Urgent: Abertay vs Edinburgh Napier for Computing Degrees ? any advice pls?

[54isanopendoor]

Ds has passed his HNC & obtained an A.
He could now apply via Clearing for either Abertay (A) or Ed Napier (B/C)

He isn't sure which would be better.
Does anyone have experience of either please or know much about them?

thank you x

Is it for straight computing, or something games related? DD was interested in the second, and although she later changed her mind about subject, Abertay kept popping up as a great place for it when doing research. Various international and trade awards.

No direct experience but DD knows someone doing Games related CS at Abertay. He has just completed 1st year. Loves the course, has made friends but hates living in Dundee (not sure exactly why). I suspect he would have preferred Edinburgh. Does your DS know Dundee and Edinburgh well as I suspect away from games design there isn't much in it course wise.

Do living costs swing it at all? Because Edinburgh is a very expensive city.

Edinburgh Napier has a very longstanding reputation for media and journalism specifically, but I'd tend to think the one with the higher entry requirements would be the obvious choice. It's not my field but I have definitely heard that Abertay is very good for computing/design/games degrees.

Dundee certainly used to be looked down on as a city and is clearly not Edinburgh but it has a proper student population and lots of recent redevelopment.

My son is starting Napier in Sep (BA Hons Film) and it was his 1st choice from the start. 2 friends of mine have children at Napier who highly rate it.

I know of several people whose children went to Abertay and loved it.

Both are great Unis.

Would just come down to course content maybe? Has he seen either Uni or spoken to lecturers? Cost also - Edinburgh accommodation is about £200-300 more expensive per month than Dundee.

Abertay has a great reputation but Ds thought seemed a bit 'smug'?
They'd let him apply for 5 different degree choices with current hnc pass.
But he wants to do a General Computing Degree to give him the widest choice
& it seems that 'industry comes to Abertay not the other way around'.
My friend has a boy there who has Autism (like my Ds). She says they're GREAT.
It's small. Dundee is small. It would become 'his city' (I studied at Edinburgh).
but he'd need to leave home in 8 weeks & I don't think he's ready (he needed a LOT of scaffolding to get his HNC - lifts / food / shower reminders etc)

Napier - he likes the 24/7 computer lab. the door handles (yep...)
but currently can only do 2 degree choices with them

Where do you live now?

sorry, laptop died ...

Edinburgh is expensive. Ds lives within 1 hr commute (free by bus) & could drive.
This also means that if he finds living away AND studying for a degree too draining then he can live at home & I can be the 'Top Gear back up car'.
He has quite severe Anxiety so although he's very bright there are challenges.

So, options are:
Study at Napier (live at home) this year but neither course appeals really.
Study at Abertay (move out in 8 weeks). Risky imo
Study 1 more year locally for an HND which would give choice of all courses at Napier & a bit more time to gain confidence (but would be boring & he is worried that he needs to 'keep up' with the kids going to uni this year)

I think NEXT year at Abertay is probably best but I didn't know if anyone here had direct experience of either.

My son took a year out after his HND - he didn't find it stressful as such, but practically his whole 2yr course was online and he felt he needed to decompress a bit. Also he needed to work full time to save some money.

We've been really impressed with Napier so far (we did 2 open days) and they certainly rank very high with student satisfaction.

My son certainly found his 2nd year HND more challenging - and depending on grades he might get accepted into 2nd year of Uni course (my son didn't, even with all As as the BA Film course is the only course at Napier that doesn't allow entry at Y2 with an HND apparently 🙄).

Its a difficult decision isn't it, you just have to support them whatever (my son got accepted to a local Uni for same degree, 2nd year entry onto course, didn't even need to be interviewed, but was adamant he wanted Napier).

I can't comment on the degrees or the universities but having a ds with autism and other issues, I can say something about the difficulties of living away from home. Ds managed but it was difficult and he continued to need a lot of support. Has he (you) looked into support at both universities and has he applied for DSA. It is getting quite tight to put all necessary support in place.

My DS has Autism and coped better than I expected with starting uni, even though he was only 17. However, he was at St Andrews so he could live in catered halls ( for two years actually) right beside his department and it's a smaller town. He could also come home at weekends if needed He was a bit lonely though as he took a while to get the hang of turning casual acquaintances into real pals.
Other son is staying at home while doing a Computing degree ( hybrid college /uni model)as he has ADHD ( and probably undiagnosed ASD) and he doesn't feel he could cope with the workload and managing his life at the same time ( or afford his hobbies 🤨). He's actually 25! ( Sigh).
Probably not a useful post as I'm giving examples of both but I will say from experience, unless he copes with making mistakes without too much issue I would take the gradual approach and stick at college for HND so you can continue to provide support. It can seem endless sometimes but I try to think of it as an investment.
On a positive note I know a young person with Autism who has just got a very good first job with an insurance company in Scotland as a data analyst and they are very autism aware and friendly, which I find encouraging.
I definitely think Abertay is much better known for computing than Napier.

@Piggywaspushed Scottish Borders

Borders commute to Edinburgh is draining though (from experience). He might find it less anxiety-inducing to live nearer to where he’s studying.

This bit is certainly true “industry comes to Abertay not the other way around”

@MrsFinkelstein Ds is VERY keen to start at 1st year on his degree.
I think his HNC course content / quality has not been very high so I agree.

@NoHaudinMaWheest DS applied for DSA this year so it should be fairly painless to renew it I hope. I spoke to the 'support team' at Abertay & was VERY impressed, plus friend says they are outstanding. I have not spoken to Napier team yet. The commute would be very tiring but also I could provide all the clean clothes, hot meals etc so all his energy & brain is available for study.

@Wbeezer He doesnt' cope with making mistakes at all no.
His anxiety is really high & confidence low, hence my worries.

@User6424678852 Yes, it's a crappy old commute, esp in winter time.
But I understand he'd not need to be in every day?

Another factor is we just got back from speaking to someone locally who has a lot of experience & also runs a repair shop. Has offered to mentor Ds 1 afternoon a week. Ds tickled pink. This would be a great thing for his confidence & could carry him through the boring year whilst he does the HND year1 locally (to give full course choice at Napier) He would also have more time to explore which course / location he wanted for his Uni Yr1 & more time to practice indepenence skills.

That sounds like it might be a good solution.