Computer Science 2025

[W0tnow]

My son is interested in CS for 2025 entry. We're kind of new to this as my oldest applied to medicine, which is pretty straightforward in terms of course selection.

My question is, given most of the universities have multiple CS courses (Bachelors, masters, placement year abroad, study year abroad, with AI, with Cyber security etc) is the general idea/advice to apply to just one (say the bachelor or masters) and then switch at some point (i guess depending on grades?) if you want to do some sort of placement or year abroad or masters? Otherwise you could use up all 5 of your choices at one university which seems a bit bonkers?

Thanks!

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

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.

How did your son get on @MintTiger ?

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

Oh sorry to hear! It sure feels a bit like a lottery.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.