Computer Science vs IT degrees

[dollybird]

I will start this thread by stating that I know very little about degrees, having not done one myself and no-one in my or DH's family having done one, but here goes.

DS is in year 11, and has applied to do Computer Science and Maths A-levels and a double Engineering qualification equivalent to two A-levels. This is with a view to either applying for an engineering or IT apprenticeship, or possibly going to uni to continue with Computer Science, which is his favourite subject that he excels in. He's quite a practical, hands-on lad, so I'm not sure how likely he is to go the uni route, but he needs to consider all possibilities!

He has recently told us that he's found out you need to have a science A-level to do computer science, so, after a bit of online research, it seems you don't necessarily need computer science A-level to do a degree in it, but they do favour those with further maths and/or physics, neither of which he wants to do.

So, I suppose my concern is that if he did decide to go the uni route, might he be closing off his options with the computer science A-level. And also is a more general IT degree something that might be more in demand as far as careers go?

Hi your son should look at the course outline for comp science and see if he wants to do it. It's very programming, physics, maths and electronics based. Or at least it was when I did it. It would lead to careers in programming mainly.

It depends on what he wants to do.

Computer science is, in my experience, very theoretical and about how programming works (there maybe some hardware theory as well but that's usually optional) that's why a lot of courses ask for physics/maths at a-level, some want further (higher?) maths. There is an option for a foundation year for computer science for those who don't do have physics/maths but that year is usually about physics/maths.

IT is usually, in my experience, more application based and less theory.

Computer science can be used to build a career in pretty much any direction, the theory can be applied in any situation, languages usually work similarly so easily transferable. There is programming, but a lot of theory.

I don't know about a-level computer science, in the dept I was in physics and maths were definitely required for computer science and computer science itself frowned on, I've no idea why, it wasn't something I studied and when later a lecturer wasn't something I ever asked about (it wasn't relevant to what I taught).

I have a degree in computer science and software engineering and didn't study physics or maths. I found it really really difficult, I graduated, but the majority of students who started the degree and had those qualifications didn't. But there was no such thing as foundation year in computer science then and though it was the right decision career wise - it was bloody hard work.

I suggest he has a good look at module details online for both types of degree, syllabus should be freely available online.

I'd be wary of actually asking unis about which is more appropriate. I've a friend who asked if computer science was appropriate for their career prospects and were told it was ideal - they were misold the course.

My DC has applied for Computing Science starting this year. As we are in Scotland he has been able to take 5 subjects which included Computing Science as he could also take maths and physics. Under the A level system I would have encouraged him to take physics first - as you say Computing Science is not required for admission. We’ve also looked at modern apprenticeships - maths/physics are always well regarded and/or required. For degrees look at both Computing Science and Software Engineering - though neither are necessarily required for a career in programming.

Hi Op. I have just looked at the entry requirements for Leeds, Birmingham and Liverpool universities for Computer Science and the subjects he has chosen are fine - he does not need another science.

I agree with checking course details. I'm surprised you need a science on top of maths, but if it's a particularly electronics-focussed course it might be more reasonable.

I agree that doing CS without maths is hard work - I also struggled with other assumptions, like we had to program a knight's move round a chess board. They assumed everyone would know how to play chess and therefore know how a knight moved, so didn't specify how - but I've never learned to play it, and didn't know till I asked. (To be fair, this is a realistic representation of how things often work in the workplace, just assuming everyone will know...)

He's wrong - Maths and Computer Science A levels are fine for the vast majority of Computer Science degrees. A handful of the top ones eg Imperial may want Further Maths but that's about it.

Academically Computer Science is hard. IT less so. He needs to check modules studied to work out which to do. And grades required obviously- he'll need As at A level.

Thanks everyone for the really useful information. Clearly there's a lot more to is than I thought, and we need to do more research! I think he also has it in his head that he like computer science that he does at the moment, so thinks that's what he would want to continue with, but looking at our local uni website, there are lots of other options.

There are lots of degree options now within computer science departments as well - its no longer a case of literally computer science/software engineering, he may find one of those helpful.

Just to add to this, We had similar advice about physics A level from one sixth form college so I went through the RG entries on UCAS and for 2018 entry no one actually requires physics. I think Cambridge likes it, though, so could be an advantage there. All but a very few require maths, though, as you'd expect. Also quite a few do seem to like the new computer science A level, although I completely agree you don't have to do it.

My son did maths, further maths, physics at A level. He is very focussed on a career in cyber security - if your son has any interest in this field I’d highly recommend that he looks into what cyber challenge uk do. He chose his uni very carefully, there are big differences in the course contents of computer science degrees- they’re not all the same. My lad found that the bigger unis might have more impressive ‘names’ but their courses didn’t offer what he was looking for. He’s at royal Holloway, the masters carries gchq accreditation and they are actively doing research in his chosen field. He tells me that the students on the course have a variety of different backgrounds, and a lot of the first year seems to be about levelling the playing field, filling in gaps etc. My lad doesn’t even have gcse computing but he has developed his skills to the point that he was accepted straight into the masters course - cyber challenge uk played a huge role.