Wages

[Xaccers]

Originally Posted by Jerrek

Co-op is not in the UK? Hmm... Maybe you call it something different.

We've got something similar, most degrees take 3 years (2 semesters per year, 3 terms, or it was on my course) but some do a work placement year before your final year, pushing the length of degree to 4 years.

Ew you're a programmer, I might have known :pp

[Jerrek]

Regular degrees take 3 years. Honors take 4 years.

Programming was one of my jobs. I'm a Mathematics/Combinatorics and Business Admin/Accounting student. As part of the Math core classes, I took Computer Science as a minor.

*shrug* I'd do most jobs at least once to feel it. I've had some really out-of-my-field temporary jobs (taxi driver, paramedic, security guard, etc.) just for fun.

[Charlie_Bubble]

You're talking about a 'Sandwich' course as it's called here in the UK. They consist of 2 years at uni, 1 year in industry and a final year back at uni. I did one at my uni, one of the few old universities to do sandwich courses, in Computing & IT. For my year out I earnt about £13k, but that was in 1994. Not sure how much you'd get today, not much more I expect. I was lucky as I got a pretty good placement. I know people who were earning much less than that.

[Escapee]

Originally Posted by timewarrior2001

Not to mention the thousands that are qualified and cannot get work because the UK IT industry is pathetic

Quite right, many callcentres are employing people with good IT, Electronic, Engineering skills and experience for a pittance. On the other hand the company that I work for pay very good money and find it almost impossible to find suitably skilled workers.

I guess it all boils down to the fact that most people these days just want to sit in front of a PC and tap away at the keys, there are plenty of software writers about (Refuse to call them Engineers) but on the other hand suitable qualified Hardware engineers, especially with RF skills are just not out about to employ anymore.

And before anyone says any different, Yes there is lots of demand for them. Too many jobs and not enough skilled people to go around.

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Charlie_Bubble

You're talking about a 'Sandwich' course as it's called here in the UK. They consist of 2 years at uni, 1 year in industry and a final year back at uni. I did one at my uni, one of the few old universities to do sandwich courses, in Computing & IT. For my year out I earnt about £13k, but that was in 1994. Not sure how much you'd get today, not much more I expect. I was lucky as I got a pretty good placement. I know people who were earning much less than that.

I was in the same position, although I finished my degree.

[SMHarman]

Originally Posted by Jerrek

I used to be salaried, but this semester I get wages. What is the minimum wage in Britain? And what is average for a university student in the math or engineering faculty?

Minimum wage in Ontario is C$7.15 per hour [£2.90].

Students in the engineering and math faculties usually earn:

1st year: C$563 per week (C$14.10 per hour) [£226 p.w., £5.66 p.h.]
2nd year: C$678 per week (C$16.95 per hour) [£272 p.w., £6.80 p.h.]
3rd year: C$772 per week (C$19.30 per hour) [£310 p.w., £7.75 p.h.]
4th year: C$800+ per week (over C$20 per hour) [£320+ p.w., £8.00+ p.h.]

Graduation: starting at $48,000 a year [£19,250] on average


Damn, after conversion, I just realized how worthless the loony is. Reason I'm wondering is I want to try and get a co-op job outside of Canada and the United States. Probably Australia or Ireland. But I'd take anyplace.

But it's not what you earn as a pure value it's the spending power of that. The good ol big mac index.

If you earn C$7.15 and a big mac meal is $3 then it takes you less than 30 mins to buy it.
In the UK if you earn minimum wage of 4.5 and buy a big mac meal for 3.29 (I think have not had one for a while), then you have had to work for near 45 minutes to buy it. Thats a 50% increase.

This scales incredibly well to housing and other more sensible costs.