Computing / computer science

[Orangesandlemons77]

Please can anyone advise about if there is much difference between these courses? Which is better from an employers pov? Is there more maths in computer science? Thanks

@Orangesandlemons77 Ds is doing a computer science degree. You will need to look at the course content for both subjects at universities and see which one you will like most. This is primarily about loving a subject and what elements you like about computing which are far and wide in terms of topics and focus.

There are straight forward computer science courses but also with maths or artificial intelligence, games and graphics, robotics etc. It depends what you are interested in.

This also comes down to grades for A level or BTECs to see which universities you would get into. Jobs wise it is a good degree to have I would think.

My son is Y13, doing Computer Science A Level, with maths and physics. He doesn't enjoy coding or maths so is applying for a Cybersecurity degree. You can look at modules on the university's web site to see what sort of stuff he will be studying .It can vary quite a lot and takes time - I looked at this over the summer. Some courses are more maths heavy, some more practical. There are also degrees such as ITMB, IT with Management and Business. Aston Uni offers this. If you do a search on Mumsnet along the lines of 'Computer Science at Uni' there are a few posts you will find helpful.

There are degrees in software engineering, networking systems etc so not just computer science.

My DS is the opposite of MissMoffatt's, he's very interested in coding and maths (doing maths & further maths) he spent time looking at the actual courses to see which ticked his boxes. He liked Imperial, King's and Southampton.

Thanks for the replies

On this topic, can anyone tell me how much it matters that the course is 'accredited'? Thanks

'Computing' is more to do with the application and use of anything involving computers so quite broad whereas Computer science is a subset focussing on detail such as algorithms and how to create them. The lines can get blurred as there is a lot of overlap but I would expect Computer science to be more Mathsy and involve more coding so if your dc doesn't like Maths and coding too much i'd opt for a degree in 'Computing' instead.

As far as employment is concerned I'd imagine both have good prospects as the sector is large and bouyant enough for everyone to find their niche. Again it's about applying for the right jobs, so if one has avoided Maths and too much coding by opting for Computing, then just be mindful when it comes to applying for jobs that emphasise these skills.

OK, so we're looking at Cardiff (Comp Sci) Bath and Bath Spa (Computing) (we live in Bath)

If anyone has any info on these it would be welcome. Bath Spa seems to focus on their own projects more and does a year in a placement as does Bath.

Bath Spa also do Cybersecurity and Creative computing (gaming)

Bath and Bath Spa surely have very different entry qualifications? You need to look at future professional qualifications. Bath is highly sought after. Bath Spa not as much.

Tbf, Bath uni is a much more academically aspirational choice than Bath Spa and might lead to a better paid job after graduation. A couple of years after graduation in software the emphasis is more on your skills than your degree though.

@missmoffatt2705

My son is Y13, doing Computer Science A Level, with maths and physics. He doesn't enjoy coding or maths so is applying for a Cybersecurity degree. You can look at modules on the university's web site to see what sort of stuff he will be studying .It can vary quite a lot and takes time - I looked at this over the summer. Some courses are more maths heavy, some more practical. There are also degrees such as ITMB, IT with Management and Business. Aston Uni offers this. If you do a search on Mumsnet along the lines of 'Computer Science at Uni' there are a few posts you will find helpful.

He doesn’t enjoy coding or maths? Are you sure he is choosing the right degree?

Right, so he's doing computer science A level, but not maths A level, and think Bath would require it for their course. So, we're considering Bath Spa which is more applied computing, as well.. Thanks for the replies, all useful.

@MatildaJayne

Tbf, Bath uni is a much more academically aspirational choice than Bath Spa and might lead to a better paid job after graduation. A couple of years after graduation in software the emphasis is more on your skills than your degree though.

Thanks, that's useful.

Sorry I didn’t mean to be rude, I just reread my comment and it could come across that way. I just mean that all the people I know who are IT this peeps are decent at and enjoy both maths and coding. Maybe a more business-related IT degree is the thing to do for people who don’t enjoy the coding side of it.

I just asked DH who works in IT and he explained how you don’t necessarily need to be good at coding to do cyber security as it’s about looking for compromises, patterns, flags etc He did say it can be a bit boring and repetitive, and also that most people working in that field DO enjoy and are good at coding. A lot of people into it get into it by doing ethical hacking and coding at home.

I’m interested in this thread as my year 11 wants to do computing of some sort at uni. But he won’t be aiming for the high ranking computer science degrees as I don’t think he would be academically good enough for them and also I think he’d find them too dry. He wouldn’t want to sit in lectures looking at maths formulas. Whereas my DS1, who has been offered a place to do Engineering at Cambridge, likes the idea of staring at formulas on a whiteboard! They’re 2 different people, and I fully understand the need for students to choose the right course for THEM, not just because they think they need to choose a top ten uni in that subject.

Also, OP, my understanding is that for a computer science degree you would definitely need Maths A-level, and at places like Oxbridge and Imperial you’d also need Further Maths. It’s very Maths heavy. A more practical course might suit your Ds. Oxford Brookes does Computer Science for Cyber Security. Entry is BBC, Maths a-level not a requirement.

I’ve been looking at it myself for my year 11 but would love to hear the opinion of anyone who’s done it, in terms of actual employment opportunities.

Just wanted to offer some advice on this. I am an IT director and have worked with many roles.
I did computer science as a degree (albeit nearly 20 years ago). I didn't need a maths A-Level just the required UCAS points. However the computer science course had many maths modules so it does help, I had to work a little harder at those modules.

I did a lot of coding and algorithms. App development was in its infancy when I graduated and Web development was the big push.

I started my career as a developer but I have done most roles such as support/business analyst and project manager before moving into management. At the time I went to uni there was also an ICT degree. My peers on this course could chose not do any coding and it was focused on a wider ranging course content like networking, application management etc.

Most people I know working in cyber do tend to be quite technical. If he is keen on solution building I would recommend Computer Science as apposed to computing.

Again my experience of uni and modules is very dated but I do know anyone working in my department all have a Computer Science degree with at least at 2:1. This is our minimum requirement but I know others often state "or IT related discipline"

I hope this helps. Either way (and I am biased) I believe either degree will have great graduate prospects.

@CurlyhairedAssassin

Also, OP, my understanding is that for a computer science degree you would definitely need Maths A-level, and at places like Oxbridge and Imperial you’d also need Further Maths. It’s very Maths heavy. A more practical course might suit your Ds. Oxford Brookes does Computer Science for Cyber Security. Entry is BBC, Maths a-level not a requirement.

I’ve been looking at it myself for my year 11 but would love to hear the opinion of anyone who’s done it, in terms of actual employment opportunities.

Thanks, yes that is why we're looking at the Bath Spa course which is applied Computing as well

@Orangesandlemons77
Now you have said he’s not doing maths A level, that cuts out the best options for computer science and if was you who mentioned Bath - which is surely not possible without maths.

Computer Science at Cardiff doesn't require A level Maths. I would live there, rather than consider commuting, though (just thinking of all those Christmas shoppers stuck in the tunnel for hours a few years back would put me off doing the journey more often than I needed to).

OK, yes did wonder that about Bath. The grades required are A*AA as well so think it may be out of the question. I knew about Cardiff not requiring Maths.

Yes commuting to Cardiff would be a nightmare, Bath to Bristol is bad enough.
I think he may put Cardiff as a first choice and have Bath Spa as a back-up, he's also looking at Worcester for Computing as well Both the latter require BBC-CCC I think.

PS for anyone interested there is another thread on here (not sure how to link with this new format) but if you search for computing or computer science without maths I think it comes up