I'm curious. How much do you do or know about mechanical versus electrical and electronics, that you can say you prefer one over the other?

You'll very seldom see company hiring electronics engineer because that's really too generic a term these days.
Just to set the perspective straight on what kind of jobs falls under electronics,
1. Analog/RF, digital, power electronics design (each one a very specialized field),
2. PCB layout,
3. ASIC/FPGA design, Analog layout, Backend synthesizing (all part of IC design, again each one a very specialized field),
4. Firmware design (a field that transverse electronics and programming)
5. Process/product (wafer, IC packaging, test, QA, FA)


And here are some broad areas that falls under electrical (note I'm not in electrical sector so my knowledge is limited),
1. High-voltage areas (power generators, step-up/down transformers, power transmission lines),
2. AC/DC Motor,
3. Telecommunication lines,
4. Industrial/Building electrical wiring,
In Malaysia, most of the time electrical engineer hiring positions refers to #4.



You got a B+ for Add Math because you didn't bother to study at all, or you're having difficulties with Add Math?
I'd suggest anybody with difficulties in Add Math be wary of taking engineering course. It will be much harder.

That said, UTM has aeronautics course under Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. I heard it is very tough and they only pick top students.

Have you done any electronics stuff to be able to say that? Electronics doesn't means IPhone and computers or RC cars you know.

A-Level maths and physics are foundation studies and is always a good place to start. Especially physics since you're taking Mechanical Engineering.


Mechatronics is a term that loosely define a combination of mechanical + electronics + control system. Don't just accept the name as what it is, check out what are the subjects offered, and compare them to other (pure or otherwise) Mechanical and Electronic Engineering courses. FYI, my Mechatronics course from UTM is 85% electronics + 5% mechanical + 10% advance subjects in robotics and AI.


I posted several pages back a list of jobs that covers Electronics and Electrical Engineering.
Go to wiki and check out their individual meaning if you don't understand them.

1. This has nothing to do with being an engineer vs other jobs. Do you want to very good and capable (and thus always have a choice of other jobs if this company fails to survive), or you want to be depend on company and Malaysian Government protection for your paycheck.

2. It's a personal choice right. Either you opt to be successful here or elsewhere. Trying to do both will probably end up being average.

3. Most people will tell you it's about factory work, because most people are average, and Malaysia is a manufacturing hub. Now about being "locked up" in a room, all higher level positions requires much more "thinking" before "doing". The higher you go, the more responsibility you handle, and you have to be more careful in your decisions due to the impact.

4. Ask your family are they going to do your job for you for the next 20years? It's your own life, either you make your own decision, or others will make it for you. Just don't complain about it then.

5. But with these types of questions, are you really good at problem solving?


Are you Malay?
Not trying to discriminate but I grad from UTM 8years ago and in my 4 years there, >50% of my Malay coursemates disappear. Either flunk so many subjects and forced to retake, or completely missing i.e. drop out of course altogether.
I spoke with some of them during my 1st year, apparently their average mindset is to finish the 4years course in 6years time.
My sincere advice is, don't mix with the majority if you want to be successful.

I hope you do. I've known few female engineers, but those few are all very exceptional and highly capable ones.


Well the general idea is they think completing in 4 years is too hard and too stressful, so why not take life easier and do it in 6. Maximum is 7years before they get kicked out automatically anyway. I don't know why they disappear, but there are other academic conditions that may get one kicked out too but I can't recall them already.
Anyway I don't mean to be racists. It's purely based on my observations and as an advice to you only.

Hard or not is relative. It is definitely much harder than SPM, both in terms of the amount of knowledge you have to learn and apply, plus the independence and dedication expected and required of you. I find the latter tougher, e.g. finding your own learning materials, doing your own tutorials, revisions and assignments. Heck even looking up the exam schedules, applying for which subjects to take next semester, and checking your results, everything you're on your own.

Let's not get out of topic, please direct all UTM related questions to it's thread. You should get more relevant answers there anyway.

Like BillySteel said, it's about growing up and becoming independent.
In tertiary education, there are no more teachers to hold your hand, and making sure everyone is comfortable and understand everything being taught. Lecturers just come and give their lectures (which doesn't covers every single details btw, just more or less a broad overview plus certain areas they think are more interesting/important?). And they have a schedule to run, they won't wait for you, or anybody. It's your responsibility to study and review before AND after lecture, and to follow up with questions if any.
You can also spend your time away whining/lepak/playing pc games, and maybe flunking all your subjects and frankly nobody really care too.

Welcome aboard. So what kind of electronics do you play with? Analog, Digital/logics, power or all of them?
Just fyi, there's an electronics enthusiast sub-forum in Hobbyist section, but there are only a few who really work on electronics. Others are mostly students asking questions on final year projects.

Hmm.. ok. Those are electronics components i.e. building blocks. My previous question is more on how would you select and use those components to achieve certain purpose.