Computer science at uni

[Aurea]

Expanding another thread, my son is applying for computer science at Edinburgh/St Andrews in 2023.

He’s a high achiever: he has 6 As at higher and one in advanced higher maths (already achieved S4-5).

He’s wondering whether to apply for the four year BSc/MEng or five year Masters.

He understands there is a possibility of starting one and switching, but this is not guaranteed.

Does it look better on CVs for summer internships studying for a Masters or is there very little difference?

As these are highly regarded courses, it will be unlikely that he could trade up for his Masters at another institution.

With thanks

Hi wow firstly what an achievement to us far. Regardless of his choices (and he will have many) the mere fact he’s been able to achieve at this level will stand him in such good stead going forward. Both are excellent universities. I’d also consider Aberdeen and Glasgow. My daughter is also a high achiever and is having a similar quandary at the moment. I do believe he could do either a masters or an honours and select what he wants to do his masters in later - he could after all change his mind. The fact that he will do a masters is what’s important - but whether he chooses a 4 year (hons) or 5 year (masters) is wide open. What I’ve told my daughter is keep it was broad as you can. There are so many opportunities to intercalate !

I did a 4 years BEng (software engineering) with a year in industry. Even the bog standard 3 year BSc’s were encouraged to do it back then.

it’s important to put theory into practice, fill your pockets and grow the fuck up.

Also it is quite possible to complete his Hons at one Uni and specialise or do a masters at another

Aurea, he certainly should consider applying for the five-year MSc.

He will be paying undergraduate fees for the fifth year In the five-year MSc and these fees will more than likely be covered by SAAS anyway. An add-on MSc would cost in the region of £10,000 in St. Andrews and up to £16,000 in Edinburgh.

In England, it would be a different matter as he would be paying significant fees either way.

5 years ago we were told at an Open Day in the Computer Science Department at St Andrews that it is a risk to apply for the 5 year Masters, as you can only apply for one St Andrews course in the same UCAS round and if you do not make the grade for the Masters, they will not consider you for the 4 year degree, even though you might have more easily qualified for that. They also said joint honours are risky as both Departments have to really want the student.
For a Scottish student he has more Highers than the requirement and so would likely get an unconditional offer for the main single honours computer science course, although it is always oversubscribed so there are never any guarantees.

Thank you all so much for taking the time to reply.

There are points I hadn’t considered.

He hasn’t got long to decide as he’s also applying to Oxbridge (next month) which is before the St As open day.

Any offer is likely to be conditional based on his achieved highers and early advanced higher in maths (all A1s).

@1976julie

Good luck to your daughter! Will she also apply for the MSci/MInfo in comp sci?

My son will also apply to Glasgow but not Aberdeen as it’s his local uni and he wants to spread his wings a little. He’s still deciding on his fifth choice.

'Any offer is likely to be conditional based on his achieved highers and early advanced higher in maths (all A1s).'

As a Scottish student, any Oxbridge offer is likely to be based on Advanced Highers results so probably won't be unconditional.

@Aurea no she’s looking at biomedical science to transfer into Dentistry or straight dentistry. She doesn’t fancy Glasgow and there are limited places in Scotland that do the undergraduate course.

The tables move around every year although St Andrews is always above the other Scottish ones.
www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/rankings/scotland

www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/rankings/computer-science/scotland

Hi, it may be useful to some posters to point out that the MEng is not quite the same as a BSc + MSc.

There is a difference between an undergraduate masters that's tacked on to a UG course, and a masters that is done separately.

Funding is the main difference between a Masters tacked on to an undergraduate degree and a Bachelors plus a separate Masters. If you're lucky enough to get on to an integrated Masters course, you don't need to take out any separate funding for the Masters year, meaning just the one loan to repay.

Hi

At my institution, they have different learning outcomes.

There is a difference between an undergraduate masters that's tacked on to a UG course, and a masters that is done separately.

What is the difference?

OK, so I didn’t read until the end of the thread.

Not all institutions are the same.

The Masters year of an integrated Masters (undergrad degree) only covers 6 or 7 months of study, whereas a separate (postgrad) Masters is 12 months of study. This often is reflected in the level of credits awarded (120 for the integrated Masters year as opposed to 180 for the one year Masters). The postgrad Masters often allows a greater amount of specialisation and may be a better option if looking to go on to a PhD.

Both the integrated Masters and the Masters can meet the requirements for Chartered status, but for working abroad the postgrad Masters is generally better recognised.

The fees and funding side are obviously a consideration if you’re just looking to get a Masters level qualification for Chartered status.