australia and/or has the top international reputations.

I don't mind any state. I was thinking that I wanted to work overseas (or maybe not) so I was wondering which one had the best international reputation.

I've been hearing that nanotech at Usyd was pretty crummy and some people were going on a debate with Monash, UNSW, UTS and Unimelb. I've also been hearing that the queensland unis were getting pretty good, but (i know I'm not being very fair) I have an impression that Queensland unis aren't as good as NSW or Victoria ones (I'm really sorry for those that support Queensland unis, but I just have this really unfair impression for some reason!)

So yes. Heated debate is welcome.

 

[Amleops]

There are many Australian universities which will provide you with a quality education and stand you in good stead when applying for jobs later down the track. Don't worry so much about that now. Your main purpose for being in university is to learn. So with that in mind, you really need to check out the universities, research the degree structures and units they offer, and see which ones appeal to you the most. The notion that there is a "best" university is ultimately false, at least in the objective sense, because your education is largely what you make of it. If you are happy at a university and are getting good marks, then you have the potential to achieve whatever you want.

Just in regards to USYD nanoscience, I'm not sure where you heard the crummy comments from, but USYD do offer a strong program. The chemistry and physics departments, which manage the major, have a good reputation both teaching and research wise, plus with the opening of the Sydney Nanoscience Hub this year, they offer brand new state-of-the-art facilities. I wouldn't rule it out if I were you.

 

[D94]

UNSW is host to the NSW ANFF node.

ANFF is the Australian National Fabrication Facility, which does research in Micro and Nano electronics, Microfluidics and MEMSBio-nano applications, Advanced materials, Sensors and medical devices, and Photonics.

 

[Silly Sausage]

You don't actually get into nano-tech specific units unit third year at USYD (same goes for many other science majors). For the first two years you're pretty much a physics/physical chemistry major with engineering electives.

 

[ming mong]

Oh cool. Usyd has this really posh image for me, so I was really surprised when someone said that the building in Usyd was unimpressive compared to the UNSW one. Glad to hear that their facilities are getting even better.

In another thread apparently Queensland invests $200 million for their nanotech research facilities and other stuff while NSW invests $2 million. I was concerned about the future job prospects in this field, so that's why I'm searching for a uni that is more 'appealing' to the companies,etc. Unis might not be such a big influence to the picking process, but as an Asian, I kind of have this impression.

 

[Amleops]

I'd question those figures. The USYD Nanoscience Hub had $131 million invested in it alone.

Like I said, whatever university you feel more comfortable with is the best to go to. So if perceived prestige really means that much to you, than that's fine. Just be aware that in reality it won't matter too much.

And even if it did, the differences between USYD, UNSW, Monash, UniMelb etc are quite negligible anyway; they're all Group of 8, and they're all highly regarded.