Computer Science 2025

Did he like York enough to think he could have a great 3 or 4 years there?

A year out can be beneficial in lots of ways (work experience, a bit of travel, lots of growing up and more independence) but bear in mind your DS should keep working on his maths skills during that time.

If he takes a year out he may find that he wants to apply to different universities - my DS took a year out and ended up going somewhere he discounted first time round.

Thank you for your kind messages.. My DS is considering a year out and hoping with actual grades rather than predications he would have a better chances with Edinburgh and Durham. Just wondering with actual grades and bolstering up his PS with more CS work experience and challenges would he have a better chance or should he just take York? Hard dilemma… partly will depend on his grades!

The lower grades are Royal Holloway and Surrey. However both require an A for maths, even to do CS alone.

Considerations for your son could be Exeter or Loughborough as they offer a CS foundation year with a BBB entry level.

All I can add is that CS is very competitive at the moment
So many applied last year that it was difficult to secure a place even with A star A star A star A star
I’d apply to Warwick though bevause they have the extra space and accommodation. It’s an excellent uni with a lovely big campus.

May I ask which universities offered slightly lower grades? My son wants to do CS, however is less likely to achieve an A for maths at A level.

hi, my son has also applied for CS and Maths but with slightly lower predicted grades! He has AAA offers from 2 unis and ABC from another (which will be his back up), also AAB for CS alone and Data Science and CS.

Finding the whole thing baffling and terrified that actually AI is going to take over the industry and it will be a wasted degree!

CS is one of the most competitive courses and those are some the most popular universities.

Other universities have great CS courses and provide everything you want for the university experience, so don’t give up hope.

Unfortunately not great.. rejected from Edinburgh and Durham 13 days ago. Still waiting for St Andrews, but not hopeful. Not entirely sure what children are meant to do to get these offers! Argh

Just getting frustrated here and hoping my DS is not alone. Still waiting for offers for CS from Durham, St Andrews and Edinburgh, he is predicted 4 A* RUK non-contextual. Only offer at present is York, didn’t get picked out of the winter pool for Cambridge. Is anyone in a similar position, it feels like all the offers holders days are happening which he can’t go to and hard to concentrate on A-level. Argh…. Hoping that this wait is worth it.. trying to stay positive. Be grateful for any information.

Lancaster offers a 2k first year bursary to all students with 3 As or above, which tbh is swinging it for DS

We avoided those requiring specific additional exams or further maths A level (he's doing further maths AS as an extra).

Applied to Leeds, Sheffield, Liverpool, Lancaster and Birmingham.

My DS has also applied for maths with CS and also has A A A predictions. 5 offers in now, going to offer holder day at Birmingham at the beginning of March. Currently Lancaster is his favourite.

@W0tnow Yes. I did mean applying for numerous placements and not getting one and the time it takes. Unis make it appear they have placements ready and waiting, like a school work experience portfolio. They don’t. They give advice on applying. They might have a few links with industry, but nowhere near enough. So I’m just saying be careful about taking this option. There can also be several stages to go through, assessment days in term time and lots of rejections which can leave students feeling deflated. Applications are done in y2 and will be running alongside uni modules that count towards the degree. Although placements can be valuable, so can working in the holidays. So it’s important to weigh everything up.

When applying for degree courses: aim for 2 of the best dc can get to is usually the best advice. Then add two dc should definitely be ok for and one if it goes pear shaped! CS is hugely competitive, so choose wisely and go for integrated masters if he can. When on the bachelors courses, there’s usually the option to upgrade to integrated masters though. So keep this in mind. Is that a better option than trying to get a placement?

Im sorry but im no good at links. It’s on the HE thread.

She means multiple applications applying for placement year jobs.
My ds is going CS and is applying for placements. He hasn't got one yet and it is very time consuming

@jennylamb1 As is being discussed on a HE thread, students apply for the placement year. They have become really difficult to get and if you look at the other thread, multiple applications are being made. If any student thinks placements are sorted by the uni, think again. It’s multiple applications because, essentially, it’s a job and hugely competitive.

Is University of Surrey any good for CS, they do a placement year on the BSc and the employment statistics on graduation look v good.

Mine has gone to Birmingham and is enjoying it. Decided against Bath on the basis of not liking the city, although the uni campus is lovely.