Computer Science - any experience?

[Rainyskies]

DD wants to do computer science at University. We’ve done lots of visits (because she was not sure what sort of course/Uni she wanted) and have narrowed it down, but she still hasn’t decide on her final list which is holding her back from submitting her UCAS.

Preferences

• A city Uni (or a campus close to a lively city) - prefers urban to countryside - not Scotland as too far

• Computer Science courses with software engineering emphasis (rather than a maths/data focus) and a games design module is a bonus

Predicted BBB at the moment
(teachers say she is working at A in lesson but exam technique lets her down, although they will be focusing on exam practice next term which should help. However I don’t want to push her into going for A* Unis if that is unrealistic and will be stressful for all of us).

I hope the fact she is studying Maths and Computer Science will help. Could that possibly get her a lower offer?

All the posts on this board seem to be about students predicted A*s and off to RG / Oxbridge etc! So what are good options for B grade students?

Is it worth applying for any Unis who want As, or is there no point?

Any experience of your daughters doing Computer Science degrees? I keep reading about how the tech industry is male-dominated and wonder how DD will find it once she is outside the safe environment of school.

The current favourites:

York Uni
Uni of Liverpool

more realistic:

Uni of Sussex
Manchester Metropolitan

possibly Leicester but we missed the open day
possibly Aston Birmingham but she liked Manchester and Liverpool better

Thank you for any advice!

That’s a really good idea to email the admissions tutors - I hadn’t realised that was an option.

What about Oxford Brookes? I think Oxford counts as a real, lovely and pretty lively city, and it is close to quite a lot else.

The standard offer is BBC; an interest in SE is mentioned in their teaser material; they have a Women in Computing Society. They offer an industrial placement option.

I haven’t interacted much with staff or students from OB but I have always thought of it as a good, solid post 1992 university.

The rankings measure various things, OP. A big component is Research Strength. The Russell Group plus a small number of others invariably dominate that side of things.

The Guardian League Table excludes Research Strength and puts a high weighting on the results of the annual National Student Satisfaction Survey of final year students. That can be problematic in a different way, but it is also def worth taking into account.

Best of all IMO is for DD to create an account at TheStudentRoom online forum where she can get much more useful and specific information from current UGs across the UK.
Good luck to her!

Thanks, that’s good to know.
DD really enjoyed her work experience placement last summer in an IT department, and they said she could go back anytime. I think if she can get some more good experiences like that, then that will more important than going to a RG Uni.

Have you visited Guildford? The campus is huge and the city is pretty lively.

We were at sports park at weekend as ds was competing (he's not at uni) and I was quite surprised how close it was to Guildford town centre and train station (half an hour).

The reality is she may have to compromise on location for grades and it's certainly livelier than the other cities that require lower grades.

Bath - I agree - is quieter as a city but the student vibe is huge - again ds travels there a lot due to his sport!

We've also visited Sheffield a lot due to his sport and although the liveliest city of them all I really am not keen personally!

So I guess everyone has their different ideas of what they want from a city!

Salford looks interesting, we hadn’t considered that one. Not far from Manchester (which she really liked) and they offer a wide variety of computer science courses including a software engineering one - presumably there could be a potential to switch? The course looked more about design / user experience which is what DD is interested in. I am glad to hear your sons have done so well there.

I can’t believe she has done 8 Uni visits already and it feels like we’re only just making progress…. There’s just such a wide variety of choice.

I have suggested she signs up to Student Room too.

Please get your daughter to do this! I work in admissions (in a CS department, funnily enough!) and I am always very happy to talk to prospective applicants.

If there are unis popping up here that your DD hadn't thought of and you haven't visited them during open day season, just give the departments a call. If they're like us (and I would hope they are!), they should hopefully be very happy to give a tour and even arrange a short chat with an admissions tutor.

Have you looked at Cardiff?

Cardiff do an Applied Software Engineering course which seems to have less theory than other courses

University of Staffordshire or Keele? Keele is campus based although it's very near a city, but Staffs certainly isn't. Both do lower offers and the Staffs course looks good.

Thanks, some great advice here. I have been showing it to DD. She really appreciates all your ideas! Lots of food for thought.

I think I was feeling a bit under pressure because my friends DCs seem to have submitted their applications or have a very clear idea of where they want to go, but DD isn’t ready yet. Also, we only got her latest PGs this week.

Nobody has mentioned Leicester yet - any experiences for CS?

Thanks everyone!

@Rainyskies you mentioned upthread that your daughter is interested in design and the user experience. It might be worth thinking 'sideways' and looking at non-CS Departments. For example, I know that at York there is a BSc in Interactive Media which actually sits in with more creative courses, rather than in Comp Sci. The course covers coding, games design and development of apps, but more from a UX point of view rather than that seen in a very traditional CS department. Might be worth a look??

Has she considered applying for a degree apprenticeship ?

BSc (Hons) Computing and Creative Technologies at UEA in Norwich. Campus University on the outskirts of Norwich, a fine city.

We are at A level stage. DS is looking to do Game design with a placement.
Staffordshire uni looks very good.

Sheffield Hallam-DS interested in software eng degree, so recently attended open day. City campus uni- very very urban! Industry placement. Maths A level not required for software eng. Good pastoral system. Recently awarded TEF gold. Good employability.

I took DS to Newcastle Uni over the weekend. The CS Department is phenomenal a gaming seems to be a particular strength of the Dept. The typical offer is AAB and there is no maths requirement. Worth a thought?

IT isn’t as snobby so the main thing is going for the uni she feels most comfortable at.

It’s also important to study a computer science / software engineering degree that’s relevant to the industry she wants to go into. The money is probably in data science and apps right now but if you want something lower level and more exciting that perhaps doesn’t pay as much, real time embedded software engineering might be of interest.

Swansea might be worth a look?

I’ve worked with some very good graduates from Swansea. Lovely uni too.
Typical offer is ABB- BBB.

Ha snap @Hughs

Our School’s lead admissions admin officer had a DC do a degree at Sheffield Hallam. FWIW he had a brilliant experience.

Have you considered Plymouth? City Uni, offers software and gaming pathways

Nobody has mentioned Leicester yet - any experiences for CS?

Not direct but DD1 knows people there and said to avoid for DS looking at computer science as they're not happy with the course - how much stock to put in that not sure but has put DS off. However the city, campus and accommodation are great.

https://courses.aber.ac.uk/undergraduate/computer-science-degree/ - not a city but one DS does have on his list.

https://www.reading.ac.uk/computer-science/ - nice campus and I think has a good department.

Swansea is nice as well and Sheffield is great city as well as are Manchester and Birmingham - lived in latter three. There are more specific Computer Games courses out there Carddif Met has one as does UWE - I think CS is an area you do have to look very closely at what the course content will be.

Lancaster might also be worth a look? They do a software engineering degree and may well reduce their offer for those studying Comp Sci and maths at A level.

DS had a couple of friends study there (different course) and they enjoyed the uni.