Which Engineering qualification should I choose? What does each profession assuming BEngTech for computer engineering and electronic engineering and bsc for computer science entail in the working world. What are the work environments? What differs each one? Because they are somewhat overlapping
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Help me choose: Computer engineering vs computer science vs electrical and electronic engineering
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Supervan II
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Electronics - everything contains electronics!
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Comp Eng will include electronics (both analogue and digital). That stuff won't be included in the Comp Sci.
Comp Eng will also include more physics related modules, and the maths is different as well (from what I remember). You'll also spend more time doing lower level programming stuff (more when comparing to a Comp Sci).
Specfically BEngTech... I'm not too sure. That's a slightly new qualification and came about after left Uni.
I will say, from a career perspective, the BSc Comp Sci will be more widely "accepted" or held in better standing, *especially* if you are going into the Software field.
Personally I did NDip, then BTech then BSc Hons in Comp Sci.
I started working as a Software Developer as part of my NDip in-service and then did the BTech and Comp Sci hons part time.
When I left uni it was basically
NDip Eng = Engineering Technician
BTech Eng = Engineering Technologist
BEng/BScEng = Engineeer
I'm guessing the BEngTech will equate to Engineering Technologist, but I stand to be corrected.
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Am I right in saying that control systems contain low level programming?
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I don't have personal experience with control systems, but yes.
ChatGPT agrees:
Control systems often involve low-level programming, particularly in the parts that interact directly with hardware (e.g., sensors, actuators, or embedded controllers). Here’s a quick breakdown:
1. Low-Level Layer (Firmware / Embedded Programming)
This is where control algorithms are implemented close to the hardware, typically in:
• C or C++ (sometimes assembly for microcontrollers)
• Real-time operating systems (RTOS) or even bare-metal environments
This layer handles direct I/O, ADC/DAC conversions, interrupts, PWM generation, serial communication, etc.
2. High-Level Layer (Supervisory / Interface)
Above that, you might have higher-level software (written in Python, MATLAB/Simulink, or LabVIEW) for:
• Simulation, tuning, and visualization
• Sending reference signals or adjusting PID parameters
• Data logging or system monitoring
3. Why Low-Level Programming is Needed
Because control systems often:
• Must meet real-time constraints
• Need precise timing and deterministic behavior
• Interface with hardware registers and peripherals directly
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I want to deal with control systems, digital logic, automation (plc and PID), embedded systems, eventually robotics, IoT, Programming, wiring
It's so hard to choose because the proffessions overlap and it's hard to leave out interests because they're so interesting
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Then it's Comp Eng for you. You won't get exposure to that stuff if you do a BSc Comp Sci.
Is there a particular reason you're looking at doing a BEngTech rather than BScEng/BEng?
When I was at DUT, Electronic Engineering was split into three streams:
1. Control Systems
2. Communication Systems
3. Computer Systems
Each one had a slight specialisation, but it looks like they've all been combined now:
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I'm choosing bengtech because of my matric marks, was more interested in sports in school
Thank you for your help!
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@99Ben10 whichever degree you want to pursue, at whatever institution, you should try to find the faculty Handbook which will give you a lot more information on the qualification and the modules that you will do.
This is the DUT BEngTech one: https://www.dut.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/handbooks/EBE Electronic Computer Eng.pdf
This is the UKZN one (for both BSc and BSc Eng): https://saa.ukzn.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/College-of-Agriculture-Engineering-and-Science.pdf
At UKZN, the BSc Eng is split into either Computer, Electronic or Electrical. They have a different combination of courses.
This is the DUT BEngTech one: https://www.dut.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/handbooks/EBE Electronic Computer Eng.pdf
This is the UKZN one (for both BSc and BSc Eng): https://saa.ukzn.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/College-of-Agriculture-Engineering-and-Science.pdf
At UKZN, the BSc Eng is split into either Computer, Electronic or Electrical. They have a different combination of courses.
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So I think I go for DUT Electronic engineering since it's in the electronic and Computer Engineering department. What do you think?
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I mean... are you in KZN?
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Superman-7
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As far as computer programming is concerned - low-level or not - I would suggest you don't choose a degree based on a programming requirement.
If you have half a brain and some curiosity, you can teach yourself programming, and will likely outpace any degree's rate of learning.
With this in mind, it might be more wise to choose something that focuses on what you enjoy and you necessarily can't teach yourself.
I did a B.Ing Electrical/Electronic back in the day, which contained only one Programming-related module for a single semester.
Today I code for a living
Edit: consider also an industry where everyone and his dog will be applying for a job with some garden variety programming degree/diploma. If your future employer values intelligence, they'll choose a candidate who opted for a degree that proves to a more meaningful extent that you have a brain and can easily learn what you don't yet know.
If you have half a brain and some curiosity, you can teach yourself programming, and will likely outpace any degree's rate of learning.
With this in mind, it might be more wise to choose something that focuses on what you enjoy and you necessarily can't teach yourself.
I did a B.Ing Electrical/Electronic back in the day, which contained only one Programming-related module for a single semester.
Today I code for a living
Edit: consider also an industry where everyone and his dog will be applying for a job with some garden variety programming degree/diploma. If your future employer values intelligence, they'll choose a candidate who opted for a degree that proves to a more meaningful extent that you have a brain and can easily learn what you don't yet know.
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Based on your interests, definitely Computer Engineering. As others have said, you get a much wider education (maths, physics, electronics, etc.) than CS.
In my opinion a CS degree would only ever be preferable, if you didn’t want to or couldn’t handle the rest of the engineering subjects, or if you really wanted to go deep into a specific subject as a second major (eg, maths, chemistry, physics, statistics, etc).
In my opinion a CS degree would only ever be preferable, if you didn’t want to or couldn’t handle the rest of the engineering subjects, or if you really wanted to go deep into a specific subject as a second major (eg, maths, chemistry, physics, statistics, etc).
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konfab
Honorary Master
C and C++ are not low level languages. You do not need to know that much about the hardware to run a C or C++ program on a computer system. You can get a library that implements something like an FFT and it will work on any hardware you have a compiler for.
A low level language is something machine specific, like ARM Assembly. In that case, if you have a file that implements an FFT for an ARM processor, it will not work on an x86 machine.
To the point about control systems. You absolutely do not need to know assembly to implement a control system for something like a microcontroller. You can do it all very easily in C/C++.
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